No. 10 on the list will at least get your kids outside and moving. Razor scooters have been around for awhile and it makes a 'steezy' gift to shred the pavement or cruise around the neighbourhood. And don't think a scooter is a gift only for older kids, they have pint-sized rides for preschoolers and you can make it a family affair and get yourself a RipStick or Hovertrax.
There's something to be said for good old fashioned fun and every year Lego seems to make all the 'top' lists. This building block stands the test of time but the Lego Creator series takes it one step further because each set can be rebuilt three ways. It's like three gifts in one.
Drones are becoming more and more popular and while it will get your kids outside, these babies will set you back a pretty penny running from USD$339 to over US$3,000. Coming from someone who had a kid who lost their remote control airplane the first time he took it outside, you may want to start with a cheaper model.
What can we say about Nerf guns except it's a childhood staple. Nerf has been around since the 70s but it was in 1992 they added the Nerf Sharpshooter to its roster. Since then they've gone on to create everything from handheld guns to the Hail-Fire that can shoot out 144 foam darks in under 30 seconds. For the record, you will only find 142 of those darts when you go to clean them up.
We had never heard of Cozmo, so we Googled it and here's what the website had to say: Cozmo is way easier than you’d think. No parts to put together. He’s ready to go out of the box. All you’ll need is a compatible iOS or Android device. And things like safety, security, and durability have all been rigorously tested. He's also so popular he's sold out so maybe put this on this list for next year.
No. 5 on the list is yet another toy we had never heard of. Num Noms are scented characters that look like food and smell like food. The Nums are soft and squishy and have the scent, while the Noms are the inner, hard plastic characters. You mix and match them to create your own flavour fusion. So, ya. We still aren't sure what they are but a lot of kids want them.
Fast Fact: If you Google Nom Nums because you have no idea what they are, you'll still end up in the right place.
In the "I Can't Believe These Still Exist" category, Baby Alive is still alive and well. We remember this cute little doll from way back in the 70s but she's come a long way and it's not just about babies anymore. Nope, Snackin' Sarah has been added to the mix and she can tell you when she's hungry, sleepy, or full. And Baby Alive Ready For School comes with an activity book and hairbrush so you can help her get ready for that first day. Kids, they grow up so fast.
3) Trolls
And yet another retro toy makes a comeback! Trolls were huge in the 60s and made a comeback throughout the 70s to 90s. Well, this pint-sized, fuzzy-headed creature is big again thanks to the movie released earlier this year. But now it's not just about the doll because now you can become the doll with Troll costumes or dance the day away with a Troll karaoke microphone. Which makes our Troll pencil topper stocking stuffer we got when we were nine seem pretty lame.
You thought this was going to be No. 1, didn't you? We sure did. Everyone is abuzz about Hatchimals, the little animals that hatch from an egg, but sadly this must have toy for the season is out of stock almost everywhere. However, if you're one of the parents who has kids with their heart set on the hatching craze, the Hatchimal website has set up a North Pole page with activities to keep them busy until more are available in the new year.
1) Pokemon
Totally makes sense once you see it. The Pokemon Go craze took over the world this spring/summer and people everywhere were trying to catch Charmanders, Squirtles, and Zubats.
Who are we kidding; nobody can catch that damn Zubat. Thankfully you can still catch some of the toys for your kids before Christmas comes.
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