Need some ideas for your holiday shopping list? Check out our 2017 top toy picks for the best in STEM, creativity, learning, and just plain fun!
K’NEX Thrill Rides Web Weaver Roller Coaster Building Set
Ages: 9+
STEAMagination – It’s the connection of STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts, & math) with a child’s curiosity and creativity. It powers the fun of each K’NEX set. K’NEX Thrill Rides allows each child to build bigger models that move to create an amusement park right in their home!
- Set contains over 430 classic K’NEX pieces to build a coaster standing 2.5 feet tall.
- Features glow-in-the-dark track, allowing builders to play at night and experience a different kind of fun.
- Introducing an air-powered, motorized coaster car with glow-in-the-dark stickers.
- Set comes with an easy-to-follow instruction manual. Ideal for kids 9 and up.
Suggested Retail Price: $64
WowWee Fingerlings
Ages: 5+
One of the hottest toys this holiday season, Fingerlings respond to sound, motion, and touch with blinking eyes, head turns, and silly monkey babble!
- Blow them kisses and they will kiss you back!
- Hang them upside-down by the tail and watch them monkey around!
- Pet them to sleep or make a loud noise and watch them get excited!
Suggested Retail Price: $15
GeoSmart Mars Explorer
Ages: 5+
GeoSmart Mars Explorer is the ultimate in dynamic magnetic construction. This 51-piece set includes lights, track wheels, motor and a remote control…kids can build all kids of creations and make them go!
- STEM-Focused Magnetic Construction
- A Patented Double-Locking System for Ultimate Safety
- Strong Magnets and High-Quality Materials
- A Motor and Remote Control for Dynamic Play
- Includes 51 Colorful, Geometric Pieces
Suggested Retail Price: $70
LeapFrog Scoop & Learn Ice Cream Cart
Ages: 2-5 years
Learning is sweet when pretending to run your own ice cream cart! Create imaginative and tasty-looking ice cream combinations using delicious ice cream flavors and toppings. Use the magic scooper to scoop up the ice cream and toppings to build customer orders, and it will recognize the colors and flavors. Ring the bell to let them know their order’s up!
Suggested Retail Price: $40
XPV Xtreme Skateboard by Jakks Pacific
Ages: 4-7
The XPV® Xtreme Performance RC Skateboard is an innovative, new RC vehicle designed for high levels of speed and real skateboard stunts. It comes “ready to run” and includes everything you need to start shredding right out of the box!
- RC skateboard has high-speed performance
- Race up to 14 Miles per hour
- Hit sharp turns to watch it drift!
- Launch it off jumps for Mega air and distance!
- Includes a rechargeable battery and USB charging cable
Suggested Retail Price: $60
Klutz: Lego Chain Reactions
Ages: 8+
LEGO Chain Reactions is packed full of ideas, instructions, and inspiration for 10 LEGO machines that spin, swing, pivot, roll, lift, and drop. Each machine alone is awesome, but put them together and you get incredible chain reactions. Then, combine the machines in any order you like to create your own chain reactions.
Comes with: 78 page book, 33 LEGO elements, 6 LEGO balls, 6 feet of string, 8 paper ramps, 2 paper pop-up signs, 1 paper funnel ramp, 1 paper flag, 1 paper bucket, 1 platform.
Suggested Retail Price: $22.00
furReal Makers Proto Max-Amazon Exclusive
Ages: 6+
Welcome to the furReal Makers brand – an exciting way for older furReal fans not only to experience the joy of having a pet, but a way for them to create and code a custom-designed pet of their very own with the use of a downloadable app. The furReal Makers brand encourages kids to satisfy their curiosity about how things work and use their imagination to conjure up their ultimate pet.
- Kids can create & code their ultimate pup
- While using the downloadable app through coding play and interaction, kids develop an emotional connection with their responsive pup
- Simple 8-piece build
- Create & code even more with the app
- Includes unassembled (8-piece) pup and furReal Makers guide
Suggested Retail Price: $120
Oonies Inflator Starter Pack
Ages: 5+
Oonies are the coolest way to create! Take an Oonies pellet, place it in the inflator and watch it magically grow into an Oonie! They stick to each other so you can make amazing creatures and designs! No glue. No water, no mess. Just air filled balls of amazing fun! The Oonies Starter Pack has everything you need to make awesome Oonies! They’re not a bubble, they’re not a balloon… They’re Oonies! Inflate, create and make ’em great!
Suggested Retail Price: 20.00
Light Stax Illuminated Blocks – 36 Piece Set
Ages: 3+
Light up your world with LIGHT STAX illuminated blocks! These unique building blocks glow brilliantly with colorful light as you stack them, bringing your designs to life. Let your child discover the wonders of electricity and building with LightStax!
- Use your imagination to build robots, towers, artistic sculptures and more, then press the button to watch your creations pulse with LED light!
- Light Stax are easy to use and promote creativity through open-ended play. They make a great night light for kids or a fun desk gadget for adults! Light Stax features 3 unique light settings with a 15 minute auto shut off, and are fully compatible with other building blocks, allowing for never-ending fun and creativity!
- Package contains: 36 Light Stax Blocks (6 colors: orange, red, white, green, blue and yellow), 1 USB smart base, 1 USB to DC cable, and 3 AAA batteries.
Suggested Retail Price: $30
Yeti in My Spaghetti
Ages: 4+
Who knew yetis liked spaghetti?!? We did! In this wacky, fun game, the noodles are laid across the bowl and the yeti is just sitting there on the noodles…but as you remove the noodles one by one (be careful!), the yeti could fall into the bowl, and that would mean you lose!
Suggested Retail Price: $18.00
