Toy Insider Editor-in-Chief Marissa Silva joined Spectrum News at the Toy Insider’s Holiday of Play event to talk about the hottest toys and biggest toy trends of the holiday season. For more on the items featured in this segment, check out the product notes below. For a complete rundown of the year’s hottest holiday toys, be sure to check out the Toy Insider’s 2026 Holiday Gift Guide.
ZIPSTRING ARACNA
This string-launching, web-shooting toy lets kids sling and retract a glow-in-the-dark string into the air and perform tricks, create shapes, and play games.
Buy Now
PRIMAL HATCH HATCHING MEGALODON
Kids awaken the beast when they add water, which foams, fizzes, and eventually turns red before the Megalodon jumps out. Kids can play with the shark after the reveal, or reset it and reveal it again.
Buy Now
SUPER MARIO YUM YUM YOSHI!
This 9.5-inch-tall Yoshi figure features a tongue that unrolls to pick up the magnetic apple, giving kids the opportunity to re-create their favorite moments from Super Mario video games.
Buy Now
SESAME STREET TICKLE ME ELMO GIGGLE MAX
Elmo is back with more giggles than ever before. When kids tickle him, Elmo laughs, flaps his arms, and shakes his body with delight. Elmo also says cute phrases and gets a few hiccups from his laughing fit.
Buy Now
