Toy Insider’s Chief Toy Officer Laurie Schacht joined NBC 5 in Dallas to show off the best holiday toys that offer big fun without the big price tag. 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.  

CRAYOLA PAPER BUTTERFLIES SCIENCE KIT

Create paper butterflies while learning about capillary action. Kids can watch as the colorful inks are absorbed into the wings. This kit features step-by-step instructions and enough materials to make 12 wicking paper butterflies. Create paper butterflies while learning about capillary action. Kids can watch as the colorful inks are absorbed into the wings. This…

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $19.99; $24.99 CAD
  • Age:
  • 7+

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GRAVITY BUGS

Kids can build a mighty robotic bug that defies gravity to crawl up, down, and all around windows with ease! This hands-on mechanic construction kit brings engineering and physics to life. Assemble the robot to learn how its gears, motor, battery, and switch all work together. This multi-legged machine uses suction cups to walk around…

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $19.95; $28 CAD
  • Age:
  • 8+

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CRYSTALINA

Each of the four characters embodies a crystal element and aura, which passes back and forth between the doll and included amulet in the form of LED light patterns. Kids can also wear the amulet. Each of the four characters embodies a crystal element and aura, which passes back and forth between the doll and…

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $12.99
  • Age:
  • 4+

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LEGO DUPLO CREATIVE PLAY NUMBER TRAIN — LEARN TO COUNT

Toddlers can load and unload the number bricks, line them up in the correct order, and stack them together into a number wall. The train set features moving wheels, an opening roof, and multiple LEGO Duplo figures. Toddlers can load and unload the number bricks, line them up in the correct order, and stack them…

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $19.99
  • Age:
  • 18 MOS+

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JURASSIC WORLD TODDLER LINE

Marking one of TOMY's “biggest ever collaborations” for preschoolers comes a Jurassic World toddlers line. The line includes Chase & Roll Raptors and a Dino Rescue Ranger, inspired by the iconic vehicles in the films; Spin & Hatch Dino Eggs, a clever twist on Toomies bestselling Hide and Squeak Eggs, using dinosaur eggs in an…

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $14.99+
  • Age:
  • 1+

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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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