Want to have the best holiday season ever without breaking the bank? Toy Insider Senior Editor Marissa DiBartolo stopped by Studio 40 on KTXL in Sacramento to talk about the best toys for every budget. 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 holidays, check out our complete holiday gift guide.
Gifts Under $10
Shnooks- ZURU is bringing the 90’s hit, Shnooks, back for a whole new generation of young girls!
- Shnooks are an ultra-cute feature plush that combines hair-play with a unique shnubble-bubble pack – Shnooks magically grow 8x their size when opened!
- There are 6 new characters to collect
- Every Shnook comes with three fabulous accessories including a comb, best-friend clip and hairbands
- Visit Shnook Brooke online and learn more about Shnooks by playing games, engaging in content and customizing their very own Shnook!
- Ages: 3+
- MSRP: $9.99
- More info: shnooks.zuru.com
Loaded Questions Junior (All Things Equal)
- Makes every kid the life of the party with 200 hilarious and creative questions designed to spark laughter, lively discussions and lasting memories
- There’s no wrong or right answer!
- The rules are simple:
- How to play – Read aloud the question that matches the colored space you’re on.
- All other players write a personal answer for the question on their answer sheets, which are collected and read aloud by the player to your right.
- After hearing all of the answers, match which player wrote which answer. Advance one space for every correct match.
- The first player to reach the WIN space wins the game!
- For 4 to 6 players
- Ages: 6+
- MSRP: $9.99
- More info: loadedquestions.com
Gifts Under $25
- Hamsters in a House features personality-filled Hamsters in their customizable hamster-sized worlds.
- Series 2 has a new range of adorable Hamsters, and highly detailed food-themed playsets and accessories.
- Kids can connect and build a whole hamster world with unique courses for their unpredictable little Hamsters to scurry through.
- The new Ham’s Burger Diner Playset (SRP $19.99) makes yummy fast food delights, includes one exclusive Hamster, and even a real-working turn table for food orders and a cash register.
- The Cupcake Bakery Playset (SRP $12.99) is a mini playset that includes one exclusive Hamster, three curved tracks, and can be added to any existing playsets.
- The Hamster & Accessory Packs (SRP $7.99) each include one of six new Hamsters and one of three small food accessories.
- Ages 3+
- More info at: hamstersinahouse.com
Tonka Tinys Rescue Response Station Playset (Funrise)
- The Rescue Response Station Playset is the ultimate playset for Tonka Tinys micro vehicles.
- With 3 levels of fun, Tonka Tinys can launch over the flames, through the cinder block wall, and down the main gravity ramp!
- Up to 8 Tinys vehicles can be stored on level one.
- The playset includes 3 exclusive Tinys vehicles and is compatible with every vehicle in the line.
- All playsets in the line can be connected to expand the Tonka Tinys world!
- Ages: 5+
- MSRP: $24.99
- More info: funrise.com/tonka-micro-site/
Gifts Under $50
Star Wars Science: Jakku Scavenger Metal Detector (Uncle Milton, a division of Basic Fun)
- Explore and uncover metal treasures just like a scavenger on Planet Jakku!
- Find metal and watch this real detector activate with flashing lights and authentic Star Wars sound effects.
- Hide coins or other metals inside the four included scavenger targets or find your own treasures!
- The Jakku Scavenger Metal Detector is designed after Rey’s Staff and the lightweight, ergonomic design is great for kids.
- Features a red LED light for nighttime explorations and a sensitivity control dial.
- Includes a full-color science learning poster where you can learn about the Planet Jakku, Rey, and how metal detectors work.
- Ages: 8+
- MSRP: $29.99
- More info: starwarsscience.com
Vampirina Bat-tastic Vampirina & Wolfie (Just Play)
- From the new Disney Junior series, Vampirina, comes a Spook-tacular new hero named Vampirina – a girl vampire who’s new in town and learning how to fit in while also being true to herself.
- The Bat-tastic Vampirina doll celebrates a fang-tastic best friend, who may look different, but is just like you!
- Press Vampirina’s necklace to hear her say fun phrases from the show! Uh-oh – looks like Vampirina has a “Case of the “Battys!” Hear bat-tastic sound effects as she “swoops,” “loops” and “flies” around with her boo-tiful light-up bat wings!
- Vampirina comes with her loyal pal, Wolfie, and is dressed in a spook-tastic web-detailed dress with matching necklace.
- Ages: 3+
- MSRP: $39.99
- More info: justplayproducts.com
Gifts Over $100
- Petsies are unique hand-stitched plush lookalikes of any pet…completely huggable, loveable and one-of-a-kind!
- For any pet lover, Petsies are the perfect way to celebrate a furry best pal or to treasure a lost companion.
- All that’s needed is a photo of the beloved pet, and Petsies will magically transform it into a plush lookalike, capturing all the intricate details that make the pet so special!
- Simply follow the steps on MyPetsies.com to upload the photo, then the skilled team of Petsies artisans will get to work designing a hand-sewn plush, complete with meticulously airbrushed details to match the pet’s unique characteristics as closely as possible.
- Available in three collections: Petsies Huggables, Petsies Forevers, and Petsies Stars (plush versions of the world’s most famous pet celebrities!).
- MSRP: For custom Petsies, starting at $159
- Available at www.MyPetsies.com
