Back to school already? Toy Insider Mom Laurie Schacht stopped by Fox 32 in Chicago to show off some of the best toys for the back to school season. For more on the items featured in this segment, check out the product notes below, and for our complete rundown of the best gifts for the season, check out our Spring and Summer gift guide.


CRAYOLA CRAYON MELTER (CRAYOLA)

  • With the Crayola Crayon Melter, kids can create liquefied crayon designs on a variety of unique surfaces including chalk, wood, glass, canvas and more using classic Crayola crayons. Using three simple steps, kids can create amazing art in less than a minute.
  • Simply, insert a crayon, plug in and start embellishing virtually any surface. The melted crayon quickly dries cool to the touch.
  • The sleek, compact design is safe, easy to use and has a low-heat tip for worry-free creativity Discover a whole new way to embellish your designs with Crayola crayons.
  • Ages: 8+
  • MSRP: $24.99
  • Available: Amazon, Target, Walmart, Crayola.com

POPFIZZ MAKE YOUR OWN SURPRISE BATH BOMB (HORIZON GROUP)

  • Make your own Pop Fizz Surprise Bath Bomb! Sets available in unicorn, mermaid, alien, or hidden dragon themes.
  • Create a colorful, sparkling bath bomb to bring your bubble baths to the next level. Learn how to mix a single-colored or multi-colored bath bomb, add some essential oils for relaxation and a little coconut oil as a great moisturizer.
  • Mold your bath bomb and when it’s dry and ready, pop it in the water. Watch a fizzing, bubbling color explosion before your eyes as your hidden unicorn, mermaid, alien, or dragon figurine is revealed!
  • Sink into the ultimate relaxation as the essential oil fills the room.
  • Ages: 6+
  • MSRP: $4.99 – $6.99
  • Available: Amazon, Walmart

CLASSIC COLORFORMS PICTURE PANELS PLAY SETS (KAHOOTZ)

  • There are so many ways to play and learn with the Colorforms Picture Panels Play Sets! Build colorful themed scenes and puzzles, mix and match over 150 Colorforms pieces to create endless creatures and scenes, then re-stick the shapes to imagine your own stories over and over again!
  • Double-sided Picture Panels enhance creative storytelling with colorful play scenes on one side and fun puzzles on the back.
  • Each Picture Panel also features magnetic edges that connect together to expand and connect your Colorform worlds… panels even stick to the refrigerator to display your creations!
  • The sturdy storage box doubles as a 3D play tray.
  • Titles available now: Animals and Vehicles (sold separately). NEW titles: House, Food, School, and Town.
  • Ages: 3+
  • MSRP: $24.99
  • Available: Amazon, Specialty toy stores in the U.S. and Canada

HIDDEN TEMPLE WITH T-REX SET (PLAYMOBIL)

  • Join the Explorers as they embark on a new adventure on Dino Island with the Hidden Temple with T-Rex.
  • Once you discover the temple,  use the ancient structure as your research base before heading out to explore the island with the help of the secret map.
  • Simply rub the map to reveal a hidden path where X marks the spot!
  • When back at the base, protect the team from unfriendly T-Rex or enemy explorers with the functioning laser gun (batteries included).
  • The working temple gate also helps keep unwanted visitors out.
  • Beware of that T-Rex! His moveable arms, legs, and jaw allow for realistic motion and make him one intimidating dino.
  • Use the functioning pulley to bring needed equipment up to the top floor. Kids can also use the included UV flashlight to reveal cool glow-in-the-dark features, such as the ruin’s crystal eyes, jungle plant, and more.
  • Set also includes the full Explorers team (Nick, Emma, Will, and their pet dog Sammy), T-Rex, laptop, camera, gold statue, microscope, backpacks, storage containers, hiking equipment, and other accessories.
  • Ages: 4+
  • MSRP: $49.99
  • Available: Amazon, Walmart

SQUIRRELS GO NUTS (SMART GAMES)

  • Help the squirrels get ready for winter! Can you move the squirrels around and hide their acorns underground?
  • Squirrels Go Nuts is a sliding puzzle game with 60 nutty challenges to test your skills.
  • Brain teasing fun for the whole family.
  • Portable game board with lid.
  • Ages: 6+
  • MSRP: $14.99
  • Available: Amazon

BEAKER CREATURES (LEARNING RESOURCES)

  • Beaker Creatures is a new line of science-themed collectibles from Learning Resources that combines the thrill of collecting with hands-on science experiments that build skills and spark curiosity.
  • Includes 35 collectible characters from five different families for children to discover, classify, and explore.
  • Beaker Creatures is founded in real science, from the fizzing Reactor Pods that reveal the creatures to the classification cards that help children identify their creatures.
  • Beaker Creatures sets also double as working lab sets, complete with included science experiments that encourage hands-on learning.
  • Each Beaker Creature also comes with facts and quizzes about real- world creatures and phenomena that sparks curiosity in the world around us.
  • Ages: 5+
  • MSRP: $24.99 for the complete Science Lab which includes two dissolvable collectible eggs / $4.99 for individual eggs
  • Available: Amazon

FEISTY PETS (JAZWARES)

  • Turn your sweet and innocent looking stuffed animal into a feisty pet by giving it a little squeeze behind the ears.
  • These pets have an endearing resting face and are great for cuddle time, and their animated alter ego is fun for play and to give your friends…or foes, an unexpected surprise!
  • Stuffed with polyester fibers and surface is washable.
  • Ages: 6+
  • MSRP: $19.99
  • Available: Amazon, Target, Walmart

BOXY GIRLS (JAY@PLAY)

  • Boxy Girls love shopping online for anything fashion – shoes, clothes, bags, makeup, jewelry and more! They can’t wait to receive their online orders in packages shipped right to the door!  Unbox the packages with Boxy Girls to discover tons of fashion surprises.
  • Each Boxy Girl comes with four packages to unbox. Unbox shoes, bags, makeup, and more!
  • Plus, get more package to unbox with the Boxy Girls Fashion Pack.  The fashion pack features six packages of fashion surprises to unbox, including clothing. Each package looks just like a real shipping box, it even includes a shipping label.
  • Experience the excitement as kids tear open the shipping tape to open the package, inside you’ll find your fashion surprises wrapped delicately in tissue paper and packing material.  Plus, you’ll find stickers and thank you notes inside.
  • Boxy Girls are 8 inches tall and feature five points of articulation.
  • There’s never enough stuff to unbox with Boxy Girls!
  • Ages: 6+
  • MSRP: Doll Set $14.99, Fashion Pack $9.99
  • Available: Walmart

About the author

Bill Reese

Bill Reese

Bill Reese is Business Operations Manager at Adventure Media & Events, where he's worked since 2014. A former editor at Playbill and graduate of SUNY–Purchase, he spends most weekends rooting for the New York Red Bulls pro soccer team and making subway systems out of Brio trains with his little boy Jonah.

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