Not sure what to get all the little ones on your holiday shopping list? Toy Insider Associate Editor Maddie Michalik stopped by CTV’s Your Morning to talk about some of the year’s hottest toys and games. 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.


FINGERLINGS (WOWWEE)

  • Fingerlings baby monkeys come to life with endless ways of play and realistic sounds to let kids know how they are feeling. Kids can wrap them on their finger to have a new friend at their fingertips.
  • These silly critters have happy monkey sounds, blinking eyes, heads that turn, hands that grip, and a curly hanging tail.
  • Kids  can swing them, pet them, kiss them, and even rock them to sleep.
  • There are six different Fingerlings to play, share, and collect.
  • Ages: 5+
  • MSRP: $19.99 CDN

LATCHKITS CRAFT KITS (KAHOOTZ)

  • The classic latch hook craft kit is back as LatchKits are a fun and easy-to-learn craft—just loop, hook, and pull.
  • Everything kids need is included: the handy latch hook tool, pre-cut yarn and color-coded, easy-to-follow canvas make getting started on a project a snap.
  • The sturdy canvas features fabric-lined edges and hanging loops to create soft and fuzzy design that’s ready to hang on the wall or use as a mini-rug.
  • Available in Unicorn or Rainbow designs.
  • Features repetitive motions, helpful for kids with special needs in a creative toy.
  • Age: 6+
  • MSRP: $24.99 CDN

PLAY-DOH TOUCH SHAPE TO LIFE STUDIO (HASBRO)

  • Open a Can of Imagination! Create a world of hands-on adventures and see Play-Doh creations come to life in ways never imagined before. To start, simply download the Play-Doh Touch app, shape a Play-Doh creation, place it on the Shape to Life Studio, and scan it with your tablet or smartphone. The creation will come to life on screen, ready to explore!
  • With the digital character stampers, create new friends that will unlock their own unique worlds and personalities when scanned into the app. Scan more creations made with the digital action stampers to see the surprising effects they have on other creations in the app. Keep shaping and scanning more creations with the cutters and tools to customize and enhance the world.
  • Even when the Play-Doh creations go back in the can, save them in the app to play another day. Interactive adventures await!
  • Age: 3+
  • $16.96 CDN

BEASTS OF BALANCE (SENSIBLE OBJECT)

  • This fun new interactive game combines your favorite aspects of JENGA and augmented reality.
  • 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: $129 CDN

EXIT: THE GAME (THAMES & KOSMOS)

  • The hit Escape-Room concept for home use. Party game for up to six players. You must solve a series of riddles and puzzles to escape from a room. Each correct solution brings you to another riddle. How fast can you escape the room?
  • Available now in three versions: Pharaoh’s Tomb, Secret Lab, and Abandoned Cabin.
  • Each unique game involves strategy, skill, and teamwork.
  • Age: 12+
  • MSRP: $22 CDN

FISHER-PRICE LAUGH & LEARN FIRST WORDS SMART PUPPY (FISHER-PRICE)

  • The Laugh & Learn First Words Smart Puppy introduces little ones first words with fun songs, sounds, phrases, and exciting hands-on activities.
  • Interactive Puppy magically unlocks learning content for the entire First Words collection.
  • Includes 8 starter blocks that help teach baby everyday first words. Smart Stages block reader reads a word when baby swipes or places a block, unlocking different levels of learning.
  • Light-up shape buttons teach shapes, colors and more. Press Puppy’s nose for light and music, send blocks down the chute for fine motor development.
  • Features tactile elements.
  • Age: 9 to 36 months
  • MSRP: $49.99 CDN

FISHER-PRICE THINK & LEARN TEACH ‘N TAG MOVI (MATTEL)

Teach ‘n Tag Movi is an interactive learning buddy that gets kids up and moving while developing gross motor skills, listening skills and ability to follow directions

  • 3 modes of play featuring 6 interactive games: Alpha Fun Actions: Animal Actions & Movi Says, Think & Move Shapes: Shape Moves & Step-by-Step, and Learn & Play Games: Red Light/Green Light & Silly Sounds Tag.
  • 360-degree mobility, top 2 buttons can be used for child input/indicator.
  • Fun facial expressions correspond with movement and gameplay.
  • Age: 3+
  • MSRP: $69.99 CDN

TEDDY RUXPIN (WICKED COOL TOYS)

  • Parents and grandparents will remember everyone’s favorite storytelling bear from the 1980s.
  • Introducing the new 14-inch Teddy Ruxpin animatronic bear. He’s totally lovable, and brings magic and friendship to storytime with oodles of interactive technologies and features.
  • Teddy Ruxpin enjoys telling tales and singing songs with friends, making him the perfect companion for both little ones who love hearing stories, as well as older children just starting out on their reading journey.
  • He has colored LCD eyes with more than 40 different animations, and an animatronic mouth that syncs to Teddy’s speech.
  • Touch sensors allow kids to control the story and songs.
  • Teddy features three original pre-loaded stories, including seven sing-along songs.
  • There are two Modes of Play: with or without the free Teddy Ruxpin app (app is secondary). View the digital books to read along with Teddy using the storytime app, or kids can enjoy listening to TR’s stories without the app, anytime anywhere.
  • Ages: 2+
  • MSRP: $149.99 CDN
  • Available: Amazon, Target, Toys “R” Us, Walmart

MOONLITE (SPIN MASTER)

  • Your child’s favorite tales come alive with Moonlite, an easy-to-use storybook projector! This small device clips onto your smartphone (not included) and uses its flashlight to project vibrant storybook images onto any surface!
  • While projecting the storybook images, the Moonlite app displays story text and plays charming sound effects, creating an immersive and magical story time experience for you and your child.
  • The Moonlite Gift Pack comes with 4 story reels from The Little Golden Books series and one BONUS Sago Mini story reel! Classics include, The Poky Little Puppy, The Shy Little Kitten, The Saggy Baggy Elephant and The Tawny Scrawny Lion. Introduce your child to the classics from The Little Golden Books series, and encourage a love of reading that will last a lifetime!
  • Moonlite is for newborns, babies, toddlers, kids and adults who love to read! No batteries required. Compatible with most major smartphones.
  • Age: 3+
  • MSRP: $49.99 CDN

PIKMI POPS SURPRISE PACK (MOOSE TOYS)

  • Pikmi Pops is the only brand that combines collectible scented plush with a range of fun mystery items packaged inside an iconic lollipop vessel!
  • The Surprise Pack include 2 adorable scented Pikmi plush, 3 mystery items, 2 secret messages, and a collector’s guide…it’s totally blind so you never know what you’re going to get!
  • Each adorable plush delivers a sweet surprise in terms of material finishes, scent, levels of rarity, and mystery items.
  • The lollipop vessel is fun, fresh and iconic, and designed with bright colors & graphics to “pop” on shelf.
  • Age: 5+
  • MSRP: $8.99 for Single Pack; $14.99 for Surprise Pack; $26.99 for Jumbo Plush CDN

SQUISH-DEE-LISH (JAKKS PACIFIC)

  • Squish-Dee-Lish are super cute slow-rise squishies that are fun to squeeze and to collect.
  • Series 1 combines adorable animals with dee-lish foods and has 24 styles to collect.
  • Designs include a panda on top of pancakes, a sherbert bird, a pear bear, and so many more!
  • Each blind foil bag contains one squishy.
  • Age: 6+
  • MSRP: $7.99 each

NEON FLASH SCOOTER (YVOLUTION)

  • This kids scooter gives a quiet ride and with flare. Glide in lights with the cool LED deck and motion-powered wheels.
  • The neon under glow is reflected onto the deck from the dynamic ultra-bright LED wheels which light up as soon as they take off.
  • This strong and durable scooter with a lightweight aluminum frame is perfect for quick and easy transportation.
  • Age: 5+
  • MSRP: $129.99 CDN

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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