Toy Insider Senior Editor Maddie Michalik joined Better Connecticut in New Haven to show off some of the best toys to help young kids get ready for preschool. For more on the items featured in this segment, check out the product notes below.


FISHER-PRICE LINKIMALS COUNTING KOALA

Babies learn numbers, counting, and shapes through the Koala’s lights, songs, and phrases. Climb the palm tree to discover that it grows squares, triangles, and circles. When Counting Koala meets up with other Linkimals friends they all light-up, talk, sing, and play together! Hands-on play, including a bat-at roller ball, shape spinner, and push buttons help strengthen babies’ fine motor skills, while the exciting interactive content helps introduce cause and effect.

Fast Facts

  • Ages: 9 MOS+
  • Manufacturer: MATTEL
  • MSRP: $24.99

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LEARN-A-LOT AVOCADOS

The four pop-apart avocados feature emoji-style faces that spin and change to help babies identify different emotions. Build color and matching skills with the avocados’ colorful interiors. Also includes a storage crate.

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LICENSED CHILDREN’S SINGLE-USE FACE MASKS

Encourage kids to wear a face mask with fun designs inspired by some of their favorite characters. Each mask features a contouring nose strip and three layers of protection including a protective fabric layer, filter layer, and a soft inner layer. To wear the face mask, place the side with the nose piece upward. Hang the ear loops on the ears. Press the nose piece to fit the bridge of the nose, then press the nose piece and pull the end of the mask to the lower jaw. Adjust the mask so that it covers the bridge of the nose to the lower jaw. For every box purchased, donations will be made towards COVID-19 relief efforts. Licenses include: Barbie, Hot Wheels, Ryan’s World, Paw Patrol, Blue’s Clues & You!, Harry Potter, Batman, Trolls, Minions, Jurassic World, Hello Kitty, and more!

Fast Facts

  • Ages: 2+
  • Manufacturer: JUST PLAY
  • MSRP: $14.99

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LEAPSTART PRESCHOOL SUCCESS

Experience the magic of the LeapStart Preschool Success interactive learning system. This system grows with your child and gets them excited about learning with interactive touch-and-talk pages. Touch-and-talk activities that include games, puzzles and creative challenges enhance learning to help kids build math, reading, problem-solving skills and more. Scout & Friends Math With Problem-Solving and an additional activity book are included. The expansive LeapStart library of books (sold separately) covers a variety of preschool through first grade subjects for 2-7 year olds with more than 30 activities in every book.

Fast Facts

  • Ages: 2+
  • Manufacturer: LEAPFROG
  • MSRP: $39.99

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CHUCKLE & ROAR LEARNING BLOCKS

These premium wooden learning blocks come with a wide range of self-correcting, learning challenge cards — kids can practice spelling, counting, and finding. Choose a card and place it into the card slot, which will hide the answer. Find the blocks that answer the question or spell the word, then check to see if you are correct by pulling up the card. Blocks include capital letters, lowercase letters, colors, shapes, animals, and more. Includes game instructions, storage bin with lid, 26 premium wooden blocks, and 50 challenge cards.

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KINDI KIDS DR. CINDY POPS

Kindi Kids — a line of quirky, colorful bobblehead dolls designed to make kids feel more comfortable going back to school — has a new friend joining the classroom: Cindy Pops. Dressed in the cutest doctor’s outfit, Cindy Pops loves playing doctor and has the sweetest bedside manner. With her stethoscope and a lollipop Shopkin that fits into her hand, she treats her patients and makes her friends get better. Cindy has big glittery eyes, beautiful hair, and a bobblehead.

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