Looking for the inside scoop on the season’s hottest holiday toys? Toy Insider Senior Editor Marissa DiBartolo stopped by Fox 61 in Hartford to talk about the toys and gifts that your kids will be asking for this holiday 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 holidays, check out our complete holiday gift guide.
PEPPA PIG LIGHTS & SOUNDS FAMILY HOME (JAZWARES)
- Kids can enter this lovely 22-inch tall, four-story home with seven rooms and be Peppa’s guest in a home filled with adventure and fun.
- The playset inspired by the Nick Jr. TV show features three figures: Peppa Pig, George Pig, and Zoe Zebra.
- There are 13 accessories that bring the house to life with lights and charming sounds.
- Ages: 3+
- MSRP: $59.99
- Available: Amazon, Target, Toys “R” Us, Walmart
MICKEY TRANSFORMING ROADSTER RACER R/C (JADA TOYS)
- This R/C vehicle is based on the vehicles Mickey drives in the new cartoon Mickey and the Roadster Racers on Disney Jr.
- Jada’s R/C vehicle features Mickey’s two cars in one that can magically transform at the simple press of a button. In addition, the vehicle has lights, sound effects, and even Mickey’s voice.
- A fully functioning 2.4G R/C, this vehicle can go forward, backward, left, right, honk its horn, and transform all from the easy -to-hold remote.
- Ages: 4+
- MSRP: $39.99
- Available: Toys “R” Us, Walmart
SMOOSHY MUSHY PETS (REDWOODVENTURES)
- Smooshy Mushy from RedwoodVentures is part of the newest collectible craze, full of exciting, super squishy, slow-rise surprises.
- Each Smooshy Mushy series includes one of eight randomly assorted pets. Kids can unwrap the container to find out which scented Smooshy Mushy squishy surprise is inside.
- Every pet has a Bestie they can’t live without so kids should keep searching to find out, which tiny squishy “Bestie” is their pets BFF. Sets also come with a “what’s your smooshy name?” game, a nametag, mini container, stickers, and a collectible poster.
- For fall of ’17 kids can collect 24 food-themed Smooshy Mushy Pets to discover, squish, and trade with their friends.
- Age: 5+
- MSRP: $9.99
- Available: Walmart
CRAYOLA FASHION SUPERSTAR (CRAYOLA)
- With Crayola Fashion Superstar kids can bring their designs to life and create their own styles like a world famous fashion designer.
- Create 1000+ combinations of dresses, tops, skirts – and mix and match however you like! Build your own virtual closet!
- Enter fashion challenges to unlock new levels, win rewards and earn “likes” from other designers. Download the free app to get started.
- Share, like, and comment on designs with other fashion designers.
- Ages: 8+
- MSRP: $19.99
- Available: Amazon, Target, Toys “R” Us, Walmart
- SoundMoovz is a motion-activated electronic device that plays cool music and special effect sounds as users move.
- Kids can experience the excitement by moving, dancing, and creating unique musical beats
- The device uses Bluetooth technology, just simply power on for pairing, download the free app, choose over 400 sounds, and start the fun.
- The product comes with two special bands that users wear to enable the device.
- Layer your beat onto a song. There are multiple sound modes including Robot, Karate, Instrumental, and Musical
- Ages: 8+
- MSRP: $69.99
- Available: Amazon, Target, Toys “R” Us, Walmart, Best Buy
WATCH YA MOUTH THROWDOWN (BUFFALO GAMES)
- Watch Ya’ Mouth Throwdown is a mouthguard party game that pits players against their friends in a head-to-head competition of skill and audacity.
- A companion to the authentic Watch Ya Mouth game which originally launched on Kickstarter, “Throwdown” goes beyond simply attempting to read and interpret phrases, and encourages players to compete in over 100 unique challenges to perform while hampered by cheek retractors.
- Roll the challenger dice to determine who the next opponent is, draw a challenge card from the deck, and follow the instructions.
- The game includes 100 Challenge Cards and 40 Phrase Cards, and is good for groups of two to six players.
- Ages: 8+
- MSRP: $24.99
- Available: Amazon, Target, Toys “R” Us, Meijer
- Aura is a gesture-controlled drone that uses patented Gesturebotics technology powered by LocoRobo.
- The wearable glove controller will have users feeling like superheroes – the drone is controlled by hand motions made while wearing the glove.
- Kids can fly Aura up and down, forward and backward, and even perform tricks like a sideways flip.
- Aura puts the power in kids’ hands, removing the learning curve of using a joystick controller to pilot their flying robot.
- Ages: 7+
- MSRP: $99.99
- Available: Target, Toys “R” Us, Best Buy
