It’s almost time for kids to head back to school. Toy Insider Editor-in-Chief Ali Mierzejewski stopped by ABC World News Now to show off the best fun, yet educational toys to keep kids brains active before they head back to school. 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 spring and summer, be sure to check our complete Toy Insider Spring and Summer Gift Guide.
- Shake your tail with the mix & Match-A-Saurus!
- Mix & Match-a-saurus is a silly and sweet friend who also pretends to be a robot and a monster.
- Mix & Match-a-saurus shares his happy, sleepy, and angry feelings while singing and dancing to ballet, hip-hop, and marching band music.
- Insert the colorful tiles on Mix & Match-a-saurus’ back to customize how you want to play with him!
- Mix and match the nine tiles to create 27 different responses.
- A dinosaur egg is included to store all the tiles.
- Ages: 2-5
- MSRP: $34.99
- Available: Walmart, Target, Amazon
- Learn in an exciting new way with the innovative LeapStart Go interactive learning system.
- This sleek, easy-to-hold stylus triggers videos and audio responses using the adjustable 1.44-inch LCD screen and built-in speaker.
- LeapStart Go makes it easier for preschool through first grade kids to understand more advanced information with activity sets like The Human Body and School Success (sold separately).
- Cool interactive video effects let kids zoom in, explore and interact with a variety of learning concepts by touching the stylus on interactive charts, book pages and more.
- Holds up to 13 LeapStart animated books.
- A computer with an Internet connection is required to download books and activity sets onto the LeapStart® system.
- Not compatible with LeapReader® books.
- Ages: 4-8
- MSRP: $49.99
- Available: leapfrog.com
COGGY BRAINTEASER (FAT BRAIN TOYS)
- Moving from one challenge card to the next, it’s up to you to fold this connected collection of sixteen colorful gears into the perfect positions that match each image.
- Two ways to play — colors or black and white — launch players into a higher gear of thinking!
- Ages: 6+
- MSRP: $14.95
- Available: Amazon, Fat Brain Toys, Bed Bath & Beyond, Kohls
CRAYOLA COLOR CHEMISTRY ARCTIC LAB (CRAYOLA)
- Crayola Color Chemistry Arctic Lab contains everything young scientists need to explore color like never before – with a new arctic twist.
- The Color Chemistry Arctic Lab includes 50 new winter-themed experiments including 15 different experiments ready to go out of the box.
- Ideal for the holiday season, each of the 50 new experiments infuses color and winter themes, from snow that grows on trees, to color-changing window cling snowflakes and more.
- Ages: 7+
- MSRP: $24.99
- Available: Amazon, Target, Walmart
VEX ROBOTICS BUILD BLITZ BY HEXBUG (HEXBUG)
- The ultimate STEM Robotics introduction set is here!
- This kit has more than 800 easy snap together pieces and can be built into seven different motorized robots without the use of tools.
- Kids will learn science and technology concepts building with the brain, remote control, motors, and wiring systems.
- Open their imagination to all of the possibilities that robotics can offer them, and watch as they get excited about learning how to build these machines, all while having fun.
- Comes with more than 800 easy snap together pieces that kids can build into seven different motorized robots without the use of tools.
- Ages: 14+
- MSRP: $149.99
- Available: Amazon, hexbug.com
