Looking to grab some of the year’s hottest holiday toys while you still can? Toy Insider Senior Editor Marissa DiBartolo joined WBAL in Baltimore to show off some of 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.
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: $99.99
- Available: Amazon, Target, Toys “R” Us, Walmart
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+
- MSRP: $129.99
- Available: Amazon, Target, Toys “R” Us, Walmart, www.hasbrotoyshop.com
WHIPPLE STARTER SET (EPOCH EVERLASTING PLAY)
- Kids can squeeze, decorate and display with the Whipple Starter Set, which includes everything needed to create nine collectibles.
- Kids can whip the cream into elegant designs, and decorate with beads and rhinestones for creations that they can wear and share.
- Ages: 7+
- MSRP:$19.95
- Availability: Amazon
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.
- Ages: 5+
- MSRP: $9.99
- Available: Walmart
- Chippies are playful puppies who love to show off their many tricks. Kids can pet their heads for different reactions including sniffs, barks, puppy kisses, and even a sneeze.
- Use the remote control to make your pet dance, sing, chase its tail, or tell it which way to roll. Chippies can explore your room on their own or guard it from intruders using their sensors, and will also sing together as a pack. Chippies have bright LED eyes and posable hind legs.
- Ages: 5+
- MSRP: $39.99
- Available: Amazon, Target, Toys “R” Us
- Laser X is the ultimate high-tech game of tag! Blasters feature pinpoint accuracy up to 200 feet – day or night – and invisible 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 intel to offer tips and tricks throughout the game.
- Headphones (not included) can be plugged into the receiver vest, so players can listen to a stereo soundtrack while they play. This makes it feels like they’re inside a video game – or starring in an action movie!
- All Laser X sets work together so games can include an unlimited number of players. Play one-on-one, in teams, or set your blaster to “rogue” and it’s every man for himself!
- Blasters were designed to NOT look like handguns or rifles and to make futuristic sounds, not the sounds of gunfire.
- Ages: 6+
- MSRP: $49.99
- Available: Target, Toys “R” Us
