Paw Patrol and More: Top 10 Toys for Christmas 2018

It’s finally December, which means Christmas is officially right around the corner. Children are coming up with their Christmas lists and writing letters to Santa. We’ve rounded up our Top Ten Toys lists, keeping in mind age and interests. Today we have our first list, ranging for young ones ages 2-4.

Top 10 Toys for Ages 2-4

1. Melissa & Doug Standing Easel – Your young artists can draw and paint – off the walls! This easel is designed for maximum creativity, with one side being a chalkboard and the other side being a dry erase board. There is also a dowel for holding a roll of butcher paper and sturdy clips to keep artwork in place.
2. Cadson Ball Vacuum – Start teaching your children the importance of tidying up at an early age with this toy vacuum that has a working suction and makes real sounds!
3. Hatchimals Mystery – Hatchimals made a comeback last Christmas and we can definitely see why! Young ones usually learn about the life cycle of a chick and so being able to hatch their own super fluffy Hatchimal is super exciting!
4. Little Tikes 3′ Trampoline – Little ones have tons of energy to burn, and this trampoline is just the thing for them. This indoor use trampoline is compact enough to occupy just enough space and helps them stay active indoors.
5. VIAHART Brain Flakes – This 500 piece Interlocking Disc Set will teach young minds about spatial thinking and pave the way for more STEM activities, as they build their own creations.
6. LEGO Classic Medium Creative Brick Box 10696 – Containing a collection of LEGO bricks in 35 different colors, windows, tires and wheel rims and more, little ones can learn to love LEGO building as older generations have. If you do not like the idea of Lego bricks all over your floor, check out the LEGO Baseplates as well.
7. Nick Jr. Paw Patrol Multi-Bin Toy Organizer by Delta – While this is not exactly a toy, it holds toys and is Paw Patrol themed – which is a win-win in our books. If you have a Paw Patrol lover in amongst your family or friends’ children we also recommend this Paw Patrol 2 in 1 Flip Open Foam Sofa, perfect for toddlers to get comfy in as they read, watch TV or eat a snack.
8. Play-Doh Modeling Compound, 10- Pack Ah, Play-Doh. – Children can knead, roll out, and get their creative juices flowing as well as get their sensory play in as well. This 10-pack comes with an assortment of fun colors.
9. Fisher-Price Harley Davidson Tough Trike – This decked out Harley-Davidson styled tricycle is pedal powered and has easy grip handlebars so your kids can safely cruise. As always, there is a plus to this fun gift – it also helps the young ones develop their motor skills!
10. Giraffes Can’t Dance – This is a book that contains rhyme, a lovable character, and teaches a heartwarming lesson through its story about Gerald the giraffe – a giraffe who wants nothing more to dance, but struggles to do so. It makes the perfect gift or stocking stuffer.

(Updated 12/11/2018)

As promised, we are back with the top 10 toys for children ages 5-7. These toys will engage your young one’s minds while also being tons of fun – the perfect combination!

1. Crayons Inspiration Art Case – 140 Pieces This art kit includes everything young artists could ask for Crayola crayons, colored pencils, washable markers, 15 large sheets of paper, and an art case to organize and take along all the art supplies wherever you go.
2. Mattel Minecraft Transforming Sword & Pickaxe Action Figure Minecraft has taken the toy world by storm in the past years, and it does not seem like it is going away anytime soon. This large-scale two in one weapon is an ideal gift for Minecraft fans to add to their collection.
3. L.O.L. Surprise! Glam Glitter Series Doll with 7 Surprises Not only do L.O.L doll lovers get a surprise doll, but they get a surprise outfit, a pair of shoes, and an accessory to go along with it! Also included are a surprise sticker and message!
4. Hedbanz This board game is fun for the entire family, with the “What am I?” Guessing game helping young minds develop their reasoning skills as they simply answer “yes” or “no” to the questions.
5. Lite-Brite Ultimate Classic This new and updated 80s toy is equipped with 200 colorful pegs and 6 templates so children can create bright and creative designs. The battery-powered LED lights let kids display their work in 4 different ways!
6. Spot It! This award-winning game is perfect for the family night. Kids need to think fast and observe quickly as they try to see if any of the symbols on their cards match the other cards in the 5 different games to play.
7. Osmo Genius Kit for iPad The iPad compatible games stimulate visual thinking and teaches reading and vocabulary, creativity and problem solving, and number sense and math confidence with its five games. The kit includes the Osmo iPad stand and game playing pieces.
8. ALEX Spa Hair Chalk Salon Kit Make hair stand out with five chalk pens that easily wash out with shampoo. A hair beading tool is also included, along with 24 metallic beads and 24 elastics to add more style.
9. 12 Pack Mini Assorted Pull Back and Go Vehicles This assortment includes a race car toy and construction videos. No batteries are necessary, just pull back and watch them go!
10. Little Tikes T-Ball Set This classic toy is ideal for any child discovering their love for sports. It has adjustable height and includes 5 balls.

Those are ten gifts children ages 5-7 are sure to enjoy.

We are back with our last two lists today. Here are the top ten gifts for children ages 8 – 13 years old and ages 14 and up.

(Updated 12/19/2019)

Children Ages 8 – 13

1. littleBits Star Wars Droid Inventor Kit This is the gift for a young Star Wars fanatic. Children can learn how to code as they learn how to control electronics, invent new droids, and complete over 22 missions and challenges.
2. Art 101 142-Piece Wood Art Set A future artist’s dream kit. The wooden case is home to crayons, colored pencils, pastels, watercolor paints, brushes, as well as mixing palettes, 2 sketch pencils and more.
3. Guardians of the Galaxy Dancing Groot Figure This Dancing Groot is loads of fun. Standing at 8″ tall, he is sound activated. He dances when he is placed near music and when he is talked to!
4. UNO Card Game UNO never gets old. This classic card game of matching colors and numbers is great for a sleepover with friends or family night.
5. 4M Crystal Growing Experiment This science kit is both educational and fun. Complete instructions and supplies are included to teach children how to perform seven crystal experiments. It even comes with a display case to put your crystals in!
6. ALEX Toys Craft My First Sewing Kit Young crafters and aspiring seamstresses can practice their sewing skills using this kit. It includes scissors, a measuring tape, embroidery floss, fabric, and 28 felt shapes for young ones to create their sewing projects.
7. Doinkit Darts The magnetic dart board allows kids to have all the fun with darts, but without the sharp danger of regular darts.
8. Melissa & Doug Suspend Family Game This game promotes developmental skills such as fine motor skills and eye-hand coordination as players try to hang 24 game rods to a wooden base and connector. The game is ideal for playing with a group of people or alone.
9. Betheaces Kids Toys Hover Soccer Ball Set This bestseller is ideal for playing soccer indoors. Including two goals, children can give the LED hover soccer a little kick and make a goal. It turns any floor into an air hockey/soccer surface – play indoor soccer on a rainy day.
10. Klutz Nail Art Kit Make nails sparkle and shine with this nail kit that includes 6 colorful nail polish that is water-based, non-toxic, and peel off. Kids can flip through the 56-page book filled with designs and use the detail brush to design away!

These ten toys would make more than ideal gifts for children ages 8 – 13. They foster creativity and developmental skills.

Ages 14 and Up

We are down to our last list that includes games, accessories, and more. Here are ten gifts for teens.

1. Hermione Granger’s Wand with Ollivander’s Wand Box Fans of the Harry Potter series will love this authentic recreation of Hermione’s wand. It makes a perfect costume accessory or collector’s item.
2. Buffalo Games Signature Collection Cinque – Terre 1000 Piece Puzzle Puzzles are no longer a thing of the past. This completed jigsaw puzzle recreates a beautiful landscape on Cinque-Terre on the Italian coastline. Puzzles help with improving moods and memory and lowering stress levels.
3. Lightning Reaction Reloaded Shocking Game Players try to be the quickest to press the trigger button before the shock comes through the handles. The last one to press their trigger button feels the shock! A game all about speed and timing.
4. Hygge Games – I Should Have Known That! This trivia game has over 400 questions of things you should know, but there is a twist to this game. Instead of gaining points for knowing a fact, points are deducted for each question you answer incorrectly.
5. “I Paused My Game to Be Here” Tee The perfect tee for any gamer – the phrase may sum up their entire life.
6. Weepong 40 LED Photo Clips String Battery powered string lights have clips that are perfect for hanging photos of family and friends. This would be great to hang up in a bedroom or dorm room if you have a teen headed off to college.
7. BucketBall Beach Edition 12 durable buckets and 2 hybrid balls make up this fun outdoor game. Perfect for the backyard, tailgating, or even the pool. Two teams play against each other and try to toss their ball into the other team’s bucket. When a ball gets into a bucket, it is removed. The first team to make all of the buckets first wins!
8. Felt Letter Board This 10×10 inch letter board is perfect to display daily messages or special messages for occasions! The felt board comes in multiple colors, bordered by an oak frame and includes over 300 white plastic letters so you’ll never be at a loss for words!
9. Cowin E7 Bluetooth Headphones These headphones may be the best bang for your buck. They are noise canceling, wireless, and have 30-hour playtime when fully charged – and they are only $60.00-$95.00!
10. Ohuhu Watercolor Brush Markers – 20 Piece Artists and those who enjoy doodling and journaling will appreciate the vibrant colors these dye pens give off. Just dip them in water for the watercolor effect. Also included is a water brush to beautifully blend colors.

And that’s a wrap on the top ten gifts for young ones. From little toddlers to elementary-aged students, to the tweens and teens in your life – there’s the perfect gift out there. Happy holiday shopping!