Gear

Best Toys for 2015

by admin


Best Toys for 2015

We've weeded through reviews and "top" lists to narrow down the best toys for your kids this holiday season—and for them to enjoy in 2015.

Lamaze Pippin the Push Along Pup

This brightly colored, multi-textured pup encourages hand-eye coordination and gross-motor skill development and is sure to catch the eye of your little one. Featured as a best toy in Toy Industry Association's "Infant/Toddler Toys of the Year," Push Along Pup comes with a bone and ball that baby will love putting in the storage bag for put-in, take-out play.

Suggested age: 6 months+
Price: $24.99

Original BedBug

Developed by a mom on a mission, these snuggly little bugs help soothe children when Mom or Dad is away. Record up to three personalized messages, such as saying "goodnight," "good morning" or even a three-minute story—all of which can be changed easily. Your little one can hear your voice by squeezing one of the BedBug's satin feet.

Suggested age: 6 months+
Price: $29.99

Fisher-Price Little People Musical Preschool

One of Walmart's Top 100 Toys, this musical preschool will help transition your little ones for what to expect when they start school or let those who've already been there re-create their own experience. Just like at many real preschools, the Little People friends have their own spots on the rug, but these make music! This educational toy features more than 35 sounds, phrases and songs, such as making the dino roar or the aquarium bubble.

Suggested age: 1 to 5 years
Price: $39.99

Toymail WIFI Messaging Toy—Buck the Deer Mailman

A throwback to the walkie-talkies Mom and Dad grew up with, these innovative cuties are a genius means of connecting with the next generation. Record a voice message to your kid using the free Toymail app (available on IOS and Android), which gets delivered via the Wi-Fi connected Mailman, like Buck here. Your child can reply too, and the Toymail app stores your conversation like a digital scrapbook—a perfect gift for long-distance and military families or those who travel for business.

Suggested age: 3+
Price: $59.99

Pley.com Subscription or Gift Card

Does your kid need one more toy lying around the house? Probably not, but try telling him or her that! One mom co-founded a great solution—Pley.com, the "Netflix of LEGOs." For a monthly subscription, kids choose sets to receive in their "pleylists," which arrive by mail. When they're ready to swap, you send the sets back to Pley. The company then counts and sanitizes them in an eco-cleaning solution and sends another set from the list. In addition to being economical and eliminating household clutter, Pley teaches kids about sharing and is environmentally friendly. So far Pley says it has eliminated 150,000 pounds of ABS plastic in landfills, and every set that is rented saves a tree over its rental period. Three popular Minecraft LEGO sets, "The Village," "The Forest" and "The Nether," which are based on the hit video game, are also available through the service this holiday season.

Suggested age: 2+
Price: $19, $29 or $39 monthly subscription options; gift cards in any amount also available

Jetaire Camper Play Tent

Skip the bugs and bring the fun of one of summer's favorite pastimes to your living room anytime with this ultimate play tent. What kid wouldn't love this modern take on the fort? Handmade and handstitched, the camper features seven windows, an embroidered license plate, logo and patchwork tire. Throw in some S'mores fixings and be prepared to be the sleepover hit of the year.

Suggested age: 3+
Price: $249

Rue, the WorryWoo Monster of Insecurity and Storybook

Winner of an Iparenting Award and a Creative Child Top Toy Award, Rue and his story, "The Nose That Didn't Fit" teaches kids of all ages about insecurity, self acceptance, perception and confidence. Other WorryWoo Monsters that help kids embrace their emotions include Wince (the Monster of Worry), Nola (the Monster of Loneliness), Twitch (the Monster of Frustration), Squeek (the Monster of Innocence) and Fuddle (the Monster of Confusion). The super soft and cute Woos meet ASTM and EN71 safety standards, and their stories are printed with environmentally friendly soy inks.

Suggested age: 3+
Price: $36

Disney Karaoke Series: "Frozen" CD

Our list could not be complete without a gift for all the fans of Disney's "Frozen" out there. Sing along to eight instrumental and eight vocal tracks from the Academy Award winner for Best Animated Feature. It's okay, we know you secretly want to belt out your own rendition of "Let it Go" when no one's watching!

Suggested age: all ages
Price: $8.99

Super Pop-Up Pirate

This new toy for the 2014 holidays promises hours of laughs for the whole family. Players take turns sliding colorful swords into the barrel to see which matey will launch the pirate. Grab your best seaworthy snacks and set sail for some fun family bonding time.

Suggested age: 4+
Price: $24.99

Beados Quick Dry Design Station

Craft activities are a hot trend this year, and these colorful beads that fuse with water are being produced around the clock to keep up with demand. They sold out in stores across the country and online within days. Beados are a hit with parents because they're a mess-free activity that encourages creativity and the development of fine-motor skills. The Beados Quick Dry Design Station includes 500 beads, two display trays, six design templates, spray bottle and quick-dry fan.

Suggested age: 4+
Price: $19.99

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Stretch 'N' Shout Leonardo

It's Turtle time! Dad might have just as much fun as your child stretching this hero in a half-shell's arms in order to raise the pitch of his voice. This eight-inch tall toy that's on many retailers' best toys lists also shouts his (and Dad's) fave battle cries.

Suggested age: 4+
Price: $24.99

My Little Pony Pop Starter Kit

Here's a great stocking stuffer for a little girl who can't choose a favorite My Little Pony—now she doesn't have to! The new My Little Pony Pop line allows children to personalize their pony's hairstyles, outfits, cutie marks and wings. Each starter kit, like this Rainbow Dash kit, includes one pony body hair, tail, wings and stickers. So, if you purchase an Applejack kit too, she can make her own AppleDash.

Suggested age: 4+
Price: $3.99

Little Live Pets Butterfly Starter Pack

Little Live Pets Butterfly Starter Pack is a "hot toy" available exclusively from Toys R Us. These bright, electronic butterflies are sure to fly to the top of wish lists this year. These life-like butterflies flutter faster to show their happiness the more your child plays with them.

Suggested age: 5+
Price: $21.99

Project Kid Deluxe Craft Box

This deluxe craft box has everything you need to fight cabin fever with crafting, including essential supplies and a copy of Amanda Kingloff's book, "Project Kid: 100 Ingenious Crafts for Kids." And you can rest assured that all Darby Smart supplies are quality tested with step-by-step directions delivered to your door.

Suggested age: 5 to 10 years
Price: $39

My Monopoly

Join celebs like Jennie Garth who are raving about My Monopoly, a Monopoly board you personalize with your own photos and memories. This new spin on an old classic allows players to customize their game tokens, properties, and Chance and Community Chest cards through the My Monopoly app or at www.mymonopoly.com.

Suggested age: 8+
Price: $19.99

Bounce-Off

Featured as a finalist for Toy Industry Association's Game of the Year, this game is bouncing its way onto many best toys lists for good reason. Two to four players race to bounce ping pong balls into patterns listed on the challenge cards in an ultimate head-to-head competition—perfect for family game nights and parties.

Suggested age: 8 to 88 years
Price: $17.99