Not sure what to get the kids on your holiday shopping list? Toy Insider Senior Editor Marissa DiBartolo stopped by Western Mass News to show off some great toy ideas that would make great gifts for any kid. 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 holidays, check out our complete holiday gift guide.


ROCKIN’ RIDER BABY ROCKER (TEK NEK TOYS)

  • Rockin’ Rider Baby Rockers are soft stuffed plush rocking animals with a padded safety seat that assists with sitting up and maintaining balance. On the back of their heads are four colorful shape buttons that play four lullaby melodies including the “I’m a Little Pony” song, “Rockabye Baby,” and “Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star”.
  • Your child will love the friendly, cuddly design. Other features include crinkle material and rattles for tactile play, natural wood rocking base with foot steps, and wood handles.
  • Available models include Horses and Elephant, Ladybug, Lamb, Dragon, Teddy Bear, and Butterfly.
  • Some assembly is required. Requires 2 AA batteries, included. Baby Rockers hold up to 40 lbs.
  • Ages: 1-3
  • MSRP: $79.99 – $89.99
  • Available: Amazon, BuyBuyBaby.com, Hayneedle.com, ToysRUs.com, Walmart.com, Wayfair.com

LEGO CREATIVE BRICKS SET (LEGO)

  • Unleash a world of open-ended creativity and imagination with the 900 piece LEGO Classic Creative Box. Imaginative building play is easy with these bright, colorful and versatile LEGO bricks in 39 colors. There are wheels, doors, windows, and eyes and a mix of special elements, plus an inspirational guide with building instructions and ideas that will help your child discover their creative building skills. This set provides 3 levels of building complexity and makes a great addition to existing LEGO sets.
  • Ages: 4+
  • MSRP: $39.99
  • Available: lego.com, Walmart

 

MAYKA TOY BLOCK TAPE (ZURU)

  • Viral sensation Nimuno Loops, the original toy block tape,  is now in collaboration with the Zuru’s Mayka Toy Block Tape construction brand. The product originally launched on Indiegogo, raising over $1.6 million dollars in crowdfunding in just 30 days and has been billed as one of ‘2017’s greatest inventions,’ revolutionizing the way construction bricks are played with.
  • Mayka Tape transforms virtually any surface into a base for construction toy bricks and figures. One side features a bendable, flexible surface with a toy block pattern that is compatible with LEGO toys and other toy construction brands and can be cut to any desired size. The other side has a re-usable adhesive backing to allow builders to construct on nearly any object, around corners and on curved surfaces to make 3D creations.
  • Each roll will feature an exciting new way to play with Mayka Tape. The line will comprise of 3 core sizes – Small (2 stud / 3.3 ft), Medium (2 stud / 6.6 ft) and Large (4 stud / 6.6 ft) – in 10 popular base colors.
  • Ages: 3+
  • MSRP: Small – $6.99; Medium – $9.99; Large – $14.99
  • Available: Amazon, Target, Toys “R” Us, Walmart

FLIPAZOO DISNEY (JAY@PLAY)

  • The best-selling FlipaZoo brand now comes in your favorite Disney characters! Each fun-stuffed toy features two fluffy Disney Characters that flip back and forth for two sides of fun! It’s so simple and easy to do. Discover the complete collection of Disney characters including Mickey & Minnie Mouse, Iron Man & Spiderman, Pumba & Simba and so much more.
  • Ages: 3+
  • MSRP: $15.88
  • Available: Walmart

BREAK FREE (YULU)

  • Break Free from YULU Toys is a new, challenging action skill game full of urgency, suspense and tons of fun. The objective: players must race to pick the lock on their handcuff as quickly as possible and before everyone else.
  • Players are handcuffed together and insert a maze into each handcuff.
  • Includes three maze colors; each represents a different level of difficulty, making each round unpredictable.
  • Using a pick lock, players have to pick the lock as quickly as possible.
  • Each game comes with tokens that correspond with the different colored mazes and has points on the back.
  • Each player will receive a token after each round in the order they released themselves from the handcuffs.
  • The player with the most points at the end of three rounds wins the game.
  • Ages: 6+
  • MSRP: $19.99
  • Available: Target

SUPER WUBBLE BRITE (NSI INTERNATIONAL)

  • It looks like a bubble, plays like a ball—and now it lights up the night. It’s Super Wubble Brite: the light-up, color-changing Wubble.
  • Squeeze it, whack it, throw it, bounce it—even sit on it! It floats, wobbles, dribbles, spins, and smashes, all while putting on an amazing light show.
  • When you kick, bounce or throw a Wubble, it wobbles like a bubble and doesn’t stay perfectly round.
  • Made from a squishy, squashy, super soft and lightweight Xpandium, Super Wubble Brite can be inflated to a gigantic 2.5 feet tall and changes from red to blue to green—and all the colors in between.
  • It’s fun to play with in the dark, indoors or out, all year-round.
  • Super Wubble is designed to be four times stronger and more tear-resistant than the original.
  • Ages: 6+
  • MSRP: $24.99
  • Available: Target, Toys “R” Us, WubbleBall.com

YUMMY NUMMIES MARSHMALLOW TREATS MAKER (BLIP TOYS)

  • Kids can create gooey, tasty treats with the Yummy Nummies Marshmallow Treats Maker.
  • Mix the ingredients, make different shapes using the tray, and decorate with fudge frosting and sprinkles. The Marshmallow Treats Maker comes with everything kids need to make 20 mini marshmallow treats. No heat required.
  • Ages: 6+
  • MSRP: $19.99
  • Available: Target, Toys “R” Us, Walmart

BEASTS OF BALANCE (SENSIBLE OBJECT)

  • This fun new interactive game combines your favorite aspects of JENGA and Pokemon GO.
  • Beasts of Balance is a true testament to kids’ stacking ability.
  • As you build the tower, connect each piece to the play pilth and watch the creatures come to life in the connected app through innovative AR technology.
  • Physical and digital gaming meet in an interactive cooperative experience.
  • Bringing Augmented Reality to a tabletop format.
  • Great for party games with friends and family.
  • Beautifully designed game pieces.
  • Ages: 7+
  • MSRP: $99
  • Available: Amazon; Specialty, Apple, CE

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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