Christmas is right around the corner and this year’s list of 2020’s hottest holiday toys is out! Is there anything you may buy for a friend or family?
Star Wars The Child Animatronic Edition: ($59) at Amazon
What it is: Hasbro unveiled this now highly anticipated animatronic version of The Child, aka Baby Yoda, back in February. When you touch the top of The Child’s head, you activate 25-plus sound and motion combinations, including happy sounds, giggles and babbles. The figure’s head moves up and down, the ears move back and forth, and the eyes open and close. When you lay The Child down, it closes its eyes and takes a “Force nap.” Pre-order this now on Amazon while you can.
Pets Alive Fifi the Flossing Sloth: ($24.99 $19.88) at Amazon
What it is: Does your kid love to floss? ZURU Pets Alive is back (remember last year’s Boppi booty-shaking llama?!) with Fifi, a sloth who flosses like nobody’s business to three songs. She also flaunts blinking eyes along with her wiggles.
CurliGirls: ($9.99) at Amazon
What it is: These collectible dolls stole the show at New York Toy Fair. Each doll features MagiCurl hair that instantly curls when you pull on it along with beads, hair bands, and a clip. The longer you pull on the hair, the tighter the curl. Dunk the hair in warm water to watch it straighten and start all over for endless styling opportunities. Three dolls are currently available: Charli, the Pop Star; Hayli, the Ballerina; Bayli, the Birthday Girl.
Gotta Go Flamingo: ($29.99) at Target
What it is: When you gotta go, you gotta go! Sherbet the Gotta Go Flamingo is the latest, greatest interactive toy from Little Live Pets. Kids can feed him Flamingo Food, hear him chew and watch his long neck wiggle as he gobbles the food down. When he sings “Uh Oh! Gotta Go!” it’s time to place him on the water-filled toilet and let him do his business. From there, take the scoop, remove the flamingo poop from the bowl, and it’ll dry back into his flamingo food, and you can start all over again.
Healthy Roots Dolls: Zoe: ($79.99) at Healthy Roots Dolls
What it is: From the Black-owned brand Healthy Roots comes this beautiful doll with hair specially designed to be washed and styled in any way you can think of. You can use actual products on Zoe’s hair and styles from puffs to box braids. Due to high demand, Zoe is currently sold out, but you can pre-order her now to reserve for the next batch. I love her curls, heart jumper and yellow Converse!
Air Hogs Super Soft Stunt Shot Indoor Remote Control Stunt Vehicle: ($29.99) at Target
What it is: This rechargeable RC stunt vehicle is lightweight with an easy-to-use dual joystick controller perfect for young hands. Its giant wheels can take on a variety of terrains, both inside and outside. The vehicle flips, does 360-degree spins, wheelies and rebounds off walls. And let’s be real—one of the selling points is that the wheels are made from foam, meaning no damage to furniture, floors, baseboards or unsuspecting pets (hey, you never know).
Squeakee the Balloon Dog: ($59.99) at Target
What it is: Given this toy looks like a Jeff Koons work of art, it’s popular with kids and adults alike. Squeakee looks like a balloon, but he’s interactive, will respond to your voice and can stand, roll over and play. You can even train him to sit and beg. Poke him with the included pin, and he’ll “POP,” deflating, but don’t worry—you can press “Pump” on his nose to inflate him again. Oh, he also pees and farts. Because, you know, 2020 toys.
MGA Entertainment Na! Na! Na! Surprise 3-in-1 Backpack Bedroom: ($39.99) at Amazon
What it is: Dolls, but make it fashion. This three-in-one toy comes with a limited-edition doll, bedroom playset (complete with a mirror, bed, pillows, blanket and more) and a fuzzy backpack that kids can pack the toy in and wear. There are two styles to collect, and all the accessories are sure to keep kids busy and entertained.
Blume Petal Pets: ($7.99) at Target
What it is: They’re baaaack. The best-selling Blume Dolls are getting pets in flower pots that can be unboxed over and over again! Just add water, and each colorful flower “blumes” to reveal a collectible charm bracelet, which can turn into a leash for your pet, and a Petal Pet hiding inside. The Petal Pet’s hairstyle and unique charm “connect to a magical place within the World of Blume:” Sea, Sky, Gem, Sweet, Flower and Fire. Check the collector map to see what special power your new pet friend possesses. There are 12 Petal Pets and 12 charms to collect. Each blind pack comes with stickers, a watering can and collector map.
VTech KidiZoom Creator Cam: ($59.99) at Target
What it is: Let me just say toys have gotten way more advanced since I was a kid. But in the YouTube age, this kid-friendly gadget is a winner. The Creator Cam lets them create their own HD videos and comes with on-camera editing, a green screen and a tabletop tripod/selfie stick. So legit!
Perhaps the coolest part is that there are 20+ animated backgrounds to play with. Your star can get chased by a T-Rex, go to outer space, host their own weather report, hang out at the beach and more. Also, the camera is safe in that it’s not Wi-Fi compatible, so you’ll need to assist kids with actually getting the videos uploaded or online.
Roller Skates: (prices vary) at Amazon
What it is: Thanks to TikTok—and let’s face it, the fact that we’re limited on outdoor social activities because of COVID-19—roller skating has made an epic comeback. In fact, stores are having a hard time keeping wheels and blades in stock. Amazon has an array of roller skates and roller blades in some really cool designs. We wheelie like them and want a pair for ourselves.
Treasure X Aliens Glow in The Dark Dissect The Alien: ($14.99) at Amazon
What it is: Gross and oozy Treasure Hunters were a hot toy last year, and now they’re back with the ability to glow in the dark. Launched in January, there are 12 new Alien Hunter Action Figures to collect and three new collectible Aliens to dissect. Kids can use the included tool to dissect the Alien and rescue the Hunter from the ooze-filled belly—and yes, the glow-in-the-dark ooze is reusable. Also, yes, you can squeeze the ooze out of the alien’s face. I will now repeat the word “gross.” Inside each Alien body, kids will also find the Hunter’s weapon and a Treasure or Space Gem. Fun fact: These Gems are known as Peridot.
Skyrocket Real Cooking Chocolate Pen: ($29.97) at Amazon
What it is: This Chocolate Pen is an art project and baking tool in one that helps kids (and adults, really) create one-of-a-kind edible art. At the touch of a button, kids can write words, draw designs with the four included colors, and use the 40 molds to make rainbows, hearts and more awesome shapes, including bonus molds inspired by Blume Dolls! The DIY creations will magically harden in minutes, and little chefs can add their chocolatey flourishes to fruit, cookies, cupcakes and more. With DIY crafts and baking being such popular activities to do at home during the pandemic, this is a handy gift. See the pen in action on Instagram.
PLAYMOBIL Back to The Future DeLorean: ($49.99 $44.69) at Amazon
What it is: Great Scott! This 64-piece set includes the DeLorean, Marty McFly, Dr. Emmett Brown, Einstein the dog, skateboard, flux capacitor, plutonium cores and case, and lots of other accessories. Complete with working lights and the iconic flux capacitor, this toy is really, really cool and might get more attention from the adults and parents in the house. The set also includes working gull-wing doors, time circuits on the dashboard, the California OUTATIME license plate and the DMC badge on the front grill.
Rainbocorns Sweet Shake Surprise: ($34.99) at Target
What it is: The latest Rainbocorns come with new surprises—namely the ability to talk back to you and supplies to make a DIY Slime Sweet Shake. There are six scented Rainbocorns to collect, including the Macaroon Kittycorn, Ice-cream Unicorn, Lollipop Puppycorn and Donut Bunnycorn (exclusive to Target), all with more than 15 layers of surprises like tiny, adorable Boo-Boo Sprinklecorns. The entire thing is so squee.
Nintendo Switch Lite: ($199.99) at Amazon
What it is: The Nintendo Switch Lite that launched in 2019 is a smaller, cheaper alternative to the Nintendo Switch; it’s perfect for on-the-go gaming and to throw in a backpack. The key differences—aside from size— are your television and the games available to play. The standard Switch is a hybrid console that can work as a handheld machine or with a dock that allows you to play games on your TV. The Switch Lite, however, is mobile-only and doesn’t connect to a larger screen. It also doesn’t have removable controllers on its side. The Lite is made to play with handheld games, and will only work with Nintendo Switch games that support handheld mode. The system comes in three colors: yellow, turquoise and gray. Oh, and it’s still super hard to find.
Trolls World Tour Poppy: ($29.99 $25.99) at Amazon
What it is: Inspired by the movie “Trolls World Tour,” this toy Poppy is a musical doll sporting two different looks and two different sounds: pop and hard rock. When kids give Poppy her ukulele, they can press a button to hear a pop version of “Trolls Just Want To Have Fun.” But give Poppy the electric guitar, and she’ll play a hard rock version of the same song.
Blue’s Clues & You! Dance-Along Blue Plush: ($49.97) at Amazon
What it is: With pre-schoolers spending more time at home, the new musical curriculum-driven “Blue’s Clues & You!” series has taken off. They’ll love to play along with all the clue-finding and puzzle-solving fun with this cuddly, expressive, dancing Blue. Press the paw print button on Josh’s iconic Handy Dandy Guitar—the music note button will play the “Blue’s Clues & You!” theme song. Blue dances to the music, moving her head and lifting her ears and paw up and down, wiggling her bottom side to side. You can even press the guitar strings to speed up or slow down Blue’s dancing.
PJ Masks Mobile Headquarters: ($79.99) at Target
What it is: This is a giant transforming playset for fans of the popular “PJ Masks” series. As the Headquarters, the Mobile HQ stands 3-feet-tall with five levels of play. Kids can use the lights and sounds control board on the fourth level to find their mission, then use the vehicle lift to transport Gekko, Owlette and Catboy to their level of the Headquarters. Each level features a drop-down ramp. Super cool. You can transform the Headquarters into the Seeker by folding up each ramp and placing the playset on its wheels. The set includes one Catboy figure and one Cat-Car.
Ryan’s World Vending Surprise: ($39.82) at Walmart
What it is: Bring home Ryan’s World with this working vending machine inspired by some of your kid’s favorite Ryan videos. Kids can feed the coins to Combo Panda and choose their snack—each holds a fun surprise. Find the slime within the juice or water bottles, or a mini-figure hidden inside the chip containers. There are also surprise fruit-shaped erasers in the fruit gummies. The toy features lights, sounds, and phrases from Ryan himself. And there’s a lid, so kids can reload snacks for endless play.
Hatchimals Pixie Crystal Flyers: ($29.99) at Amazon
What it is: The latest from Hatchimals, this rechargeable toy flies and honestly reminds me of Sky Dancers from the ’90s! You can choose from a purple or pink fairy flyer, and once they’re hatched out of their glittery crystal egg, the flyer’s wings will flutter and spin until they fly. A sensor in their feet will alert them to your hand, meaning they’ll follow your hand as you move it around so you can instruct the toy to fly high or low.
Mattel Star Wars The Child Plush Toy: ($24.99 $17.49) at Amazon
What it is: Yes, another Baby Yoda, and for good reason. This Mattel plush comes in at a lower price point than the above Child, and has thousands of 4.9-star ratings on Amazon. The toy has a soft body and a sturdy base filled with beans, so you can cuddle it or display it as a collectible.