With the holidays approaching, it’s time to think about toys! The folks at National Parenting Product Awards (NAPPA) have had a fun year unboxing, testing and playing with lots of toys and other family products. Here are the best of the best for this year.
Fun & Learning
KidiBuzz
This smart device does it all: send texts, voice messages, photos and drawings. It’s also a multimedia player for music and videos. Includes more than 40 learning games and awesome apps. $99.99, ages 4-9, VTechKids.com
Snap Circuits BRIC: Structures
Wire up your brick builds with lights, sounds, moving parts and 3D circuits to create almost anything and make it go. Teaches electricity, engineering, circuitry and more. $44.95, ages 8+, Elenco.com
Really Rad Robots MiBro
Take control of this robo buddy through his Really Rad Remote and play, prank, spy and command. Plays music, dances and lights up, and kids can speak through him or put him into stealth mode to be an undercover agent. $39.99, ages 5+, MooseToys.com
Itty Bitty Buggy
Fun, versatile and Lego-compatible STEM education toy that allows kids to build and program five different vehicles: buggy, sloth, ladybug, dodo bird and alien. $59.99, ages 8+, MicroDuinoInc.com
Ooze Labs Chemistry Station
See how much fun chemistry can be as you do slimy, fizzy, colorful and bubbly experiments. Comes with lots of different vessels and lab equipment. All experiments use nonhazardous chemicals. $39.95, ages 6+, ThamesAndKosmos.com
Avengers Hero Inventor Kit
With their favorite Marvel Avengers, kids become their own superheroes by building and customizing high-tech hero gear and a unique identity. Comes with a companion app that walks you through the steps of creating circuits. $149.99, ages 8+, Shop.LittleBits.com
GeoSmart Flip Bot
If you build it, it will flip, wirelessly! This 30-piece geomagnetic set boasts turbo motors to allow the remote-controlled vehicle to effortlessly zoom, spin, and of course, flip over! At home and in the classroom, this robot makes learning fun. The motors feature a rechargeable battery (Just add 3 AAA batteries for the remote control). Featuring bright colors, strong magnetic pieces and a patented double-safety system,GeoSmart offers unsurpassed safety and durability for endless creative play! Read our Reivew of GeoSmart Flip Bot • Ages 5+ • $59.99, GeoSmartUSA.com
K’NEX THRILL RIDES: Bionic Blast Roller Coaster Building Set
With more than 800 parts, this roller coaster set includes rods and connectors, roller coaster track, coaster car, chain lift, cardboard VR viewer and the first Ferris wheel coaster car lift. Activate the K’NEX Ride It! app to ride this coaster in the virtual world. $99.99, ages 9+, KNex.com
Crayola Color Chemistry Lab Set
Equipped with STEAM-infused, playful experiments exploring color and packed with 50 colorful science activities. Enough Crayola supplies to do 15 experiments right out of the box. $24.99 ages: 7+, Shop.Crayola.com
LeapStart 3D Learning System
Magically bring activities and animations as you build math, reading and problem-solving skills and more. The LeapStart library of more than 25 books (each sold separately) covers a variety of preschool through first-grade subjects. A total of more than 400 activities across the LeapStart library. $49.99, ages 2-7, Leapfrog.com
PJ Masks Super Catboy Learning Watch by VTech
Put on the watch and save the day while playing four exciting games that explore shapes and early math skills. Includes nine different PJ Masks clock faces, an alarm clock with three alarm tones, timer, stopwatch and cuckoo clock. $14.99, ages 3-6, VTechKids.com
My First Learning Tablet by LeapFrog
Tap, swipe and experience a learning light show with this kid-tough toddler tablet. Introduces letters, numbers, shapes, animals, colors and more. Five icons on the bottom of the tablet include phone, clock, Scout button, camera and music player for role-play excitement. $17.99, ages 1+, Leapfrog.com
Surprise Collectibles
Disney Doorables
Behind every door, a surprise is in store. The Disney Doorables Multi Peek pack includes five, six or seven favorite Disney characters from favorites including Frozen, Monsters Inc., Tangled, Moana and many more. $29.99 (mega set), ages 3+, DisneyDoorables.com
Hairdorables
These new surprise dolls combine fun, fashion and colorful hair. Every package is a surprise: Pull, peel and reveal 11 accessories that unwrap the unique style of the of the Hairdorables girl hidden inside. $12.99, ages 3+, JustPlayProducts.com
Pikmi Pops
Super soft and fluffy, Pikmi Pops include a jumbo reversible plush and one to two medium exclusive reversible scented plushes. The Super Flip also comes with eight different fun surprises like badges, gel pens, stickers, charms and more. 44.99, ages 4+, MooseToys.com
Treasure X
Combines classic “you dig it” play with the trends of collectable action figures and “extreme” unboxing. Ten levels of discovery. Pack includes a treasure map, X-Marks coin, X-Cavator digging tool, a buildable figure embedded in “stone” and a treasure chest. $9.99, ages 5+, MooseToys.com
Smooshy Mushy Babies
A magic baby bottle with a disappearing reveal. Pop the top to find out who the stork brought you. Tons to collect. $14.99; Ages 5+, SmooshyMushy.us
Hatchimals CollEGGtibles
With the all-new Hatch Friends Forever! You will hatch and discover best friends—two characters from separate eggs who come together to form special poses. Piggybacks, whispering secrets, Hatch-fives and more. For the first time, you also can hatch twins: two Hatchimals from one egg! $2.99-19.99, ages 5-8, Hatchimals.com
Game Time
Candygrams
A new crossword game that’s fun and challenging and will help develop word skills. $24.99; Ages 7+, CandyGrams.com
Beasts of Balance
Consider this Jenga for the 21st century! Players work together to stack beasts onto the augmented reality play base, which connects to an app. $99, ages 8+, BeastsOfBalance.com
Laser Chess
A two-player laser chess-like strategy game where you must eliminate your opponent’s players by hitting his target before he hits yours. $39.99, ages 8+, ThinkFun.com/products/laser-chess
Shadows in the Forest
Play in the dark as you move the LED lantern around in search of Shadowlings—the mysterious creatures who avoid the light. $24.99, ages 8+, ThinkFun.com/products/shadows-in-the-forest
Cat Crimes
A feline crime has been committed, and it’s your job to identify the culprit. A deductive reasoning game with a lovable cast of characters—who may be up to no good. $12.99, ages 8+, ThinkFun.com/products/cat-crimes
Imaginative Play
Rescue Runts
Adoptable puppies you rescue, groom and love. Includes grooming kit to remove fleas, wipe away tears, clean paws and comb fur to complete the transformation from ragged runt to sweet pet. $19.99, ages 3+, RescueRunts.com
Wizard Training Wands
Harry Potter fans, it’s time to unleash your inner wizard. Interactive wands cast 11 different spells. Includes spell training guide. Wands recognize movement and provide sound feedback. Each wand includes five modes of play: two modes of stand-alone play and three modes to play with a friend. $24.99, ages 8+, Jakks.com
Crayola Silly Scents Sticker Maker
Transform any piece of paper into a scented sticker to decorate electronic devices, book covers, school lockers and more. $19.99, ages 6+, Shop.Crayola.com/toys-and-activities/toys/silly-scents-sticker-maker
Sing & Spin Minnie
Inspired by the hit Disney Junior series Minnie’s Happy Helpers. Tap Minnie’s signature bow and she will sing a catchy song while she scoots, twists and rides. $39.99, ages 3+, JustPlayProducts.com/products/minnie-mouse-sing-spin-scooter-minnie
Talking Fancy Nancy Doll
Press the interactive doll’s necklace to hear more than 35 phrases. Or sing the Fancy Nancy theme song together and watch Nancy’s dress change colors in a très belle light show. $39.99, ages 3+, Jakks.com
Fingerlings HUGS
Swing these cuddle monkeys for a silly reaction, shake them for a funny fart or pat their backs for a crazy burp. With the new KissTech technology, your cuddle monkey will give you a big smooch in return when you press your HUGS’ mouth to your cheek or skin. $29.99, ages: 2-8, Fingerlings.com/hugs
Jack-Jack Attacks
Poke his tummy to see and hear fiery flames, laser eyes, electric sparks, teleport and more. Includes Raccoon sidekick. $39.95, ages 3+, ShopDisney.com/jack-jack-attacks-talking-action-figure-incredibles-2
Crayola Scribble Scrubbie Pets
Adorable, colorable and washable pet figures that kids can customize and collect. Design on the furry friends with the six included washable markers, clean them up in the included Scrub Tub. Expansion packs sold separately. $19.99, ages 3+, Shop.Crayola.com/toys-and-activities/toys/scribble-scrubbie-pets-scrub-tub-playset
Squishmallows
All new, jumbo-size squishy buddies—great pillows, bedtime buddies, travel companions and best buds to relieve stress and anxiety. $29.99; for all ages, Squishmallows.com
SharingLand Cardboard Playhouses
Pop-up playhouses made from cardboard. Five unique and playful models come ready-to-play. Select from Grand Palace, the Epic Castle, Space Odyssey, Ancestral Teepee or Windmill Farm. $99, ages 3+, SharingLand.com
Disney Junior Doc McStuffins Pet Rescue Mobile
Race to save pets with this on-the-go set, equipped with lights, music, phrases, play medical tools and accessories. Comes with Doc’s pet friend Oliver. $49.99, ages 3+, JustPlayProducts.com
cuddle+kind
Hand-knit by artisans in Peru using sustainable, fair trade practices, these dolls have a mission. For every doll sold, the company gives 10 meals to children in need around the world. $50-$72, ages birth-5 years, CuddleAndKind.com
Disney Junior Vampirina Rock N’ Jam Touring Van
Rock out with the Ghoul Girls. The van transforms into a spook-tacular stage, and when Vampirina is ready to perform, she magically rises on a light-up platform. Vampirina and Poppy figures included. $39.99, ages: 3+, JustPlayProducts.com
Elena Epstein, NAPPA Awards Director