Hot Toys for Holiday 2011
It is officially time to start thinking a lot about the Holidays. Similar to fashion, each year the toy trends seem to be better than the year before.
I caught up with Laurie Schacht, founder of The Toy Insider, to see what toys are hot this season. The ink may not even be dry on your kids' holiday wishlists but if you see their must-have toys on shelves and online, be sure to snatch them up before they sell out. Check out my video featuring the hottest toys this Holiday.
Sesame Street Let's Rock Elmo
,$49.96 (Retail $69.99)
Ages 0-2
Dressed in a concert-style tee, Elmo takes the stage singing and making music - and preschoolers can too! Elmo comes with his very own microphone and two instruments – a tambourine and a drum set. Preschoolers can choose which instrument Elmo plays, and he "magically" recognizes which one you give him. Kids can also play along on Elmo's instruments. The LET'S ROCK Elmo toy sings six rockin' songs, so grab an instrument and join Elmo's band!
Eelefun Busy Ball Popper
,$24.88 (Retail $34.90)
Ages 0-2
Get ready for some poppin', droppin' fun with the Poppin' Park Elefun Busy Ball Popper from Playskool! This lively air-powered, ball-poppin' elephant features fun, upbeat music and comes complete with five balls. As baby grows, you control the level of play with a trunk that turns 360 degrees!
Chuggington Interactive Railway
,$49.99 (Retail $69.99)
Ages 3-5
The Chuggington Interactive Railway brings your favorite engines to life via SmartTalk technology! Each "smart" engine actually recognizes and reacts with other Chuggington Interactive engines and with key Chuggington Interactive train stops!
Featuring spiral elevation, the All Around Chuggington Set features over 4 feet layout and has 3 interactive train stops.
LeapPad Explorer Learning Tablet
,from $206.95
Ages 3-5
Help your child create and learn with the LeapFrog LeapPad Explorer. The learning tablet gives you access to more than 100 educational books, games, videos, and apps. Subjects like mathematics, reading, and science are covered in a fun and interactive way. The LeapPad's built-in camera can shoot video, allowing kids to make animation and art to share with family and friends.
Plasma Bike Black
,$67.97 (Retail $79.99)
Ages 3-5
PlasmaBike is a balance bike like no other! It's unique design encourages balance development and wide wheel shape offers a fun, stable ride! Weighing under 6lbs, it's lightweight and transports easily to playgrounds or when the kid power tuckers out!
Cabbage Patch Kids
,from $34.99
Ages 3-5
Cabbage Patch Kids are back. Each 14" Kids is in a detailed fashion that has been updated for today's kids while the face and adorable sewn bodies still resemble the original Cabbage Patch Kids from yesterday. Each Kid comes in one of 12 fashionalities. Each with their own facial look and expression, fashion personality "fashionality", bio card, birth certificate including name and adoption papers - adopt the Cabbage Patch Kid that you want to bring home to your family. Comes with a download code to access a 22 minute Cabbage Patch Kid cartoon.
Angry Birds Plush
,$6.77 (Retail $11.99)
Ages 6-8
Angry Birds is the #1 app worldwide and has been downloaded over 100 million times. Angry Birds plush bring the characters you love onscreen into your arms. Incredibly soft and with the authentic sounds from the game, a must for every Angry Birds fan. Officially licensed product. Squeeze the top to hear authentic sounds from the game.
FIJIT Friends Interactive Toy,From $68.45
Ages 6-8
Fijit Friends, are interactive toys that'll become your child's new best friend. With supple skin that enables amazing movement, this trend-setting purple Fijit Friends have several interactive features, including voice recognition, beat detection, dance mode, and over 150 built-in responses. Recommended for ages six and up, they will be a fast and lasting friend that chats, dances, jokes, and performs.
Nerf Vortex Proton
,$12.82 (Retail $17.99)
Ages 6-8
Compact, fast-loading, single-shot disc blaster is ideal for getting you out of tight spots or blasting off final shots to win the battle! With quick snap-load so you can load a disc while moving to a strategic spot on the battlefield! As with all VORTEX blasters, it features XLR long-range disc technology to launch discs an ultra long distance! PROTON blaster comes with 3 discs and instructions.
Justin Bieber Tour Bus and Concert Stage
,$117.40
Ages 6-8
Justin Bieber always gets to the show in style with the new Rockin' Tour Bus & Concert Stage playset! A place for your Justin Bieber dolls to perform for all your friends, the Rockin' Tour Bus features a pop-up concert venue with real stage lights and a spinning stage! MP3 connection and speaker let you pick the playlist for Justin's big performance from your very own digital music library! After the show, Justin can hang out in the backstage lounge featuring a reversible wall that flips from JB's dressing room to a video game theater.
LEGO Space Alien Mothership,$50.99 (Retail $59.99)
Ages 9+
Help! Creatures have invaded the city and our intrepid reporter watches the alien leader and the Alien Clinger slither aboard the gigantic alien mothership. As it spins into the air with an eerie noise, help the reporter avoid being captured by the abducting claw and flown away to the alien home planet!
Wowwee Paper Jamz Pro Mic
,$28.91 (Retail $29.99)
Ages 9+
Paper Jamz Pro microphone lets anyone sound like a pop star. It features Auto mode adjusts effects on the fly to recreate a song's original sound, 2 built-in songs put you on the road to stardom, Add songs from your own library with Paper Jamz Pro app. Voice effects Perfect Pitch Correct your pitch so you're automatically in tune, Chorus Multiply your voice to add depth, Auto Harmony Sound like part of a perfectly harmonized duo, Auto Vibrato Add real vibrato to your voice, Melody Match Tune your voice so you always sing a perfect melody.
Harry Potter - The Complete Cinematic Journey
,$24.04 (Retail $29.99)
Ages 9+
Scene It Harry Potter The Complete Cinematic Journey combines a cool social interactive board game with Harry Potter movie questions. Now includes images, puzzlers and questions from all 8 Harry Potter movies (including Deathly Hallows part 2) as well as movie clips from the first seven Harry Potter movies. It includes a themed Flextime game board which enables players to choose the length of gameplay. It also has high-quality Harry Potter themed movers, oversized dice, 120 trivia cards, 12 Buzz cards, and of course a DVD with patented Optreve technology unique to Scene It so you can play again and again without seeing the same questions.
For a complete list of the 20 "it" toys this Holiday, check out The Toy Insider.
Note: Prices based on press time and are subject to change.
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Comments page 1 of 2
Highest Rank
HappyYoga said 11-13-2011 @9:53AM
I'd love to know which ones are tested for toxins, such as lead and certain harmful types of plastic.
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Chris said 11-13-2011 @2:21PM
Look at the small colerfull balls for the "Poppin' Park Elefun Busy Ball Popper from Playskool". Junior would not need to worry about lead or toxins as he would be dead from choking...
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tsimpson said 11-13-2011 @10:01AM
Back around 40 years ago my Aunt use take away her childrens toys after the first day of Christmas, and re-gift them for the next year and give them again. I use to think she was very cold. But you want to know the truth, her kids never realized what was going on for a few years. Maybe not the brightest kids, but the truth is parents spend so much every year on toys for Christmas, but let's face it the toy buying has gone of control. There really is no good reason to spend $1,500 per child on TOYS? Yes, I said $1,500 per child.
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Dan said 11-13-2011 @10:55AM
Hard to believe. The average amount spent on Christmas presents in 2009 was $740. Total. What normal, nonwealthy, non-nuts person would spend $1500 per kid for Christmas presents? Maybe you saw a survey in Rich Folks With More Money Than Sense Monthly or something.
Highest Rank
lilbit said 11-13-2011 @11:13AM
I agree, it's excessive
Highest Rank
brany hale said 11-13-2011 @12:13PM
Really $1500 on presents....not in my household w four kids and a disabled hubby...thats is really insane...i think it should be about giving not how much you recieve and helping those on need even when you may be in need yourself....hopefully more people will try and set this example for themselves and there children!
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Chris said 11-13-2011 @2:14PM
The "Poppin' Park Elefun Busy Ball Popper from Playskool" should be recalled quickly. Any part that can fit in a roll of toilet paper is too small. Look at those small colorfull balls. I can see many children placing in mouth and creating a terrible choking hazard!!!
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Jacquie said 11-13-2011 @1:59PM
Seriously? So, without a disclaimer stating that the item in the picture is actually larger in real life you just assume that the balls are that small? This toy is really very large in person. I'd be surprised if a child could open their mouths wide enough to get one of those balls in their mouths. But quick! Recall it!
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Valerie said 11-13-2011 @5:16PM
My year old grandson has this and the balls are not small at all. I couldn't even fit one in my mouth if I wanted to lol Also the balls do NOT fit inside a toilet paper roll
Highest Rank
Chris said 11-13-2011 @2:23PM
Jacquie, If parts smaller than a golf ball (or fit in toilet paper roll) then it should be recalled, yes. Unfortunately, China toy makers don't care, as other countries will sell the dangerous toys and make up for USA recall losses.....sad but true. I work with a China based electronics company.
replyHighest Rank
m said 11-13-2011 @2:29PM
What a disapointing list. That's it?
replyHighest Rank
mielmani said 11-13-2011 @7:38PM
It's more like "Toys I am willing to buy for my kids that don't threaten to break the bank." Honestly, why do parents think they have to pay so much for a toy that will undoubtedly be forgotten in a few months?
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nannie said 11-13-2011 @9:11PM
true, absolutely true.
Highest Rank
freeman said 11-13-2011 @3:22PM
BUY AMERICAN----MOM AND POPS IF YOU LOVE THIS COUNTRY AND OUR PEOPLE!!!!
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jamie said 11-13-2011 @3:27PM
I think the list is so small. Looking for a job maybe you could come up with ideas for toys someone needs to do it...
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Judy said 11-13-2011 @3:43PM
First of all, I am appalled at the cost of everyone of those items with the exception of the Angry Bird plush (who would want it) and the Vortex Blaster (who would want their kid to have it). The kids don't WANT these toys. You are shoving them in the faces of parents faces claiming they are must haves. Hellooooooooooo? There is an economic crisis going on here. How about making some toys for less than $40 each? Maybe some cool toys in the $10-$20 range? Secondly, people...Playskool is well aware by now of the regulations regarding choking hazards. You need to see the Elefun toy. The balls are not marbles!
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Elaine said 11-25-2011 @9:05AM
NO toys that make noise.
reply(That's what I keep asking my family at each birthday, etc.)
If it's just so cute you can't stand it, then at least make sure it has some kind of volume control.
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pcl said 11-25-2011 @11:12AM
Really girls if people want to spend $1,500 per child on their kids so be it if they can afford it. I also believe that women that are just getting pregant to stay on Welfare is robbing all of us. I do understand that the people that are married and has a spouse that is disabled and cannot work. I believe the spouse of the disabled person should work. I for one was going to retire when I was 70 years old. I fell and fractured my spine in the neck and the lower back. I had surgery to fix the neck part. there is metal there and in January I get the lower back done. I wish I could work. My doctors all made me retire. It only took me 3 months to get Social Security. I am depressed because I can't work. I have always been a hard worker and always made sure my daughter and now my four grandkids have a nice holdays.
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HMan570 said 11-28-2011 @10:20AM
I am very happy that my kids are all grown as the toys shown above I would not buy for my children they all look like junk.
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Eric said 11-28-2011 @12:11PM
The Fijit is amazing and super fun!
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