Looking for some of the smartest toys of the holiday season? Toy Insider’s Chief Toy Officer Laurie Schacht stopped by Fox 4 in Fort Myers to show off some stealth S.T.E.M. toys that kids will enjoy so much that they won’t realize that they’re also learning. 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.

MY ROBOTIC PET — TUMBLING HEDGEHOG

Build a working hedgehog robot with this 172-piece kit, then control it by clapping. Watch it tumble, roll, spin, bristle its spines, and scurry. Learn about gears, motors, sound sensors, LEDs, and more. Build a working hedgehog robot with this 172-piece kit, then control it by clapping. Watch it tumble, roll, spin, bristle its spines,…

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $39.95
  • Age:
  • 7+

Buy Now

The Toy Insider participates in affiliate programs that may generate revenue for the site when a purchase is made through the links below.

DISCOVERY PREHISTORIC SLIMYGLOOP DIG

Kids poke, pull, and press the thick Slimygloop jelly layer to begin excavating, then dig in with the digging tool or their hands to squish and reveal all the hidden bones to build two dinosaur models. Kids poke, pull, and press the thick Slimygloop jelly layer to begin excavating, then dig in with the digging…

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $16.99
  • Age:
  • 6+

Buy Now

The Toy Insider participates in affiliate programs that may generate revenue for the site when a purchase is made through the links below.

VEX ROBOTIC Z-360 DISC SHOOTER

This unique build-it-yourself construction kit astonishingly fires discs over 30 feet by pulling the zipstick to release – the faster you pull, the higher they'll go! The excitement doesn't stop there, fire this toy vertically for height, or horizontally, for distance. Moving targets are no match for this futuristic build. This sleek blaster is hours…

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $19.99
  • Age:
  • 8+

Buy Now

The Toy Insider participates in affiliate programs that may generate revenue for the site when a purchase is made through the links below.

MYLA THE MAGICAL UNICORN

This interactive unicorn comes with a wand kids can touch to the butterfly palette to choose a color, then apply it to Myla's eyes, wings, and horn. Plus, sing a duet using the microphone, braid Myla's mane, and more.

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $59.99
  • Age:
  • 4+

Buy Now

The Toy Insider participates in affiliate programs that may generate revenue for the site when a purchase is made through the links below.

PLAYMOBIL FURNISHED SCHOOL BUILDING

Set includes three adult figures, six child figures, functioning clock with school bell, desks, backpacks, bicycles, laptops, chairs, classroom charts, books, skeleton, wheelchair, toilets, sinks, and tons of other accessories. Set includes three adult figures, six child figures, functioning clock with school bell, desks, backpacks, bicycles, laptops, chairs, classroom charts, books, skeleton, wheelchair, toilets, sinks,…

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $129.99
  • Age:
  • 5+

Buy Now

The Toy Insider participates in affiliate programs that may generate revenue for the site when a purchase is made through the links below.

ARTIE 3000

This WiFi-enabled coding/drawing robot puts kids in control. The easy-to-use drag and drop programming can be used on a Mac, PC, or tablet. As kids tell Artie what to draw next, they learn left-brain skills like basic programming, geometry, and math, while engaging the right side of their brains to create cool, colorful designs using…

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $69.99
  • Age:
  • 7+

Buy Now

The Toy Insider participates in affiliate programs that may generate revenue for the site when a purchase is made through the links below.

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.

archivearrow-chevron-downarrow-chevron-left-greyarrow-chevron-leftarrow-chevron-rightarrow-fatarrow-left-blackarrow-left-whitearrow-right-blackarrow-rightarrow-roundedbookscalendarcaret-downclose-whiteclosedocumenteditorial-archiveeyefacebook-squarefacebookfilesgifthamburgerheadinghearthomeinstagram-squareinstagramlatestlinkedin-squarelinkedinmailmedia-inquiresmessagenewsopen-boxpagination-leftpagination-rightpauseplayprintproduct-archiverecent-productssearchsharesort-filterspotifysunteamtiktoktime_purpletimetrendingtvtwitter-squaretwitteryoutube