The biggest shopping weekend of the year is almost here. With many shoppers opting for online gifting, retailers are upping their Cyber Monday sales––and Amazon is no exception.
The online retailer has shared their go-to deals on Amazon devices, beauty, fashion, toys and more. Keep scrolling to see the best Cyber Monday discounts that await.
Save up to 15% on select Sunny Health & Fitness gym equipment
Save up to 25% on select baseball and softball equipment
Save up to 20% on select kids bikes, adult bikes, helmets and more
Save up to 60% on select golf clubs, balls, and accessories
Save up to 25% on Joola table tennis tables and accessories
Save up to 15% on Stiga table tennis tables
Audible, Music, Video, Kindle and Books
Amazon
Audible: Between November 1 and December 31, new members save nearly 40% on the first six months of an Audible Plus membership at just $4.95 per month.
Amazon Music: New Amazon Music Unlimited customers can get three months of the premium streaming tier free, to enjoy unlimited access to more than 70 million songs, ad-free and a wide selection of popular podcasts
Amazon Music: Current Amazon Music Unlimited subscribers can upgrade to the Family Plan free for three months, with access for up to six accounts.
Amazon Music: With purchase of select Echo devices, new Amazon Music Unlimited customers will receive six months of the premium, ad-free streaming tier for free.
Amazon Music: Today, Amazon Music announced a brand-new, three-part holiday concert series hosted by Lil Nas X titled “Amazon Music Holiday Plays,” premiering December 1 with a new episode airing every Tuesday at 8pm ET through December 15. This global music moment will feature outlandish sets, playful Q&As, and intimate performances from Miley Cyrus, Foo Fighters, Lil Nas X, and Amazon Music Breakthrough Artist, Kiana Ledé. Customers can watch Amazon Music Holiday Plays globally in the Amazon Music app (iOS and Android) and on the Amazon Music Twitch Channel; and in the U.S. on Prime Video and the homepage of Amazon.com beginning December 1 at 8pm ET. View a trailer for the concert series, here.
Kindle Unlimited: Enjoy 2 months of Kindle Unlimited for $0.99 - access more than 1 million books, popular magazines and thousands of books with Audible narration. Offer valid for new members only. Terms and Conditions apply.
Books: General book deals: Save up to 50% on select multi-genre books and eBooks. Need inspiration? Check out the Books Gift Guide here!
Amazon Gift Cards & Credit Cards
Amazon
November 26 through November 30, save 20% or more on select gift card brands including Gap, H&M, Petco and more.
Now through December 31, customers using Amazon Reload to replenish their Amazon Gift Card balance for the first time will receive a $10 bonus with their reload of $100 or more.
Now through December 20, first-time Amazon Gift Card shoppers will receive a $15 promotional credit with the purchase of $50 or more in Amazon Gift Cards. The promotional credit expires on February 6, 2021. Other restrictions apply.
Amazon Warehouse
Amazon
Amazon Warehouse: Save an extra 20% on select quality pre-owned and open box items for the kitchen, home, office, sports and outdoors, including major appliances, furniture, home décor and more. Visit amazon.com/amazonwarehouse.
The holidays are on the horizon and Amazon has everyone covered. The online retailer has spent the last few months compiling some of its best selling toys and games to bring us this year’s “Toys We Love” list. With a variety of ages and interested, this comprehensive list is perfect for starting off your holiday shopping. We’ve picked our top 10 faves, so keep scrolling1
Babies & Toddlers
Fisher-Price Little People 1-2-3 Babies Playdate
This folding, take-along Little People Babies playset is great for on-the-go play. It features two sides of play, lights, music, and Smart Stages learning content. The adorable set comes with three babies, a rocking horse, feeding table and spoon play pieces and also lights up and plays sounds.
This eco-friendly toy features seven brightly colored nesting pieces that stack easily from large to small, while also allowing children to use their imagination and stack in any order. The set is designed with no center post, making it a perfect first stacking toy for babies.
Melissa and Doug Scoop and Serve Ice Cream Counter
Order up! This adorable ice cream station comes with 28 pieces that include a scooper, toppings, cup, spoon cones and a reusable menu for hours of delicious, pretend play.
Perfect for kids three to eight, B. Toys toy orchestra has everything your littles need to become mini maestros. Kids can choose up to six toy instruments that will play in the orchestra pit and enjoy 15 melodies. The interactive toy lights up and includes 13 overall instruments for the full orchestra experience.
Disney Junior Mickey Mouse Outdoor and Explore Camper
This sweet playset from Disney Jr. is packed with fun. Each one comes with one camper vehicle with a built-in kitchenette, one Mickey Mouse figure, one Pluto figure, chair, telescope, table, ladder, two campfire logs, one campfire with grill, one tent, one fishing pole with fish, and one boat. It also plays Mickey Mouse phrase and sound effects!
This Amazon exclusive Journey Girls is the perfect holiday doll. The special edition 18" doll comes with a holiday-inspired attire that includes a red satin dress with gold brocade, gold rhinestone jewelry and ankle strap sandals.
Kinetic Sand's Sandisying Set is a must for your sand collection. The super fun kit comes with 10 tools and two pounds of sand in two colors that you can sculpt, mold and grate for hours of hands-on play.
Thames & Kosmos Mega Cyborg Hand STEM Experiment Kit
This battery and motor-free STEM experiment is perfect for young learners. Kids can build their own wearable mechanical hand that they operate with their fingers in a right hand, left hand or claw configuration. This interactive kit uses the power of air pressure, water, and kids own hands for hours of play.
Transform your tablet into a hands-on coding adventure. Designed for ages 5–10, Coding Starter Kit builds coding skills in progression with 3 hands-on learning games. Watch your child learn to code as they connect colorful blocks of code in the physical world to chart the adventure on their screen.
The Mandolorian fans will be thrilled to receive this galactic set. The 1,000+ piece set comes with everything you need to create the Razor Crest ship, in addition to four minifigs. The best part? You also get a baby Yoda!
When it comes to your little one, safety is your first priority. Green Toys Inc., known for their environmentally and socially responsible toys and tableware for children, is pleased to announce an exciting new licensing partnership with Disney Baby. They have created an eco-friendly, classic toy line featuring some of Disney’s iconic and beloved characters including Mickey and Minnie Mouse, Donald Duck and Goofy.
The seven brightly colored red, blue, and yellow nesting pieces stack easily from large to small, while also allowing children to use their imagination and stack in any order. The set is designed with no center post, making it a perfect first stacking toy for babies.
This toy is identical to the Mickey Mouse stacking toy except it features pink and purple nesting pieces.
More toys will be added to the collection by the end of September. The entire Green Toys Disney Baby Collection is made from 100% recycled materials (mainly milk containers). These classic toys are free of BPA, phthalates and PVC and meet FDA standards for food contact. Plus, all phases of production including toy design, manufacturing, assembly and distribution, are completed right here in the USA.
The kids will be spending more time than usual inside during the winter months, but rather than succumb to mind-numbing boredom, why not grab a few activity kits? We’ve curated a list for every age and stave with activities that will not only keep brains sharp, but come with the added bonus of being complete entertainment in one little (or medium-sized) box, so set up is a breeze.
For Everyone:
KiwiCo Summer Camp Crate
KiwiCo
You know and love KiwiCo for their high-quality kits that everyone from your toddler to your teen can enjoy. They’ve just launched their summer camp line, which will send you five to eight weeks worth of supplies for activities and experiments that range from electronics to art. If your kid finishes early? There’s also a magazine and extra activities to deepen the learning experience. Bundles start at $99.95 with free shipping.
Because laying out butcher block paper for your sweet tot isn’t always on your to-do list, there’s Miserwe’s Doodle Mat. Spread it out, fill the included six pens with water, and let your tot have at it—drawing with stamps, stencils and rollers to create a memorable masterpiece. The best part? It dries to a clean slate in just 10 minutes making creating and clean up easy as pie.
Sheer animal magnetism. That’s what makes this toy so engaging for kiddos. The magnetic heads and tails of six of their safari faves (think hippo, lion, elephant and more) click together to make magical new creatures or recognizable everyday animals. The magnets make it easy for tiny hands to create and re-create hilarious animal combos to their heart’s content.
Green Toys and Sesame Street are helping little green thumbs bring a whole garden to life any day of the year with butterflies, critters and flowers galore. As for the flour in this dough, parents will love knowing it’s organic. No toxins in this garden!
Packed with over 200 items, from beads and yarn to stickers and googly eyes, the possibilities for creativity are limitless for your mini artists with this expansive art kit from Kid Made Modern.
Getting kids to engage with the world is important, and teaching small lessons about nature and our environment is a great way to divert attention towards something meaningful. The GeoSafari Jr. Ladybug Garden is the perfect way to bring nature to your young explorers, letting them be up close and personal with the life cycle of a ladybug. The garden comes with a mail-in certificate for ladybugs, and it lets kids watch the creatures grow from larvae to adults, all the while inspiring an appreciation for nature.
You’ll want to join the tea party yourself with this adorable Fox Tea Party set from Djeco. It’s just right for pretend play, with two spoons, two cups, two small plates, one larger plate, one cake sliced into four pieces (with four removable candles), one sugar bowl, one teapot, two tea bags and one tray. Plus, we love the vibrant teal and pink design that's a modern update on the tea sets of the past.
Just in time for the final installment of the classic Pixar series to hit the screen comes this fun art and craft kit. Young kids can make their own version of Forky, dress up as Woody or Buzz, or create their very version of the story with stickers, foam, pom poms and more. For ages 3 and up, $11.24.
Ideal for kids ages 3 and up, these kits are not only aesthetically pleasing to kids and adults alike, but they are also super fun, too. Their line of Free Range Art for Kids kits includes a Collage Box with all kinds of cool pieces like colorful muslin, seashells and buttons; a Print Box with paint, sponges, cork and more; and our favorite, the Build Box which contains a variety of interesting wooden shapes and spools, non-toxic watercolor paint and glue, and more. All paints and glues are vegan, and everything is free from toxins and single-use plastics. Each kit is $24.99.
Little chefs can get creative in the kitchen with this new set that lets you stamp out colorful cookies and frosting topped cupcakes using Play-Doh. The mixer comes with different stamp attachments and tools to create designs and pretend candies for toppings.
Let your little artists get creative with colorful stamps without worrying about the mess. Crayola's Color Wonder Scented Light Up Stamper set comes with several animal stamps and Color Wonder inks. The inks are not only scented, they magically won't work on skin, furniture, walls or any surface other than the special Color Wonder paper. The inks appear invisible until they touch the special paper, but the stamper handle will light up with the color in use.
Tiger Tribe offers an array of small, travel-sized activity kits perfect for kids of varying ages. This one was among our faves; recommended for ages 5 and up, the kit includes everything your junior crime fighter needs to learn some forensic science and mystery-solving skills.
This ingenious STEM toy will provide years of creative and educational play. Young engineers can connect any combination of gears, claws, heads and more to the motorized base to build a robot that can then be controlled by a wireless remote from up to 50 feet away. With 149 pieces to build with, the possibilities are endless.
Your little scientists can create their own slime concoctions with this easy to use kit that gives preschoolers their first lesson in early chemistry and making observations. The kit comes packed with all the tools you need to make slime from common household ingredients. The plastic tools can easily be washed to use again and again.
OSMO has a new kit designed just for preschoolers. The new OSMO Little Genius Kit lets kids get creative with physical objects that will then appear on a connected tablet, with which they can engage in a whole new way. The kit comes packed with four games that help teach letters, pre-reading skills, critical thinking, problem solving and so much more.
Kickstart your Pre-K kid's love of travel with a scratch-off map from Elsewhere Adventures. Not only is it a cheerful map of the United States, but it also comes with 140 special spots to discover, dry erase markers to make notes and travel stickers. If you don't have anywhere to keep it on display, simply roll it up and store it in the provided tube.
Combine two kid faves—LEGO bricks and stop motion—to make a movie featuring your LEGO Minifigs. The included props and scenery along with the instructional booklet will get you started.
Create a 3D design using yarn with this kit that makes the most adorable narwhal to hang in your grade-school kids' room. Thread the Y'Art pen and color the numbered spaces; yarn magically clings to the Grip-N-Stick Y'Artboard for an easy art project.
Kids can discover how lights, alarms, motors and switches work while building fun projects with this kit. Using 25 transparent plastic spacers, children can build a dazzling display of colorful lights that light up in different colors and dance when you play music or speak to it (among other projects).
Assemble this realistic-looking tank out of only cardboard with The Grid Kit. Pop the pieces out on the dotted lines, assemble and glue. Perfect for builders, and easy to transport in your suitcase, The Grid Kit sets come in all sorts of designs like dinosaur, giraffe, butterfly, elephant and dragon. Once you've assembled them, they are fun to paint and display!
Got a budding botanist in your midst? This delightful garden kit from AeroGarden is their first that's designed specifically for kids (6 & up) and takes them on an indoor gardening adventure in 12 weeks: from seed to pizza party! Herbie comes with a 32-page activity book that explains the magic of hydroponic gardening and includes 18 different fun and educational activities. The kit contains everything you need to get started: there's no soil involved, so there's little mess, and the LED lights are safe for children. Kids can even grow in their room!
After assembling the cardboard housing, kids learn what happens when making changes to a sound wave. They record sounds using the keyboard and are taught what happens when stretching and squashing the sound waves. Record music tracks in the online recording studio and share them with friends and family. Get hands-on with how microphones and speakers work, how music is produced and even learn some music theory along the way.
At spy school, kids learn how to use an array of sneaky spy equipment to complete secret missions and tackle surveillance changes while deepening their science knowledge and sharpening their observational skills. The kit includes 11 sneaky pieces, including decoy spy storage case with hidden compartment, decoy pencil box periscope, two-in-one spy scope and decoy yo-yo.
The Boolean Box is the build-it-yourself computer and electronics kit that lets kids code, build, invent and animate. Designed to grow with them, this set is geared toward girls eight and up but can absolutely be enjoyed by boys as well. No coding experience is necessary, you hook it up to your HDMI-enabled TV or monitor, and you're are on your way!
Artists of almost any age will love thinking outside the box with this box full of fun. Art Out Of The Box comes with 80 cards, each with either a subject or technique. Take one of each and let you imagination soar as you create new worlds and creatures beyond your wildest dreams.
The GIRLS CAN! CRATE subscription is perfect for girls ages 5-10 years. The inspirational subscription shows girls they can "BE and DO anything by introducing them to fearless women who’ve made our world better." Every month your young lady will get a box of 2-3 STEAM activities, 20-page activity book, creative play prop, collectible button, and all the supplies needed to complete the activities.
Do you have your own little storyteller? Laurence King's Alice in Wonderland's Storybox is a twist on the classic fairytale, but puts the storytelling in the hands of your little one. Use the oversized story cards to arrange the story however you want in a story that stretches eight feet long!
Tinkering Labs Electric Motors Catalyst, Robotics Stem Kit for Kids
Amazon
This cool kit allows kids to build doodling robots, power electric model cars, add motors to LEGO sets and more. For kids ages 8-12 (we think kids 6-8 could also enjoy it with some assistance) the set comes with everything you need to create including batteries, markers, challenge cards, real wood, motors, hardware and more.
You know and love the Target x Todd Oldham collab line Kid Made Modern, for its contemporary take on kids’ art supplies. This new line was designed by MoMA educators, and many of the kits, including this shadow box set, were inspired by the crafts and art projects for families at the Museum of Modern Art.
Set your budding chefs up with a few kits from new cooking subscription, Harlow’s Harvest. Invented by a mom-daughter duo, this STEM-influenced kit comes with recipe cards, a science project, history on the recipe and an online game that’s related to the theme of the month. Kids will learn how to budget for ingredients, they’ll be reading the recipes, and they’ll be doing fractions when measuring out ingredients. Plus, if you’ve got picky eaters at home, chances are, if they make it, they’ll eat it. You can buy one box for $23 or set up a monthly delivery (six or 12 months) for $21 and $19.99 respectively.
This adorable set comes with fringe, flowers, a plastic needle, string, craft paper and everything else your kid will need to make both a funky case for sunglasses and a butterfly keychain for a friend. An intro to embroidery, this will keep your kinder on up through grade school kiddo occupied for a few afternoons. $19.99.
Pineapples are everywhere this summer, so this fun dreamcatcher kit from JOANN Stores is sure to be a hit. It comes with everything from string to sticky gems, sequins and feathers. Ages 8 and up. $12.99.
My Gnome on the Roam Adventure Kit is a suitcase of memories waiting to be unpacked. It comes with a copy of the My Gnome on the Roam Award-Winning Story Book, a family adventure journal filled with blank pages, a colorless ready-to-be-painted gnome and a magical pen, all beautifully packaged in an adorable suitcase that kids will be in awe about. The kit is designed to encourage families to Explore, Create and Connect and to add adventure to their everyday lives. You can see all details as well as worksheets, downloads, games, articles, the link to their 15-Minute Adventure for Busy Families app and more on their website at mygnomeontheroam.com.
What if you could not only gift your kids with an awesome activity kit but also an interactive game designed to help them connect with friends and relatives far away? Thanks to Kidvelope, you can do just that. You order the kit for your child, and they work together with “players” of their choice to help solve challenges and complete the mission, all through hands-on creative activities (like secret messages written on space slime), online interactions, back-and-forth mail and phone calls. The best part? It’s easy to follow and exciting to play. It’s a perfect mix of offline, creative problem solving and using technology to connect. An excellent way to stay in touch with long-distant grandparents!
Just when you thought a kid with an electronic guitar couldn’t get any cooler, they created this: a guitar set that kids build, program, and customize all on their own. With an accompanying app, this inventor kit suggests over 12 activities with step-by-step instructions—including how to re-build your guitar into a set of air drums using the same littleBits electronic blocks that make a synth guitar. It’s totally splurge-worthy.
New form Hape, preserve the beauty of the outdoors year-round with this cute pressing kit. Paints and brush are included to then transform dried flowers or plants into artwork as original as Mother Nature’s.
The rich colors and ease of twisting the yarn around each bird frame make this fun mobile project rewarding for tweens. Each kit comes with the bird frames, a wooden ring, and even googly eyes. Ages 10 and up.
Conceived as the world’s first consumer 3D printing pen, 3Doodler was a successful Kickstarter project beforequickly growing into a $20 million business. Thanks to its ingenious design, hand-held portability and ease of use, 3Doodler has become popular among school STEM programs and at-home techie creators alike. This year’s new releases include the 3Doodler Create+ 3D printing pen ($79.99) and the 3Doodler Start Make Your Own HEXBUG Kit ($59.99). Combining drawing and sculpture with a dose of 3D magic, 3Doodler is a cool gift for gadget-loving creative types.
Faster than you can say, “Expelliarmus!” the Harry Potter Coding kit will have young wizards learning how to code in no time. Created byKano, makers of kid-friendly, DIY computer kits and programs, the Harry Potter Coding Kit lets users build custom wands that can perform acts of magic when connected to tablet or computer screens. Following a few simple steps, apprentice wizards learn how to code by connecting code blocks that pair with actions tied to their wands. A wave of a wand can make fire flow, pumpkins grow, feathers fly, goblets multiply, and much more, via iOS and Android devices.
Like colorful miniature pieces of stained glass, Creatibles DIY Window Cling Art Kit lets young artists create unique window decals that will brighten any room. The kit includes five colors of cling art paint and 14 simple-to-follow designs. Trace the designs using the black outliner paint, add color, leave for 24 hours, then stick the finished cling art to any window. Additional free printable designs are available for download on the website.
Karina Garcia DIY Squishy Art Bake Shop by Craft City
courtesy of Karina Garcia Collection
Move over homemade slime: DIY squishy arts are the latest trend to spark the imaginations of crafty kids across the country. This well-composed squishy art kit comes courtesy of Karina Garcia, a popular YouTuber who parlayed her online celebrity into a successful line of DIY crafts. Featuring an adorable bake shop theme, the kit includes decorative sprinkles, colored chalk and puffy paint. After making your slow-rise bake projects, simply color, add paint and sprinkles, and squish your original squishy art designs!
Seated neatly at the intersection of fashion and technology, the Sew & Glow Kit lets users design and build glowing badges that light up with electrical conductive thread. In addition to exploring crafting, the kit teaches kids about electrical circuits in a fun and simple way. Light up badges with LED lights and become an electronics master in minutes!
Want to know what your kids will be coveting this year? We hightailed it to New York for the 115th Annual Toy Fair in order to get the scoop on the latest and greatest on toys and playtime. From more collectibles than you can count to dinosaur everything, here’s what play looks like in 2018.
The Biggest Trends in Toys
Dinosaurs Jurassic World premieres this spring, so it’s no surprise we spotted new and cool dinosaur toys and games everywhere. We especially loved the Roarivores (Spring 2018) and the Gyrosphere (Spring 2018) from Mattel’s brand-new Jurrasic World. Hasbro recently introduced the Chomp Squad (check out the new YouTube show that premiered in Jan. 2018)—a group of dinosaurs that are not, in fact, extinct, but instead, geared up to help in emergencies.
Playmobil premiered The Explorers world, which includes dinos, hidden temples, enemy airboats and more (May 2018), and HABA has a new card game—Dino World—that’ll be available soon. Even the world of stop-gap animation is in on the dino craze. Cult-hit StickBot will release its new StikBot Dino Movie Set in June.
Millenium Nostalgia
Some of the toys and games you loved as a kid are back! Polly Pocket will return Fall 2018, Spin Master will re-introduce Erector sets in the fall, and Goliath Games has a new Saved by the Bell board game hitting stores soon. Alex Toys is bringing the Big Wheel back in a big way, and Funko’s new Pop Vinyl collection includes Care Bears and Thundercats!
Potty Humor Yes, potty humor is alive and well. Flushin’ Frenzy is a new game from Mattel (Fall 2018), the next season of Flush Force collectibles from Spin Master will be available Spring 2018, Hasbro introduced Don’t Step In It, (Fall 2018) and Plunge It from Alex Toys will be available Fall 2018.
Play with a Purpose
It’s clear that toys that teach haven’t lost their STEAM. Mattel’s Roctopus (hot toy alert!) features 15 different instrument sounds across five different genres of music for kid-powered compositions (Fall 2018). DUPLO’s new Steam Train, which comes with five action bricks, allows kids as young as two to learn the basics of coding (August 2018).
Crayola introduced the Color Chemistry Lab Set, which has everything little scientists need to explore color in over 50 experiments (Fall 2018), and The Scientific Explorers line from Alex Toys will release a new Beeology kit later this year. In addition, Learning Resources recently released Botley the Coding Robot, a screen-free introduction to coding for kids ages 5 & up (available now). Pet Care
Pet care and rescue was a recurring theme at Toy Fair this year. Get ready for Scruff-a-Luvs—adorable pets kids can “rescue” and care for—and Fur Babies (June 2018), two brand-new lines from Moose Toys. Ricky the Trick Lovin’ Pup is the latest member of Hasbro’s Fur Real line (Fall 2018). See Meez, the uber-cool hologram pet from Redwood Ventures is a modern take on the ‘90s craze for Tamagotchi (August 2018), and Melissa & Doug debuted a whole new line of pet care, including the Examine & Treat Pet Vet Play and Track & Rescue playsets.
Licensing
The characters and storylines you know are everywhere in 2018, from Mighty Mugs and Bumkins’ adorable line of superhero and gaming bibs to Green Toys announcing their very first licensing deal with Sesame Street (look out for Cookie Monster’s playdough set!). LEGO has new Harry Potter, Disney, Marvel and Star Wars sets for 2018, and Playmobil has new How to Train Your Dragon and Spirit sets being released later this year.
3D Art
It’s all about taking art off the page in 2018. The 3Doodler pen introduced Start STEM Series Kits and Make Your Own HEXBUG Pen Set & Activity Kit (May 2018), and Alex Toys offers up Paper Swirls, which allow kids to make 3D versions of unicorns and other animals. Other 3D toys include Doh Vinci on-the-go from Play-Doh (Fall 2018) and IDO3D from Redwood Ventures (July 2018).
The Element of Surprise (Again)
The big reveal and the element of surprise is still a runaway hit with kids. Shopkins Season 10 will not only re-introduce favorite characters from previous seasons, but the actual unwrapping will be even more fun with the packaging newly designed to look like mini bags of treats and sweets.
Hasbro will introduce the Cutie Marks Crew in the fall, Alex looks to bring the element of surprise to outdoor fun in the spring of 2018 with their new Breakaway Ballz (a puzzle ball that breaks to reveal another ball inside), and the Beaker Creatures from Learning Resources combine the element of surprise with science (June 2018).
Toys That Caught Our Eye
Marvel Hero Vision Kids can battle evil like Iron Man with the new Marvel Hero Vision AR experience. With the HERO VISION app, AR goggles and markers, kids will see digital images from the world of Avengers. There are various levels of difficulty and an open play option. Ages 8 & up, $59.99, available Spring 2018.
Smart Sketcher
It kinda looks like the projector you might remember that from high school or middle school! The Smart Sketcher teaches kids how to sketch with line-by-line directions. There are over 50 activities and things to draw, plus, the optional app allows users to take pictures and convert them into sketches. Ages 5 & up, $59.95, available now at barnesandnoble.com
History Makers Puzzle Block Set (Bevy & Dave) This unique toy was nominated as a 2018 Toy of the Year Finalist in the Rookie of the Year category. The 30-piece wooden block set has six sides of play that includes not just numbers and the alphabet, but also historical notes about iconic African-American figures and events. It also introduces self-leadership concepts to kids and comes with a tiny history book. Available now, with new toys to be released in Fall 2018. For ages 3 & up, $24.99, available now at bevyanddave.com
Air Hogs SuperNova
We got to test out this drone that combines technology with coordination and even teamwork! It’s got motion sensors and an interactive LED light core that actually responds and reacts to the user’s actions. Simply wave your hand to send it across the room, or to another player. With over 30 moves and 9 Super Tricks, we think this will be a big hit when released in the fall. Ages 6 & up. $39.99 Fall 2018.
GraviTrax
Ravensburger will give the classic marble run a modern makeover when they release GraviTrax in April 2018. The interactive track system gives kids countless STEM challenges, from experimenting with gravity and magnetism to engineering and even kinetics. The starter pack comes not only with enough pieces to build and re-build different runs, but there’s also an optional app that lets players test their runs in a digital AR world, too. Ages 8 & up. $59.99. Available April 2018.
What do you think of the Toy Trends for 2018? Share with us in a comment below.
They say that the days are long but the years are short—so fill them with creative play and shelve the battery-operated gadgets every now and then. We’ve searched high and low for the best of the new low-tech toys, whether your kiddos are eager to learn their ABCs, mess around with foam, or reenact your own childhood play with a Fraggle Rock puppet! Scroll down to see them all.
1. We’ve Got Your Number
This cheerful number arranging game from HABA USA introduces your child to the world of numbers and amounts. A playful selection of motifs (think: cars, animals, fruits) makes math inviting and fun. The handy cardboard carrying case and magnetic pieces make this set ideal for travel, too.
2. A Is for Acorn This whimsical matching game gives your tiny scholar multiple ways to explore and play with letters and sounds. Kids can match uppercase and lowercase letters as they assemble the acorns, plus play hide-and-seek by finding a corresponding letter sound “surprise” inside each acorn. Little learners can even practice making words, learning their ABCs, beginning sounds, and just engage in free play with the adorable tiny toys.
3. Calling All Mad Scientists
Older kids will get a thrill out of this science kit from The Purple Cow that explores optical illusions–there are over a dozen experiments inside! Topics include light refraction, color, movement, size, and distortion. The kit includes a clear guide accompanied with photos of the optical illusion processes, as well as comprehensive and accessible scientific explanations.
Ages: 6 & up.
Available at amazon.com, $20. 4. Classically Creative
The new LEGO Classic Creative Box includes more than 50 pieces in themed boxes of shades of red, blue, green, and orange–featuring classic bricks and special elements like wheels, doors, windows, and eyes. While it makes for a great starter set for a budding architect, the kits also have three levels of building complexity and promise hours and hours of creative fun!
5. Hold the Foam Your favorite preschooler will love making letters (and other inventive creations) with this Playfoam set featuring eight colored Playfoam bricks and 13 double-sided cards for learning the alphabet. You’re sure to hear squeals of glee as they mush and mash their ABCs on top of the corresponding cards (each with an accompanying image). Bonus: Playfoam is no-mess, non-stick, and never dries out!
6. Dance Your Cares Away If your little ones haven’t been introduced to the live puppetry magic of Fraggle Rock, look no further than this Gobo puppet as your excuse to relive your childhood! Dressed in a yellow and pink striped sweater with a brown vest, your child will fall in love with his fuzzy purple hair, googly eyes, and the many songs you will sing with him perched on your hand.
7. A Very, Very, Very Fine House
This eco-friendly, 100% recycled playhouse from Green Toys will occupy your kiddo’s imagination for hours. Multi-leveled and dishwasher safe, it features a bright yellow convertible, two mouse characters, staircase, bed, bathtub, table, and two chairs. The moveable stairs can be placed anywhere along the second level, from the back of the house to the balconies, and the bathtub, bed, table, and chairs can be set up in any room. The fully open back and balconies on the house make arranging and re-arranging all the accessories easy and fun, and encourage cooperative interactive play.
8. Sunny Side Up
Have your favorite pint-sized waiter bring you breakfast in bed with this adorable 41-piece classic diner play set collection. Order eggs just the way you like ‘em on the reusable menu, cook with the durable plastic frying pan and spatula, and serve using a full place setting. Seven wooden food pieces have different food options on either side, and there are even double-sided milkshake and hot drink inserts. Servers and chefs can wear the apron and ring the bell when meals are ready, and Mom and Dad can pay their bill (use the dry-erase marker on the guest check) with the included play money.
Learning to crawl opens up a whole new world for your baby. But does that mean you need all new toys with special features to keep them happy? Nope! Some classic toys and a few clever tricks to engage your crawler are all it takes for hours of fun. Read on for our favorite classic toys for babies on the move. Best of all, you probably have some of these already, so playtime can start immediately.
Toy Cars, Trains, Planes and Buses A toy with wheels is a hit with kids of all ages, but it’s especially fun for crawlers, who can give it a push and race right after it. You can also place it just out of their reach to give them a goal to crawl toward.
Bouncy Balls Pick any size ball, any color, even an old soccer ball, basketball or tennis ball you have laying around. Then watch your little mover try to get control of that rolling sphere. This simple toy also offers lots of ways for you to play together. Roll it toward your child, then away from them and see how they react. Bounce it along the floor or off the wall, or toss it into a basket. Chances are, your baby will try to follow its movements.
Crawl Tunnel A crawl tunnel, like this one from eWonderWorld, gives your baby a safe, exciting place to explore. It can stand alone as a fun, multi-sensory way to enjoy different colors, textures and sounds. Or, you can build a larger obstacle course with other toys and household items for your little one to navigate.
Jack-in-the-Box The music and pop-up effect of a classic jack-in-the-box like this Jester In a Box by Schylling will motivate your crawler to move. Sit a few steps away from your child and turn the handle. When they hear the tune “Pop Goes the Weasel,” they’ll scoot on over for the surprise.
A Personalized Stool It might seem early for a step stool, but a personalized puzzle stool like this one from The Stationery Studio will grow with your child. At this stage, they can crawl to it and pull themselves up, or push it around in front of them. And you can sit with them to help them complete the puzzle. Eventually, they’ll use the stool to step up to the sink to wash hands and brush teeth.
Stacking Cups or Blocks If you build it, they will come. That’s how stacking cups and blocks like the Green Toys Stacking Cups set work with crawlers. Pile them up and your kid will zoom across the room to knock down that teetering tower.
Pull Toys Similar to push toys and cars, pull toys encourage babies to observe what happens when they apply a force to an object — in the cutest way possible. This waddling duck family pull-along toy by Janod hits all the nostalgic notes with its colorful wooden design. As your child crawls around holding the string, the ducks will waddle and their feet will flap as they follow along.
Baby-Safe Mirror That mirror your baby loved to gaze into during tummy time is just as exciting to them during the crawling phase. Find a shatterproof version that stands up on its own, like the sweet Silver Lining Cloud Activity Mirror by Skip Hop. Place it where your baby is playing so they can discover it again and again as they crawl around. Bonus points if you can teach baby to give themselves a kiss.
What are your favorite toys for babies on the move? Share them in the comments below.
At Red Tricycle, the most cutting-edge gear for babies and kids is totally our jam. In order to bring you the best in new & cool, we hit up the 2016 ABC Kids Expo in Las Vegas and it did not disappoint. Read on to discover the color trend you’ll be seeing everywhere in 2017, learn which toys will be a smash hit with kids, and get the heads up on gear you’ll actually use.
Gray is having a heyday. Gray is here to stay. It was a constant theme at ABC; the classic hue will hit the kids and baby market in full force in 2017. The new JETT stroller line from Nuna is offered in cool gray hues, the new 3DTote Convenience Stroller (available in January 2017 at Amazon and Target) from Summer Infant will sport a gray and black design, and the reversible play mats from Lollaland (featuring a contemporary, geometric pattern on one side and a kid-friendly, playful pattern on the other) are now offered in gray. In mid-November, Skip Hop will launch a six-piece baby gift set in soft grays; we also spotted nursing pillows from Nursie, teething toys from Zoli, and sippy cups from Drink a Duex, all dressed up in chic shades of gray.
Collaborations are so hot right now. We dig a good collab. Seems like other folks do too: There were a few exciting projects between style mavens and baby/kids gear companies at ABC this year. One that stood out was the Rachel Zoe for Maxi-Cosi line—infant seat, car seat, stroller, and diaper bag—designed by style guru Rachel Zoe. Admittedly luxe, the gear had leather accents and white (gasp!) fabric, but still kept comfort, utility, and safety a priority.
Another cool collaboration we spotted was mega-hot graphic design company Tokidoki, paired up with not one, but two different brands! The company lent its larger-than-life, fun characters (the unicorns and cactus friends are particularly awesome) to Zoli’s food and beverage containers, and it paired up with Itzy Ritzy (launching January 2017) to add its cult-status graphics to the popular reusable snack bags.
Forget one of everything. Get one that DOES everything. It used to be that new parents needed one of everything. These days, to maximize space and convenience, parents need one that does everything. We thought the new Tuo high chair (available December 2016) from Skip Hop was a modern parents dream. Stylish and functional, when baby is ready to make the move to toddler chair, simply shorten the legs and ditch the tray. Bonus points for the easy-clean, reversible seat pad. The Splash n’ Store (available December 2016) from Summer Infant also caught our eye for it’s multi-stage, fold-up-and-store features.
Silicon is the new plastic. Forget BPA-free plastic. The newest material for eating, drinking, bathing, and even playing is silicone. Yup, it’s bendable, dishwasher, microwave and oven safe, is hypo-allergenic and PVC, BPA, BPS and phthalate free. The Brushies is a brightly colored set of finger puppets that double as toothbrushes. Designed by two moms, a dentist and a child psychologist, this new toy-and-book set gives parents a whole new outlook on oral hygiene. EZPZ caught our eyes with its fun and colorful line of happy mats, bowls, and play mats (available December 2016). Marcus & Marcus had a brand-new line of bath toys (available December 2016) at ABC: Mold-free submarines and rockets in bright, fun colors featuring their signature animal friends. Silikids will soon have their new bowl/plate combo on the market. The fun colors, multiple functions, and cool design are ideal for busy parents.
Other Cool Products That Caught Our Eye
There were many other cool and innovative products at ABC. Here are a few that really stood out.
Green Toys – Farm Playset From the maker of your kiddo’s favorite upcycled tea set, trucks and boats comes a new line of pretend play toys, including the Farm Playset, which was a 2016 ABC Kids Expo award winner. The farm set comes with 13 pieces, including animals and a farmer— we’re betting you’ll see it on hot toy gift guides this year.
Dr. Brown’s – Options Bottle The easy-flow bottles moms know and love got a makeover in 2016. The new Options Bottle allows parents to choose whether or not they want to deal with the vent parts. Can you say genius?
Janod – The Fantastic Castle The french toy company has launched its latest adorable imaginary cardboard world, the Fantastic Castle. The 16-piece puzzle comes with 10 wooden accessories, and 8 cardboard accessories. The intricate illustrations and fold-up, stow-away capabilities caught our eye!
Keen – The Moxie Collection Keen shoes are known for sturdy construction and easy-on-easy-off capabilities. We got a peek at the new Moxie Collection (Spring/Summer 2017) and if you’ve got girls who love to be active but still love style and fun colors, this will be the one shoe you buy for summer and maybe even keep through fall.
Tegu – Sticky Monsters
Tegu will launch their latest line of magnetic blocks—Sticky Monsters—just in time for the holidays (December 2016). They come with fun names like Zip Zap, Finklebear, and Marbles, have bright, bold pieces, and are compatible with all other Tegu blocks. If you already have a growing collection, these new friends will be a cool addition. If you’ve never bought Tegu blocks before, this is a good place to start.
Innobaby – The Robot
This brand-new teether is made from TPE—a non-toxic, high quality food grade material. Every Innobaby teether are bisphenol-A (BPA) free, phthalate free, pvc free, lead free and latex free.
Are you excited for any of these new & cool products? Share with us in a Comment!
Since 2010, resale and consignment shop LuLu’s Then & Now has served as a go-to spot for Brownstone Brooklyn parents in search of cute and chic (but affordable) duds for their kids. (Its sister store, Cuts & Toys, helps keep unruly tresses somewhat in check.) A staple on the borough’s 5th Avenue, the store recently closed. But fear not; in fact, celebrate! LuLu’s Then & Now merely relocated to a bigger and better space on nearby 4th Avenue. The new LuLu’s features even more gently-used clothes, tons of new toys, a dressing room and a souped-up drop-in play space. Change is good! Read on to get the scoop on the new and improved store.
More space, more merch
It’s not a new story: a rent hike at the old 5th Avenue shop made LuLu’s owner Brigitte Prat decide to close the location, and she wasn’t even sure if the clothes and toys arm of her LuLu mini empire (which, in addition to Cuts & Toys includes LuLu’s for Baby) would continue. However, when a realtor connection showed her a sprawling space on 4th Avenue (more than double the size of the old store) Prat felt it was the perfect place for LuLu’s 2.0.
The 1,800-square-foot store still sells (and buys) gently-used clothes for kids ages newborn to 12 — just lots more of it — as well as maternity clothes on consignment. (The store is currently buying for summer; you can read sellers’ rules and guidelines here if you’re interested in getting some cash for your primo castoffs.) In addition, Lulu’s is now selling new clothes and shoes from brands such as All Good Loving Kids, Native and Salt Water and select overstock from boutique labels (read: Bergdorf goods at discount prices).
Toy Story
The new expanded space also allows for a huge inventory of new toys from eco-friendly and educational companies like Tegu, Plan, Green Toys and Begin Again and urban parent favorites such as micro mini scooters and all things NYC MTA. You’ll also find decor items that will look right at home in any stylish tot’s nursery or bedroom, i.e. plush animal heads from the U.K. ready for wall-mounting.
Stop, Drop and Play!
Perhaps the most exciting feature of the new store is a 350-square-foot play space tricked out with a play house, tent, chalkboard and magnetic walls, Duplo blocks, puzzles, costumes for dress up and much more.
The play space will operate on a drop-in basis daily from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. at the rate of $12 per session for one child and $6 for additional children; 10 packs are also available for $105. (Caregivers must remain with children in the play space at all times.) Read the complete list of guidelines for the play space here.
LuLu’s Then & Now
187 4th Ave.
Park Slope
718-398-5858
Online: lulusthenandnow.nyc
Have you check out the new LuLu’s Then & Now? Let us know in the comments below!
When the crafting bug bites, rather than subject your home (carpet, walls, hardwoods, couches—you get the idea) to a sparkly, gluey, glittery explosion, why not take your little Picasso out, to get his or her crafting on. Having set projects, dedicated supplies and best of all – a dedicated craft space – makes any of these craft-tastic places a haven for budding artists.
photo: Squirrelly
Seattle ReCreative
Hands-on exploration, creative reuse and arts education are at the heart of Seattle’s Greenwood neighborhood’s ReCreative. Re-opened earlier this year, ReCreative offers set classes for budding artists ages 2-teen, ranging from fine art to theater creation to woodworking – as well as drop in classes. Tykes ages 1-5 can drop into the “Paint Playground” Mon.-Sat. anytime from 10 a.m.–noon to get their art on. Psst… Saturday’s class is bilingual, taught in both Spanish and English – muy bien!
Squirrelly
This new pop-up art studio and gift workshop in the Ravenna neighborhood aims at providing everyone from preschoolers to teens time to craft and create thoughtful, handmade gifts. Squirrelly’s spring and summer classes and camps (enrolling now!) offer kids ages 6-12 everything from watercolor painting and ceramics to bird house building and bread baking. The nutty folks at Squirrelly are adding classes and camps all the time, so check their online calendar – and you can always hang around an hour before or after each class for open crafting time (or call if you want to visit at a time that’s not on the calendar). Psst! Be sure to keep an eye out for fun classes offered on early release school days and school holidays.
Lakeshore Learning
Not only does Lakeshore Learning have one of the largest assortments of learning toys, games, books and projects (and extremely knowledgeable and helpful staff), they offer drop in, no reservation required free craft projects every Saturday. Stop by the store anytime between 11 a.m.–3 p.m. with your mini DaVinci (3 & older) and craft away. Their website has a great calendar listing of projects for the month, ranging from butterflies to lions and chicks – oh my!
The Creativity Place
Originally located in Bothell’s Country Village, Janet DeGrave has moved her amazing stash of crafting supplies to her garage. Though one of the more unique places you’ll visit, Janet’s collection is stunning – organized by age group and nothing off limits for your little craft-a-preneur. Feathers, sticks, paper, glue, ribbon, paint, rocks, shells – anything your little heart can dream, you can use. Hours vary – Janet posts times on Facebook when her garage is open for “business.” But the best part – it’s free to craft (though a donation is greatly appreciated).
Roaring Mouse Creative Arts Studio LLC
Located in a cheerful, light-filled space in Ravenna, Roaring Mouse Creative Arts Studio is known for its dedicated teaching staff, super-creative birthday parties and popular art classes and summer camps for kids ages 2.5 to 11. And if you didn’t know, Roaring Mouse also offers open studio drop-in time for ages 4-7, so budding Picasos can explore and expand their imagination and art skills through a variety of medium. Open Studio Drop-In takes place on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 4:30 p.m.-6 p.m for $14 per session. Just be prepared to transport wet projects; a large flat box works best.
Curious Kidstuff
Originally 3,000 square feet of glorious toy store goodness (providing non-violent and green toys), this popular store in the West Seattle Junction has expanded to include toddler, preschool and elementary art classes. Curious Kidstuff currently offers two all ages classes on Mondays and Fridays from 10 a.m.–11 a.m. for $12 as well as a multi-age WordPlay class for kids in grades 2-5 who are intrigued by storytelling and would like to explore the fun world of words and stories through games, writing, and crafts. Or just stop by the store during regular business hours and let your little explorer participate in hands-on play with the many tables set up around the store. Or even better yet, plan a Curious Kids Party where set up, instruction and clean-up of an age-appropriate art project that can be taken home as a souvenir are all included. All you have to do is invite the guests and show up with the cake and beverages. Sounds like a win-win to us!
Ben Franklin
Arguably one of the Eastside’s most diverse, well-stocked and well-loved craft stores, Ben Franklin has all your project needs. With timely project ideas set up all around the store (and all the items arranged in one place), Ben Franklin offers in-store, hands on Kids Crafts. Painting, beading, popsicle-sticking – you name it, they’re making it. New projects pop up each week, so it’s best to call ahead if you’re into something specific – otherwise, come by during the weekend and let your mini Monet take it away. Best of all, there’s no pre-registration required.
15756 Redmond Way
Redmond, Wa 98052
425-883-2050
Online: craftsandframes.com
Michael’s
Crazy for crafting? Michaels, the mega arts and crafts retailer, offers a series of free and low-cost in-store crafting events for your entire brood, including Free Family Craft Time where kids can make picture frames, jewelry, wall decor, chalkboard plaques and more. They also offer Kids’ Club (you shop while the Littles craft) for just $2. These DIY classes are a perfect way to flex those creative muscles. Check their online class schedule and get ready to craft away!
Good to Know
If your lil’ craft junky is more into ceramics, there are a number of great paint-your-own pottery locations throughout our fine city – check out these six places to get fired up.
And lastly, don’t overlook your local community centers and community libraries – messy art, holiday-themed crafts, ceramics, painting – a lot of centers have classes for all ages, styles and themes, generally for fairly reasonable prices (if not free).
Where is your kiddo’s favorite place to craft? Tell us in the Comments below.
