9 • sandiegofamily.com • holiday toy review 2019...9 • sandiegofamily.com • holiday toy...

9 • SanDiegoFamily.com • Holiday Toy Review 2019

Robo Alive Juniors’ Baby Shark $14.99; 3+Target.comUnique robotic technology means Baby Shark bursts to life when dropped in wa-ter and swims around just like a real fish. 100% water proof and comes with 4-min-ute power save mode.

Glitter Girls Sweet Shop $99.95; 3+Amazon.comHave a craving for something sweet? There’s nothing sweeter than this, with a treat for every sweet tooth. With over 200 pieces and a light up sign, it is always open for business.

Marvel Legends Gear Avengers Endgame Gauntlet$99.99; 8+ShopDisney.comFeaturing highly articulated electronic finger joints, pulsat-ing light effects, movie-inspired sounds, and a fierce-looking fist lock display mode, this high-quality Power Gauntlet roleplay item makes a great gift for collectors and fans of the Avengers: Endgame movie.

Fisher-Price Wonder Makers Design System Starter Kit$39.99; 3+Fisher-Price.comToday they’ll visit the neighborhood co-op. Tomorrow, they’ll drive out to the farm and work the land with the tractor. Kids can create their own town again and again, acting out all sorts of exciting stories with friendly characters and fun accessories.

The Casiotone CT-S200 Digital Keyboard$109; 3+CasioMusicGear.comBoasts 61 full-size keys, 400 tones, 77 rhythms, 60 built-in songs, 50 pat-terns for Dance Music Mode, USB Midi, and more. The slim chassis has an easy-to-read LCD display, and intuitive controls which allows users to quick-ly start playing.

Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order$59.99; T for Teen Amazon.comFeatures an authentic story set shortly after the events of Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith, when the Jedi have fallen. Fans will play as a young Padawan named Cal Kestis, brought to life by Cameron Monaghan, who has survived Order 66, the Emperor’s secret decree to eliminate all Jedi. Players must pick up the pieces of Cal’s shattered past to

complete his training and master the art of the iconic lightsaber - all while staying one step ahead of the Empire and its deadly In-quisitors. Available for Xbox One, PlayStation 4 and PC via Origin.


Laugh & Learn Pull & Play Learning Wagon$39.99; 6 months+Fisher-Price.comThis interactive red wagon features a variety of activ-ities for sitting babies to bat, press, rattle, and flip, as well as light-up buttons, xylophone ‘keys’ and more that activate songs, sounds, and phrases.

T.O.T.S. Nursery Headquarters Play Set$39.95; 3+ShopDisney.comInspired by the animated Disney Junior show, this play set includes fun features like color change diapers and baby elevator.

Sweet and Happy Baby Doll$17.99; 1+Target.comThese dolls engage your child, en-couraging imaginative play, teach-ing empathy, and building social skills. This baby has molded head, arms and legs and a weighted soft cloth body to feel so real to your child, encouraging lots of cuddles.

Marvel Ultimate Alliance 3: The Black Order$59.99; T for Teen Amazon.comIn this new storyline, heroes and villains unite in a race across the Marvel Universe to find the Infinity Stones before Thanos and The Black Order use them to un-leash cosmic chaos. Avail-able for Nintendo Switch.

Scrub ‘n Play Smart Sink$29.99; 18 months+LeapFrog.comPretend to wash the dishes in the sink and count from one to ten by adding the pretend soap. Learn about colors and sizes when matching the plates to their slots in the drying rack. Load up the dishwasher and choose the cycle.

Vendees$19.99; 6+Amazon.comVendees are surprise style dispensers that in-clude six fun surprises, revealed through in-teractive packaging. Get creativity with vari-ous activities from custom lip balm creations to painting fun ceramic figures.


Mirari Pop! Pop! Piano$29.99; 1+PlayMonster.comThe clear, non-removable dome guides the colorful balls into a different pipe so when another note is played, they’ll pop some more. Flip the switch to go from piano tones to hearing fun sound effects when the keys are pressed.

Fuzzikins Cottontail Cottage Pop Up Playhouse$29.99; 4+Amazon.comFuzzikins are adorable flocked creatures to color and play with. The cottontail cottage craft and play set offer hours of fun customizing the rabbits and their house and creating accessories for them.SLIMYGLOOP Squee-Z Pops

$4.99; 6+Amazon.comLayer, squish, and poke. Make your own slimy shakes with collectible Squee-Z-Pops. Mix in and layer fun embellishments and SLIMYGLOOP to create a colorful, slimy shake. Squish and poke your shake with the Squee-Z-Pop Plunger to make fun sounds and mix it all together.

Spy School Sneaky Surveillance$19.99; 8+Amazon.comImmerses wannabe spies in an imaginary spy training pro-gram packed with clandestine activities. The hilarious in-world book and decoy tools teach the science of optics while strengthening reading skills.

Magic School Bus Rides Again Exploring Oceans $29.99; 5+TheYoungScientists.comYoung Scientists make a desalination plant, study different kinds of salts, make shells bubble, collect and identify shells, create collector cards, learn about the included starfish replica and sand dollar, use cling-on stickers to learn about the life in the different zones of the oceans, build a volcano, play the marine animal matching game, and much, much, more.

NG3 Kids Electric Skateboard$160; 8+Swagtron.comCompact at only 19.6 inches long so it fits easily in a back-pack. And weighing in at only 7.7 pounds, it’s easy to car-ry, too. The lightweight deck features a futuristic shape and the griptape is emblazoned with the iconic lion logo.


Dragon’s Revenge Thrill Coaster$45; 7+Knex.comThink outside the blocks with this real working roller coaster that you build. Watch as the car dips and dives throughout the burnt out tower and thru the draw-bridge, twisting and turning the whole way and back to the working chain lift, where you can begin your quest to escape the dragon all over again.

BuddyPhones WAVE $79.99; 3+BuddyPhones.comThe stylish, purposeful headphones have waterproof du-rability, connect wirelessly via Bluetooth, provide 24+ hours of battery life, and feature four distinct SafeAu-dio listening settings- Toddler Mode, Kids Mode, Travel Mode and StudyMode.

Also Known As$19.99; 12+EndlessGames.com

AKA is the game that replaces the names of famous titles with what they might Also

Be Known As. Can you figure out the answers? Take your best guess to

see if you get it right.

Action Power Slippaws$24.99; 3+RainbowButterflyUnicornKitty.Funrise.comNow you can unleash your inner hero just like Felicity. These oversized rainbow kitty slippaws have light up rainbow claws and sounds. Pow-er up with these super-soft plush paws and be-come fierce and fearless like Felicity.

Eric Carle’s The Very Hungry Caterpillar Butterfly Growing Kit$29.99; 2+InsectLore.com No doubt you’ve read the beloved book. Now watch five very hungry Painted Lady caterpillars grow, change into chrysalides, and then emerge as beautiful Painted Lady Butterflies.

Mario Kart Club Mocchi-Mocchi- Banana Plush Stuffed Toy $29.99; 3+US.Tomy.comSabotage enemy karts to gain an extra split

second on them with this Nintendo Mario Kart Banana plush from Mocchi- Mocchi-! Super soft and hugga-ble, it has a unique squishy tex-

ture and is super soft to touch.


Kid Trax PAW Patrol Skye Helicopter $219; 3-5 years Walmart.comInspired by Skye’s rescue helicopter, this ride-on toddler quad includes a flashing LED deck, rotor lights, foot pedal acceleration and rechargeable 6V battery. Top speed: 2.5 mph. Weight limit: 60 lbs.

Myla the Magical Unicorn $59.99; 4+ Walmart.comMyla is a robotic unicorn that lights up as she talks and sings. Use the magic wand to change colors of the eyes, wings and horn. Sing a duet with Myla or use the microphone for a solo.

Spin & Spiral Art Station $19.99; 6+ Shop.crayola.comUse markers, ink and stencils to create end-less masterpieces: splatter art on one side; spiral designs on the other. No batteries re-quired!

Zax by Zing Toys $9.99; 4+ Target.comAx-throwing is all the rage right now! Take

this latest trend home with Zax, a fun and safe way to compete with friends and fami-

ly indoors or out. Soft foam Zax is 12” tall and sticks to walls and windows.

My First Advent Calendar $49.99; 18 mos.+ Step2.com“What isn’t fun about a gift a day?” says Emily. “I’ve been searching for a larger advent calendar that fits gift cards, Hot Wheels and mini candy bars. This is perfect—and so cute! But it’s not for kids tempted to peek or sneak.”

One K E-Motion 10 Electric Scooter $299.99; 8+ Globber.comThis fast, durable scooter is a great ride for teens and adults. Sleek and stylish, it comes with comfortable handle grips, an LED headlight, adjustable steering and a long-lasting 36V lithium battery. ”Can be used in electric or manual mode,” says Michele.

PJ Masks PJ Seeker $59.99; 3+

JustPlayProducts.comSpot Nighttime Villains with a light-up

searchlight and trap them in a detachable cage! The PJ Seeker fits up to four ve-

hicles in a detachable carrier. Ve-hicle includes a Catboy figure

and mini Cat-Car. Batter-ies included.


Playmobil Mars Space Station $79.99; 6+ Playmobil.usIncludes tons of entertaining equipment and accessories. ”Our two boys played with it for hours,” says dad Damien. “It’s so detailed, there is always another piece to grab their at-tention.” Requires two AAA batteries.

Junior Inventor Science Experiment Toolbox $39.99; 4+ Hape.comKids love this compact toolbox, which has everything needed for fun ex-periments. “Look at how the crane pulls everything!” says Jordan, 5.

ABC Party Cupcake Toppers $19.99; 3+ LearningResources.com“Thoughtfully created to incorporate different elements of learning: colors, alphabet, sensory, tactile.” says mom Crystal.

Plan a family night with some of this season’s newest board games, such as Sushi Roll ($23.99) and Bananagrams Duel ($7.99), which promise to deliver hours of family fun!

Planning to put a larger gift under the tree? Consider wrapping it with a person-alized Special Delivery Drawstring San-ta Sack. Measures 30.5” x 20.5”. Order at www.personalizationmall.com.

Puzzle enthusiasts love Viva la Vida, a colorful 1,000-piece puzzle that pays homage to Frida Kahlo. “This brought my family together with peaceful, unstructured quality time,” says mom Crystal.$19.95; 14+ eeBoo.com

How to Be A Sports Surgeon Kit $29.99; 6+ LittleMedicalSchool.comIt’s a science class in a box! Hands-on activities inspire role-play, health awareness and problem-solving as kids learn about sports injuries and how they are fixed.

Find more toys and games that support STEM learning at www.sandiegofamily.com/kid-tested-toy-review/stem-toys-and-games.

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Find our full list of Fun Family Board Games at www.sandiegofamily.com/ for-the-kids/kid-tested-toy-product-review.


Swagboard Twist Remix $129.99; 8+Swagtron.comFun hoverboard for older kids and teens! Light-up wheels and LED headlights make riding at night fun. Features self-balanc-ing technology, 6.5” rubber tires and two 250-watt motors. Max weight: 220 lbs. Available in black, blue or red. “Help kids through the learn-ing curve,” says mom Lisa. “Once they figure it out, it’ll be hard to get them off!”

Hape Emergency Services HQ $99.99; 3+ Hape.comKids can engage in imaginative play with this fun, interactive set featuring police and fire headquarters and vehicles. Batteries re-quired. “This is a great, high quality toy!” says Audrey. “And the train tracks are compatible with other train sets.”

KeiKi Ukuleles $29.95; 5+ Keikimusic.comThese colorful ukuleles are designed for keiki (Ha-waiian for “little ones”), whether beginners or mas-ter musicians. Each one includes a digital tuner, carry case, strap, guidebook and more. “This is a nice quality instrument,” says mom Emily. “It comes with a very helpful learning app and tuner.”

Playmobil Crystal Palace $139.99; 4+ Playmobil.usTons of accessories and special features promise hours of playtime! Kids love the illuminating crys-tal, spiral staircase, magic hoop skirt and princess chamber with hidden ice steps. Set includes fig-ures, throne, telescope, outfits, furniture, bejew-eled scepter, vanity, ice flowers, magical key and more. Requires 3 AAA batteries.

AirFort $49.95; 4+ Airfort.comThe ginormous AirFort (77”x 50”), made of breathable, durable light polyes-ter, promises tons of family fun! Inflates in seconds with an ordinary box fan (not included). There’s no floor, making entrance and exit easy. Comes in five colors and includes compact bag for portability. “I love that my kids (all ages) enjoy using this together!” says mom Hayley.

Rideamals Dino Toddler Ride-On $129; 18–30 mos. KidTraxToys.comGet ready for tons of prehistoric fun on this tot-sized, interactive triceratops. As little ones feed, pet, walk and ride, the

dino responds (in one of 20 unique sounds). Power Trax rubber trac-tion strips make riding smooth and

steady. Includes 6-volt battery and charger. Max weight: 44 lbs.

LEGO Star Wars BOOST Droid Commander $199.99; 8+ Shop.Lego.comKids learn to code and develop problem-solving skills with this ex-citing set featuring three Star Wars droids (R2-D2, a Gonk Droid and a Mouse Droid) and over 40 interactive missions. Using the free app, your young commander builds the droids and brings them to life using an intuitive drag-and-drop coding environment.

Looking for more STEM toys? Visit www.sandiegofamily.com/for-the-kids/kid-tested-toy-product-review.


Julie’s Pinball Machine $150; 8+ AmericanGirl.comThe AG doll-sized Flip Side pinball ma-chine (made of metal and wood) features flashing lights, a dig-

ital scorekeeper, ball launcher and realistic sounds. Batteries required; doll sold separately. “American Girl fanatics will love this adorable addition to their collection,” says mom Lisa. “The quality of AG products is superb.”

Sesame Street Love to Hug Elmo $29.99; 18 mos.+ Shop.Hasbro.comElmo’s infectious laugh and upbeat attitude never go out

of style. Now little ones can get hugs from their lovable friend.

When you squeeze Elmo’s tummy, he throws up his arms and asks for a hug! He also responds and sings in English or Spanish.

Baby Alive Happy Hungry Baby Doll $49.99; 4+ Shop.Hasbro.comKids experience the oh-so-re-al joy and messiness of feeding time with Happy Hungry Baby Alive. Features over 50 baby sounds/phrases and realistic expressions, but what makes this doll so unique are optional mommy or daddy mode and the choice of English or Spanish. “It’s my daughter’s doll, but my son loves putting it on dad-dy mode,” says mom Serena.

Queen Gwen Ombre Mini Backpack $44; 6–teen OMGaccessories.comKids and teens sparkle wherever they go with this trendy mini unicorn backpack adorned with glittery features, a sequined front pock-et and rainbow zipper. Includes adjustable straps and interior pocket.

“Holly Jolly Fun” Bundle $15–$30 eachReady to get into the holiday spirit? These creative prod-ucts are sure to do the trick! North Pole Do-Good Elf, The TreeMendous Ornament Decorating Kit, and three kits from Creativity for Kids: Holiday Snow Globes, Sparkling Window Art, and Shrink Fun Tinsel Tree deliver hours of family fun. All items are sold separately and are available on Amazon. If you want to try to win this Holly Jolly Fun Bundle, enter at www.sandiegofamily.com/contests.

Disney Aladdin The Agrabah Collection $99.99; 3+ Shop.Hasbro.comDisney Aladdin enthusiasts will be thrilled to receive this five-doll gift set, including Princess Jasmine, Aladdin (don-ning his white Prince Ali outfit), everyone’s favorite Genie, the evil Jafar, and Dalia (Jasmine’s friend in the live-action movie), all in the beautiful clothing shown.

intelino Smart Train $99.95; 3+ Intelino.comIntelino combines the nostalgia of a clas-sic toy train with today’s technology, fea-turing smart tracks built for fast action and smart play. Colored snap-on tiles control the train’s steering, speed and movement. Includes a smart engine, train wagon, de-cals and charging cable.

9 • sandiegofamily.com • holiday toy review 2019...9 • sandiegofamily.com • holiday toy...

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