1
Best Combination Toy
VTech Switch and Go 3-in-1 Rescue Rex
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Best Combination Toy
VTech Switch and Go 3-in-1 Rescue Rex
Yes, it's a dinosaur, but it's also a police car, a fire truck, and a helicopter. It transforms into all three. It's not a tricky transformation, either. Once your child figures it out, they're good. It's four toys in one.
2
Volcanic Cornhole
NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC Volcano Bean Bag Toss Game for Kids
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Volcanic Cornhole
NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC Volcano Bean Bag Toss Game for Kids
Now 21% Off
Take cornhole and mix it with ring toss, and you'll get close to the fun of this game, but it won't quite make it because this is so much better. Plus, the bean bags look like magma!
3
Best Art Board
Crayola Ultimate Light Board
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Best Art Board
Crayola Ultimate Light Board
Your future Judy Chicago or Kehinde Wiley could get their start with this light-up drawing board by Crayola. This enchanting coloring toy illuminates your children's artwork, inspiring them to create more and more illustrations. Powered by three AA batteries, this board utilizes washable color gel markers that create bright and bold lines that your kid will absolutely adore.
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4
For Future NASA Engineers
LeapFrog Magic Adventures Telescope
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For Future NASA Engineers
LeapFrog Magic Adventures Telescope
Now 24% Off
It's a real telescope, I promise. It's also a learning tablet that comes complete with tons of different cards that teach your little ones all about space. It also has games for your kids to play as they learn about our universe, making each of them a tiny astronaut.
5
For the Speed Racers
Flybar 6 Volt Battery Powered Bumper Car Blue
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For the Speed Racers
Flybar 6 Volt Battery Powered Bumper Car Blue
Now 13% Off
Got a little future daredevil on your hand? Why not get them one of these very slow (1mph) bumper cars? It's battery-charged and controlled via dual joysticks under each hand.
Just make sure that your child is at least 18 months old, and always strapped in and buckled before setting them loose to annoy the cat and each other. They will have tons of fun, though.
6
2023 Toy of the Year
Dog-E Interactive Robot Dog
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2023 Toy of the Year
Dog-E Interactive Robot Dog
Now 13% Off
Our 2023 Toy of the Year, Dog-E is one of the most fun toys I've seen in recent history. It's an app-controlled robot dog that does tons of tricks, including playing tug of war, making tons of sounds, and even playing games with your child through the app.
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7
Best Instrument
The ONE Music Group Smart Piano Keyboard
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Best Instrument
The ONE Music Group Smart Piano Keyboard
If your child is itching to pick up a new instrument, but you're not sure if you have the cash to shell out for lessons, bring home this quality keyboard.
It functions just like a regular piano keyboard, but it also features the ability to teach your child new music by connecting to an app. The keys will light up and show your kid how to play songs. It's entertaining and will leave your child with music skills to last a lifetime.
If the skill really takes off, you can also bring home this 88-key piano keyboard that teaches music in the same way.
8
Best Coloring Toy
Easy Playhouse Easy Playhouse Fairy Tale Coloring Pages Castle
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Best Coloring Toy
Easy Playhouse Easy Playhouse Fairy Tale Coloring Pages Castle
We're all trying to be just a little bit better to the planet, and that can start by decreasing the amount of plastic toys we buy our kids.
This cardboard castle lets kids do the work of decorating it, thanks to the coloring-pages exterior. And it should be noted that just because it's cardboard doesn't mean it's not sturdy. Think of all the boxes your kids keep around for months and months just because they've determined it's the perfect theatre/mailbox/veterinary office.
9
Most Exciting Surprise Toy
Magic Mixies Magical Misting Crystal Ball
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Most Exciting Surprise Toy
Magic Mixies Magical Misting Crystal Ball
Now 48% Off
Moose Toys have some real magical mojo, and this year, they really hit it out of the park. The Magical Mixies Crystal Ball is a step up from 2021's cauldron.
There's a lot happening with this toy: it's a crystal ball that lights up and has "eerie smoke" (glycerin steam), and kids use their magic wand to make a surprise creature appear. That creature has over 80 sounds and reactions, acting a bit like a Zoltar or Magic 8 ball. Kids can do it over and over again, and the crystal ball also doubles as a night light! Kids love this toy so much that we named it our toy of the year in 2022.
More: The Best Outdoor Toys for Kids
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10
Best Sand Toy
Kinetic Sand Construction Site Folding Sandbox Playset
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Best Sand Toy
Kinetic Sand Construction Site Folding Sandbox Playset
Now 47% Off
Unfortunately, it doesn't seem like kinetic sand is going anywhere, anytime soon. The ever-popular toy has some big things happening this year, including awesome play sets like these that your kids are sure to love, and sure to scatter.
11
Best RC Toy
Skyrocket Mega Chomp Remote Control Shark
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Best RC Toy
Skyrocket Mega Chomp Remote Control Shark
If you want to see your child cackle with glee, get them this remote-control shark. It chomps as it goes, and it's actually pretty quick. Don't worry — it's light and doesn't hurt when your child inevitably chases you down while you're cooking dinner one evening. It's a cat's worst nightmare, but they're good at hiding.
12
Best New Dart Game
Popdarts Original Game Set
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Best New Dart Game
Popdarts Original Game Set
Remember the bottle trend from a few years ago where kids were trying to flip a half-full bottle of water to land on its base? It's like that, with the addition of having a dart element to it. Also, it's way easier to land these darts.
The darts are built with suction cups that stick pretty well to most surfaces without damaging them. How do I know? My kids landed their darts on my oh, so brand-new television ... and it was fine.
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13
Best Creature Creator
Crayola Scribble Scrubbie Cloud Playset
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Best Creature Creator
Crayola Scribble Scrubbie Cloud Playset
Do you have a future Picasso on your hands? Let your child indulge their inner artist and love of cute creatures with the Crayola Scribble Scrubble Cloud Playset.
In the kit your child will get a koala-corn and owl-icorn and a set of special markers, a rainbow slide, and a tub to wash off the creations. It's utterly charming.
14
Spidey Senses Tingle Here
Hasbro Spidey and His Amazing Friends: Web-Spinners Web-Quarters
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Spidey Senses Tingle Here
Hasbro Spidey and His Amazing Friends: Web-Spinners Web-Quarters
Have you ever watched a group of 4-year old boys lose their minds? I have, and it was because of this toy. In Spidey's Web Spinner Web Quarters, you place Spidey in the spinning web room right below the light up top, hit the button, and he spins. The you empty him right into his car.
15
Best New Small Interactive Toy
My Squishy Little Little Dumplings Toy
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Best New Small Interactive Toy
My Squishy Little Little Dumplings Toy
Now 69% Off
Squeezy interactive dumplings are a bit reminiscent of Wowwee's Fingerling toys, except these are much cuter. You squeeze their little cheeks, and its little body pops right out of the head, and the eyes move up and down.
We promise it's nowhere near as strange as it sounds. It's positively sweet, and kids are going wild for it. (Mine certainly are.) These are available for preorder right now, shipping the week of Nov. 15. 2021.
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16
Best Scented Toy
Barbie Pop Reveal Fruit Series Doll
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Best Scented Toy
Barbie Pop Reveal Fruit Series Doll
Now 25% Off
Every tester loved the way this Barbie smelled. I know, a scented Barbie is pretty strange in the abstract, but this pop reveal just works. She comes in her own reusable cup, with a little pet, a cup of her own, and the grape Barbie even wears roller skates. It's a fun, affordable toy — and if there's anything we learned this year, it's that you can never go wrong with Barbie.
17
Best New Car Toy
Monster Jam ThunderROARus Drop Playset with Exclusive Monster Truck
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Best New Car Toy
Monster Jam ThunderROARus Drop Playset with Exclusive Monster Truck
Now 26% Off
This is a 6-foot-tall car ramp and exclusive monster truck. The exit part of the ramp is, of course, a dinosaur. In his mouth, the end of the track changes for different car tricks! It is bananas fun, and it drives cats and dogs and kids alike out of their minds.
18
For the Fashionable Little
Rainbow High Dream & Design Fashion Studio Playset
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For the Fashionable Little
Rainbow High Dream & Design Fashion Studio Playset
Now 35% Off
My daughter and her friends all went positively bananas for this doll set. It's got a full, real, design studio included, including fabric. There's a board for layout and design, with a watercolor sketchbook, you can do cool, no-sew clothing, and you can add the accessories to make regular outfits even cooler.
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For Barbie Girls
Barbie Dreamhouse 2023
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For Barbie Girls
Barbie Dreamhouse 2023
Now 10% Off
Is it any shock that the 2023 Dreamhouse would be one of the toys of the year? Barbie is the one bright spot this year that seemed to outshine everyone. Let her ride down her super cool slide and think her irrepressible thoughts of death (or just good thoughts!)
20
For Gabby Fans
Gabby's Dollhouse Gabby Cat Cruise Ship
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For Gabby Fans
Gabby's Dollhouse Gabby Cat Cruise Ship
Now 42% Off
Gabby is going on a cruise and taking her friends along with her for the adventure. The cruise ship is decked out just like on the show, in pretty minute detail. What I love is that everything can be stored inside the cruise ship, making it so much easier to clean up than other playsets.
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