Looking for the best toys of the season? Toy Insider Mom Laurie Schacht stopped by CityLine in Toronto to show off the hottest new toys and toy trends this spring. For more on the products featured in this segment, check out the notes below, and for more on the hottest new toys of the season be sure to view our Spring and Summer Toy Guide.
Washable Sidewalk Paint Sprayer (Crayola)
- Turn any outdoor space into a child’s canvas!
- By simply pumping the unit and spraying, kids can create anything in their imagination, and parents don’t have to worry about a messy cleanup.
- Includes Sidewalk Paint Sprayer Unit, two pre-filled, refillable paint cartridges, two stencil sheets, and content sheet.
- Ages: 6+
- Canada MSRP: $17.94,
- Available at Walmart
Etch a Sketch Classic (Spin Master)
- For more than 50 years, children and adults alike have been discovering the magical world of creativity and pencil-free drawing with Etch A Sketch!
- The iconic red frame, easy-to-use knobs, classic magic screen and shake-to-erase feature — not to mention the endless hours of fun it provides — have made it popular all around the world!
- Age: 5+
- Canada MSRP: $24.99
- Available: Target, Toys R Us
Kidizoom Action Cam- The Kidizoom Action Cam lets little videographers capture their adventures with videos and photos!
- The Action Cam is a great first video camera for kids and is durable enough to handle drops and tumbles.
- It can go anywhere and do anything kids can do with two included mounts so they can attach it to their bike, skateboard and more. It also comes with a waterproof case so they can take videos and pictures up to 6 feet underwater!
- The Action Cam features a 1.4-inch color LCD screen and can take videos and photos in addition to stop-motion videos and time-lapse photos.
- Kids can also explore their creativity with fun effects, frames and photo filters.
- They can download their photos and videos to a computer using the included micro USB cable and share them with family and friends.
- And later this summer, VTech will introduce the new Kidizoom Action Cam 180, letting kids capture their adventures from every angle with a 180° rotatable camera and more great features.
- Ages 4-9 years
- CAD MSRP: $69.99
- Available: Amazon, Toys R Us, Walmart
LeapFrog LeapStart Learning System (LeapFrog)
- LeapFrog has updated its successful LeapStart interactive “whole child” learning system that provides the perfect balance of core school and 21st century life skills to help prepare kids for the future.
- LeapStart activity books will also get kids excited about concepts such as STEM, math, reading comprehension, phonics, communication, problem solving, social skills, and more.
- The magic behind the updated LeapStart system is a stylus that reads invisible dots on every page, triggering engaging audio like questions, challenges, songs, jokes and more to teach school and life skills.
- The newly designed ergonomic stylus was created to be comfortable for kids of all ages and promotes proper pen grip.
- A funfest of touch-and-talk games, creative challenges, problem-solving puzzles, math mazes and more awaits kids with 30+ activities in every activity book.
- Each activity is designed to be played again and again for endless learning, discovery, storytelling, music making, fun facts, jokes and more.
- Ages 2-5 years;
- CAD MSRP: $49.99
- Available: Toys R Us, Walmart, Amazon
Hatchimals Colleggtibles (Spin Master)
- Introducing Hatchimals Colleggtibles, a spin-off of Spin Master’s incredibly popular Hatchimals from 2016.
- These adorable Hatchimals come inside of small, speckled eggs; and they need your help to hatch!
- Hold the egg in your hands, rub the heart, and when it changes from purple to pink, you know it’s ready to hatch! Gently crack the egg to discover the Hatchimal inside!
- Each Hatchimal has a set of magical, glittery wings!
- With over 70 to collect in Season One, finding the ultra-rares is half the fun!
- A beautiful collectors map introduces you to their home! With landmarks like the Giggling Tree, Lilac Lake, Fabula Forest, and more, there’s so much to explore!
- MSRP: $2.99-$9.99
- Available: Spring 2017
Mash’Ems - Mash’Ems are the super squishy, super stretchy, must-have collectible that kids love! Twist’em, Squish’em and Collect’em! Each Mash’Em comes in a blind capsule, adding the element of surprise every time you open one up!
- Available in a variety of licenced characters like Paw Patrol, Thomas & Friends, and The Avengers
- Ages: 4+
- Canada MSRP: $3.99
- Available at Walmart
Fash’Ems- Fash’Ems are soft, squishy fashionably fun characters for girls who like to dress up and play with their favorite characters! Soft and collectible, Fash’Ems provide squishy fashion fun! Each Fash’Em comes in a blind capsule, adding the element of surprise every time you open one up!
- Available in a variety of licenced characters including: My Little Pony, Care Bears, Barbie, and Disney Princesses
- Ages: 4+
- Canada: $3.99
- Available at Walmart
Wonder Crew- Wonder Crew Buddies, the toy line for boys designed to empower boys to connect, nurture and build empathy through friendship, imagination and adventure. Combining the adventure of an action figure with the emotional connection of a stuffed animal, 15″ Wonder Crew Buddies are available now.
- The crew includes Will (Caucasian), Marco (Hispanic), James (African American) and Erik (Asian). Each comes dressed in superhero gear, complete with matching mask and cape for kids.
- Wonder Crew also has three Adventure Packs: Builder includes a construction outfit and hard hat for the buddy, and a matching vest for kids; Explorer features a safari-looking outfit and hat for the buddy, and a matching hat for the child; and Snuggler is a set of pajamas for the buddy, and a blanket for kids!
- Age: 3+
- Canadian MSRP: $42 for Buddies
- Available: Target
Thumb Chucks - CONTROL THE ROLL! Thumb Chucks from Zing are the newest and coolest skill toy for the ultimate finger rollin’ fun!
- Twirl, flip and twist Thumb Chucks around your fingers to perform awesome tricks.
- Two high-bounce plastic ‘Chucks’ are connected with a ‘belt’ and fit right in your pocket.
- Kids can master a wide range of tricks from intermediate to advanced. Thanks to the built-in motion-sensitive LED lights, the Chucks glow in the dark for the ultimate light show.
- The new free Thumb Chucks app, available on iOS and Android in January 2017, includes over 20+ tutorials that teach users a variety of mind-blowing tricks.
- The app also includes an easy-to-use recording feature with built-in special effects to enhance and personalize Thumb Chucks videos.
- The more kids master, the more belts they can collect. Learn how to earn special belts by going to ThumbChucks.Toys.
- Thumb Chucks are available in red, orange, green and blue.
- Ages: 5+
- Canada: $8.99
- Available: Toys R Us, Walmart Amazon, Mastermind Toys
Sky Viper s1700 Stunt Drone (Skyrocket)
- Perform awe-inspiring stunts at speeds up to 25 mph. With the touch of a button, execute Left & Right Barrel Rolls, Forward & Reverse Inside Loops, and Flips while Auto-Hovering in mid-air.
- Equipped with ViperFlight™ firmware and Auto Launch, Auto Hover and Auto Land.
- No FAA registration required.
- Ages 12+,
- Canada: $55.68,
- Available at Target, Walmart
PJ Masks Deluxe Vehicles (Just Play)
- Pounce, swim and fly into action with the PJ Masks Deluxe Vehicles featuring Catboy in his Cat-Car, Gekko in his Gekko-Mobile and Owlette in her Owl Glider!
- Hear fun hero phrases from the hit TV series “PJ Masks” and see the headlights light up as the vehicles roll “into the night to save the day!”
- Each vehicle comes with a 3″ articulated figure and can accommodate all three PJ Masks 3″ figures.
- Collect all three vehicles, sold separately.
- Ages 3+,
- Canadian MSRP $36.99
- Available: Toys “R” Us
PJ Masks Light-Up Figures (Just Play)
- Nighttime is the right time to fight crime with the PJ Masks Light-up Figures!
- These articulated 3” figures feature glowing amulets and can be moved into fun action poses for endless hero play.
- Each hero also comes with a bonus wrist band that features their signature color and amulet! Collect all three figures including Catboy, Owlette and Gekko.
- Ages 3+
- Canadian MSRP: $8.99
- Available: Toys “R” Us
Fingerlings- Fingerlings Baby Monkeys love hanging onto your finger and know when they’re being touched, spoken to, and even hung upside down!
- These perfect primate pets come to life with 40 ways to play and 50 sounds to let you know how they are feeling.
- You’ll fall in love with these sweet and sometimes silly critters with their realistic monkey sounds, adorable blinking eyes, head turns, plus hands that grip and a curly hanging tail.
- You can swing them, pet them, kiss them, AND rock them to sleep! 6 different Fingerlings to share and collect.
- Ages: 4+
- Canadian MSRP: $20 each
- Available: Toys “R” Us
Cupcake Surprise - With a little sweet magic and infinite imagination, decadent desserts transform into princesses with every Cupcake Surprise!
- Every princess doll will be the belle of the ball and all the bakeries of the land in her sparkly gown and decorative bonnet, or indulge in a sugary treat and serve these charming cupcakes fresh from the oven. Expect endless playtime and never-ending wonderment in each Cupcake Surprise – discover deliciously scented fragrances with every doll!
- Whether in the bakery, kitchen, or castle, the sweet-smelling 2-in-1 toy will surely inspire imaginative play.
- Each doll comes with her own styling hairbrush. Packaged in 12 different styles with six available scents: strawberry, vanilla, grape, chocolate, lemon, and peanut butter. Collect them all!
- Ages 3+.
- Canadian MRSP: WAITING FOR NICOLE
- Available on Amazon.
R/C Rock N’ Roll Groot (Jakks Pacifc)
- Kids can control the new R/C Rock N’ Roll Groot as he dances, spins, talks, and lights up.
- In Manual Mode, kids control the action with the remote, modeled after the iconic “Awesome Mix” cassette tape, while the song “Flashlight” plays.
- Groot can shimmy back and forth or spin around on the ground. He will even spin himself back upright if he falls over. In Listen Mode, Groot will dance on his own to almost any song when placed near a speaker.
- The remote also features a button that triggers four different “I am Groot” phrases during play. The base of the unit lights up as well for a galactic dance party with Groot.
- Ages: 4+
- Canadian MSRP: $59.99
- Available: Amazon, Walmart, Toys R US, Target
RSF650- Adults can ride on custom 12” 10-spoke mag wheels and street tires as they ride up to 17 mph!
- Run time of up to 50 minutes of continuous use.
- Can hold a weight up to 220 pounds
- Age: 16+
- Canadian MSRP: $837.20
- Available at Target
