Looking for the best holiday toys for the preschoolers and grade-schoolers on your holiday shopping list? Toy Insider Associate Editor Maddie Michalik stopped by NBC in Indianapolis to show off some of the year’s hottest toys for the kids from ages 3 to 8. 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.


ANTSY PANTS BUILD & PLAY POP STAR STAGE KIT (ANTSY PANTS/BEACH HOUSE GROUP)

  • Get ready to shine like a star with the Antsy Pants Build & Play Pop Star Stage Kit!
  • Featuring glittery purple curtains and a bold blue backdrop, this stage is the perfect spot for budding artists and performers.
  • Whether you’re a singer, dancer, juggler, or have a hidden talent, perform center stage with the Pop Star Stage Kit.
  • This kit includes more than 50 poles and connectors, as well as the fabric cover.
  • Ages: 4+
  • MSRP: $44.99
  • Available: Target

ULTIMATE CO-PILOT CHEWIE (HASBRO)

  • Chewbacca (“Chewie” to his best pals) is famous as Han Solo’s loyal friend and co-pilot – and now the Ultimate Co-pilot Chewie figure can be kids’ trusted companion in adventure, wherever their imagination takes them!
  • This amazing interactive plush friend features 100+ sound-and-motion combinations, responds in the Wookiee language, and reacts whenever he’s in motion – sometimes in surprising ways!
  • Kids will love their favorite Wookiee’s fun facial expressions and the way he responds when they talk to him (he laughs, roars, and even snores!).
  • He’ll often raise his arms as he roars… and make contented sounds when he gets a friendly scratch on the head. This furry best friend is always ready for the next mission, big or small!
  • Ages: 4+
  • MSRP: $129.99

ORBEEZ WOW WORLD WOWZER SURPRISE (MAYA TOYS)

  • Introducing Orbeez Wow World Wowzers! These adorable Magical Pets come hidden in a globe filled with clear Orbeez.
  • Simply add water to your globe and magically reveal which Magical Pet you received.
  • Collect all 20 unique Wowzers in Series One including rare and super rare figures.
  • Age: 5+
  • MSRP: $5.99
  • Available: Target, Amazon, Justice, Kmart, Claire’s

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