You don’t have to break the bank to have a great holiday season. Toy Insider Associate Editor Maddie Michalik stopped by NBC in Cincinnati to show off the best new holiday toys in every budget range. For more on the items featured in this segment, check out the product notes below, and for a rundown of all the best gifts for the holidays, check out our complete holiday gift guide.
- FlipaZoo 2.0 is two cuddly plush animals in one that flip back and forth for two sides of fun.
- FlipaZoo is simple and easy to do, and it even doubles as a soft pillow.
- FlipaZoos also come in mini and jumbo sizes.
- Age: 3+
- MSRP: $19.99
- Available: Walmart
TILE BLOX RAINBOW 104PC SET (MAGFORMERS)
- Kids can become the ultimate builder with 104 different magnetic pieces.
- They can design houses, rocket ships, animals, and more with six different shapes and various colors.
- This set comes with with 24 equilateral triangles, 44 squares, four trapezoids, eight rectangles, 12 right-angle triangles, and 12 isosceles triangles.
- Ages: 3+
- MSRP: $139.99
- Available: Amazon, Nordstrom, Target, Toys “R” Us, Walmart
HATCH’EMS (BASIC FUN!)
• Hatch’ems are a collectible toy for all kids. Pop the lid, bop the top, and watch your dino hatch.
• Just remove the lid and bop the top to watch it burst and hatch, revealing an inflated surprise baby dinosaur or baby bird.
• Hidden inside capsules, they have the thrill of a concealed mystery item. The capsule doubles as a carrying case.
• Age: 4+
• MSRP: $4.99
• Available: Target, Walmart
EVERY DAY PLAY FIDGET TOYS (ZING)
- Tumblstix is a small, weighted stick that challenges balance. Kids can test their creativity and dexterity and sharpen their focus and hand-eye coordination by rolling over the Tumblstix gently. Balance and catch the stick smoothly during 360-degree rolls, all while doing tricks.
- Zing Dama is a hybrid of KenDama and Yo-Yo, and consists of four parts: a ball, a ring, string, and an adjustable strap. Users should strap the cup firmly onto their finger and start to swing the ball in any direction.
- Metal Chuckz are built just like Thumb Chucks, but are covered in a soft, sleek, ‘Metaltek’ coating, allowing for advanced tricks because they are weighted slightly heavier than Thumb Chucks. Metal Chuckz deliver challenging fun with a classy look.
- Spinzipz are a gadget toy that users hold between their index finger and thumb and flick the light to start the spin.
- Age: 4+
- MSRP: Starting at $7.99
- Available: Amazon, Walmart
STAR WARS HERO DROID BB-8 (SPIN MASTER)
- Get ready for the most lifelike BB-8 experience yet: Hero Droid BB-8. The loyal astromech droid will delight collectors and kids with his impressive size—over 16 inches tall—and built-in voice recognition.
- Set Hero Droid BB-8 to “Follow Me” mode and it will roll beside fans just as loyally as it would follow Rey or Poe! Additionally, users can control BB-8 with the enhanced two-stick remote via R/C control.
- BB-8 also has the ability to come when called and reacts to key phrases and names from Star Wars: The Force Awakens. Hero Droid BB-8 by Spin Master will roll into toy stores this fall just in time for Star Wars: The Last Jedi.
- Age: 6+
- MSRP: $229.99
HEXBUG VEX ROBOTICS BATTLEBOTS MINOTAUR/TOMBSTONE (HEXBUG)
- From the hit TV series BattleBots comes Tombstone, the grave maker! Construct your very own version of this champion robot with the VEX Robotics BattleBots Tombstone.
- Use STEM-based problem solving skills in part with easy snap-together pieces to bring this bot to life. Tombstone comes complete with realistic detail and fully functional spinning blade.
- Teaches kids about advanced gearing techniques through hands-on building, encourages STEM-based problem-solving skills.
- Realistic detail, spinning blade, and 425+ snap together pieces.
- Age: 8+
- MSRP: $49.99
- Available: Amazon, Hexbug.com, Target, Toys R Us
