Trending Holiday Toys: Our experts share tips on how to select the “best toys” and insight on a few of the toys that are trending now!
Trends that Build Skills:
The holidays are upon us! Top toy lists are trending, store catalogs are in mail, and advertisements are popping up everywhere – all to help shoppers find the best gifts for the kids (and kids-at-heart) in their lives.
The best toys and children’s products support healthy, active play. As an intrinsic motivator, play provides an opportunity for kids to go beyond their child development milestones and advance skills while delivering hours of joy and delight.
[1]Today Show.com [2] Best toys for the 2019 holidays.
With all the options presented to you, it can be overwhelming to select the “right” toy. Kids of all abilities want to receive the same toys as their peers and trendy toys top all kids’ wish lists each year. Toy manufacturers provide a huge array of toys to choose from. It can be overwhelming to select the “best” toy. How do you choose? Here are some tips to help you pick:
- Keep the age and interests of the child in mind
- Consider the skills they are working on to help them expand or develop certain milestones
- Ask an expert (parents, siblings, local toy retailers) to help you make a selection
Look for toys that are fun, highlight the child’s unique strengths, and can develop abilities. To help you make gift-buying decisions even easier this holiday season, we are sharing some additional insights on a few of Parents Magazine’s “Best Toys.
[3]
Skyrocket Blume Doll
3+ Years
Science shows that the element of surprise sends us a rush of dopamine, the brain’s feel-good neurotransmitter, to our bodies and brightens up our mood. The collectible Skyrocket Blume Dolls are filled with little surprises— the key word is little. Kids can fill the tiny watering can with water and pour it on top to see the doll bloom out of the flowerpot. This toy might inspire nostalgia for parents because they resemble Trolls with their voluminous coifs! Each doll is blind packaged inside a flowerpot to deliver an element of surprise as you try to collect all 22.
Skills to Build:
- Cause and Effect Relationships—When you pour water on the flowerpot, the doll is revealed only once. This action can facilitate the understanding of cause and effect relationships.
- Fine Motor Skills—There are little surprises included in the flowerpot from stickers to clothing, mini friends and accessories for extended play with the dolls. These additional play items expand the play experience and allow kids to practice their pincer grasp, wrist rotation and more.
- Cooperation/Sharing—Because the probability is high that kids will reveal duplicate dolls, there is an opportunity to share their toys with others or donate them to charity, encouraging social/emotional skills.
- Delayed Gratification—Collecting all 22 of the different dolls may take some time. Kids can learn patience and practice impulse control as they collect and reveal the Skyrocket Blume Dolls.
Things to Note:
- Surprise/Unknown—Blind packaging does not allow for the buyer to know what is inside before purchase. Be sure to set expectations that the same doll may be revealed!
- Small Pieces—Each Skyrocket Blume Doll comes with little accessories and the dolls are less than 4 inches tall, even with their big hair.
[4]
WowWee Pinkfong Baby Shark Song Puppets
24 Months – 5 Years
“Baby shark doo doo doo doo”… This hit song is back again! These soft plush sharks are now in interactive puppet form, combining traditional puppet play with the fun of the Baby Shark trend. Kids can play the entire Baby Shark song by opening and closing the mouth of the puppet. Kids also have the power to change the tempo of the song by using their motor skills to open and close the puppet’s mouth fast or slow. Collect all three, including Mommy Shark, Daddy Shark and Baby Shark, of course. This plush doesn’t come with an on or off switch! The song only plays when the mouth is manually opened and closed inside the puppet.
Buy WowWee Pinkfong Baby Shark Song Puppets [4]
Skills to Build:
- Cause and Effect Relationships—Kids can learn that moving the mouth of the puppet engages the song and has the ability to change the tempo based on their movements.
- Communication Skills—Singing along to Baby Shark can encourage verbal and non-verbal communication skills like singing, humming, mouthing and dancing.
- Fine Motor/Gross Motor Skills—Using a puppet encourages fine motor skills like whole hand grasp and release and wrist rotation as kids mouth the shark puppet to sing. Puppet play can become a full body activity engaging gross motor skills like bilateral coordination and balance as kids dance and play along to the music.
- Creativity—Pretend play can boost confidence as kids have less inhibition when acting out imaginary scenarios with their puppet as a guide.
- Social/Emotional Skills—Puppets allow kids to enter an imaginary world and experience the feelings of others while learning (and practicing!) important social behaviors.
Things to Note:
- On/Off—There is no “off” switch on these puppets. The puppet stops singing when the mouth (hand inside the puppet) stops moving.
- Wash—You won’t be able to throw this plush in the washer. It is spot clean only!
- Volume Control—The puppet does not have volume control to adjust loudness.
- Other Options—WowWee has other Baby Shark singing plush options that are engaged with a squeeze/press of a button if the puppet is not an option for your child. Check out the Baby Shark 12” Song Dolls or Song Cubes, for example.
[5]
WowWee Pixie Belles
5-15 Years
WowWee is at it again! Goodbye Fingerlings, hello Pixie Belles this holiday. These cute little creatures use the power of a Magnetic Power Pod to attach to clothing, refrigerators, lockers and more. Kids can also detach the fluffy, colorful Pixie Belles’ tails to wear as bracelets, scrunchies or keychains. They come to life with sensors on their mouth and back that engage three modes: Nurture, Spin and Dance. Nurture mode allows you to pet, kiss and interact via touch. Spin mode makes Pixie Belles spin—kids can talk to them or clap to keep them spinning via sound. Dance mode starts the party with six different songs and dances so kids can engage in physical activity! Collect all four characters as each have their own signature sounds and giggles.
Skills to Build:
- Cause and Effect Relationships—The three modes of interaction allow kids to learn cause and effect relationships as they select different options to interact with Pixie Belles—Nurture, Spin and Dance.
- Social/Emotional Skills—These big-eyed creatures provide endless opportunities for kids to practice relationships and social awareness with peers and nurture their Pixie Belle friend learning empathy for others.
- Communication Skills—Pixie Belles are a social toy that lets kids practice language skills and express themselves through song, dance, and fashion.
Things to Note:
- Versatile—This product has many different functions and applications making it versatile for kids of all abilities to interact.
[6]
Mattel Jurassic World Destroy ‘N Devour Indominus Rex
4-7 Years
Kids can bring the movie, Jurassic World, to life with this dinosaur conceived by a science experiment gone wrong. The Indominus Rex is a terrifying dino with white scales, ferocious teeth and long, bladelike forearms. Indominus Rex comes alive with three modes of play: Slash, Roar and Devour. Slash activates arm movements and realistic slashing sound effects by pushing a button on its back. Roar triggers jaw chomping and roaring sounds by pushing the tail button. For the finale, kids can move the dinosaur tail to help him pick up and swallow a 3 ¾ inch figure whole in Devour mode. When the figure has been swallowed, a red light cues success.
Buy Mattel Jurassic World Destroy ‘N Devour Indominus Rex [6]
Skills to Build:
- Fine Motor Skills—With the three modes of activation, kids will have the opportunity to practice isolated finger movements, whole hand grasp and wrist rotation as they interact with Indominus Rex.
- skills as well as speech sounds like “roar” as they engage with the dinosaur.
- Spatial Relationships—Picking up figures with the dinosaur’s mouth supports spatial relationships and awareness which is a beginning math skill.
Things to Note:
- Size—The dinosaur is large at 8.5 inches high and 23 inches tall.
- App—Indominus Rex comes with the option to download the Jurassic World Facts app to make the dinosaur come to life and extend play.
- Batteries–3 LR44 batteries are required and included. Weight—The toy weighs just over 2 pounds.
- Other Options—Mattel has a large selection of Jurassic World toys to choose from including Velociraptor Claws and a Chomp ‘n Roar Velociraptor Mask. Here are some additional ideas: Laser Pegs National Geographic Dinosaurs Building Kit, Windy City Novelties LED Light Up and Walking Dinosaur or Fisher-Price Imaginext Jurassic World T-Rex Dinosaur.
[7]
Foam Alive Make ‘N Melt Ice Cream Kit
5-15 Years
Imagination and sensory play will come alive with Foam Alive Make ‘N Melt Ice Cream Kit! The foam is soft, squishy, and fluffy providing a tactile experience like no other. Squeeze the foam together to create a firm form or let it flow to see it come alive. There is no limit to the level of imagination and pretend play kids will experience as they scoop ice cream cones and watch them melt. The way the foam moves and shapes is fascinating to behold!
Buy Foam Alive Make ‘N Melt Ice Cream Kit [7]
Skills to Build:
- STEAM Exploration—This product seems to defy physics. Kids can explore limitless possibilities while creating with foam and expanding their creativity and discovery of scientific properties.
- Sensory Stimulation—The tactile feedback from the foam has relaxing properties. Kids may find the texture and interaction soothing during play.
- Fine Motor Skills—Hand-eye coordination and isolated finger movements can be practiced as kids manipulate the foam during play.
Things to Note:
- Doesn’t Dry Out—The foam sticks to itself and never dries out.
- Gluten Free—The foam is gluten-free, so it isn’t a source for cross contamination.
- Color Mixing—Once the foam is mixed, the colors change and cannot be separated.
- Other Option—If the idea of mixing colors and foam flow doesn’t appeal, check out Educational Insights Playfoam. It will not change colors when mixed (can’t be separated) and stays in the shape molded. It will also not dry out!
As you prepare for the season of buying gifts for the loved ones in your life, consider the tips above. Consult your neighborhood toy store to help you find these products and more that encourage healthy, active play. Find your local toy store on https://www.astratoy.org/shop-local/store-finder/ [8]
Toy Ideas
- 100 + “Mom Approved” Gifts for Kids with Special Needs [9]
- 9 Great Toddler & Preschooler Toys for Kids with Special Needs [10]
Game Ideas
- A Round-Up of Educational Free Subscriptions, Storytime, Ebooks, And More [11]
- 10 Board Games for a Great Special Needs Game Night [12]
- Brain Games for the Season [13]
- Infant Games Grows Brains [14]
- Social Games in Shallow Water [15]
- Got Pool Games? [16]
- 7 Sensory Games Dads Can Play With Their Children [17]
- What’s “APP”ening? Fun & Educational Game Apps for Children with Special Needs [18]
You May Also Like
- Toys“R”Us: Safe Play Tips for Children with Special Needs [19]
- The Upside of Making Your Own Educational Toys [20]
- Are Too Many Toys & Games Hurting Your Child’s Health? [21]
- TOY Safety? [22]
- The Taming of the Toys [23]
- Language and Literacy Learning: Success With Technology [24]
- Interactive Technology May Be a Double-Edge Sword for Children [25]
- Digital Safety: An Ongoing Conversation [26]
- Life-Changing Apps for People with Disabilities [27]
This post originally appeared on our November/December 2019 Magazine [28]