Believe it or not, the holidays will be here before we know it and that means your credit card may be getting a major workout. When it comes to buying for the little people in your life, there’s no shortage of great toy ideas. But sometimes too much choice can be overwhelming, so we’ve looked at many of the “best toy lists” out there and compiled our own.
Here are 25 toys that are sure to be hot this holiday season, with something for all ages, interests and budgets.
Correction Oct. 30, 2020: A previous version of this article misstated the name of the HEXBUG nanotopia playset and the number of pieces it contains. We regret the error.
Gotta Go Flamingo
Price: $28.82 (Walmart)
Suggested Age: 4 years and up
Who doesn’t want an interactive flamingo that goes poop on its own special toilet? Your kids can feed this 12-inch tall bird named Sherbet and watch him go after he sings his fun song. Oh, and cleanup is minimal. For added flamingo fun, there’s a record-and-repeat function, so you can teach the pooping bird to say whatever you like.
Radio Flyer Little Red Roadster
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Price: $59.99 (Amazon)
Suggested Age: 1 to 3 years
For a classic, dependable ride-on with a retro appeal, you can’t go wrong with the Little Red Roadster from Radio Flyer. It has real rubber tires, is suitable (and safe) for both indoor and outdoor use and can help toddlers develop their fine motor skills. They’ll also love the honking horn, naturally.
Squeakee The Balloon Dog
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Price: $58 (Amazon)
Suggested Age: 5 years and up
Interactive pets have been topping the best-toy lists for years and this latest addition is definitely one of a kind. Squeakee may look like he’s made of balloons, but he’s actually a sophisticated toy that’s programmed with more than 60 sounds and movements. He can sit, beg, lie down and play ball as just a few of his talents. As you’d expect from a balloon animal, you can also “pop” him with the included pin toy — but don’t worry, you can reinflate him with the included pump.
Fisher-Price Laugh & Learn Grow-the-Fun Garden To Kitchen
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Price: $79.99 (Amazon)
Suggested Age: 18 months to 3 years
The Fisher-Price Laugh & Learn Grow-the-Fun Garden To Kitchen is a two-sided play set with more than 30 play pieces, bright lights and music. It also has real educational value, helping little kids to count, identify colors, shapes and opposites, learn the alphabet and follow directions. This is a great toy for parents who want their kids to have fun while appreciating the value of healthy, homegrown foods!
Fifi The Flossing Sloth
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Price: $24.97 (Amazon)
Suggested Age: 3 years and up
She’s got nothing to do with oral hygiene, but Fifi the Flossing Sloth is lots of fun wrapped up in a purple, cuddly package. She does the floss dance to three different songs — butt wiggles included — and she’s pretty much guaranteed to get little ones moving as well. You can even get a sneak peek at Fifi’s moves on YouTube.
Lego Super Mario Adventures With Mario Starter Course
Price: $59.99 (BestBuy)
Suggested Age: 6 years and up
This sophisticated, interactive Lego set pays tribute to one of the most iconic video game franchises, letting avid builders build their own Lego obstacle course and watch their creation come to life via an app. Mario has a color sensor and LCD screens in his eyes, mouth and belly, letting him show more than 100 different instant reactions. There’s also a speaker to play sounds and music that all fans (old and young) will recognize from “Super Mario Bros.” and other games in the long-running series. If your kid loves this one, there are expansion sets that can be added on.
Kindi Kids Shiver ‘N’ Shake Rainbow Kate
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Price: $39.82 (Amazon)
Suggested Age: 3 years and up
Rainbow Kate needs a doctor. Luckily, she comes with everything your little one will need to nurse her back to health, including a thermometer, stethoscope, water tray, swab towel and vitamins. In return, she’ll reward her caregiver with more than 40 phrases and sounds, including the burps and farts you’d expect from anyone who’s feeling a bit under the weather.
Taco Cat Goat Cheese Pizza
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Price: $9.99 (Amazon)
Suggested Age: 8 years and up
A modern, clever twist on the classic card game Snap, Taco Cat Goat Cheese Pizza is the perfect stocking filler. The drawings on the cards are super cute, and the game is simple but intense; you divide the cards between players and take turns placing them down as fast as they can, following the rules of Snap by saying “taco,” “cat,” “goat,” “cheese” or “pizza.” It’s one that will be sure to join the regular rotation on family game night.
Treasure X Sunken Gold Treasure Ship
Price: $34.99 (Walmart)
Suggested Age: 5 years and up
If you’re looking for a play set for a kid who’s all about adventure, the Treasure X Sunken Gold Treasure Ship will keep them entertained. The ship is packed with secrets, including hidden gold treasure — but they have to defeat the evil Kraken to find it. Every step can be repeated, meaning the adventure never stops.
Monster Jam Official Megalodon Storm All-Terrain Remote Control Monster Truck
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Price: $49.99 (Amazon)
Suggested Age: 4 years and up
There’s no terrain the Megalodon Storm can’t conquer. This remote-control monster truck can even drive on water with its custom performance tires. Snow, rocks, grass and mud are no problem, either. This is a toy car that’s on another level.
Hexbug Nanotopia
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Price: $49.99 (Amazon)
Suggested Age: 3 years and up
The Hexbug Nanotopia is a build-your-own-playset for scuttling robot bugs called nanos. With various different combinations to construct and a range of pieces, it will keep little builders occupied for hours. This tech toy is ideal for kids and parents interested in STEM education and is also great for sensory play.
Ryan’s World Vending Machine
Price: $39.82 (Walmart)
Suggested Age: 3 years and up
This working vending machine is full of surprises. Not only does it feature lights, sounds and phrases from the YouTube star Ryan himself, users can feed their play coins to Combo Panda and choose their snack surprise. The top comes off to make refilling the treats simple.
Jetson Plasma Hoverboard
Price: $148.00 (Walmart)
Suggested Age: 12 years and up
For older kids who like to assert their independence on two wheels, this hoverboard lets them practice their skills while looking cool. Its deck and wheels have LED lights and it’s fitted with all-terrain tires. This ride also reaches a speed of 10 miles per hour. Parents will appreciate the anti-slip grip mat and internal sensors that help keep the rider level and stable.
Learning Resources Botley The Coding Robot 2.0 Activity Set
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Price: $84.99 (Amazon)
Suggested Age: 5 years and up
For kids who love tech, it’s never too early to start coding. And with the help of Botley the Coding Robot, STEM is fun (and screen-free). Kids can program Botley to do a sequence of up to 150 steps and even turn him into a train, police car, ghost or something else entirely. The robot comes with a remote programmer, detachable robot arms, 40 coding cards, six double-sided tiles, 27 obstacle-building pieces and a starter guide with coding challenges.
Kinetic Sand Sandwhirlz Playset
Price: $19.82 (Walmart)
Suggested Age: 3 years and up
Kinetic Sand is a toy trend that’s not going anywhere. This Sandwhirlz play set comes with three colors of sand (red, yellow and blue), six shape shifters, two extruder tubes, a scoop and plenty more tools. What makes this sand special is that it flows through your hands and never dries out, so you can play again and again.
Qai Qai Doll
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Price: $29.99 (Amazon)
Suggested Age: 3 years and up
Qai Qai has quite the following, thanks to her Instagram appearance alongside Serena Williams and Alexis Ohanian’s daughter, Olympia. She may not be interactive like some of her peers, but she doesn’t have to be. Easy to dress and undress, she’s the perfect first doll for little kids who want to play parent.
Tic Tac Tony
Price: $9.97 (Walmart)
Suggested Age: 3 years and up
The preschooler-aimed game Tic Tac Tony gives the classic game of Tic Tac Toe a fun twist. Using the tail of Tony the smiling puppy, players line up their discs then flip them into the holes on his back. It’s easy enough for young players to master, but lots of fun for all ages.
Melissa And Doug Scoop And Serve Ice Cream Counter
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Price: $41.99 (Amazon)
Suggested Age: 3 to 6 years
The Melissa & Doug Scoop and Serve Ice Cream Counter is like all of the brand’s beloved wooden toys: well-made, beautifully finished and perfectly designed for pretend play. The set includes a wooden ice cream counter, eight ice cream scoops, six toppings, two cones, a cup, a scooper, tongs, a wooden spoon and six pretend $1 bills. In other words, everything a young entrepreneur needs to get their ice cream business off the ground.
Hatchimals Pixies Crystal Flyers
Price: $29.77 (Walmart)
Suggested Age: 6 years and up
The Hatchimals range continues to grow, and the latest additions are the Crystal Flyers, the first-ever Hatchimals Pixies that can actually fly — with a little help. The Pixie arrives in a gorgeous crystal egg and can be charged with the included USB cable. As soon as she’s fully charged, she can soar with her glittery wings. She also has a built-in sensor, allowing her to sense where your hands are as you assist with her flight. It’s budget-friendly magic!
Lego Star Wars: The Mandalorian Razor Crest Starship
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Price: $129.99 (Amazon)
Suggested Age: 10 years and up
The latest must-have for fans of “Star Wars” and Lego is The Mandalorian Razor Crest Starship, a 1,023-piece set with four Lego minifigures from the Disney+ series (The Mandalorian, Greef Karga, Scout Trooper and the Child) and lots of weapons for role-play battles. The Starship itself has an opening cockpit, a detachable escape pod and spring-loaded shooters.
Blockaroo Magnetic Foam Builders
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Price: $49.99 (Amazon)
Suggested Age: 18 months and up
The Blockaroo Magnetic Foam Builders introduce toddlers to STEM and helps them develop early learning skills through imaginative play. The colorful, soft foam blocks are magnetic, so they click together easily and can rotate 360 degrees. There’s no limit to what your kid can create, from animals and robots to vehicles and even buildings.
FurReal Cubby
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Price: $77.99 (Amazon)
Suggested Age: 4 years and up
The latest addition to the FurReal family of adorable interactive plush creatures is Cubby, a cute bear cub who loves to play during the day and cuddle in for sleep at night. Cubby has more than 100 sound and movement combinations, including music, sleepy sounds and facial expressions. He also comes with a fun three-in-one accessory: a honeycomb treat, bottle and comb for taming his fluffy hair.
Fisher-Price Linkimals Smooth Moves Sloth
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Price: $23.93 (Amazon)
Suggested Age: 9 months and up
Sloths are clearly a theme in toys this year, but this one is for the youngest on your gift list. The Fisher-Price Linkimals Smooth Moves Sloth is an interactive educational toy with music, lights and movement that’s appropriate for babies as young as nine months. They’ll be enchanted by the adorable creature as he claps his hands and moves his head along to the lights and music. There’s an educational component, too, of course, as the buttons on his feet play songs and phrases about the alphabet, numbers, opposites and colors.
WowWee Lucky Fortune Blind Collectible Bracelets
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Price: $8.73 (Amazon)
Suggested Age: 6 years and up
This four-pack take-out box of collectible bracelets is a fun gift that’s the perfect stocking filler. Each fortune cookie includes a surprise bracelet with a good-luck charm and paper fortune. There are 100 unique bracelets to find in total, so this might be the first take-out box of many.
Candylocks BFF Two-Pack
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Price: $11.88 (Amazon)
Suggested Age: 5 years and up
Candylocks‘ cotton candy-inspired hair looks — and smells — good enough to eat. Various sets of the collectible dolls are available and the BFF two-Pack consists of a 3-inch Mint Choco Chick and Choco Lisa, complete with 15 inches of hair ready to be styled into braids, buns, twists and ponytails. The set include hair chalk to customize and add color to Candylocks’ hair — or even your kid’s own.
