Though the presents under the tree get all of the glory, the stuff hanging over the mantle can be just as good– if not better! We’ve collected some of the best toys to stuff your kids’ stockings with this year– and we’ve got kids of all ages covered. Best of all, we’re giving ALL of these great toys away to five lucky winners from December 8 through 12! Each day that week, we’ll post a holiday-themed question on our Twitter page at 10 a.m. The following morning at 9 a.m., we will select one lucky winner. (See the official contest rules here.)
Be sure to check these out and tell us your favorites!
Assembly Line Power Builds (Maisto)
These new motorized model kits are easy to build and require no paint, glue, or tools. Kids can snap together the parts to build their own battery-operated vehicle, and then decorate it using the included sticker sheet. Available models include Dune Buggy, Off-Road Truck, Excavator, Front Loader, Sandrail, and Short Course Truck. These builds improve kids’ hand-eye coordination with detailed active play and teach kids about engineering and technology.
Ages: 5+
MSRP: $14.99 each
Stick’n Style Text Talk Magnets (The Orb Factory)
Follow a numbered legend and add sparkling jewels to create trendy Text Talk Magnets. Create your own magnets using emojis and phrases, such as “OMG,” “LOL,” and “BFF.” Kids can use the magnets to decorate lockers and more!
Ages: 5+
MSRP: $4.99
Pixel Pops (The Orb Factory)
Pixel Pops are the newest line from The Orb Factory. Kids can use a special stylus to pick up and stick small, squishy cubes onto a base. They can follow the instruction manual to build up their base and layer colored squares to make an adorable pixelated pet and charm. Pixel Pops are trendy and very collectible, so kids can make, trade, and share.
Ages: 8+
MSRP: $4.99
Switch & Go Dinos Turbo (VTech Toys)
Kids can transform fun vehicles into dinosaurs and hear them roar! The dinos have fun pull-back action that lets kids race up to 20 feet. Each Switch & Go Dino has customizable eyes and drivers, and well as unique sounds and dinosaur facts. There are six different dinosaurs in the line, so kids can collect them all!
Ages: 3 to 8
MSRP: $9.99
Go! Go! Smart Animals and Vehicles (VTech Toys)
Playtime goes wild with learning with the new Go! Go! Smart Animals and Vehicles toys! These animals and vehicles teach the animal or vehicle’s name and the letter that the name starts with (for example: T is for Tiger). Kids can press the light-up button to hear three sing-along songs. Each animal or vehicle responds to the SmartPoint locations with different phrases and more on Go! Go! Smart Animals and Smart Wheels play sets (each sold separately). Each stocking contains either one Animal or one Vehicle.
Ages: 1 to 5
MSRP: $7.99
K’NEX Building Set: Intro Assortment (K’NEX)
Each of this Intro Assortment sets from K’NEX features more than 60 pieces. Kids can become familiar with classic K’NEX rods and connectors as they build models. The kits come in three styles: helicopter, plane, or truck. When they combine all three sets, kids can build a space shuttle. The K’NEX rods and connectors are made in the U.S.
Ages: 5+
MSRP: $5.99 each
Super Mario: Mystery Figure Bags Series 4 (K’NEX)
Which figure will YOU get? Each Super Mario Mystery Figure Bag includes one buildable figure from the world of Super Mario. Figures include Mario, Luigi, Bowser Jr., Waluigi, Bob-Omb, Donkey Kong, or Green Toad. Each figure is compatible with the entire K’NEX Mario line of products. The figures are sold separately, so kids can collect them all!
Ages: 6+
MSRP: $3.99
Plants vs. Zombies: Wall-nut Bowling Building Set (K’NEX)
Defeat the zombies and save your brains… by going Wall-nut Bowling! These sets include a Basic Zombie figure, a Wall-nut figure, and K’NEX parts to build a ramp. Kids can roll the Wall-nut down the ramp to knock over the Basic Zombie. Easy-to-follow instructions are included.
Ages: 5+
MSRP: $11.99
Shopkins (Moose Toys)
Girls can shop ’til they drop with the Shopkins, fun new grocery-inspired collectibles. The line includes more than 150 characters to collect, including Spilt Milk, Apple Blossom, and Miss Mushy-Moo. Kids can build their collection and search for rare golden Shopkins, such as Papa Tomato and Twinkie Winks. Shopkins are available in five-packs or 12-packs. (The Toy Insider’s Stocked Stocking includes a five-pack.)
Ages: 4+
MSRP: $5.99 to $12.99
Little Live Pets Birds (Moose Toys)
These interactive, playful birds make the perfect pets for kids. Each bird looks and acts like a real pet, responds to touch, fits easily in the palm of the hand, and makes 30 different sounds, including tweeting, chirping, and even whistling popular nursery rhymes. The birds also have a unique chatter back recording feature, which allows kids to talk to their bird and hear it talk back. There are eight birds to collect in all—with names such as Polly, Charlie, and Cheeky.
Ages: 5+
MSRP: $12.99
Beados Starter Kit (Moose Toys)
Beginning a Beados world is easy with the Beados Starter Pack. Offering out-of-the-box play, the pack includes 400 beads, one Pod Pen, two design trays, and a spray bottle, so kids can bring imaginative designs to life with just a few sprays. The pack also includes six design templates, an instruction booklet, and four pods for the interchangeable Pod Pen to help kids organize their beads by color. Two connectors and a display stand let kids display their designs.
Age: 4+
MSRP: $12.99
Lite Force Project-A-Lite Flashlights (Tech 4 Kids)
These flashlights are a great way to project your favorite characters. Project-A-Lite allows kids to project six different images using bright LED lights. A flashlight and projector combo, these lights make it easy for kids to swap out lens caps and even features a storage compartment for spare lenses. Complete with a lamp feature, Project-A-Lites are available in popular licenses including Hello Kitty, Angry Birds, Frozen, Marvel Avengers, Power Rangers, Transformers, My Little Pony, Disney Princess, and Despicable Me.
Ages: 3+
MSRP: $5.99
Pound Puppies Keychain (Funrise Toys)
Pound puppies are back and cuter than ever. Kids can rescue these loveable puppies and give them a new home. Each puppy comes with its own breed, specific fun fact card, and a heart-shaped dog tag. Kids can write their puppies name on the tage and register it online at poundpuppies.com to get their very own printable adoption certificate. They can choose from a Beagle, Labrador, Bulldog, or Poodle.
Ages: 3+
MSRP: $5.99
Hexbug Scarab Micro Robotic Creature (Hexbug)
This high-speed, mechanical, beetle-like robotic bug skitters around on six angled legs. This micro robotic creature propels itself forwards, backwards, and is capable of jumping from its back to its feet if placed upside down. Its behavior is mesmerizing for kids to watch and interact with. Each Scarab has an inner body loaded with robotic intelligence, protected by a hard, transparent casing. The Scarab is available in five bright, translucent colors.
Ages: 8+
MSRP: $9.99
Play-Doh (Hasbro)
Kids love this classic modeling compound—and parents love that it doesn’t make mess. It comes in tons of fun colors and is perfect for creative, imaginative, and open-ended play. Play-Doh compound is the No. 1 reusable modeling compound, with more than 100 million cans produced each year.
Age: 2+
MSRP: $1.50
Laser Pegs Pendant (Laser Pegs)
The Laser Pegs Pendant lets kids keep playing and building on the go. Lightweight and small, this battery-powered base can be carried around kids’ necks or kept in their pockets. The Pendant can light up any Laser Pegs shape and comes with the Stackable, an LED peg that is compatible with most other brands’ building toys.There are three light settings: on, off, or flash.
Ages: 5+
MSRP: $9.99
Spaghetti Headz (Morphmallow LLC)
Spaghetti Headz is a brand new hair twist for girls. Mad of polymer clay, this eco-friendly swirl of fun is a funky new hair styling fashion accessory for girls of all ages. Available in a variety of collectible themed charm packages, there is something for everyone. From birthdays, to holidays, to kittens and “OMG”s, the collections are perfect for girls. It also encourages creative play, and the Spaghetti Headz also turn into bracelets. It’s simple to use, works on all hair types, and the twists can be easily cut to size.
Ages: 3+
MSRP: $13.99 (Three twists included in each pack)
Bungees Starter Packs (Jazwares)
Bungees are unique, brightly colored characters that have an even more unique story. Formed from the core of the Earth, they are part earthly and part alien with an inner magnetism that helps them secure new territory. The different play pattern gives users multiple ways to play by aiming their Bungees at scoring targets; a flick of the finger is all it takes to compete, collect, and in. Kids can collect all the characters from eight different crews. The Starter Pack includes two Bungees, two character cards, and four discs.
Ages: 4+
MSRP: $9.99
Toca Ink (Toca Boca)
Toca Ink is the first product in Toca Boca’s Artist Play Series, which invites international artists to celebrate the synergies of play and art by creating tools for play. Toca Ink was created in collaboration with Brooklyn-based tattoo artist Virginia Elwood. Inspired by the graphics of Toca Boca’s characters, Elwood created six temporary tattoos that feature characters from the digital games.
Ages: 4+
MSRP: $10
Angry Birds Toothbrushes (FireFly)
FireFly toothbrushes are designed to increase brushing compliance in kids, helping to create good oral care habits at an early age. Light flashes for 60 seconds, the dentist recommended time for proper cleaning of each row of teeth. Kids brush the top row of teeth until the light stops flashing, and then repeat for the bottom row of teeth.
Ages: 3+
MSRP: $5.99
My Little Pony Pop Starter Kit (Hasbro)
The My Little Pony Pop assortment delivers playful, poppable pony fun. Fans can pop-out and build any of four My Little Pony Pop characters, including Pinkie Pie, Applejack, Princess Twilight Sparkle, and Rarity, personalizing each pony’s look with colorful pop-on manes and themed stickers. Each pony is sold separately.
Ages: 4+
MSRP: $3.99
