Looking for a sneak peak at the hottest toys of the holiday season? Toy Insider Editor-in-Chief Marissa DiBartolo stopped by ABC World News Now to talk about some of the year’s most in-demand toys and gifts. For more on the items featured in this segment, check out the product notes below, and for the complete rundown of the best toys of the holiday season, be sure to check our complete Toy Insider Holiday Gift Guide.
SAFARI LEARNING STATION (LEAPFROG)
- From sitting to crawling and standing, the Safari Learning Station grows with children while keeping them learning and entertained.
- The three-in-one arch adjusts for floor play to standing play and includes three different modes.
- Giraffe, Lion, and Zebra introduce the ABCs and 123s while playing catchy safari-themed songs.
- Press the light-up piano keys to make music and discover shapes and colors.
- Little ones can spin Elephant’s bead spinner for fine motor fun and twist Chameleon’s tail to learn about colors. Children will also love dropping the balls through Monkey’s tail and watching as they roll down the ramp, through the trees, and back to them.
- Age: 6 months – 3 years
- MSRP: $49.99
- Available: Target
- Rescue Runts need a home to call their own.
- The super soft plush puppies show up on your doorstep with matted fur, dirty paws, boo boos and fleas
- Care for your Rescue Runt using the included grooming kit: Use the tweezers to pluck out “fleas”, wipe their tears away and clean their dirty paws with the towel, and brush their messy fur with the brush
- Remove their bandages, perk up their ears and make them smile to complete the transformation from ragged runt into perfect pet.
- Write their name on the collar and adoption certificate to make the adoption official.
- Rescue Runts’ messy fur, downturned ears, dirty paws, and bandages can be restored for repeat animal rescue play.
- Ages 3+
- MSRP $19.99
- Available: Walmart
CRAYOLA CRAYON MELTER (CRAYOLA)
- This new art tool enables kids and DIYers to melt crayons and use wax to create in different ways.
- In less than a minute, kids can create designs with liquefied crayons on a variety of unique surfaces like wood, glass, and canvas. The possibilities are countless, all using classic crayola crayons.
- The sleek, compact design is safe, easy to use, and has a low-heat tip for worry-free creativity.
- Age: 8+
- MSRP: $24.99
- Available: Amazon, Target, Walmart, Crayola.com
- Create squishy, slimy spheres with OOZ-O’S.
- Combine the included ingredients to form oozing slimy spheres that are ready for popping, squeezing, and squishing to reveal colorful, sparkling goo inside.
- OOZ-O’s themes include mermaid, unicorn, galaxy, and monster.
- Each kit includes an OOZ-O’S slime Maker, three colors of paint, embellishments or toys to hide inside each sphere, mixing tools, and chemical reactions to activate the slime.
- OOZ-O’s is a hands-on way to introduce kids to chemistry and express their own creativity.
- Age: 6+
- MSRP: $5.00
- Available: Michael’s, Target, Walmart, 5 Below
RISE OF THE TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES TURTLE TANK (PLAYMATES)
- As seen in Nickelodeon’s new animated series, Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Donatello builds a villain-bustin’ Turtle Tank to transport the Turtles through New York City and the realms below with all the fire power needed to kick some shell!
- The Turtle Tank is two toys in one. It transforms from vehicle mode into a Mobile Ops unit with a towering secret lab!
- In vehicle mode, the front cab opens and two Turtles can sit inside, driving the brothers into action.
- Then, Donatello’s removable lab rises up and serves as the mobile command headquarters as the Turtles spy and plan to defeat the baddies below.
- The Turtle Tank is compatible with the Shell Hog vehicles (can be connected to each side of the tank) and even fires them off when the Turtles need to get to the battle fast.
- It is also compatible with Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles basic action figures (sold separately).
- Ages: 4+
- MSRP: $34.99
- Available: Target, Walmart, Amazon
- Pomsies are loveable, fashionable, interactive plush pets you can wear and take anywhere.
- Inspired by the pom-pom fashion trend, each Pomsies pet has a soft, cuddly fur face and tail you can wrap around your wrist, hair, backpack, clothing and more.
- Pomsies are interactive with two modes of play – Virtual Pet Mode and Freeze Dance mode.
- They will tell you when they are happy, sleepy, or hungry with eyes that light up in different colors and adorable sounds.
- Up to 50 different reactions with sounds only YOU can make happen.
- Collect all six Pomsies characters in season one.
- Ages 4+
- MSRP: $14.99
- Available: Amazon, Justice, Target, Walmart
