Looking for the inside scoop on the hottest toys of the year? Toy Insider Mom Laurie Schacht stopped by The Morning Show on Global News in Canada to talk about the year’s most in-demand 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.
IMAGINE: POWER & PLAY MOTORIZED 50 MODEL BUILDING SET (K’NEX)
- The Power & Play Motorized Building Set comes with 50 unique building ideas and a reuseable storage box.
- Kids can use the included full-color instructions to construct cars, planes, robots and more, or use their imaginations to create their own exciting model.
- Includes more than 530 classic made-in-the-U.S. pieces.
- Ages: 7+
- Canadian MSRP: $49.99
- Available: Amazon, knex.com
FURREAL ROARIN’ TYLER, THE PLAYFUL TIGER (HASBRO)
- Kids can bring home an adorable baby tiger to love, play with, and care for as their own.
- Make a noise or give a loud jungle roar and Tyler will roar back in response.
- Kids can enjoy playtime with him using his play chicken.
- Tyler features more than 100 sound and motion combinations with sensors on his forehead, back, and muzzle allowing him to respond to touch in fun ways.
- Kids can pull him up close to snuggle thanks to his posable back legs, or nuzzle his cheek and he’ll respond with expressive eyes, sounds and tail movements.
- Ages: 4+
- Canadian MSRP: $179.99
- Available: Toys “R” Us, Walmart
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.
- Ages: 5+
- Canadian MSRP: Pikmi Pops Line: $8.99-$19.99
- Available: Toys “R” Us, Amazon
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: 3+
- Canadian MSRP: $150
- Available: Amazon, Target, Toys “R” Us, Walmart
WHIPPLE DELUXE SET (EPOCH EVERLASTING PLAY)
- Squeeze, decorate and display with Whipple! The Whipple Deluxe sets offers endless hours of creating collectibles to wear and share.
- Design up to 13 different keepsakes including rings, key chains and more!
- Whip the creme into elegant designs, and decorate with beads and rhinestones for creations that you can wear and share!
- Ages: 7+
- Canadian MSRP: $29.99
- Availability: Amazon
LASER X LONG RANGE BLASTER (NSI INTERNATIONAL)
- Take the ultimate high-tech game of tag to new heights with the Laser X Long-Range Blaster. Featuring 25-shot rapid fire, LED spotting scope and super-fast reload, the Long-Range Blaster has pinpoint accuracy up to 400 feet.
- Compatible with all other Laser X gear, it allows for more challenging games in larger spaces. Safe infrared beams can go through windows and bounce off walls and mirrors to hit opponents. Advanced sensors know when players are blasting, being hit, running or hiding, and an interactive voice coach uses this information to offer tips and tricks throughout the game.
- Ages: 6+
- Canadian MSRP: $49.99
- Available: Target, Toys “R” Us
NIKKO AIR ELITE 115 RACE SET (TOY STATE)
- Part of a debut line of Nikko Air racing drones, the first and only co-branded drones designed expressly for consumers.
- New pilots can master the drone racing skills they need to fly to the next level with this new racer. The set even lets them create custom courses and challenge friends to a race.
- Modular gate system and accessories included.
- Ages: 8+
- Canadian MSRP: $76.88
RAZOR HOVERTRAX 2.0 (RAZOR USA)
- Step on the deck and go with Razor Hovertrax 2.0, a self-balancing electric scooter.
- Engineered with EverBalance technology and machined with precision Razor craftsmanship, Hovertrax 2.0 is the only board that auto-levels for a safer, easier mount and a smoother ride.
- Whether you’re coasting, racing, or commuting, Hovertrax 2.0 is always in balance.
- Ages: 8+
- Canadian MSRP: $649.99
- Available: toysrus.ca
