What’s old is cool again! Toy Insider Senior Editor Ali Mierzejewski stopped by CBS in Philadelphia to talk about some great retro toys that kids will love as much as their parents did a generation ago. 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 7 sing-along songs.
  • There are two Modes of Play: with or without the free Teddy Ruxpin app (app is secondary). View 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+
  • MSRP: $99.99
  • Available: Amazon, Target, Toys “R” Us, Walmart

CLASSIC BOARD GAMES (WINNING MOVES GAMES)

  • Have a game night with the newest rollouts of classic games, like the dice game of Yahtzee, with the famous aluminum dice cup, The Game of Life, where you take risks to get rewards much like real life, Aggravation, where you compete to race around the board, and Guess Who, the mystery face game of elimination.
  • Ages: 6+
  • MSRP: $14.50-$38.95
  • Available: Amazon, Calendar Club, Toys “R” Us, Barnes & Noble, and Specialty Toy & Game Stores Nationwide

MINI ARCADE GAMES (BASIC FUN)

  • Replica mini arcade game, just like the originals! It’s a blast from the past with this retro-styled mini arcade game!
  • It looks, sounds and plays just like you remember with authentic 80’s graphics, sounds, and game play.
  • Available in: Qbert, Centipede, and Frogger
  • Move Qbert to each cube in the pyramid before he gets squashed by the bad guys in Qbert Mini Arcade Game.
  • Shoot down the Centipede before it gets you in Centipede Mini Arcade Game.
  • Move your frogs across the highway and river to safety in Frogger Mini Arcade Game.
  • Ages: 8+
  • MSRP: $17.99
  • Available: Amazon, Target, Toys “R” Us, Walmart

ETCH A SKETCH FREESTYLE (SPIN MASTER)

  • The Classic Etch A Sketch has been updated! Now kids can freestyle draw and stamp in color for the first time with Etch A Sketch.
  • Using revolutionary LCD technology, the sleek new design makes it even easier for kids to exercise their creativity, while retaining the classic, beloved shake-to-erase feature.
  • Draw and stamp to reveal color.
  • Ages: 3+
  • MSRP: $19.99
  • Available: Amazon, Target, Toys R Us, Walmart

RUBIK’S FLIP (UNIVERSITY GAMES)

  • Flip it – block it – win it! Win or lose in only 8 moves! Rubik’s Flip is a fast-moving, easy-to-learn, but challenging game. There are few rules and a maximum of eight turns per player. Every tile is two-sided with two colors. Just FLIP your opponent’s tile to another color, then place your tile. The first to place three tiles of the same color in a row wins!
  • A fun competition for 2 players.
  • Ages: 7+
  • MSRP: $14.99
  • Available: Amazon, Fred Meyer, Mills Fleet Farm, Kroger

LATCHKITS CRAFT KITS (KAHOOTZ)

  • The classic latch hook craft kit is back as LatchKits are a fun and easy-to-learn craft—just loop, hook, and pull.
  • Everything kids need is included: the handy latch hook tool, pre-cut yarn and color-coded, easy-to-follow canvas make getting started on a project a snap.
  • The sturdy canvas features fabric-lined edges and hanging loops to create soft and fuzzy design that’s ready to hang on the wall or use as a mini-rug.
  • Available in Unicorn or Rainbow designs.
  • Ages: 6+
  • MSRP: $19.99
  • Available: Amazon

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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