Looking for big holiday cheer on a small budget? Toy Insider Mom Laurie Schacht stopped by CBS in Atlanta to show off some wonderful toys for under $50. For more on the products featured in this segment, check out the items below, and for a full rundown of the best toys of the year, check out our complete holiday toy guide.
Peppa Pig’s Holiday Plane (Jazwares)
- Peppa and her family are flying through the sky on their way to a sunny holiday.
- Help Peppa up the stairs and into her seat, or flip down the pilot seat and give Mummy a turn to fly! Place both Peppa and Mummy’s suitcases in the cargo hold below, or press the window to activate sounds and songs, including Peppa’s “Flying High” song!
- Ages: 3+
- MSRP: $19.99
- Available: Amazon, Target, Toys R Us, Walmart
Hamsters in a House: Ultimate Hamster House (Zuru)
- Hamsters in a House creates hamster-sized worlds where fun, fuzzy, mini Hamsters buzz, scot, scurry, and zoom.
- Kids can customize the hamsters’ worlds for endless role-play fun.
- They can collect all nine adorable hamsters and all the different hamster houses.
- The Hamster House features all the luxuries for the hamster world, where hamsters can sleep, slide, exercise, and more with 16 interactive sounds to go with it.
- When kids place hamsters on hot spots throughout the house, fun phrases are activated.
- Ages: 4+
- MSRP: $29.99
- Available at: Toys “R” Us
- Available: Amazon, Target, Toys R Us, Walmart
Raph’s Ooze Booster (Toy State)
- Who’s ready to raise some shell?
- Press the button and watch as it speeds forward, pops a wheelie, and reveals a super-charged ooze rocket!
- Featuring exciting music, fighting sounds, and vocals.
- Ages: 3+
- MSRP: $19.99
- Available: Amazon, Toys “R” Us
- Kids can have hours of fun conversing with Michelangelo, the most fun-loving and energetic of all the turtles.
- One of the most intelligent Turtle toys ever, Talk-to-Me Mikey recognizes a child’s questions and responds in hundreds of unique ways in less than a second.
- The highly interactive Turtle features movement and position sensors to react hilariously based on how a child moves Mikey.
- Known for being the Turtle brother with the most enthusiasm, Mikey even sings songs and plays games with kids.
- Ages: 4+
- MSRP: $39.99
Gemmies Design Studio (Tech 4 Kids)
- Gemmies is a new craft and activity which allows kids to create their very own 3-D crystal gem creations!
- Through the simple steps of “Clip and Connect” with gems and bands, kids can create their own adorable crystal pets, animals, flowers and more.
- Gemmies Design studio includes storage for gems, light up display stands for your creations, and a design mat to master your creations.
- Ages: 6+
- MSRP: $24.99
- Available: Amazon, Toys “R” Us
VEX Robotics Zip Flyer (Hexbug)
- Ready? Set. Take to the sky! Introducing the VEX Robotics Zip Flyer, a re-envisioned take on airborne adventures.
- This robotic gadget is capable of shooting propellers over 30 feet in the air.
- Pull the zip-cord stick to release, the faster you pull, the higher they’ll go.
- The excitement doesn’t stop there, the VEX Robotics Zip Flyer can be built for both handheld and tabletop action; two ways to build, two ways to launch.
- Once it’s up and running, this model is fun for hours. Includes 3 propeller flyers.
- Challenge yourself and your friends, how far can you make your propellers travel?
- Ages: 14+
- MSRP: $12.99
- Available: Amazon, Target, Toys R Us
VEX Robotics Snapshot (Hexbug)
- Wield the power to defend your turf by building your own handheld space blaster!
- Sneak up on friend or foe with the VEX Robotics Snap Shot. Watch as the ammo drops down and secures into position. Lock target, aim, and send projectiles flying over ten feet for long-range attacks!
- Open construction with snap-together pieces allows for a glimpse at the planetary gears and real working shock absorber style springs.
- Learn how simple gear ratios and spring energy ensure that no one down range is safe.
- Assemble and annihilate. Includes 4 blaster balls.
- Ages: 14+
- MSRP: $19.99
- Available: Best Buy, Kmart, Target
- Illuminate the night with the Firetek Zyclone Zing-Ring Blaster!
- Load the Flyer on the hand-held launcher, pull back, twist and watch the Flyer light up the night, traveling up to 100 feet!
- The Zing-Ring Flyers are constructed of soft, durable foam for a safe spin and cool catches with amazing accuracy.
- This incredible blaster brings amazing fun with a twist!
- Ages: 6+
- MSRP: $29.99
- Available: Target