Hot Holiday Toys for Preschool Children {Holiday 2017}

A gift guide to the hot holiday toys for preschool age children.

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I think preschool children are some of the easiest to shop for.  At this age they are into their favorite television characters and toy manufacturers are very aware of this!  They are also at a great age for starting to learn to play games and do crafts.  Although there seems to be unlimited options, here are some of the hot holiday toys for preschool children this holiday.

Disney Junior Doc McStuffins All-in-One Nursery – Doc McStuffins helps your child take care of their baby dolls in this all-in-one nursery set. It comes with a cradle and a scale.  Included in the many different doctor accessories are a light-and-sound stethoscope and a laptop that has a light-up screen, makes sounds and plays music. This is a preschool toy of the year finalist. The laptop and stethoscope each require 3 x AAA batteries, not included. Recommended for ages 3+.  Retails for $79.99.


Go! Go! Smart Wheels Race & Play Adventure Park – Watch as Gavin the Go-Kart races down the track and off the jump ramp! This set includes a ferris wheel that spins, a tumble-down carnival game and a swinging gate. It plays 40 songs, melodies, sounds and phrases. Requires 3 x AAA batteries, not included.  Recommended for ages 1 -5.  Retails for $39.99.

LeapFrog LeapStart – This is LeapFrog’s new interactive learning system. Using the stylus, children use one of the 25+ books (sold separately) to engage in over 30 different learning activities. Recommended for ages 2-7.  Retails for $39.99.

Moonlite – Moonlite is a children’s storybook projector that attaches to almost any phone.  Using the flashlight function it projects story images onto the wall or ceiling. Recommended for ages 3+.  The projector retails for $24.99 and each story reel retails for $7.99.  Available stories include Chicka Chicka Boom Boom, The Ugly Duckling, Duck & Goose and more.


Luvabella – Luvabella is an interactive baby doll.  She moves, talks and plays, learning as kids play with her. She comes with four interactive accessories including a spoon, bottle, pacifier and stuffed animal.   4 C batteries are required, but not included.  The doll is available with blond hair, brunette hair or dark brown hair.  She retails for $99.99.

Paw Patrol My Size Lookout Tower –  Paw Patrol fans will love this 2 1/2 ft.+ tower.  It has interactive lights and sounds and comes with a Chase figure and vehicle, 2 Chase pup packs, one Marshall figure and 2 Marshall pup packs.  Requires 2 x AAA batteries, not included. Recommended for ages 3+.  Retails for $99.99.

Paw Patrol Sea Patroller – For Paw Patrol fans, Spin Master’s newest addition to the collection is the Sea Patroller.  This boat makes sounds, has flashing lights and comes with a detachable anchor.  The set comes with a Ryder figure and Ryder’s rescue ATV vehicle, an octopus and two lifesavers.  This is a preschool toy of the year finalist. 3 LR44 button cell batteries are included.  Recommended for ages 3+. The set retails for $59.99.

 

Rusty Rivets - Rivet Lab Playset

Rusty Rivets Rivet Lab – Fans of Rusty Rivets will enjoy this transforming playset.  This set includes real lights and sounds from the show and comes with an exclusive Rusty figure. There’s a moving crane, elevator and blaster.  You can add to the lab with other Build Me Rivet Systems sets, that are sold separately. Requires 3 LR44 batteries, included. Recommended for ages 3+.  Retails for $39.99.

Soggy Doggy Board Game – In this game players move their piece around the board, taking turns bathing the doggy.  But the dog likes to shake himself dry.  If he shakes himself on your turn, you get wet and have to go back to the start. Requires 3 x AA batteries, not included.  Recommended for ages 4+. Retails for $19.99.

 

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Hot Holiday Toys for School-Age Kids {2017 Gift Guide}

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It’s that time of year again.  The toy catalogs are coming in and the kids are starting to make their holiday wish lists.  Don’t get stressed out because I have rounded up this season’s hot holiday toys in NY Foodie Family’s 2017 Holiday Toy Gift Guide.  I recently attended Play Fair in New York City, where the biggest toy brands were showcasing their newest toys, just in time for the holidays!  Here are some of the recent new toys that are sure to be a hit with the school-age kids on your list!

 

Air Hogs 2-in-1 Hyper Drift Drones – These remote controlled can race on the ground or in the sky.  The drone detaches and has a self-righting cage so it always lands upright.  Each set comes with one hyper drift drone, one controller, one USB charger, an instruction sheet and spare propellers.  Sets retail for $39.99 each.

Grossery Gang Muck Chuck Garbage Truck – Muck Chuck Garbage Truck is one of the newest additions to the Grossery Gang.  It has a trash launch catapult and lots of storage space to hold Grosseries.  The cab and sides open for battle mode.  The truck comes with two exclusive grosseries.  Recommended for ages 5+.  Retails for $19.99.

Hatchimals Surprise –  The newest from Hatchimals is Hatchimals Surprise.  Inside each speckled egg are twin Hatchimals.  Help them hatch and then watch as they learn new things.  Choices include Peacats (shown above), Giravens, Deerioles and Ligulls (sold exclusively at Target), Puppadees (sold exclusively at Toys ‘R’ Us) and Zuffins (sold exclusively at Walmart). Recommended for ages 5+. Retails for $69.99.

L.O.L. Surprise! BIG Surprise –  You will be lucky to find a L.O.L. Surprise (Little Outrageous Little Surprise) BIG Surprise this holiday season.  The toy, released back in September continues to sell out and if you do find one, expect to pay a lot more than the $69.99 it retails for.  The L.O.L. Surprise! are blind bag dolls and accessories.  Inside the BIG Surprise are 50 surprises, each individually wrapped, resulting in the ultimate unboxing experience.   If you can’t get your hands on the BIG Surprise, smaller mystery pack dolls are more readily available.  Recommended for ages 6+.

LEGO Kylo Ren’s TIE Fighter– Legos are always popular with children of all ages and there are always new sets coming out.  One of the new sets this season is Kylo Ren’s TIE Fighter.  Recommend for ages 8-14, this set has 630 pieces.  It comes with three mini-figures and a BB-9E figure. It retails for $79.99.  Other new sets include Star Wars First Order Star Destroyer, Minecraft Waterfall Base, Witch Hut and Jungle Temple and NINJAGO Destiny’s Bounty.

Shopkins Cutie Cars – Cutie Cars are one of the newest additions to the Shopkins line. They are sold in 3 packs (pictured above) as well as in single packs.  Each car comes with its own Shopkin.  They are diecast and can be pushed. There are 37 cars to collect in Series 1. Recommended for ages 5+.  3 packs retail for $12.99, single packs retail for $4.99.

WowWee Chippies – These are remote-controlled puppies that can dance, sing, chase their tails and more.  They have LED eyes and posable hind legs.  There are four different puppies to choose from:  Chipper (blue), Chippette (pink), Chippo (black) and Chippella (white). Recommended for ages 5+.  Retails for $39.99.

One of the hot new toys for holiday 2017.

WowWee Fingerlings Monkeys – Fingerlings Monkeys were just released in August of this year.  These baby monkeys  hang on your fingers and respond to sound, motion and touch.  With over 40 different animations, kids can interact with their Fingerlings by petting it, blowing kisses and more. They can grip on to different surfaces. Parents, do not worry, there is an on/off switch!    There are currently six different Fingerlings (Bella, Boris, Finn, Mia, Sophie and Zoe) which retail for $14.99.  Recommended for ages 5+.

 

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Gift Ideas for Creative Tweens {Holiday Guide 2017}

Gift ideas for creative tweens. Use this guide to shop for some of the more creative kids on your shopping list.

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This is the first in a series of gift guides to help you complete your holiday shopping.  These are gift ideas for creative tweens.  These gifts are great for both girls and boys in the 8+ age range and allows them to use their imagination and creativity.  Many of these toys are brand new to the market this holiday season!

Just released from the Orb toy company. These are the world's first creation compound. A great creative gift for kids this holiday!

1. ORB Molecules – ORB Molecules is the newest product from ORB (formerly ORB Factory).  It is the world’s first creation compound.  The molecules are brightly colored and come in different sizes.  They stick to themselves, but not anything else!   The ORB Molecules are sold in kits so that kids can make their own creations.  These will be hitting shelves in approximately two weeks and will be sold exclusively at Michaels stores.   These kits retail for $14.99. (Recommended for ages 5+)

A great gift idea for creative tweens on your holiday shopping list!

(photo courtesy of ORB)

2. ORB Morph – Orb Morph is not a new product to the market.  Morph is a lightweight, “shape-shifting fluff.”  It’s a building compound that kids can mold, that can also bounce and float.  As kids play with the morph, it gets softer and fluffier. The material doesn’t dry out and can be reused over and over again.   The Morph comes in six different colors and retails for $14.99.  It can be found at Walmart, Michaels, Target and Amazon.  (Recommended for ages 3+)

A fun, new gift idea for creative tweens. They can create pixelated stickers.

3. STiKidotz – STiKidotz are the world’s first 3D pixel art sticker.  Projects start with a square base.  Kids create a design on the base using the dotzPIXELS to create a design.  Once the design is complete you can cut it out with scissors, take off the paper backing and stick it to the surface of your choice. There are creative kits where kids can come up with their own designs.  STiKidotz also sells pre-designed kits that kids can follow to create characters and pictures. These kits are available on the dotz company website and beginning November 7, Amazon.  A starter pack is $12.99 and includes 2 bases and 36 dotzBLOKs.  (Recommended for ages 6+)

Check out the above video to see STiKidotz in action!  To learn more about them check out the STiKidotz website!

A great gift for creative kids. Kids can create many different projects with the one kit.

4. E-Blox Circuit Builder –  E-Blox manufactures three different circuit builder kits.  The Circuit Builder 115, pictured above, contains 37 pieces which kids can use to create 115 different projects. They will learn about electricity, alarms, motors and more as they create.  An instruction booklet is included.  These kits require 3 “AA” batteries.  The kits retail between $19.99 and $44.99.  (Recommended for ages 8+)

Another gift idea for creative tweens.

5.  Oonies – Made by Moose Toys, Oonies are small balloons that you can play with and customize.  Use the inflator to inflate the pellets to the balloons.  Then customize with the accessory stickers.  The starter pack comes with the inflator, 36 pellets and accessories.  The balloons stay inflated for approximately five days before deflating. Kids can make their own designs and creations or use the available theme packs.  The Oonies site has all kinds of games, challenges and more.  The starter pack, which you need for the inflator, retails for $19.99.  You can find Oonies at Target, Walmart, Amazon and Toys R Us. (recommended for ages 5+)