- November 27, 2021
20 Christmas Toys and Gifts for Kids Reviewed
Holidays like Thanksgiving and Halloween are behind us, and if you’d like to get a head start and beat the Christmas shopping rush, you should start thinking about what you’re going to get for your little one this holiday season.
There are so many options available, and the list gets bigger every year, so this time we’ve decided to give you an extended list of products that have caught our attention during the year.
We think one or more of the products from this list would be an excellent choice, and we’ve outlined why in each toy’s individual mini-review. Take a look below, and get ready for the most wonderful time of the year!
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Researched Sources
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Reviews Considered
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Hours Researching
25
Products evaluated
Fisher-Price Think & Learn Smart Cycle
We start this Christmas list with a toy from a renowned toy manufacturer that has been on the market for decades.
The Think and Learn Smart Cycle from Fisher-Price has received glowing reviews from parents all around the world for its ability to bring physical exercise and learning together and create an active and healthy learning environment for your child.
It links physical education and modern technology to allow kids to grow and learn in the most productive way possible.
Your child will be able to play interactive learning games focused on reading and learning letters, syllables, and words while riding their stationary bike and getting an excellent workout.
With winter fast approaching, you’ll want a product that can keep your child active while remaining indoors.
Benefits:
- Combines physical exercise and education
- Over fifteen levels of play
- Perfect winter-time gift
LEGO Technic WHACK! 42072
This great little LEGO car model is going to challenge your kid but will never frustrate them during the building process.
Once it is finished, your child will love playing with it as well, since it has a pull-power propulsion system guaranteeing hours upon hours of fun.
The set includes a total of 135 pieces and is intended for kids older than seven and younger than fourteen, but older kids and parents alike can play with it as well, of course.
Younger kids may find the building toys a bit frustrating, but with the right help and supervision, they could enjoy the toy quite a bit too. As usual, this kit is compatible with any LEGO pieces, so customization options are endless.
Benefits:
- Pull-back engine
- Compatible with other LEGO products
- 135 pieces
LEGO Harry Potter and The Chamber of Secrets 75953
The Hogwarts Whomping Willow LEGO Set from the Harry Potter collection continues the tradition set by the Danish company of empowering imagination and creativity through building LEGO sets and playing with their building blocks and miniature figurines.
This LEGO kit depicts a set form the Harry Potter film ‘The Chamber of Secrets.’
The Whomping Willow tree is where Ron Weasley’s Ford Anglia ends up while he and Harry are returning to the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry for another school year.
If your kid is a Harry Potter fan, they’ll enjoy placing the car into the tree canopy to recreate the scene from the film. The set also includes professor Snape’s potions lab, which is part of the Hogwarts castle.
Benefits:
- Seven LEGO figures included
- Authentic look
Melissa & Doug Jumbo Roadway Activity Rug
Melissa & Doug is one of those brands that try to get your kids back to the old days in the best way possible.
Their toys are all about igniting your children’s imagination and letting them explore their sense of wonder. This means anything with this company’s name on it requires creativity for it to work.
Their toys don’t operate on simple on/off switches, letting your kid be passively entertained; instead, they need active participation on your child’s behalf.
The Jumbo Roadway Activity Rug allows your little one to create an environment where they are going to be able to use their imagination in endless hours of open-ended play.
The rug is vibrant and colorful, as well as super-soft, allowing your kid to play for hours without issues.
Benefits:
- Soft rug
- Four wooden traffic signs
- Stimulates creativity
Fisher-Price Laugh & Learn Smart Stages Puppy
Learning is always a lot more fun with a sweet, cuddly friend!
This interactive puppy toy is programmed with Fisher-Price’s innovative Smart Stages technology, which adapts to your children as they grow and changes the way it prompts them to learn.
There are three levels of learning, which will encourage your little one to explore their first words and sounds by asking simple questions at first and building gradually to more engaging pretend play and role play.
The plush toy is capable of reproducing more than fifty different tunes, songs, and phrases, including the ABC’s.
It will teach your child about parts of the body, letters, numbers, and more. All of the most famous children’s songs like ‘Twinkle twinkle little star’ and ‘Head, shoulders, knees, and toes’ are included.
Benefits:
- Adaptive learning
- Entertaining and engaging
Wonder Workshop Dash
The creative people at Wonder Workshop have created a robot that will help your kid get more immersed in the world of engineering and tech in a more creative and fun way.
Your kid can use apps on your tablet or smartphone to learn how to think in terms of technology, through coding and algorithms, and with the Dash robot, your little one will expand on that knowledge with hours upon hours of educational fun.
Easy to use apps and easy to follow instructions will allow your kid to program dash to talk to your family members and move around the house, allowing your children to teach themselves the basics of coding.
Benefits:
- Interactive learning
- Teaches coding
Special Edition Battle-Worn BB-8
If your little one is ready to take on the battle against the Dark Side, they will need their trusted droid companion.
The Battle-Worn BB-8 has seen some action and has a bit of experience so it can teach your little one about the ways of the Force.
All jokes aside, this great little droid works through smart Bluetooth connectivity, and your kid can use a smartphone app to give commands to the robot toy.
BB-8 also has an adaptive personality, meaning that it can grow and learn along with your kid on their intergalactic adventures.
Using smart devices and programming are highly desirable skills these days, and this fantastic toy will help your kid get the hang of the basics while having plenty of fun along the way.
Benefits:
- Polycarbonate shell
- Cognitive development
- Star-Wars collectible
Crayola Light Up Tracing Pad
Drawing is one of those instinctively fun activities that all kids seem to enjoy up to a certain age.
When they are very young, kids love coloring storybooks, drawing on the sidewalk using chalk, and making a general mess with plenty of colors.
When they get older, some kids get into computer drawing, and nowadays, more and more are using touchscreens and tablets to draw.
It is an activity with plenty of benefits, and because it is so enjoyable and fun, it keeps kids interested for a long time, giving them more opportunities for cognitive and artistic development.
Little kids develop their fine motor skills through merely holding a pen, and trying to draw a few lines will improve their hand-eye coordination rapidly.
Benefits:
- Promotes artistic development
- Boosts hand-eye coordination
- Improves fine motor skills
OMWay Kids Digital Camera
An excellent gift for any little photographer comes from OMWay, in the form of their new kids digital camera.
Despite the uninspired name, this product has a lot to offer for your little one on their quest to become the world’s best photographer.
They’ll love the features of this camera with its front 8MP dual-lens camera, which supports 1080p video as well.
This excellent product will allow your aspiring photographer to take clear videos and images and record every moment of their day.
The camera comes with a USB cable and a 32 GB SD card, which is all they will ever need. If they run out of space, plug the camera into a computer and transfer the pictures quickly to make room for more.
Benefits:
- Front and back cameras
- 32GB SD card included
- Straightforward
Hape Pound & Tap Bench with Slide Out Xylophone
This great little toy will improve your little one’s musical ability as well as their motor skills and cognitive function.
This music toy is easy to play with and enjoyable for little musicians. All your child has to do is put the colored balls into their corresponding rings and hit them to make the ball fall through the ring and roll down the xylophone creating a tune.
This simple but effective toy will also allow you to teach your little guy or gal about colors.
If you like playing with your kid, this is an excellent product because it will let you interact with your little one in a meaningful and educational way, but it also works as a unique ‘baby-sitter’ toy, because your kid can have fun with it on their own as well.
Benefits:
- Colorful
- A consumer-friendly and eco-conscious company
Fortnite Squad Mode 4 Figure Pack
If you’ve been living under a rock for the last few years, you might not have heard of Fortnite.
It is a phenomenally popular video game available on the PC as well as almost all gaming consoles, and now it’s even got a mobile version.
Chances are you have heard of it before, but you’re not sure exactly what it is or how it works, and that’s fine.
What’s important is that it is a cultural phenomenon, with its own in-jokes, dances, and slang words.
The most popular in-game avatars inspire this 4-Figure pack of Fortnite toys, and if your kid is a Fortnite fan, they are going to want to have all of them.
Benefits:
- Wood building materials included
- Game-accurate design
Windy City Novelties LED Dinosaur with Sound
This dinosaur lights up, talks, and walks. It is a magical experience for kids, and they will surely spend a long time playing with it.
When lit up, it can make the room bright, fitting in perfectly with Christmas decorations. It roars fearlessly and walks on its own.
The green, red, and blue LEDs will illuminate the dinosaur, making it even more menacing in the dark.
This is a great toy gift for Halloween as well, so you might want to keep that in mind for next year if you opt for something else this Christmas season.
The tongue and eyes also feature flashing lights, and the dinosaur comes in black and purple options.
Benefits:
- Interactive
- LED lights
- Develops fine-motor skills
12V Ride On Truck
Here’s your kid’s new favorite mode of transport. They can have their music on and the roof down while the sun shines from above, and the road disappears below their wheels.
This ride on car has two modes – the manual one, allowing your kid to steer on their own, and the parental control mode that offers you the peace of mind you want from a toy like this.
Non-toxic plastic was used to construct the body, and it includes magnetically-closing doors, a gear shifter, LED lights, and a working seat belt for extra safety.
There’s a built-in radio and three speeds available. This truck has a weight capacity of 65 pounds and features a rechargeable battery.
Benefits:
- Three speeds available
- Remote control operation
Force1 Hand Operated Drone
Perfect for younger kids, this drone is easily one of the safest options out there. It is intended for children as young as four, and it doesn’t use a remote control to operate, but only hand movements.
The drone is equipped with motion sensors, so your little one can use their hands to show it where to go. There’s protective casing around the propellers, so your kid will remain safe at all times.
If your kid is a Star Wars fan, they can pretend to be using the Force to move this drone, which is a cool way to incorporate some imaginative role-play into the experience.
The drone will also avoid obstacles automatically, thanks to its motion sensors.
Benefits:
- Futuristic
- Motion-sensor tech
- Durable
The Original PlasmaCar by PlaSmart
One of the most popular toys on the market right now, the PlasmaCar is truly revolutionary.
Its most significant upside is that it can be entertaining and fun for parents as well as kids, so multiple generations of a single family can use and enjoy it.
The Plasma Car can get up to 6MPH on a flat surface and can be enjoyed both inside and outside of the house, due to its protective wheels and the fact that it doesn’t need any electricity or batteries to operate.
It only uses the rider’s body weight and swiveling skills, so your kid will be getting a good workout out of riding this unique toy. If you don’t have one of these yet, this Christmas is an excellent opportunity to get one.
Benefits:
- Develops muscles and coordination
- Suitable for all ages
Radio Flyer Red Rider Trike
This trike from one of the best companies in the business – Radio Flyer, comes with a seat that you can adjust as your kid grows, allowing them to get more value out of the toy.
At the back of the trike, there’s a storage container, which is covered, protecting whatever’s inside from the elements, so your kid can bring some snacks or their favorite toys with them on their adventures.
On the back of the seat, there is a handgrip allowing adults to regain control if necessary, as well as making the tricycle easy to carry whenever needed.
This is a fun little tricycle that offers lots of value as well as plenty of comfort and convenience.
Benefits:
- Adjustable seat
- Storage at the back
- Smooth ride
RoyalBaby Freestyle
This bike looks smooth, and that’s exactly how it rides as well. Kids of all ages can use and enjoy it since it includes removable training wheels.
There are rear coaster brakes as well as front hand brakes, and the design is eye-catching and fresh.
The kids bike can hold up to 81 pounds safely and is intended for boys and girls aged four to eight. If your kid wants to have the coolest bike in his group of friends, this is the way to go.
With a retro 90s vibe, this bike is never going to go out of style.
It is perfect for those kids who are not yet comfortable with riding a bike on their own, because of the training wheels, but you can remove the wheels once your kid is ready.
Benefits:
- Training wheels included
- Six color options
Guardian Kids Bikes
This mountain bike is safer for kids than most others because of a unique technology in its design that allows your kid to have more control and stop more quickly and safely.
This technology is called Sure Stop, and the gist is that it has one brake lever controlling both wheels. This will let your kid have more control and prevent sliding or flipping over the front wheel at high speeds.
Each of the bikes in the size range has this technology, so there’s no reason to pick one over the other.
Use the chart to select the size your kid needs and make your order. These bikes have been designed with safety in mind from the very beginning, and that is something every parent likes to hear.
Benefits:
- Sure Stop Technology
- Lightweight frame
Anki Cozmo Educational Robot for Kids
A toy of the future – the Anki Cosmo Robot can recognize your face, think on its own, follow commands, and show emotions, thanks to its wonderfully advanced AI.
Use an Android or IOS app to link with the Cozmo and play games with him or give him commands. He can interact with you and your kids physically and emotionally and comes programmed to play a few games.
He’s capable of showing emotions of defeat, determination, happiness, sadness and more, and can sense when he’s in danger.
Your child can develop their coding skills since every action Cozmo makes can be programmed through the app. The toy is exceptionally educational as well as fun, and is one of our top recommendations this Christmas.
Benefits:
- Programmable
- Shows emotions
- Plays games
L.O.L. Surprise!!
The dolls in the #Hairgoals series from L.O.L Surprise!! Feature real hair and are packaged up with fifteen surprises in a hairspray can.
To find a magic mirror, instructions, or a secret message, all your little girl needs to do is peel away the packaging. Once she opens the hairspray, she will find a collector’s guide as well as accessories, containers, and bags for the doll.
A comb, a bottle, sunglasses, hair accessory, outfit, and shoes are all included.
The doll comes dressed in a rubbery, reusable, removable costume, and your little girl can use the hair curlers that come with the pack in her own hair.
For a seating area, simply flip the top of the hairspray can over, and pull out a piece from the bottom.
Benefits:
- All-new hairstyles
- Creative storytelling opportunities
How to Choose a Good Christmas Present for Children
Us parents get into a struggle each year, deciding what to get our children for Christmas, and this year is no different. It can be complicated to find, and sometimes difficult to afford the best gift there is. Sometimes we lose sight of our budget while shopping for Christmas presents as well, which leads to other problems. You might come home with a lot more toys than your kids realistically need, but a lot less money than you need.
For these reasons, some parents have come up with something called a four-gift rule for Christmas shopping. It is a rule we recommend employing, not just when you’re on a budget, but every Christmas season.
The rule has been around for a while, circling the net, and there are a few different versions, but the main idea is for you to limit your shopping to four gifts for your kid to avoid overwhelming them as well as making shopping easier for yourself. The rule keeps you from spending too much and simplifies the shopping experience.
The best variation of the rule, in our experience, is to buy your child something they want, something they need, something to wear and something to read.
Criteria We Used
Educational Value
Christmas is a time of joy and fun, but we should never forget the educational potential of the toys we buy for our children. You should always look for toys that tickle your child’s sense of wonder and curiosity, and this is a massive factor in any decisions we make with regards to selecting toys for our list, and this time was no different.
Physical Development
If you live in a place that gets cold around Christmas, meaning most places in the Northern hemisphere, you already realize that wintertime can stifle your child’s physical development. That’s why we’ve put some toys on this list that can be used indoors as well as outdoors, and require your child to be active and moving. A few months of a sedentary lifestyle may not seem like a lot, but it can make a huge difference in a developing child.
FAQ
What is a reasonable amount to spend on my child’s Christmas gifts?
The answer to this question depends on your current financial situation and how much Christmas gifts are valued in your home. If your kid already has plenty of toys they haven’t even opened yet, maybe it’s time to sit back a bit and let them have fun with some of their old toys – you don’t want to spoil them after all.
That being said, we can tell you that the average Christmas-present budget in the US last year was around $800, so do with that information what you will.
Is it OK to let my kids open their presents on Christmas Eve?
Even though we think it would be a good exercise in patience for your children to wait until Christmas morning to open their presents, it is perfectly fine to allow them to open their gifts on Christmas Eve as well. You’re going to have to gauge your situation and whether your kids might get the wrong message from not having to wait for their gifts.
Conclusion
Getting a Christmas gift for your child can be an arduous task and one that can leave you broke if you’re not extra careful. However, this year, we’re here to help you make your choice, and with new toys coming out each day, your going to need all the help you can get.
Take a look at our extended list above, and make sure to read some of the advice we have given, so you can have the best possible Christmas shopping experience this year, and get out of it with a present you’ll be proud to give your kid.
Catherine is a writer from Canada who simply loves toys, collectibles and superhero figurines. Writing is her passion, but she also loves reading, enjoying her “me time” and finding new ways to improve her work and ways to entertain the readers.
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