Summer’s here and it’s time for kids to get outside and play. Toy Insider Mom Laurie Schacht stopped by CityLine to show off the best new toys and games for the summer. 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 season, check out our Spring and Summer gift guide.
FISHER-PRICE POWER WHEELS DUNE RACER EXTREME (MATTEL)
- Ruts, wet grass and mud are no match for this Power Wheels Dune Racer Extreme battery-operated ride-on.
- Its Monster Traction drive system is designed to navigate rough terrain and common backyard bumps like tree roots, ruts, driveway edges and garden hoses without getting stuck.
- And with a spacious open cockpit design and two seats, there’s room to bring a friend along on all your adventures.
- Drives 2.5 and 5 mph forward and 2.5 mph in reverse.
- This battery-powered ride-on is constructed with a sturdy steel frame that supports up to 130 pounds of weight.
- The metal sidebars provide stable hand supports, while the vehicle’s interior features smooth contours and rounded edges to protect against cuts and scratches.
- And the vehicle’s specially designed Power-Lock braking system automatically stops the vehicle when the foot is removed from the pedal.
- High speed lock-out – controlled by parents.
- MSRP: CAD $429.99
- Available: Amazon
BRIGHT LIGHTS SOCCER BALL (VTECH)
- Kick up some fun with this lovable and huggable soft soccer ball! Left or right, up or down, roll the Bright Lights Soccer Ball all around to hear music and sounds and listen to the friendly ball encourage playtime.
- This brightly colored soccer ball shares encouraging phrases and teaches about colors and sportsmanship.
- Kids can press the happy light-up face button to hear playful phrases and three songs that introduce opposites and numbers.
- They can also kick, pass or shake the ball to activate the motion sensor and hear fun sounds and music, or touch the soft crinkly hands and give the ball a hug.
- Age: 6-36 months
- MSRP: CAD $19.99
- Available: Walmart, Amazon, London Drugs, Indigo.ca
BUILD A BOT (BASIC FUN)
- Build A Bot takes the love kids have for tech pets to another level by adding the fun and creativity of customization!
- An easy click-and-create system lets kids put together their very own pet, while secretly learning about robotics!
- Each Build A Bot set comes with all the pieces needed to assemble and decorate their pet, then watch it come to life just by using a magnetic accessory or clapping their hands to train it to walk, jump and play!
- Styles include a unicorn, puppy, and bunny with over twenty pieces each.
- Age: 5+
- MSRP: CAD $24.99 for Build A Bot, $9.99 for Mini Build A Bot (Inchworm and Gecko)
- Available: Toys “R” Us Canada
SLIMYGLOOP (HORIZON GROUP)
- Make Your Own Galaxy Slimygloop brand slime is an otherworldly sensory experience! Explore a non-Newtonian fluid, one that acts as both a solid and a liquid, through the combination of simple ingredients.
- Apply pressure like poking or squeezing and it feels hard, like a solid. Pour it onto a surface and it flows like a liquid.
- Add a dash of glitter to make your Slimygloop sparkle, mix and twist the colours together, or fold in your own embellishments! Some glow in the dark, some are glittery, some are crunchy and textured.
- Creating Slimygloop is a fun, hands-on way to introduce kids to chemistry, practice simple math and explore creative compounds.
- Available in Rainbow, Space, Galaxy, Crunchy, Glow in the Dark, Unicorn, Lava.
- Age: 12+
- MSRP: CAD $6.97 – $7.99
- Available: Walmart, Party City
NANO METALFIGS (JADA TOYS)
- Each figure is 1.65-inch scale and 100 percent die-cast metal with premium metallic paints and weighing about 24-30g each.
- They’re sold in single packs, 5-packs, 10-packs, and 20-packs with the 5 and 10 packs offering exclusive figures.
- Age: 3+
- MSRP: CAD $1.47 single, $6.97 5-packs
- Available: Walmart
HOLLYWOOD RIDES (JADA TOYS)
- Jada takes iconic Hollywood film and television vehicles from both the past and present and brings them to life with four-wheeled diecast replicas.
- Each vehicle features a die-cast body and rubber tires and is a must have in any pop culture collection. Collect them all today!
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- Opening hood, doors, trunk. Exterior styling directly from the movies.
- 1:24 scale diecast collectible model car.
- These cars are are between 7.5- and 8.5- x 3.25- x 2.5-Inch die cast metal car with opening doors.
- Batmobiles include a 2.75-Inch die-cast Batman figure.
- Age: 8+
- MSRP: CAD $19.97 – $29.97
- Available: Walmart Canada
BEACH BASKET (AMERICAN PLASTIC TOYS)
- No more dragging around bags of toys to the beach. All the beach essentials are packed into this easily portable, simple Beach Basket from American Plastic Toys.
- For a great value, this beach basket comes with everything kids need to make an outstanding sand castle: buckets, shovel, and tropical fish molds.
- The top of the basket can also be used to sift through sand and perhaps find a hidden treasure!
- When the day is done, just pack everything back up in the basket for a quick clean up.
- Age: 1.5+
- MSRP: CAD $9.99
- Available: Walmart Canada, Loblaws
9” BARNYARD FRIENDS CUTIES (WICKED COOL TOYS)
- For Spring 2018, the all-new Barnyard Friends Cuties are soft, cuddly and dressed as everyone’s favorite farm animals, including a cow, chicken, pig, bunny, puppy, and lamb.
- Each Cutie has its own name, is numbered and retired for enhanced collectability.
- Cuties are wearing a snuggly onesie with a removable hood and fresh baby powder scent! Little ones will love to collect them all!
- Age: 18 months+
- MSRP: CAD $19.99
- Available: Amazon, Canadian Tire
AQUALIENS TRANSFORMING SEA CREATURES (SWIMWAYS)
- The first water-activated transforming dive toy, Aqualiens come alive from a pod into a shark or seahorse as they fall through the water!
- Simply toss the pod into the water to see it morph into a sea creature.
- These transforming dive toys are great for everyday fun at the pool, entertaining kids at pool parties and for encouraging kids during swim training practice.
- Available in bright colors and sold individually.
- Assortment includes two sharks (blue and red) and two seahorses (pink and aqua).
- Age: 5+
- MSRP: CAD $9.99
- Availability: Amazon, Canadian Tire
- Pomsies are loveable, and fashionable interactive plush pets that you can wear and take anywhere. Inspired by the pom-pom fashion trend, each Pomsies pet has a soft, cuddly fur face and tail you can wrap around your wrist, hair, backpack, clothing, and more – they are the ultimate accessory!
- Pomsies are interactive with two modes of play – Virtual Pet Mode and Freeze Dance Mode.
- They will tell you when they are happy, sleepy, or hungry with eyes that light up in different colors and adorable sounds
- In freeze dance mode, you can shake and dance your Pomsie to the beat of the music. The faster you shake and dance, the faster the music plays. Freeze when you hear the whistle.
- Pomsies can have up to 50 different reactions with sounds only you can make happen.
- There are six characters in the first Series.
- Age: 4+
- MSRP: CAD $19.99
- Available: Mass retailers
PARTY POPTEENIES (SPIN MASTER)
- Party Popteenies is the doll brand that turns everyday experiences into parties full of celebration and surprises.
- Party elements in product and packaging.
- Season 1: Surprise Party! The dolls come styled for all three surprise parties: Rainbow unicorn, cutie animal, and winter wonderland.
- Surprise Popper includes one doll, one hair accessory, one-two party accessories, themed confetti, and a collector’s poster. Has a blind pop and reveal experience. 25 to collect in Series One.
- Double Surprise Popper includes one doll with exclusive glitter deco, one pet, one hair accessory, many party acceories, chip décor, collector’s sheet, themed stickers, and confetti.
- Party Surprise Box includes one doll, one pet, one hair accessory, three furniture pieces, many party accessories, mini popper with confetti, stickers, collector sheet, and chip décor. Gift box style packaging with unique reveals. Package converts into a playset and flaps close to take on the go.
- Poptastic Party Playset includes exclusive “surprise guest” doll, a photo booth with swappable backgrounds, a spinning dance floor, a moving elevator, and party accessories packed out in mini gift boxes for more reveals.
- Age: 3+
- MSRP: CAD $5.24 for Surprise Popper, $10 for Double Surprise Popper, $19.99 for Party Surprise Box, $29.99 for Poptastic Party Playset
BEAKER CREATURES (LEARNING RESOURCES)
- Beaker Creatures is a new line of science-themed collectibles from Learning Resources that combines the thrill of collecting with hands-on science experiments that build skills and spark curiosity.
- Beaker Creatures is the only collectible line that incorporates hands- on learning through science experiments.
- Includes 35 collectible characters from five different families for children to discover, classify, and explore.
- Beaker Creatures is founded in real science, from the fizzing Reactor Pods that reveal the creatures to the classification cards that help children identify their creatures.
- Beaker Creatures sets also double as working lab sets, complete with included science experiments that encourage hands-on learning.
- Each Beaker Creature also comes with facts and quizzes about real- world creatures and phenomena that sparks curiosity in the world around us.
- Age: 5+
- MSRP: CAD $24.99 for the complete Science Lab which includes two dissolvable collectible eggs / $4.99 for individual eggs
- Available: Indigo
PJ MASKS CATBOY CAT CAR RIDE-ON (JAKKS PACIFIC)
- The Catboy Cat Car Ride-On is a uniquely sculpted ride-on which features custom stylization of Catboy’s vehicle from the show.
- The iconic one-time snap push bar handle has two buttons that activate the PJ Masks theme song and sound effects.
- This super cool ride-on also features favourite characters from the show on the front, comfortable sculpted seat and extra wide wheels to help with stability.
- Age: 2+
- MSRP: CAD $49.99 – $59.99
4-IN1 STROLL & GROW TEK TRIKE (VTECH ELECTRONICS)
- Ride in style for years to come with the 4-in-1 Stroll & Grow Tek Trike by VTech.
- This sturdy trike is perfect for children from nine months to six years old because it transforms through four different stages and includes an electronic panel that features kid-friendly riding content that changes in each stage.
- Easily transform the trike from the parent controlled stroller mode, to training mode, trike mode, and then drifting mode as your child enhances motor skills and confidence.
- The electronic panel features an LED screen and allows your little rider to explore left and right directions, reinforce road safety and encourage role-play.
- The trike includes accessories that are removable and allow for easy transitions between stages.
- Age: 9 months-6 years
- MSRP: CAD $149.99
- Available: Amazon, Walmart, Indigo.ca, Loblaw
SCHWINN SLIK CHIK (SCHWINN)
- 26-inch cruiser.
- Aluminum step-thru frame and steel fork for modern style.
- Fat tires for road and gravel surfaces.
- Wide, swept=back handlebars for a relaxed ride.
- Single-speed.
- Plush cruiser spring saddle for comfort.
- Fashionable color-match fender set.
- Limited lifetime warranty.
- Age: Adult
- MSRP: CAD $700
- Available: Canadian Tire
- Put fun on cruise with the lithium-ion-powered electric skateboard made to zoom! The new RazorX Cruiser is a skateboard with an electrifying kick, putting the control of a 125-watt, geared motor in the palm of your hand and under your feet.
- This complete Cruiser uses an innovative geared, rear-wheel drive and lithium-ion battery to deliver electrifying skate action at speeds up to 10 mph (16 km/h) for up to 40 minutes of continuous use.
- Hit your perfect cruising velocity with the variable-speed control on the wireless, digital, hand-held remote, then lean into the lithium-ion-powered carve-and-turn action.
- Includes a wireless (2.4 GHz) remote with wrist strap (replaceable) for variable-speed control of the electrifying carve-and-turn action.
- The 29.7” (754 mm) long, 5-ply maple deck and custom reverse kingpin trucks deliver a smooth, responsive ride, while perforated grip tape and ground-gripping urethane wheels keep you firmly in control of your board.
- Our new, geared, rear-wheel-drive technology is virtually maintenance free, meaning you won’t have to worry about alignment issues, chains or belts.
- Max Rider Weight: 220 lb (100 kg).
- No assembly required.
- Age: 9+
- MSRP: CAD $299.99
- Available: Canadian Tire
