Looking for the most technologically advanced toys? Toy Insider Mom Laurie Schacht stopped by NBC 5 in Chicago to talk about the coolest new toys and games for your tiny techie. For more on the products featured in this segment, check out the notes below, and for more on the hottest new toys of the season be sure to view our Spring and Summer Toy Guide.


Tad’s Get Ready for School Book (LeapFrog)

  • Get ready for school with Tad’s Get Ready for School Book. This book contains twelve pages of fun learning and introduces ABCs, numbers 1-10, colors, animals, shapes, community, emotions and music.
  • Press the music button to hear six lyrical learning songs and watch the light flash along. Then, practice telling time by turning the hour hand on the clock.
  • The Get Ready for School Book covers core learning skills that expose kids to common topics they will learn as they enter preschool.
  • Age: 2+
  • MSRP: $21.99
  • Available: Amazon, Target, Toys “R” Us, Walmart

TEDDY RUXPIN (WICKED COOL TOYS)

  • The iconic, best-selling toy from the 1980s, who remains as one of history’s most successful, trusted and cherished children’s entertainment properties, is making a huge comeback for Fall 2017!
  • The new soft and cuddly 14-inch Teddy Ruxpin will have the core features and play patterns that parents and grandparents fondly remember, and will still read stories to children with a motorized mouth.
  • However, in this new version, fans of all ages will benefit from Bluetooth technology, LCD eyes with over 40 animated expressions that are synched to the stories, and touch sensors in the hands and vest that allow the child to start, pause and fast-forward through stories and songs.
  • Teddy will include three built-in stories with seven additional stories available for purchase through the free app.
  • Ages: 2+
  • MSRP: $99.99
  • Available: Amazon, Target, Toys “R” Us, Walmart

LEGO BOOST (LEGO)

  • LEGO BOOST is a supercharged building and coding set that lets kids bring their LEGO creations to life by adding sound, movement, and personality.
  • Powered by a Move Hub, a LEGO stud-covered brick upon which children can add LEGO elements, motors and a sensor that combines color and distance detection, LEGO BOOST brings movement to any LEGO creation.
  • The LEGO BOOST set includes instructions for five diverse models: Vernie The Robot, Frankie The Cat, the Guitar 4000, the Multi-Tool Rover 4 (M.T.R.4), and the Autobuilder, each designed to give children the basic skills to express their creativity by personalizing whatever they build.
  • Ages: 7-12
  • MSRP: $159.99
  • Available: shop.lego.com and LEGO brand retail stores

FINGERLINGS (WOWWEE)

  • Friendship at your fingertips! Fingerlings baby monkeys come to life with endless ways of play and realistic sounds to let you know how they are feeling.
  • These sweet and silly critters make happy monkey sounds, have adorable blinking eyes, head turns, plus hands that grip and a curly hanging tail.
  • You can swing them, pet them, kiss them, AND even rock them to sleep!
  • There are siix different Fingerlings to play, share, and collect.
  • Age: 5+
  • MSRP: $14.99
  • Available: Amazon, Target, Toys “R” Us, 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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