Summertime may be over, but shifting kids’ focus back to education doesn’t mean that playtime has to stop being fun. Toy Insider Senior Editor Marissa DiBartolo stopped by NY1 in New York to show off some of the best toys to help kids transition back to the classroom. For more on the products featured in this segment, check out the product info below.
Crayola Super Duper Art Studio (Grow’n Up Ltd.)
- Kids can get in touch with their creative side before the school year begins.
- This giant easel converts to a desk an includes a chair.
- Allows up to four children to create masterpieces at once.
- Features a chalk board, dry erase board, and clips for paper.
- Magnetic surface extends the fun
- Foldable for easy storage
- Ages: 3+
- MSRP: $59.99
- Available: Toys “R” Us, Walmart, Amazon
Get Ready Kindergarten Learning Set (School Zone)
- Prepare kids for the first day of school, and keep the learning going after school is out with this great activity set.
- Kids will learn about shapes, colors, the alphabet, numbers, letters, and more!
- Includes a traditional workbook and flash card set, a wipe-clean workbook and flash card set, a write & wipe clock, a practice pad, a coloring pad, eight sticker sheets, eight crayons, a jumbo pencil, and and dry erase pen and eraser.
- Everything stores in one handy carrying case that makes clean-up and storage easy.
- Break the kit out during family game night and get the whole family in on the learning fun.
- Ages: 4+
- MSRP: $19.99
Fairy Flyer and Shark Camo Backpacks (Bixbee)
- Kids can go back to school in style with the coolest backpacks around.
- Perfectly sized to carry everything kids need, these backpacks feature plenty of space for books, binders and notebooks.
- Interior and exterior pockets provide even more storage, and the comfortable straps are great for kids’ shoulders.
- Made of durable, water-resistant polyester, they are made to last.
- The Fairy Flyer features light up LEDs that blink in three different patterns.
- Ages: 3+
- MSRP: $43.99-44.99
- Available: Bixbee.com
Folkmanis Corgi and Bulldog Puppets (Folkmanis)
- Show and tell is one of the most exciting experiences at school, and now kids can use these incredible puppets to share their stories
- The Corgi and French Bulldog are two adorable pups, and kids can use them to share their tales of summer.
- Puppets also encourage interaction between kids, strengthening key social-emotional skills necessary for school.
They also encourage expressive action, helping kids gain confidence in their ability to positively affect their world, setting them up for school success. - Ages: 3+
- MSRP: $55.99 (Corgi), $29.99 (Frenchie)
- Available: Amazon, Folkmanis.com
Squinkies ‘Do Drops (Blip Toys)
- Collectibles are one of the hottest toy trends for grade school kids, selling out everywhere.
- When kids go back to school, these tiny toys become “schoolyard currency,” traded on the playground, sparking new social interactions.
- Kids can dress up their Squinkies with Squinkies ‘Do Drops, a collection of over 200 mix and match dress-up combinations that range from silly hats, fun hairstyles, and more accessories for hours of play.
- Ages: 4+
- MSRP: $5.99
- Available at: Available at: Amazon, Walmart, Toys “R” Us, Target
Roominate Cotton Candy Carnival (PlayMonster)
- These STEM kits encourage girls to build and play while learning important engineering concepts.
- Kids can use more than 145 snap-together pieces to create a ferris wheel, carousel, swings, and game tent.
- Then, attach two motors to bring the rides to life.
- Kids can also engage in imaginative play with the Bettina and Jenna dolls.
- Learn all about intimidating STEM concepts.
- Ages: 8+
- MSRP: $44.99
- Available at: Amazon.com
Kurio Xtreme 2 (KD Interactive)
- Perfect for kids of all ages, the Kurio Xtreme 2 is a safe, fast, and fun full-featured Android tablet built especially for kids.
- Features a kid-tough bumper and shatter-proof screen protector, so it’s built to withstand even the most extreme play.
- Includes 18 exclusive Kurio Motion body-movement-controlled games that will have kids up off the couch—running, jumping and dancing in front of their tablets. All-new Kurio Motion 2.0 multiplayer games let kids play cooperatively and competitively in playground games like baseball and tug of war, and extreme sports like rafting and paragliding.
- Xtreme 2 is fully loaded with more than 60 apps (a $300 value) for out-of-the-box play, and with parents’ permission, kids can access millions more apps through the Google Play store.
- Includes a free lifetime subscription to Kurio’s robust parental controls and Kurio Genius internet filtering system, which is updated daily. Parents can set time controls, manage apps and determine web access for up to eight user profiles.
- Ages: 3+
- MSRP: $129.99
- Available: Toys “R” Us
- Teens and tweens can ride to school or the busstop in style!
- An innovative three-wheeled scooter that’s built for fun.
- There’s no more kicking the pavement like simple two wheel scooters.
- Riders simply move their hips from side to side to get going, while continuing to use their own body power for self-propelling fun.
- The Y Fliker’s patented technology, light-weight and sleek design, combined with performance rated wheels, allows this free-style scooter to perform smooth carving and drifting action.
- And the quick response hand brake offers kids increased control and ensures a safe, fun ride!
- And with its twist and stow folding system, it’s ready to go wherever you take it!
- Ages 7+; Max weight: 175 lbs
- MSRP: $129.99
- Available: Toys “R” Us, yvolution.com
