Looking to find the gifts that all the kids are looking for? Toy Insider’s Chief Toy Officer Laurie Schacht stopped by The Morning Show on Global News in Canada to talk about the year’s hottest holiday toys. For more on the items featured in this segment, check out the product notes below, and for the complete rundown of the best toys of the holiday season, be sure to check our complete Toy Insider Holiday Gift Guide.


STROLL & DISCOVER ACTIVITY WALKER (VTECH ELECTRONICS)

  • From floor play to first steps, the Stroll & Discover Activity Walker grows with your little one.
  • The easy-to-remove activity panel is great for floor play and is packed with features.
  • Five light-up piano keys introduce colors and numbers, while spinning gears and a removable cell phone help develop fine motor skills.
  • Meet six friendly animals by inserting the three shape sorter pieces, pressing the puppy button, sliding the mouse, or batting the bird to hear their unique voices and sounds.
  • Attach the panel to the adjustable two-speed walker as little ones grow, and watch them go!
  • The legs fold for easy storage.
  • Ages: 9 MOS.+
  • MSRP: $39.99
  • Available: Amazon, Walmart, Target
  • Canada: CAD $49.99, major Canadian retailers

Y GLIDER XL DELUXE (YVOLUTION)

  • With ultra modern design features and a revolutionary folding system, a smooth and cool ride is always guaranteed with the Y Glider XL Deluxe.
  • Yvolution’s unique, three-level steering system gives the rider total control to carve or cruise depending on their skill level.
  • The reinforced riding deck with raised, built-in grips and extra wide rear wheel offers an easy to control and safe ride.
  • It comes with an adjustable handlebar to suit all heights and an accessory slot for a range of awesome accessories including safety lights and storage baskets.
  • Suggested maximum of 110 lbs
  • Ages: 5+
  • MSRP: $89.99
  • Available: yvolution.com, Amazon, Walmart (NEON Glider), Kohl’s (Glider 4.0)
  • Canada: CAD $119.99 at TRU Canada

CLASSIC COLORFORMS PICTURE PANELS PLAY SETS (KAHOOTZ)

  • Build colorful themed scenes and puzzles, mix and match over 150 Colorforms pieces to create endless creatures and scenes, then re-stick the shapes to imagine your own stories over and over again!
  • Double-sided Picture Panels enhance creative storytelling with colorful play scenes on one side and fun puzzles on the back.
  • Each Picture Panel also features magnetic edges that connect together to expand and connect your Colorform worlds… panels even stick to the refrigerator to display your creations!
  • The sturdy storage box doubles as a 3D play tray.
  • Choose from Animals, Vehicles, House, Food, School, and Town.
  • Ages: 3+
  • MSRP: $24.99
  • Available: Amazon, Specialty toy stores
  • Canada: CAD $32.55 at Amazon CA, Walmart CA

BOXER (SPIN MASTER)

  • Boxer is an interactive robot with a lively personality with dynamic moods that evolve over time.
  • He has tons of play right out of the box, as well as a lot of awesome tech features including multiple IR sensors, internal rechargeable battery, touch sensors, and more.
  • Kids can have Boxer roll over and scan the different game-activating cards to play soccer, have a dance party, bowl, and more with their robot friend.
  • The Boxer app offers additional  games to extend the play and keep kids coming back for more. The more they play the more they’ll unlock!
  • Includes: an AI Boxer robot, 10 game activating feature cards, an IR remote control, an interactive ball accessory, and a USB charging cable
  • Ages: 6+
  • MSRP: $79.99
  • Available: Amazon, Target, Walmart
  • Canada: CAD $99.99 at Walmart, Toys “R” Us, Amazon.ca

COTTON CANDY MAKER (CRA-Z-ART)

  • Real cotton candy maker makes real cotton candy out of regular sugar.
  • Comes with Lite up wand that makes the cotton candy glow.
  • Make Cotton Candy whenever you want it.
  • Great for parties.
  • Easy to follow instructions.
  • Unit breaks down for easy cleaning. 
  • Ages: 10+
  • MSRP: $37.49
  • Available: Amazon, Target
  • Canada: CAD $85.07 at Amazon CA

PLAYMOBIL ADVENT CALENDAR “SANTA’S WORKSHOP” (PLAYMOBIL)

  • Looks like the elves are busy getting ready for Christmas! The Advent Calendar, “Santa’s Workshop,” contains twenty-four surprise items for each day leading up to Christmas, including an electric lantern (battery included).
  • Once all the pieces are revealed, help Santa load the sleigh to deliver the toys!
  • Includes backdrop, four figures, sleigh, workbench, reindeer, slide, bike, tons of toys, and plenty of other accessories.
  • Ages: 4+   
  • MSRP: $24.99
  • Canada: CAD $39.99 at Walmart CA, Amazon CA at Amazon.ca

LASER X FUSION (NSI)

  • Fusion is a modular system that lets you customize your gear to fit your game.
  • The Fusion Set comes with two fusion blasters and accessories that can be used by one person OR shared by two players.
  • It comes with a front vest receiver and a micro receiver that can be worn as an armband or back vest. Separate them for 2 players, or one player can wear both. While the micro receiver is smaller, both receivers are equally as effective.
  • Kids do not have to hit the receiver precisely to score a hit. The area right around the receiver registers the hit, too.
  • When both vests are worn together, the micro receiver activates a “Blast Blocker” that offers three seconds of “invincibility,” where you can’t get hit. You can use this feature every 10 seconds. To activate, just press your front receiver.  
  • Fusion comes with everything you need for short- and long-range play.
  • All additional Laser X accessories are sold separately.
  • Ages: 6+
  • MSRP: $79.99 for the complete set
  • Available: Target, Meijer, walmart.com and getlaserx.com
  • Canada: CAD $99.97 for complete set, Walmart CA

FAST & FURIOUS DRIFT RC (JADA TOYS)

  • Filled with cool cars, chart-topping music, and a high-octane attitude, Fast & Furious, the explosively popular franchise built on speed, continues to fuel the car culture craze. It has become Universal’s biggest franchise of all time. Bring these vehicles to life with four-wheeled die-cast replicas.
  • These all new Drift RCs that feature real sideways drifting action.
  • Also includes a Turbo Button on the 2.4 GHz Hobby style controller, extra set of tires with Easy Mount Design included and HyperCharger USB charging technology.
  • Available in Hans Mazda RX and Brian’s Nissan Skyline GRT.
  • Ages: 8+
  • MSRP: $39.99
  • Available: Silver Skyline at Target, Orange Rx7 at Walmart
  • Canada: CAD $59.97 at Walmart CA

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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