Toy Insider Mom Laurie Schacht stopped by The Jam on WCIU in Chicago to talk about the biggest toy trends for fall for kids of all ages. For more on the items featured in this segment, check out the product notes below, and for our complete rundown of the best gifts for the season, check out our Spring and Summer gift guide.
- Teaching kids about science is fun and engaging with the Folkmanis Frog Life Cycle.
- Marvel at the extraordinary design of this three-stage toy. In the first stage, the lenticular printed egg comes alive with motion. In the second stage, the tadpole has a movable mouth. In the final stage, the frog has a movable mouth.
- Utilizing zippers to tuck and reveal each stage helps motor development and coordination.
- Imaginative and artfully crafted with heirloom quality.
- Ages: 3+
- MSRP $67.99
- Available: Amazon, folkmanis.com and specialty retailers
ZOOKIEZ SLAPPY (TOY TARGET)
- Zookiez are the collectible plush toy that have flexible hands and feet… easily hang them onto anything and bring them along with you knowing that they will stay in one place.
- Zookiez toys are perfect as bracelets, for clipping onto your bed at night, or even to bring in the car with you! They can just hold onto nearly any surface and keep clinging on for a very long time. Until you move them from their position, they are quite happy to hang out and enjoy time with you!
- Zookiez not only keep in one place but they are extremely soft.
- Ages: 3+
- MSRP: $9.99
- Available: Walmart, specialty
PLAYFOAM PALS (EDUCATIONAL INSIGHTS)
- Open these pods of Playfoam to find surprises inside! Hidden within each pod, kids will find an animal friend.
- Pop your new pal apart and swap its head and body with pieces from other Playfoam Pals collectibles to create combination critters of your own!
- Collect all 12 Playfoam Pals pods to find the super-rare gold endangered animal critter.
- Use the squishy, squashy Playfoam in each pod to sculpt nests, beds, perches, and other play props.
- Ages: 5+
- MSRP $7.99 each
- Available: Amazon, Walmart
CUPCAKE SURPRISE (SUNNY DAYS ENTERTAINMENT)
- With a little sweet magic and infinite imagination, decadent desserts transform into princesses with every Cupcake Surprise!
- Every princess doll will be the belle of the ball and all the bakeries of the land in her sparkly gown and decorative bonnet, or indulge in a sugary treat and serve these charming cupcakes fresh from the oven.
- Expect endless playtime and never-ending wonderment in each Cupcake Surprise – discover deliciously scented fragrances with every doll!
- Whether in the bakery, kitchen, or castle, the sweet-smelling two-in-one toy will surely inspire imaginative play.
- Each doll comes with her own styling hairbrush.
- Packaged in 12 different styles with six available scents: strawberry, vanilla, grape, chocolate, lemon, and peanut butter.
- Ages: 3+
- MRSP: $9.99 each
- Available: Amazon and at major retailers including Walmart, Target, Meijers and K-Mart
- Bubbleezz live in a squeezy world of wonder and fun. Each Bubbleezz contain charms and secret messages that are clues to their unique personalities.
- Each fun feeling character is filled with Bubbleezz Beads, making them totally satisfying – squeeze them to transform!
- Squeeze to find hidden charms and messages inside that reveal your Bubbleezz unique personalities
- These cute character combos are full of surprises and come in hundreds of shapes and sizes.
- Ages: 8+
- MSRP: $7.99 – $13.99
- Available: Walmart and specialty retailers
- ZITS are simply the grossest, coolest toys around! Peel off a Zit, stick it on your skin, squeeze ‘em and feel the pop! Use one or use a ton!
- Then gross out your friends with the oozing goo inside. Roll it, stretch it or stick it! So much fun, you won’t wanna stop until the last one’s popped! It’s more fun than picking your nose!
- Ages: 4+
- MSRPs: Zits Small Breakout (Package of 10): $1.99 / Zits Medium Breakout (Package of 25): $4.99 / Zits Large Breakout (Package of 50): $7.99 / 100 Zits (online only at IGotZits.com) for $19.99
- Available: www.IGotZits.com, Walmart
3DOODLER START HEXBUG MAKE YOUR OWN MICRO ROBOTIC CREATURES PEN SET (3DOODLER)
- Kids love HEXBUG! Kids love creating with 3Doodler Start! Now kids can make their own eccentric-looking HEXBUG creatures that behave like real bugs.
- Doodle your bug’s body and legs using the insect themed DoodleMold to create your very own pet insectoid, then let it crawl around to explore its environment, conquer obstacles or race your friends.
- Part of the 3Doodler Start STEM Series, this set fosters STEM learning by allowing kids to design and experiment with different robotic structures.
- Ages: 6+
- MSRP: Pen Set $59.99, Activity Kit MSRP (without pen) $24.99
- Available: Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Michael’s
- This colorful, inventive family game is easy to learn but deceptively mind-boggling! One at a time, each player drops a shape into the vertical game board’s drop zone.
- Players earn points for the highest level that their shape reaches when it lands and extra points for touching bonus circles.
- But be careful: Don’t break a landing rule! The shape you dropped is not allowed to touch matching shapes or colors after it lands. If you break a landing rule, you will go away empty-handed.
- The winner is the player or team with the most points at the end.
- Family game for 2-4 players.
- Ages: 8+
- MSRP: $29.95
- Available: Amazon and specialty
