Looking for holiday gifts that educate as well as they entertain? Toy Insider Senior Editor Marissa DiBartolo stopped by Indy Style on WISH-TV to talk about these great toys that teach. For more on the products featured in this segment, check out the notes below, and be sure to check out our complete holiday gift guide.
Go! Go! Smart Friends Twinkle the Magical Unicorn (VTech)
- Soar through the kingdom with Twinkle the Magical Unicorn from the Go! Go! Smart Friends world.
- Press the enchanting unicorn’s button and she will walk forward, move her head, and flap her wings.
- Place the included MagicPoint character, Princess Prisma, on one of Twinkle’s two MagicPoint locations to trigger delightful responses, sounds, motion and lights.
- Twinkle also interacts with her carrot accessory.
- Toddlers can create a whole kingdom featuring princesses, princes, fairies, magical creatures and more with Go! Go! Smart Friends characters and playsets.
- Ages: 1.5-5
- MSRP: $29.99
- Available: Amazon, Target, Toys “R” Us, Walmart
Design & Drill Power Play Vehicles (Educational Insights)
- These three power play vehicles (each sold separately) include the Race Car, the Monster Truck, and the Helicopter.
- For each, snap pieces together, then used the motorized mini-drill to add clear bolts.
- Finally, add artistic flair and customize the creation with colorful stickers and zoom intro creative STEM play.
- Design & Drill encourages creativity, imagination, and problem- solving skills.
- Ages: 3+
- MSRP: $21.99
- Available: Walmart, Target, Toys R Us
Barbie STEM Kit (Thames & Kosmos)
- Thames & Kosmos partners with Mattel for a science kit featuring Barbie and Nikki.
- This project kit includes plastic building pieces and science experiment materials, as well as a Barbie or Nikki doll, to create a complete experience based on the concept “You Dream It… You Make It!”
- Kids will build a washing machine, rotating closet, and more, all compatible with the Barbie Dreamhouse. Plus, design fashions for Barbie to wear.
- Learn about chromatics, engineering, and more.
- Ages: 4+
- MSRP: $29.95
- Available: Toys “R” Us, Target, Walmart
- The BOSEbuild Speaker Cube uses high-quality parts and materials for durability. It’s easy to build, too. Its instructions involve discovery and education – from how a simple magnet and coil make sound, to how a speaker reproduces music.
- The coaching is delivered through a free companion app that combines step-by-step guidance with hands-on interaction, confirming success along the way until the Speaker Cube is fully assembled.
- Kids can add colored LED lights and silhouette covers, for a completely customized speaker.
- The Speaker Cube pairs to any smartphone or tablet, so kids can stream their favorite songs in an instant.
- Ages: 8+
- MSRP: $149.00
- Available: Amazon, build.bose.com
Lego Dimensions Starter Pack (Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment)
- The LEGO Dimensions Starter Pack includes the videogame, bricks to build the LEGO Gateway, three LEGO Minifigures, Batman, Gandalf and Wyldstyle, plus the LEGO Batmobile, and the revolutionary LEGO Toy Pad, which allows players to transport special LEGO minifigures and models into the game, as well as direct in-game action all with the movement of the physical toys.
- Build the minifigure heroes and fire up the game to start the experience, then follow the in-game building instructions to assemble the loose bricks into the LEGO Gateway. And place the structure on the LEGO Toy Pad.
- Expand the adventure by collecting more minifigures, vehicles, gadgets, and new levels with the purchase of three different Expansion Packs.
- Ages: 7+
- MSRP: Xbox One, PlayStation 4, WiiU $89.99; Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 $79.99
LEGO Dimensions Ghostbusters Level Pack (Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment)
- The Ghostbusters Story Pack, based on the 2016 reboot, will provide a complete movie-based gameplay experience with six puzzle-packed levels and new LEGO Gateway bricks that allow players to build Zhu’s Chinese Restaurant atop the LEGO Toy Pad.
- It will also come with a buildable Abby Yates LEGO minifigure with Proton Blaster and 3-in-1 buildable Ecto-1, which can be rebuilt into the Ectozer and The PerfEcto.
- The pack unlocks “Rip,” a new Toy Pad mode allowing players to tear open an alternate universe.
- In this mirror world, players will have the ability to solve puzzles and affect objects and other items in the primary universe.
- Additionally, Abby Yates will be a gold-tag minifigure, which will provide players with access to a new themed Adventure World with its own unique Battle Arena
- Ages: 7+
- MSRP: $49.99
- Available: Amazon, Target, Toys R Us, Walmart
LEGO Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them Story Pack (Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment)
- The Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them Story Pack will provide a complete movie-based gameplay experience with six action-packed levels and new LEGO Gateway bricks to build the Magical Congress of the United States of America (MACUSA) atop the LEGO Toy Pad.
- Players can build the Newt Scamander LEGO minifigure and help him find his escaped magical creatures in New York City and use a variety of spells, including Diffindo, Reparo and Lumos.
- The pack will also come with a 3-in-1 Niffler which can be rebuilt into the Sinister Scorpion and Vicious Vulture.
- The Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them Story Pack will be the exclusive construction toy offering this holiday for the exciting expansion of J.K Rowling’s Wizarding World.
- Ages: 7+
- MSRP: $49.99
- Available: Amazon, Target, Toys R Us, Walmart
