We asked Laurie Schacht, Chief Toy Officer of The Toy Insider to weigh in on the hottest toy trends of 2020. Read on to find a toy your kids are sure to love!
For Gamers
ANIMAL CROSSING: NEW HORIZONS FOR NINTENDO SWITCH (NINTENDO)
“What I love the most about this game is that it brings calm into kids’ lives and it is something we all need right now. A whole host of political and star-studded adults are also huge fans.”
Kids will enjoy a variety of relaxing activities like gardening, fishing, decorating, interacting with charming characters. Animal Crossing experiences come to life in fun new ways within the deserted-island setting. Kids can customize their characters and homes, and decorate the landscape (with furniture, if you like!), and create their very own island paradise.
This game is rated Ages: E for everyone, $59.99
For Creative Kids
GEMEX GEL CREATIONS STUDIO (CRA-Z-ART)
“It’s the biggest trend in jewelry making, the resin-like material that kids can create on their own, and the Gemex Gel Creations studio makes is easy and fun”
The gel Magically changes from gel to gems! Kids can use it to make crystal creations and sparkling gel jewelry. The kit includes everything needed to easily make cool bracelets, necklaces, and rings. Kids place the gel in a special container that shines the magic (UV) light on the gel to make hardened, finished, sparkling jewelry in minutes!
Adult Supervision Required, Ages: 8+, $24.99
For STEM Lovers
DIY MUSIC MAKER (HAND2MIND)
“Imagine making music from an instrument you’ve just created!! That’s why this DIY music maker is all about”
Music is a huge part of our lives and now kids will learn about the science of pitch, vibration, and acoustics while building their own box guitar, pan flute, and an ocean drum in this award-winning STEM kit. This set includes a 36-page, illustrated storybook and activity guide that includes 10 STEM-based, fun-filled activities. The musical instruments are lightweight and sized right for small hands. All objects are reusable for continuous play!
For Kids Who Love Collectibles
JUNKBOTS (HEXBUG)
“We never knew that there were so many ways to recreate junk, and now kids will take this junk and bring it to life in an open-ended fun way to play with Junkbots!”
The junk is alive! Summoned to life through ‘alien radiation’, 36 collectible Junkbots are waiting to be unearthed from their unique trash cans. This is an ultimate unboxing experience, kids dig through junk to reveal hidden treasures and clues to build their own Junk Bots!
There’s a Small Dumpster Assortment with more than 24 pieces kids can use to build three separate Junkbot characters. Then there’s the Trash Bin which comes with everything kids need to build one robot. Finally, the Large Dumpster includes everything needed to build four bots, including an energy module and motion module to add movement to the build. Kids can mix everything up and customize new builds.
Ages: 3+, $19.99 large dumpster pack, $9.99 small dumpster assortment, $4.99 trash bin assortment
For Kid Content Creators
INSTA STUDIO HANDS-FREE VIDEO STATION (WECOOL)
“Kids love creating video’s and now we can help them with Inst Studio, a set that has everything kids need to shoot their very own viral videos and become cool content creators!”
This stand is equipped with an adjustable base and rotating head to shoot at the best angle possible, this device allows kids of all ages to shoot viral videos hands free. Insta Studio comes with fun and trendy backgrounds, mixing tools, and various slimy compounds with mix-ins but what I love is that kids can use their Insta Studio to shoot all types of videos, including cooking, crafting, and sliming.
By Age
LAMAZE 3-IN-1 AIRTIVITY CENTER (TOMY)
“The Airtivity center is so cool because by simply adding the element of air it creates an entirely new way for our little ones to play and to be amazed.”
It is designed to keep babies exploring and developing starting around 6 months and up to 3 years. The Airtivity Center begins as a floor toy, and babies can feel the air blowing on the top of this unique activity center. As kids grow, insert the legs to turn the Airtivity Center into an activity table. Hit the bubbles at the right time and get rewarded with fun lights, music and surprise ocean sounds. There’s even a pocket to store the sea creatures. The table features floating seaweed waves, a spinning starfish, a fishbowl button, and sea creatures that magically swim around the table — all powered by air.
PJ MASKS TRANSFORMING 2 IN 1 MOBILE HQ (JUST PLAY)
“The easy but amazing transformation from vehicle to headquarters makes this my favorite PJ Masks playsets ever.”
The PJ Masks are on their way into the night to save the day with the PJ Masks Transforming 2 in 1 Mobile HQ! The transformation is so amazing and so easy!! A simple click changes this from a vehicle to headquarters.
As the Headquarters, the Mobile HQ stands 3-feet tall and features five levels of play and kids can use the lights and sounds control board on the fourth level to find their mission, just like the PJ Masks! Kids will use the vehicle lift to transport Gekko, Owlette, and Catboy to their level of the Headquarters. Each level features a drop-down ramp. Can fit up to three PJ Masks vehicles in Seeker form and comes with one poseable Catboy figure and one Cat-Car.
BREYER MANE BEAUTY STYLING HEADS (BREYER)
“We know kids love hair play and horses and now kids can have both with Mane Beauty, a truly new experience in hair play.”
Kids can style, groom, and create magnificent braids on three different styles of horses. Each Mane Beauty Styling Head has a long, silky, no-tangle mane and is realistically sculpted and decorated with diverse colorways. Each one includes a styling booklet, mane comb, two mane clips, four mane spirals, and 50 mane elastics and there are more ideas on the breyermanebeauty.com site.
WHO’S THE G.O.A.T.? (BIG G CREATIVE)
“We love party games that get the family together and these days we spend a lot of time with our family. Who’s the G.O.A.T. will make sure we have fun even if we spend the entire holiday season indoors together.”
This hilarious party game is one part prediction, one part competition, and all parts fun. The players pick who they think will be the best at a variety of off-the-wall challenges, then vote by tossing their squishy goat. You can score a tin can by voting for the player who did the challenge the best, and the G.O.A.T. scores a tin can for being great! The game is played in 20 minutes.
LEGO STAR WARS RAZOR CREST (LEGO)
“Lego and Star Wars fans will be in awe as they build this amazing transport shuttle made of over 1000 pieces.”
Kids can relive bounty-hunter The Mandalorian and the Child’s battles against Scout Trooper and other enemies! This brick-built, armored transport shuttle features a cargo hold with opening sides that double as access ramps and carbonite bounty elements inside, a dual LEGO minifigure cockpit, spring-loaded shooters, an escape pod, and more authentic details to inspire creative play. This is an awesome build with 1,023 pieces.
MORE 2020 HOLIDAY GIFTS:
Gifts for Builders and Creative Kids
Gifts Under $25
Awesome Outdoor Toys and Gear to Give
Gifts To Get You Into the Holiday Spirit
Gifts to Give Yourself
Thoughtful and Practical Gifts for Everyone On Your List
