What makes this Transformers robot special? The programmable Optimus Prime isn’t the same type of robot-ish toy you’ve seen before. This robot is 11 years in the making! After more than a decade of research and development, Robosen Robotics created a version of Optimus Prime that’s straight out of a movie—minus the gigantic size.
The Collector’s Edition Optimus Prime automatically converts from a vehicle to a robot, has bipedal walking ability, a race function in vehicle form and is programmable. You can control the robot either by voice prompts or through a mobile app.
Sean Tang, Director of Robosen USA, said in a press release, “We are thrilled to collaborate with Hasbro and look forward to ushering in a new standard of robotics with the most advanced Transformers robots for consumers ever created.” Tang continued, “The team is working hard to deliver an amazing user experience for fans of this esteemed franchise and produce Transformers that will be a premium addition to their collection with its superior functionality.”
Pre-order the Transformers Optimus Prime Auto-Converting Programmable Advanced Robot-Collector’s Edition online at Hasbro Pulse for $699.
The newest member of the Ghostbusters franchise is coming this fall, and you can nab super-sweet merch just in time for the big screen premiere. The Stay Puft Marshmallow Man is back—in mini form.
The Mini-Pufts are part devilish and part awesomely adorable. In celebration of the film’s debut, Hasbro is introducing a new line of Ghostbusters Mini-Pufts Surprise figures.
The new Hasbro collectibles are 1.5-inch Mini-Puft figures, inspired by the mischievous little guys from the film. The figures will sell for the approximate retail price of $5.39.
The Pufts are available this fall in retailers nationwide. Look for six-figure release waves starting later this year.
Ghostbusters: Afterlife is coming to a theater near you later this year. Even though you’ll have to wait until November to watch the full-length movie, Sony Pictures Entertainment already released the trailer and it’s a can’t miss.
Your kiddos PLAY-DOH dreams are about to come true! Hasbro recently announced the debut of a brand-new bucket of the colorful compound—and it comes with all the rainbow hues your creative kid needs to make their own mixed-up masterpiece.
After a day of sculpting and building with PLAY-DOH, there’s a zillion teeny tiny pieces of different colored compound leftover. Your kiddos are all in for piecing the odds and ends together to make a mega-ball of rainbow dough—but sometimes there just isn’t enough PLAY-DOH to keep.
Or perpahs your littles want every color of the rainbow—and you only have red, blue, and purple in your arts and crafts staff. Whether your leftovers don’t cut it or you wish your kiddos could have more colors, Hasbro has a solution.
Eric Nyman, Chief Consumer Officer at Hasbro, said in a press release, “With PLAY-DOH compound, the imperfect is perfect, the mess is a masterpiece, and colors are meant to be mixed!” Nyman added, “In honor of our 65th birthday, we invite parents to take a deep breath and let PLAY-DOH happen, because just like life, play should be messy, fun, and wonderful!”
The new PLAY-DOH All Mixed Up Can is a 2.75-pound bucket of with all the colors inside! Find the super-sized compound container (suggested retail price $14.99) at Target, Walmart and Amazon.
My Little Pony is getting a makeover. Hasbro’s entertainment studio Entertainment One recently announced the upcoming release of theatrical-quality CG animation film and a new series debuting on Netflix later this year!
The iconic world of Equestria is expanding. In the new My Little Pony franchise film, the beloved brand will introduce a new generation of adorable awesomeness and cute cartoons (or rather, CG animated) creatures.
My Little Pony’s latest creation features a divided world, where the Ponies are separated into species. Your kiddo will get to know Sunny Starscout, an idealistic young pony who just doesn’t fit in with the rest of the Earth Pony townies. When Izzy the Unicorns wanders into town, Sunny befriends the magical being and takes off on an out-of-this-world adventure. The pair travel to far away lands, face their fears, turn old enemies into friends, and so much more.
As if Sunny and Izzy’s My Little Pony adventures aren’t enough, the film also includes the “world’s cutest” flying Pomeranian and a cast of characters your kiddo is sure to love.
The CG animated Netflix film isn’t the end of the newest My Little Pony saga. Sunny Starscout and her friends will return to the streaming service for an all-new series this fall.
Get ready for a whole new way to play Monopoly! Scratch that—get ready for two whole new ways to play the beloved board game.
Forget about buying railroads and get out of jail free cards. The soon-to-be released Monopoly Crooked Cash edition is all about sneaky strategies and devious deception.
The game features fake cash, fake Chance cards, and plenty of accusations. Mr. Monopoly will supply the decoder—giving the players a chance to sleuth out what’s real and what’s not. This fun-filled family-time game is perfect for kids ages eight-plus and their adults. Monopoly Crooked Cash edition has a suggested retail price of $19.99 and will hit stores nationally this coming fall.
As if one new game isn’t enough, Monopoly is bringing fans a second strategy-based option. Monopoly Builder board game takes buying and selling properties to a whole new level.
Instead of just going around the board, now you can build upwards. The game board’s center is more than just a flat open space. In this edition, it’s Monopoly Island! Players (two to four per game) strategically build their own island city using building blocks. The more you build, the more points you’ll earn.
Monopoly Builder is available nationwide starting Aug. 1, 2021 for the suggested retail price of $24.99.
Peppa Pig is jumping off the small screen and onto your child’s feet. Hasbro recently teamed up with Reebok for a brand-new line of children’s footwear that features the beloved kids’ character.
The Reebok x Peppa Pig collection includes shoes for toddlers and preschoolers, with five separate character-inspired silhouettes your littles are sure to love. Look for bright yellow classic leather kicks, red and pink CL Joggers, super-cute slip-ons and a “Dine-Saw” sneaker with Peppa’s little brother George.
Along with these Peppa themed picks, the capsule collection also features the Club C. This illustration-filled sneaker also includes outlines for kids to color, giving your kids the chance to play designer and spruce up their sneakers in a rainbow of hues.
Not only do these soon-to-be favorite shoes showcase the colorful characters your kids could watch over and over again, the footwear line also includes easy to wear slip-ons or hook-and-loop style closures. This gives your kids the chance to act independently, taking their own shoes off and putting them on with minimal help.
Find the footwear on Reebok.com, starting Feb. 15th at 10 a.m. PST/1:00 p.m. EST. The Reebok x Peppa Pig line is priced at $40 and up and includes toddler through preschooler sizes.
Grab, shoot and score! Just in time for another unprecedented NBA season Hasbro has launched Foosketball. This fast-paced, head-to-head faceoff combines elements of foosball and basketball.
It takes skill, patience, and a bit of luck to get the feel when turning the handles to master and control the Foosketball figure and shoot balls into the basket across the court. Each orange ball is worth one point and the golden ball is worth two points. Rack up the points for each basket until someone reaches five points for the win. Try an alternative mode of play using just one ball on the court and setting a goal for the number of points it takes to win.
Foosketball is available at most major retailers including Target, Walmart and Amazon. The game is suitable for players ages eight and up and retails for $19.99.
Although we don’t always want them to remember everything (kids have a knack for recalling the most desperate of our negotiation tactics), brain boosting memory games are one of the best way to keep little minds busy and sharp as a tack to boot. Read on for our faves for every situation, from an old-school game night to impromptu activities to do on the go.
The Classics
Talk about memories. These old-school games are classics for a reason. Kids and adults love them, and they are perfect for a night in with the family.
Simon Remember when this game was considered a high-tech toy? Mimicking Simon’s color, light and tone sequence may seem simple, but once you advance a few levels, get ready for a serious challenge. Get the kids inspired by watching one off these Simon-masters at work.
Memory Hasbro came out with the original in the 80s, and since then hundreds of variations have popped up, from Elmo to Frozen to Rescue Bots. There are plenty of DIY ideas out there, but at $5.99 for the real deal, we think it’s worth not having to draw 48 of your own picture cards.
These games can be done anywhere, anytime, as they require little more than a pen and paper (if that!). Oh, and your smarty’s razor-sharp memory, of course.
Remember the Code
This all day game is fun to play anytime, and can turn into a little inside joke between you and your littles. Depending on their age, come up with either a fun phrase or random string of words. Write it on a slip of paper and let them look at it and try to memorize it for up to a minute. Then stick the paper in your pocket and carry it with you throughout the day. Starting just five minutes after you hide it away, turn to your kid and shout: What’s the code?! and see if they can recite it back. Do this throughout the day, and see if and when they are able to remember. Tiny treats for each time they crack the code make this even more rewarding.
What’s Missing? Gather a number of items around the house and find a cover for the tray. You can use objects likea toothbrush, scissors, a toy, silverware, a rock, keys, etc. Place about 5 or 6 objects on the tray (make sure to use less if kids are little). Cover the tray and place on a table. Allow the kids to look at the tray for a few minutes. Cover the tray back up and take out of the room. Take one object off the tray out of kids’ view and cover back up. Take the tray back to the table and remove the cover. Ask kids which item is missing. Do this until all objects are gone and all kids have a turn of naming a missing object. You can either give points for right answers or remove a child from the game if they answer incorrectly. Go to newkidscenter.com for even more games that you can do with what you already have at home.
The High Tech
Animal Memory
This is a digital version of the classic Memory game, featuring animals. We love that there are no bells and whistles, and that the sounds can be easily disabled. There are 4 levels and 4 themes. Get more info and download it here: commonsensemedia.org
Memory Train Memory Train is an engaging, fast-moving memory game. It can be helpful for kids who have visual processing issues, as they need to decipher color and shape at a quick pace. It can also be helpful for kids who need help with their working memory, as they need to remember the color shape they saw and identify it with three different paint colors. Get more info and download it here: commonsensemedia.org
Do you have a favorite memory game to play with your kids? Tell us about it in the comments below!
The Child calls upon all kids to serve as his protector through countless imaginary adventures. Standing just 7.2-inches tall, The Child Animatronic Edition from Hasbro features more than 25 sound and motion combinations that kids can activate by touching the top of his head. This “Baby Yoda” emotes with sounds of excitement and laughter while giggling and babbling in sweet baby talk. One of the coolest features is that the little one’s ears move! And, yes, kids will get to see The Child “do the magic hand thing” just like he does on the show! And, after The Child raises his arm and closes his eyes to put all of his might into using his Force abilities, he lets out a sigh as if he’s just spent. Then it’s time for a “Force nap.”
The Toy Insider is the go-to source for product information and the latest news about children's toys, tech, and entertainment. Its team of toy experts publishes two annual gift guides—one for summer and one for holiday—and reviews toys 365 days a year on thetoyinsider.com, a trusted resource for parents.
It’s been one year since the release of Disney’s Frozen 2. Now, Frozen Fest is back with exclusive content, digital adventures and new toys, apparel, games, books and more inspired by the films. This year, the highlight of Frozen Fan Fest will be a Virtual Playdate hosted by chef, two-time New York Times best-selling author, entrepreneur, television host and producer, Ayesha Curry, that will air on Oct. 18.
The digital event will be available for one day only, offering families the ultimate Frozen 2 experience all from the comfort of home. With a robust schedule of new and curated content, immersive activities and more, participants will also get an exclusive first look at the trailer for Once Upon a Snowman, the new short from Walt Disney Animation Studios, which debuts on Disney+ on Oct. 23.
“I’m thrilled to join in on all of the Frozen Fan Fest fun as the host of the first-ever Frozen Virtual Playdate,” said Ayesha Curry. “We are big fans of Frozen 2 in our home, and I love that the film celebrates the importance of family, which is something that’s deeply important to me. I’m overjoyed to be a part of an event that offers families a fun way to spend quality time together, all while enjoying the magic of Arendelle in their homes.”
The Playdate line-up will include activities appealing to Frozen fans of all ages, such as a sing-a-long, choreographed dance lesson, an American Sign Language tutorial of “Show Yourself,” and the unique opportunity to learn how to draw Olaf with Trent Correy and Dan Abraham, the directors of “Once Upon a Snowman.” Additional segments will feature new apparel, fashion accessories, bedding, toys, costumes and more from Hasbro, Jakks Pacific, H&M, Hanna Andersson, Party City, Franco Manufacturing, shopDisney.com and the LEGO Group. Guest appearances will include social influencers and Frozen fans, as well as stars from Frozen: the hit Broadway Musical North American Tour, Radio Disney’s Cameron McLeod and Jason Maybaum from Disney Channel’s Raven’s Home.
“Since audiences were first introduced to the kingdom of Arendelle seven years ago, Frozen has become universally beloved,” said Kareem Daniel, president, Disney Consumer Products, Games and Publishing. “As fans around the world continue to seek out ways to step into this iconic story, we are thrilled to expand this experience – meeting consumers where they are by bringing new products and digital content to life for families at home.”
Frozen Fan Fest kicked off on Oct. 12, in EMEA with a “Frozen Fashion Week,” a series of short fashion shows that spotlight all-new footwear and apparel, culminating in a full fashion show on Oct. 18. Complete with imaginative vignettes and never-before-seen styles that lean into key elements of the story and its characters, portions of the fashion show will air as a part of the Virtual Playdate on Oct. 18.
Beginning today, fans can visit www.disney.com/FrozenFanFest for a full schedule of events, downloadable activities and more. The Playdate will start at 9 a.m. PT on Oct. 18 and will be available for one day only. Additional information can be found by following #FrozenFanFest.
