Looking for the inside scoop on this year’s hottest holiday toys? Toy Insider’s Chief Toy Officer Laurie Schacht stopped by NBC 5 in Dallas to show off some of the must-have toys and gifts this holiday season. 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.
- Hot new surprise dolls that combine fun, fashion and lots and lots of gorgeous colorful hair!
- Noah and her girl squad have “Big Hair Don’t Care” attitudes and love to share their passions with the world via the Hairdorables channel on YouTube.
- Each doll is based on one of the 12 iconic girls from the Hairdorables videos, and these BFFs live up to the “Hairdorables” name with a variety of unique luxe hairstyles in vibrant colors!
- Just pull, peel, and reveal 11 surprise accessories and fashions that unwrap the unique personality, style, and talent of the Hairdorables girl hidden inside!
- There are 36 Hairdorables dolls to collect in Series 1, including 2 rare and 1 ultra-rare, for mix-and-match outfits and endless styling possibilities.
- Ages: 3+
- MSRP $12.99
- Available: Amazon, Target, Walmart
VEX BALANCING BOXING ROBOTS (HEXBUG)
- The kit comes with one Mock Rocker Bot, a Boxing Bot with more than 380 snap-together pieces.
- Once kids build and assemble their own robots, these smart-tech self-stabilizing boxers are ready for a match.
- The robots feature a smart-tech self-stabilizing feature that uses a gyroscope and an accelerometer.
- After building them, kids can drive and control the bots using the free VEX Pilot mobile app. The app can be used to control the robot’s every action, from deciding when to left punch, right punch, or double jab.
- Ages: 8+
- MSRP: $89.99 (single) and $149.99 (two-pack)
- Available: Target, Amazon, Hobby Lobby, Michaels, and HEXBUG.com
AIR HOGS SUPERNOVA (SPIN MASTER)
- Step into the future with the Air Hogs Supernova. Kids can control Supernova with the power of their hands!
- Kids can master more than 30 moves and nine Super Tricks, perfecting maneuvers that range from simple to complex.
- Equipped with an intelligent on-board system, this drone has five motion sensitive sensors and an interactive LED light core that responds and reacts to your movements.
- With a few waves of your hands, different combinations of gestures will let users perform amazing tricks.
- Ages: 8+
- MSRP: $39.99
- Available: Amazon, Target, and Walmart
LEGO HARRY POTTER HOGWARTS GREAT HALL (LEGO)
- Build and recreate a magical fantasy realm from the Harry Potter movies with this detailed 4-level LEGO
- Hogwarts Great Hall Harry Potter building kit, featuring a fireplace, benches, tables and reversible house banners, plus the Grand Staircase tower with a spiral staircase, potions room, treasure room, sorting hat, Mirror of Erised and lots of magical artifact accessory elements.
- This fantasy role-playing castle toy includes 10 minifigures and buildable Basilisk and Fawkes creatures, plus Hedwig and Scabbers figures.
- Ages: 9+
- MSRP: $120
- Available: Target Walmart Amazon
CRAYOLA CRAYON MELTER (CRAYOLA)
- This new art tool enables kids and DIYers to melt crayons and use wax to create in different ways.
- In less than a minute, kids can create designs with liquefied crayons on a variety of unique surfaces like wood, glass, and canvas. The possibilities are countless, all using classic crayola crayons.
- The sleek, compact design is safe, easy to use and has a low-heat tip for worry-free creativity.
- Age: 8+
- MSRP: $24.99
- Available: Amazon, Target, Walmart, Crayola.com
KIDS FIRST CODING & ROBOTICS (THAMES & KOSMOS)
- Meet Sammy, the peanut butter and jelly sandwich robot that teaches coding principles and skills to children in grades K-2.
- You don’t need a tablet, smartphone, or computer to program this robot.
- Programs are created by simply laying down a sequence of physical code cards. As the robot drives over the code cards, an OID optical scanner on the bottom of the robot reads the code cards one by one and loads the program.
- Next, place the robot on a grid made of map cards, and the robot runs the program.
- This robot kit teaches physical engineering and problem-solving skills through a series of building and coding lessons.
- A full-color illustrated manual guides users through the coding lessons and the assembly of different models.
- Age: 4+
- MSRP: $129.95
- Available: Amazon
- Cruise the yard and the sidewalk in superior style on the Rollplay 6V Mustang!
- This battery- powered ride-on that has the look and feel of the original Mustang’s classic aesthetic.
- Gas pedal-activated power makes this truly unique ride-on go up to 2.5 mph at forward and reverse speeds controlled by a gearshift in a center console.
- Features realistic engine noises and horn, and working LED headlights
- Includes integrated MP3 player aux cord and radio with speakers
- Opening door allows children to get in and out of the vehicle easily
- Clear windshield and folding mirrors and rubber traction strips on tires for sturdy cruising
- 6-Volt battery and charger included with the car.
- 30-minute assembly required
- Backed by a limited 1-year warranty (vehicle) and limited-6 month warranty (battery)
- • Suggested maximum weight of 77 lbs
- Age: 3+
- MSRP: $199.99
- Available: Target
