Toy Insider Editor-in-Chief Marissa Silva joined FOX 26 in Houston to show off some of the year’s best toys, including selections from Toy Insider’s Hot 20, STEM 10, and 12 Under $20 lists. 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.  

BLUE’S CLUES & YOU! COOK-ALONG PLAY KITCHEN SET

Kids can cook up fun with this interactive, role-play kitchen. The kitchen features a recipe notebook, 19 play accessories, and realistic sounds inspired by the Nickelodeon series. Kids can cook up fun with this interactive, role-play kitchen. The kitchen features a recipe notebook, 19 play accessories, and realistic sounds inspired by the Nickelodeon series.

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $59.97
  • Age:
  • 3+

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MAGIC MIXIES MAGIC CAULDRON

Magic Mixies includes a cauldron, a magic wand, and potion ingredients that kids use in an interactive experience to reveal a surprise magical creature that responds to touch, lights up, and may even grant wishes. Magic Mixies includes a cauldron, a magic wand, and potion ingredients that kids use in an interactive experience to reveal…

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $69.99; $99.99 CAD
  • Age:
  • 5+

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CHOPPIN’ FUN LEARNING POT

Kids can prepare pretend meals with snap-apart veggies, a play knife, and a cutting board. The pot includes five interactive recipes, teaches kids numbers and colors, and doubles as storage for all of the pieces. Kids can prepare pretend meals with snap-apart veggies, a play knife, and a cutting board. The pot includes five interactive…

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $21.99
  • Age:
  • 1+

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NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC 100-PIECE MAKEWAY MAGNETIC MARBLE RUN

Turn any magnetic surface into a marble run racetrack with this 100-piece, vertical-mount construction set. Includes a detailed marble run guide with track-building puzzles and challenges. Turn any magnetic surface into a marble run racetrack with this 100-piece, vertical-mount construction set. Includes a detailed marble run guide with track-building puzzles and challenges.

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $49.99
  • Age:
  • 8+

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HEXMODS PRO SERIES ELITE RACEWAY

This set comes with a hobby-grade, R/C tuner car chassis with thousands of mod combinations, including hoods, bumpers, an LED underglow, and more. Kids can build a track configuration with more than 20 feet of connectable barrier and race up to 18 mph. This set comes with a hobby-grade, R/C tuner car chassis with thousands…

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $89.99; $129.99 CAD
  • Age:
  • 14+

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KOOSH MONDO

The original Koosh ball is back, and big! The tactile, easy-to-catch, colorful ball is great for play inside or outside. Available in bright colors, it's the perfect fidget toy. The original Koosh ball is back, and big! The tactile, easy-to-catch, colorful ball is great for play inside or outside. Available in bright colors, it's the…

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $10.99
  • Age:
  • 3+

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MY SQUISHY LITTLE DUMPLINGS

Squish and pull these little dumplings that are perfect for active hands. Squeeze their cheeks to pop out their unique personalities, with more than 50 possible reactions. Watch them light up and make sounds. Squish and pull these little dumplings that are perfect for active hands. Squeeze their cheeks to pop out their unique personalities,…

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $14.99; $19.99 CAD
  • 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.

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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