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Best Products' Toy Of The Year Awards 2024
For the past few years, I've been coordinating and writing our Toy of the Year awards package. It's always quite the undertaking, but this year, toy manufacturers went all out. The choices were better and more plentiful than ever. Normally, I have a pretty good idea who is going to win The Toy of the Year, as there's always been a standout toy — the Moose Toys Magical Mixies Crystal Ball or the WowWee Dog-E interactive robot dog. Not the case this time around: This year, there were so many fantastic choices, I had no idea how the tides would turn. Would the kids like the robot bear that reminded me a bit of a Teddy Ruxpin but somehow more possessed, or would they want the Mr. Beast toys taking over the market? The kids are really spoiled for choice this year, and since we recently added categories for Kidults and Toys for the Kids at Heart, grownups got to play as well!
This awards package doesn't just help you pick the best Christmas gifts for your kids — it gives a Christmas or holiday gift to many kids who otherwise wouldn't have one.
This year, we tested well over 650 toys from every category under the sun. The testing method is simple: I collect a handful of toys, grouping them by age range and category, I take them out to a gaggle of children in that age range — and then I observe. Overall, over 100 kids of varying ages served as testers, and each group tested toys for an hour or two at a time. As they played, I noted which toys they gravitated towards, which ones they obviously loved, and which they quickly discarded. The toy that gets the best reaction for the longest time won that round. I set them against each other in a basketball bracket style until I have a winner for each category. I then pitted the winners against each other to choose the Toy of the Year. That toy goes on to win the whole banana, and the runner-up for that category becomes the winner of that category.
We have many new categories this year, including a Licensed Toy of the Year, which I want to talk about. This year, and every year as of late, branded or licensed toys were bountiful. Here's the thing: They weren't always the most popular. Some of them, like Bluey and Elmo, were still huge hits, while others didn't appear to catch their interest all that much. I don't know if it was that there were so many YouTube star tie-ins or if kids just yearn for newness, but while super-popular kids' vehicles are still incredibly popular, others weren't.
Cat Bowen
If you're wondering where I store all of these toys, the answer is that right now I live in the North Pole, and my children may or may not be Santa's elves. (A little odd as they're Jewish, but we're rolling with it.) Every available storage area in my house is full of toys. Once they're tested, all the toys in good shape, plus all unopened extras — manufacturers often send multiples because they know I donate — are given to Title 1 schools in New York City for their holiday and toy drives. This awards package doesn't just help you pick the best Christmas gifts for your kids; it gives a Christmas/holiday gift to a lot of kids who otherwise wouldn't have one.
The Toy of the YearPlai Poe the AI Story Bear
Poe the AI story bear from PLAi is the Teddy Ruxpin-esque bear I mentioned above. I truly was not sure that this toy would win; talking stuffed animals have a history of really mixed reactions in my testing. However, it's the integration of the artificial intelligence-made stories and the overall sweetness of the bear that won younger kids over, plus the sheer volume of weird — somewhat nonsensical stories that you can create with Poe engaged older kids as well.
Where younger kids wanted the bear to tell them a cute story, older kids wanted to give the most ridiculous prompts to the bear possible so that they could try to make the story as dumb — and as over the top — as can be. The fact that huge swaths of kids aged 2 through 13 found joy in Poe is the reason for its win.
Yes, this toy requires an app on Android and Apple stores, but the app is free, and it allows your kids to assist in creating dozens of stories that the bear will read to them. It's a 100% closed, kid-safe app. According to PLAi, "No personal information is required, and no inappropriate themes or content are ever exchanged. There are no cameras, active microphones, or access to the internet and every story created passes through stringent filters, so it is safe and secure."
The app allows kids to choose the elements of the story they want, and the app creates it and reads it to them! It's really a lot of fun. Do you want to be a pirate who rescues a dragon from a castle? You got it. (Can I be a princess rescued from an office tower by a knight who brings me coffee and an under-desk space heater?)
I understand the fear of having an AI-based toy. As a journalist, there's probably nothing more on this planet right now that scares me as much as AI. I went into testing this toy with what can only be considered an extreme amount of caution and investigation. I played with it for hours before I even brought it to the kids to test. Then, after testing, I played with it more. I wanted to try it over and over again to make sure it didn't say anything inappropriate, racist, negative, or anything else that AI has been known to do. The only thing I got out of it was more and more ridiculous stories that, really, only kids can follow. Nothing was wrong or gave you pause. Unless you have a fear of being rescued by a dragon, and if that's the case, then I can't help you.
Ride-On Toy of the YearStep2 Dino Dash Up & Down Roller Coaster Toy
I thought small children would come to blows over who got to ride this next. It's just like Step2's traditional roller coaster but dinosaur-themed, so that apparently means it's ten times cooler.
The toy itself is so easy to assemble, and having had a few of these in different iterations, I can tell you that you can't kill it. Keep it out in rain, shine, or snowstorm, and it will work just fine the second it dries. Step2 toys are designed to take their licks and last forever.
This toy was so popular with the testers that I left it with them. They've been using it daily ever since. I often get pictures and videos of the preschoolers trying their best to shoot off into the atmosphere on the Dino Dash coaster, and frankly, that level of continued engagement says more about this win than initial testing ever could.
Car Toy of the YearMonster Jam Spider-Man Mega
We have not one, but two giant RC cars on this list. They've been a heavy favorite for the past few years, so it's no surprise that the category is still going strong. This one is light and easy to operate with controls designed for younger kids. However, older kids loved this car, too, due to its ability to scale over large obstacles and fly off the edges of stairs without breaking. Kids were huge fans of the tricks they could do with this car and quickly learned how to make the most of it. Children as young as 4 could operate it without problems, and kids as old as *cough* 52 *cough* enjoyed maneuvering it all over the place.
Doll of the YearYummiland Large Doll + Lipgloss Pet - Bianca Bubblegum
When I was little, if a doll came with cosmetics, you were reasonably certain that the cosmetics would be hot garbage. That, thankfully, is no longer the case. The Yummiland dolls include a "make-your-own" lip gloss kit that is actually great, and no, parents, it's not "makeup-y" at all: just clear gloss with fragrance that doesn't shine a ton more than your average lip balm.
The doll itself is scented, and has a cute little bubblegum bubble in its mouth, adding to its overall cutesiness. The combination of that scent, the cute bubble, and of course, the lip gloss, is what won our testers over.
The doll category was hot this year, and there were several that kids really seemed to resonate with. There were playsets and new heritage dolls that were stiff competition, but the accessories for Yummiland just couldn't be beaten.
Baby Toy of the YearMs. Rachel Official Speak & Sing 16-Inch Plush Doll
This was the only category where it wasn't a contest. It's a soft doll that plays Ms. Rachel's voice. If you know babies, you know that Ms. Rachel is their queen, idol, prime minister, president, and unofficial auntie all rolled into one. Babies who could barely roll from back to front were trying to wiggle their way to this doll. Her voice is a siren's song, and I am pretty sure babies would consume her if possible. As soon as you squeeze it and hear her say "Helllll-ooo," pandemonium ensues.
STEAM Toy of the YearNational Geographic Marble Run with Motorized Elevator
This was the tightest category this year, as there were so many cool STEAM toys released. Honestly, this could've gone a few ways, but this ultimately ended up winning because it had the most potential variabilities.
Admittedly, I have raised a couple of real nerds (and I love it), so I wasn't going to gauge the toy based on their reactions — but oh boy, kids loved the challenge of this toy. It's a marble run like you'd expect, with building, maneuvering, and strategizing, but National Geographic motorized it, giving it an exciting boost with the addition of a motorized marble elevator. There are pretty much an unlimited number of ways you can build and shape this toy to make it bend to your will, giving kids hours of play and learning. It highlights the fact that kids don't need things to be excessively fancy to love them.
Playhouse of the YearBattat Cloud Castle Foam Fort Building Set
This is a big departure from traditional dollhouse-style playhouses that have won in the past. This bad boy is a playhouse for humans! It's part play sofa, part fort-builder, all fun. Plus, for parents, this thing neatly tucks away, stacking into a short, easy stack.
Kids adored building their own houses, hanging out, and flinging themselves bodily onto the soft cushions, landing on them, knocking them over, and starting all over again. It comes with five foam shapes and that's plenty, but it's completely compatible with other play sofas like the Nugget and the Figgy. It is incredibly soft, and younger kids really clamored to create more configurations that included not just the pieces here, but also the furniture in their spaces.
Interactive Toy of the YearJust Play Holobrite Pixie Lantern
The Interactive Toy of the Year is a special category that most other lists don't include. Here's what it is: The Interactive Toy of the Year is one that, like Magical Mixies and Dog-E, has varying levels of mixed interaction between the toy and the user. Perhaps you command the toy, or maybe it reacts to you and you can then respond, or you build it and it interacts with you after the build. It's not a stagnant toy; it's something with a back-and-forth between toy and user.
The Holobrite Pixie is the hardest toy on this list to describe. First, I know it says "virtual play," but it's not app-based. The virtual play is when the pixie is in the jar and in her "hologram" form. While she's there, you play games, earn points, unlock prizes, and create dances for her. Once you get to a certain level, the pixie leaves her hologram form and enters the real world as a doll. But don't worry: If you want to return to virtual play, just tuck her back inside her world.
Kids adored figuring out how to learn the games and earn points. I was impressed by how much the Holobrite Pixie made kids work to get her out of the jar. They really had to interact with her to get her to leave. However, unlike similar toys, it wasn't hard, just challenging. And, also, unlike other toys of this ilk, the capacity for repeat play is off the charts.
Blind Box Toy of the YearDisney Doorables Micro Motion Capsules
This, on the other hand, is, OMG, so easy to describe. It's a blind-box, key-operated mini toy with some element of motion. Kids are still HUGE on blind box toys, and given the popularity of these characters and the fun motions they create, it's easy to see how they won. They're the perfect stocking stuffer or third-night-of-Hanukkah gift.
Licensed Toy of the YearJust Play Sesame Street Chicken Dance Elmo
Nostalgia reigned supreme for this year's Licensed Toy of the Year. Well, nostalgia for the parents. It's all new to the littles.
I loved this one so much and was so glad that the kids did, too. Elmo is the monster that has loved us for generations and we love him right back. This is a remake of the old Chicken Dance Elmo, and while not much has changed, a whole new generation of kids gets to enjoy playing with him and all his "Elmo wants to be a chicken, Elmo wants to be a duck, quack quack quack quack!" hilarity.
Social-Emotional Learning Toy of the Yearhand2mind Meet the Feelings Family™ Book and Plush Set
For SEL toys, there's a real balance you want to achieve: You want it to be fun and engaging, but you also want to feel like your kid is getting a tangible benefit. Feelings Family Book and Plush Set strikes that balance. Kids do open up and talk about their feelings alongside Isabella, and they use the finger puppets to help express their feelings and learn about the feelings of others.
Game of the YearPokemon TCG: Battle Academy 2024
This year's Game of the Year was such a hit that I had to order myself a coffee and a pastry because the kids were taking so long to play it. I don't need to tell you that kids freaking love Pokemon, and this game makes the card game come to life with a level of gameplay they've never before put forth. It has multiple full decks, new cards, and a two-player game board. I was quite surprised that this card-based game beat some fairly stiff competition to take top honors, but the ability for expansion and speed of play really took it to the next level. Also, with the new series released last year, plus the love of the online version, it's no surprise that this game won.
Building Toy of the YearMAGNA-TILES Builder XL 50-Piece Magnetic Construction Set
When you give kids open-ended play, and just let them have at it, it's amazing what they can create. This collection from the ever-popular MagnaTiles does just that. Sure, they give the kids some direction (and accessories like a truck and a crane for guidance), but it's mostly about what they can create in their own little world.
If your kids have never had a MagnaTiles set, this is a great one to start them with. They're completely intuitive, and kids love the ability to shape them in a million ways. Their durability is unmatched, and play continues long after you think they'll have grown out of them.
Robot Toy of the YearThames & Kosmos Bionic Robotic Arm STEM Experiment Kit
Not all robots require motors or electricity! The Thames and Kosmos Robotic Arm proves that. It's essentially a "build-your-own" robot toy that has you using a system of interlocking disks and wires to build robotic arms that connect to two joysticks. Those joysticks can then operate the arms and open and close the claw hands.
I think this one was so popular because no complex coding or apps were required. Kids could just figure it out and go. It says 10 and up, but I found that with minimal help, 8- and 9-year-olds had no problem with it.
Preschool Toy of the YearVTech Sandy Snacks-a-Lot Learning Toy for Toddlers
OK, I know I'm not supposed to have a favorite toy on this list, but, hear me out — it's an axolotl that reacts to the food you feed it, and it will spit it out, eat it, and sing songs about the food you have fed it. Plus, if the little guy overeats, it asks you to rub its head!
Preschoolers do learn foods and food words from this, as well as facts about axolotls and more, but mostly, they just have a really good time with a really cute toy.
Playset of the YearBluey 3-in-1 Transforming Plane Playset with The Heelers
This is a four-in-one Bluey playset from Moose Toys. It's a plane that opens to reveal a hotel and a beach, and the nose of the plane comes off to become a boat. It comes with 15 play pieces including Bluey's family, and it makes over 20 sounds.
The adaptability of play stands out with this playset. Kids clamored over its different parts, loving how they all work together to build a story in their minds as well as different episodes of the show. I love that you can just close it all up in the plane at the end of the day; it greatly cuts down the risk of things getting lost.
Pretend Play Toy of the YearLearning Resources New Sprouts Prep 'n' Store Kitchen Island 11pc Set
Basic pretend play at its finest. The Prep and Store Kitchen Island is a great alternative to a full play kitchen if you don't have the space, and it's a great addition to a play kitchen if you do. It comes with a 21x19z12-inch island on wheels with six different food toys, baskets, and tongs, ready for your littlest ones to make you a gourmet meal.
Kids love kitchen toys, and this one felt novel to them. We have seen stores, grills, and other iterations of kitchen-adjacent toys, but the island is new, and they really gravitated toward it.
Crafting Toy of the YearMake It Real LinXo Creator Set
This is not — I repeat, this is not — a friendship bracelet-making kit. OK, it can do that, too, but it's a bead crafting kit with all sorts of fun projects built in. Whether your kid wants to make a silly keychain or an artistic sculpture, this kit will help guide them and give them everything they need to do it.
Scores of children were amped that this wasn't just a one-and-done toy; you can rebuild with this kit, taking everything apart easily and creating new objects. Kids of all ages and abilities can jump right in and learn how to bead and make delightful creations, building their skills and gaining valuable minor motor manipulation skills.
Sensory Toy of the YearGoliath Jelly Blox Creative Kit
These are the most satisfying blocks I've ever touched; as an autistic person with an autistic child, I am very particular about sensory toys, and so is my kid. I was gripped with something ineffable watching how kids would react to these. They did not disappoint.
They are actual working blocks made of malleable material, and each has various fillings that make them feel differently when squished or twisted. They engage that "itchy" part of kids' (and my) brain that reacts to differing types of sensory input.
RC Toy of the YearHot Wheels Toy Truck Monster Trucks RC
I know what you're thinking, and yes, it is very much like the Monster Jam truck. Alas, out of 50 (!) car toys tested this year, these two ran away with the show. And yes, they played with them side by side. (I expanded the car categories because if you threatened my daily Diet Coke consumption to decide which one the kids liked best, I'd have to perish since you'd be taking away my sweet nectar of the gods — that's how close a call it was.)
The Hot Wheels Mega-Wrex has fun sound effects that younger kids really went goofy over. They loved how it was anthropomorphized and would make smashing noises and say silly things as it tumbled over other cars and into furniture. Don't worry: The body and wheels are made so that they won't screw up your house. It's light but powerful.
Food Toy of the YearMelissa and Doug Product Detail
Food toys are just wilding out these days, and I love it. The best in the biz is still Melissa and Doug, and while it seems impossible for them to keep outdoing themselves, they manage. Last year, they made an ice cream set that made kids feel like honest-to-goodness soda jerks, and this year, the chocolate factory will have them looking for their Wonka uniforms.
It has a conveyor belt-driven chocolate factory where your kids will fill the chocolate shells. They can also buy chocolate, flip the chocolates, fill little boxes with chocolate, and sell them to you for $38,476 per pound.
Outdoor Toy of the YearHape Learn to Ride Balance Bike
I have an entire basement full of bicycles, outdoor playhouses, and water tables, and out of the dozens I received, nothing was more exciting to the little ones than this. I think this is because older kids mostly want to just hang out outside or play on a swingset, and the littles aren't always coordinated enough for a regular bicycle. The Hape Balance Bike is a low-to-the-ground, easy-to-ride bike built to last.
What stood out to me was the cork handles and grips: They provide the right amount of cushion and strength where kids need it. Plus, at 12 inches high, kids from 1 to around 4 can get a lot of use out of this bike.
Swingset of the Year2mamabees Londyn Swing Set
The 2MamaBees Londyn Swingset is the stuff of dreams. She's compact. She's gorgeous. She's not that hard to assemble. *angel chorus*
Crafted with white pine, this painted beauty has as much fun on the inside as outside. On the outside, you have a climbing wall, balcony and house, disc swing, and slide. Inside, there is a play kitchen with a sink, stovetop, and pretend play food. It's a heavy-duty swingset made for heavy-duty play. Our tester's kids are thoroughly in love with it.
Kidult Toy of the YearLITTLEPEOPLE COLLECTOR Schitt's Creek TV Series Special Edition Set
It's a little bit, it's a little bit, la la la, la la la, it's a little bit Alexis. And a lot of fun. Everyone who loves the show will love this. How do I know? I am surrounded by rabid fans of Schitt's Creek. The box is styled like the motel, and many a kidult will choose to leave them in the box — but not me. I like to use them to create fun tableaus around my house. David by the coffee maker, sitting on the tin of biscuits. Moira on my wine case. Alexis in the car. And of course, Johnny on my DVDs.
Toys for the Kid at HeartLego Icons Retro Radio Building Set
This building toy is designed for grown-ups, and it is amazing. It's a Lego set that says, "I have a lot of time on my hands," but also "If this gets too complicated, I may just pick up a hammer and throw it at the nearest wall."
As a veteran Lego builder, I get that sometimes, you want to build something you don't need to worry about; you just want to build. This is no Hogwarts Castle or Eye of Sauron; this is pure relaxation in 906 pieces. This is having a glass of chard and turning on a serial killer podcast. This is zoning out because you cannot label one more thing. This is coming home from a hard week at work. This is bliss.
🎉 Get Ready To Play! 🧸 Announcing The Best Products Toy Of The Year Awards 2024!
"Hearst Magazines and Yahoo may earn commission or revenue on some items through these links."
Hearst Owned
For the past few years, I've been coordinating and writing our Toy of the Year awards package. It's always quite the undertaking, but this year, toy manufacturers went all out. The choices were better and more plentiful than ever. Normally, I have a pretty good idea who is going to win The Toy of the Year, as there's always been a standout toy — the Moose Toys Magical Mixies Crystal Ball or the WowWee Dog-E interactive robot dog. Not the case this time around: This year, there were so many fantastic choices, I had no idea how the tides would turn. Would the kids like the robot bear that reminded me a bit of a Teddy Ruxpin but somehow more possessed, or would they want the Mr. Beast toys taking over the market? The kids are really spoiled for choice this year, and since we recently added categories for Kidults and Toys for the Kids at Heart, grownups got to play as well!
This year, we tested well over 650 toys from every category under the sun. The testing method is simple: I collect a handful of toys, grouping them by age range and category, I take them out to a gaggle of children in that age range — and then I observe. Overall, over 100 kids of varying ages served as testers, and each group tested toys for an hour or two at a time. As they played, I noted which toys they gravitated towards, which ones they obviously loved, and which they quickly discarded. The toy that gets the best reaction for the longest time won that round. I set them against each other in a basketball bracket style until I have a winner for each category. I then pitted the winners against each other to choose the Toy of the Year. That toy goes on to win the whole banana, and the runner-up for that category becomes the winner of that category.
We have many new categories this year, including a Licensed Toy of the Year, which I want to talk about. This year, and every year as of late, branded or licensed toys were bountiful. Here's the thing: They weren't always the most popular. Some of them, like Bluey and Elmo, were still huge hits, while others didn't appear to catch their interest all that much. I don't know if it was that there were so many YouTube star tie-ins or if kids just yearn for newness, but while super-popular kids' vehicles are still incredibly popular, others weren't.
Cat Bowen
If you're wondering where I store all of these toys, the answer is that right now I live in the North Pole, and my children may or may not be Santa's elves. (A little odd as they're Jewish, but we're rolling with it.) Every available storage area in my house is full of toys. Once they're tested, all the toys in good shape, plus all unopened extras — manufacturers often send multiples because they know I donate — are given to Title 1 schools in New York City for their holiday and toy drives. This awards package doesn't just help you pick the best Christmas gifts for your kids; it gives a Christmas/holiday gift to a lot of kids who otherwise wouldn't have one.
The Toy of the YearShop Now
Poe the AI Story Bear
amazon.Com
$49.99
Poe the AI story bear from PLAi is the Teddy Ruxpin-esque bear I mentioned above. I truly was not sure that this toy would win; talking stuffed animals have a history of really mixed reactions in my testing. However, it's the integration of the artificial intelligence-made stories and the overall sweetness of the bear that won younger kids over, plus the transparent volume of weird — somewhat nonsensical stories that you can create with Poe engaged older kids as well.
Where younger kids wanted the bear to tell them a cute story, older kids wanted to give the most ridiculous prompts to the bear possible so that they could try to make the story as dumb — and as over the top — as can be. The fact that huge swaths of kids aged 2 through 13 found joy in Poe is the reason for its win.
Yes, this toy requires an app on Android and Apple stores, but the app is free, and it allows your kids to assist in creating dozens of stories that the bear will read to them. It's a 100% closed, kid-safe app. According to PLAi, "No personal information is required, and no inappropriate themes or content are ever exchanged. There are no cameras, active microphones, or access to the internet and every story created passes through stringent filters, so it is safe and secure."
plai poe the ai story bear and app
The app allows kids to choose the elements of the story they want, and the app creates it and reads it to them! It's really a lot of fun. Do you want to be a pirate who rescues a dragon from a castle? You got it. (Can I be a princess rescued from an office tower by a knight who brings me coffee and an under-desk space heater?)
I understand the fear of having an AI-based toy. As a journalist, there's probably nothing more on this planet right now that scares me as much as AI. I went into testing this toy with what can only be considered an extreme amount of caution and investigation. I played with it for hours before I even brought it to the kids to test. Then, after testing, I played with it more. I wanted to try it over and over again to make sure it didn't say anything inappropriate, racist, negative, or anything else that AI has been known to do. The only thing I got out of it was more and more ridiculous stories that, really, only kids can follow. Nothing was wrong or gave you pause. Unless you have a fear of being rescued by a dragon, and if that's the case, then I can't help you.
Ride-On Toy of the YearShop Now
Dino Dash Up & Down Roller Coaster Toy
amazon.Com
$159.99
I thought small children would come to blows over who got to ride this next. It's just like Step2's traditional roller coaster but dinosaur-themed, so that apparently means it's ten times cooler.
The toy itself is so easy to assemble, and having had a few of these in different iterations, I can tell you that you can't kill it. Keep it out in rain, shine, or snowstorm, and it will work just fine the second it dries. Step2 toys are designed to take their licks and last forever.
This toy was so popular with the testers that I left it with them. They've been using it daily ever since. I often get pictures and videos of the preschoolers trying their best to shoot off into the atmosphere on the Dino Dash coaster, and frankly, that level of continued engagement says more about this win than initial testing ever could.
Car Toy of the YearWe have not one, but two giant RC cars on this list. They've been a heavy favorite for the past few years, so it's no surprise that the category is still going strong. This one is light and easy to operate with controls designed for younger kids. However, older kids loved this car, too, due to its ability to scale over large obstacles and fly off the edges of stairs without breaking. Kids were huge fans of the tricks they could do with this car and quickly learned how to make the most of it. Children as young as 4 could operate it without problems, and kids as old as *cough* 52 *cough* enjoyed maneuvering it all over the place.
Doll of the YearShop Now
Large Doll + Lipgloss Pet - Bianca Bubblegum
amazon.Com
$24.94
When I was little, if a doll came with cosmetics, you were reasonably certain that the cosmetics would be hot garbage. That, thankfully, is no longer the case. The Yummiland dolls include a "make-your-own" lip gloss kit that is actually great, and no, parents, it's not "makeup-y" at all: just clear gloss with fragrance that doesn't shine a ton more than your average lip balm.
The doll itself is scented, and has a cute little bubblegum bubble in its mouth, adding to its overall cutesiness. The combination of that scent, the cute bubble, and of course, the lip gloss, is what won our testers over.
The doll category was hot this year, and there were several that kids really seemed to resonate with. There were playsets and new heritage dolls that were stiff competition, but the accessories for Yummiland just couldn't be beaten.
Baby Toy of the YearShop Now
Official Speak & Sing 16-Inch Plush Doll
walmart.Com
$29.97
This was the only category where it wasn't a contest. It's a soft doll that plays Ms. Rachel's voice. If you know babies, you know that Ms. Rachel is their queen, idol, prime minister, president, and unofficial auntie all rolled into one. Babies who could barely roll from back to front were trying to wiggle their way to this doll. Her voice is a siren's song, and I am pretty sure babies would consume her if possible. As soon as you squeeze it and hear her say "Helllll-ooo," pandemonium ensues.
STEAM Toy of the YearShop Now
Marble Run with Motorized Elevator
amazon.Com
$44.99
This was the tightest category this year, as there were so many cool STEAM toys released. Honestly, this could've gone a few ways, but this ultimately ended up winning because it had the most potential variabilities.
Admittedly, I have raised a couple of real nerds (and I love it), so I wasn't going to gauge the toy based on their reactions — but oh boy, kids loved the challenge of this toy. It's a marble run like you'd expect, with building, maneuvering, and strategizing, but National Geographic motorized it, giving it an exciting boost with the addition of a motorized marble elevator. There are pretty much an unlimited number of ways you can build and shape this toy to make it bend to your will, giving kids hours of play and learning. It highlights the fact that kids don't need things to be excessively fancy to love them.
Playhouse of the YearShop Now
Cloud Castle Foam Fort Building Set
walmart.Com
$130.00
This is a big departure from traditional dollhouse-style playhouses that have won in the past. This bad boy is a playhouse for humans! It's part play sofa, part fort-builder, all fun. Plus, for parents, this thing neatly tucks away, stacking into a short, easy stack.
Kids adored building their own houses, hanging out, and flinging themselves bodily onto the soft cushions, landing on them, knocking them over, and starting all over again. It comes with five foam shapes and that's plenty, but it's completely compatible with other play sofas like the Nugget and the Figgy. It is incredibly soft, and younger kids really clamored to create more configurations that included not just the pieces here, but also the furniture in their spaces.
Interactive Toy of the YearShop Now
Holobrite Pixie Lantern
amazon.Com
$79.99
The Interactive Toy of the Year is a special category that most other lists don't include. Here's what it is: The Interactive Toy of the Year is one that, like Magical Mixies and Dog-E, has varying levels of mixed interaction between the toy and the user. Perhaps you command the toy, or maybe it reacts to you and you can then respond, or you build it and it interacts with you after the build. It's not a stagnant toy; it's something with a back-and-forth between toy and user.
The Holobrite Pixie is the hardest toy on this list to describe. First, I know it says "virtual play," but it's not app-based. The virtual play is when the pixie is in the jar and in her "hologram" form. While she's there, you play games, earn points, unlock prizes, and create dances for her. Once you get to a certain level, the pixie leaves her hologram form and enters the real world as a doll. But don't worry: If you want to return to virtual play, just tuck her back inside her world.
Kids adored figuring out how to learn the games and earn points. I was impressed by how much the Holobrite Pixie made kids work to get her out of the jar. They really had to interact with her to get her to leave. However, unlike similar toys, it wasn't hard, just challenging. And, also, unlike other toys of this ilk, the capacity for repeat play is off the charts.
Blind Box Toy of the YearShop Now
Micro Motion Capsules
amazon.Com
$9.97
This, on the other hand, is, OMG, so easy to describe. It's a blind-box, key-operated mini toy with some element of motion. Kids are still HUGE on blind box toys, and given the popularity of these characters and the fun motions they create, it's easy to see how they won. They're the perfect stocking stuffer or third-night-of-Hanukkah gift.
Licensed Toy of the YearShop Now
Sesame Street Chicken Dance Elmo
amazon.Com
$29.92
Nostalgia reigned supreme for this year's Licensed Toy of the Year. Well, nostalgia for the parents. It's all new to the littles.
I loved this one so much and was so glad that the kids did, too. Elmo is the monster that has loved us for generations and we love him right back. This is a remake of the old Chicken Dance Elmo, and while not much has changed, a whole new generation of kids gets to enjoy playing with him and all his "Elmo wants to be a chicken, Elmo wants to be a duck, quack quack quack quack!" hilarity.
Social-Emotional Learning Toy of the YearShop Now
Meet the Feelings Family™ Book and Plush Set
hand2mind.Com
$39.99
For SEL toys, there's a real balance you want to achieve: You want it to be fun and engaging, but you also want to feel like your kid is getting a tangible benefit. Isabella's Day at School Book and Plush Set strikes that balance. Kids do open up and talk about their feelings alongside Isabella, and they use the finger puppets to help express their feelings and learn about the feelings of others.
Game of the YearShop Now
TCG: Battle Academy 2024
amazon.Com
$24.99
This year's Game of the Year was such a hit that I had to order myself a coffee and a pastry because the kids were taking so long to play it. I don't need to tell you that kids freaking love Pokemon, and this game makes the card game come to life with a level of gameplay they've never before put forth. It has multiple full decks, new cards, and a two-player game board. I was quite surprised that this card-based game beat some fairly stiff competition to take top honors, but the ability for expansion and speed of play really took it to the next level. Also, with the new series released last year, plus the love of the online version, it's no surprise that this game won.
Building Toy of the YearShop Now
Builder XL 50-Piece Magnetic Construction Set
amazon.Com
$99.99
When you give kids open-ended play, and just let them have at it, it's amazing what they can create. This collection from the ever-popular MagnaTiles does just that. Sure, they give the kids some direction (and accessories like a truck and a crane for guidance), but it's mostly about what they can create in their own little world.
If your kids have never had a MagnaTiles set, this is a great one to start them with. They're completely intuitive, and kids love the ability to shape them in a million ways. Their durability is unmatched, and play continues long after you think they'll have grown out of them.
Robot Toy of the YearShop Now
Bionic Robotic Arm STEM Experiment Kit
amazon.Com
$54.31
Not all robots require motors or electricity! The Thames and Kosmos Robotic Arm proves that. It's essentially a "build-your-own" robot toy that has you using a system of interlocking disks and wires to build robotic arms that connect to two joysticks. Those joysticks can then operate the arms and open and close the claw hands.
I think this one was so popular because no complex coding or apps were required. Kids could just figure it out and go. It says 10 and up, but I found that with minimal help, 8- and 9-year-olds had no problem with it.
Preschool Toy of the YearShop Now
Sandy Snacks-a-Lot Learning Toy for Toddlers
amazon.Com
$25.49
OK, I know I'm not supposed to have a favorite toy on this list, but, hear me out — it's an axolotl that reacts to the food you feed it, and it will spit it out, eat it, and sing songs about the food you have fed it. Plus, if the little guy overeats, it asks you to rub its head!
Preschoolers do learn foods and food words from this, as well as facts about axolotls and more, but mostly, they just have a really good time with a really cute toy.
Playset of the YearShop Now
3-in-1 Transforming Plane Playset with The Heelers
amazon.Com
$69.99
This is a four-in-one Bluey playset from Moose Toys. It's a plane that opens to reveal a hotel and a beach, and the nose of the plane comes off to become a boat. It comes with 15 play pieces including Bluey's family, and it makes over 20 sounds.
The adaptability of play stands out with this playset. Kids clamored over its different parts, loving how they all work together to build a story in their minds as well as different episodes of the show. I love that you can just close it all up in the plane at the end of the day; it greatly cuts down the risk of things getting lost.
Pretend Play Toy of the YearShop Now
New Sprouts Prep 'n' Store Kitchen Island 11pc Set
amazon.Com
$64.99
Basic pretend play at its finest. The Prep and Store Kitchen Island is a great alternative to a full play kitchen if you don't have the space, and it's a great addition to a play kitchen if you do. It comes with a 21x19z12-inch island on wheels with six different food toys, baskets, and tongs, ready for your littlest ones to make you a gourmet meal.
Kids love kitchen toys, and this one felt novel to them. We have seen stores, grills, and other iterations of kitchen-adjacent toys, but the island is new, and they really gravitated toward it.
Crafting Toy of the YearShop Now
LinXo Creator Set
amazon.Com
$24.99
This is not — I repeat, this is not — a friendship bracelet-making kit. OK, it can do that, too, but it's a bead crafting kit with all sorts of fun projects built in. Whether your kid wants to make a silly keychain or an artistic sculpture, this kit will help guide them and give them everything they need to do it.
Scores of children were amped that this wasn't just a one-and-done toy; you can rebuild with this kit, taking everything apart easily and creating new objects. Kids of all ages and abilities can jump right in and learn how to bead and make delightful creations, building their skills and gaining valuable minor motor manipulation skills.
Sensory Toy of the YearShop Now
Jelly Blox Creative Kit
amazon.Com
$19.99
These are the most satisfying blocks I've ever touched; as an autistic person with an autistic child, I am very particular about sensory toys, and so is my kid. I was gripped with something ineffable watching how kids would react to these. They did not disappoint.
They are actual working blocks made of malleable material, and each has various fillings that make them feel differently when squished or twisted. They engage that "itchy" part of kids' (and my) brain that reacts to differing types of sensory input.
RC Toy of the YearShop Now
Toy Truck Monster Trucks RC
amazon.Com
$42.00
I know what you're thinking, and yes, it is very much like the Monster Jam truck. Alas, out of 50 (!) car toys tested this year, these two ran away with the show. And yes, they played with them side by side. (I expanded the car categories because if you threatened my daily Diet Coke consumption to decide which one the kids liked best, I'd have to perish since you'd be taking away my sweet nectar of the gods — that's how close a call it was.)
The Hot Wheels Mega-Wrex has fun sound effects that younger kids really went goofy over. They loved how it was anthropomorphized and would make smashing noises and say silly things as it tumbled over other cars and into furniture. Don't worry: The body and wheels are made so that they won't screw up your house. It's light but powerful.
Food Toy of the YearShop Now
Product Detail
melissaanddoug.Com
$2.00
Food toys are just wilding out these days, and I love it. The best in the biz is still Melissa and Doug, and while it seems impossible for them to keep outdoing themselves, they manage. Last year, they made an ice cream set that made kids feel like honest-to-goodness soda jerks, and this year, the chocolate factory will have them looking for their Wonka uniforms.
It has a conveyor belt-driven chocolate factory where your kids will fill the chocolate shells. They can also buy chocolate, flip the chocolates, fill little boxes with chocolate, and sell them to you for $38,476 per pound.
Outdoor Toy of the YearShop Now
Learn to Ride Balance Bike
amazon.Com
$111.61
I have an entire basement full of bicycles, outdoor playhouses, and water tables, and out of the dozens I received, nothing was more exciting to the little ones than this. I think this is because older kids mostly want to just hang out outside or play on a swingset, and the littles aren't always coordinated enough for a regular bicycle. The Hape Balance Bike is a low-to-the-ground, easy-to-ride bike built to last.
What stood out to me was the cork handles and grips: They provide the right amount of cushion and strength where kids need it. Plus, at 12 inches high, kids from 1 to around 4 can get a lot of use out of this bike.
Swingset of the YearShop Now
Londyn Swing Set
2mamabees.Com
$2024.00
The 2MamaBees Londyn Swingset is the stuff of dreams. She's compact. She's gorgeous. She's not that hard to assemble. *angel chorus*
Crafted with white pine, this painted beauty has as much fun on the inside as outside. On the outside, you have a climbing wall, balcony and house, disc swing, and slide. Inside, there is a play kitchen with a sink, stovetop, and pretend play food. It's a heavy-duty swingset made for heavy-duty play. Our tester's kids are thoroughly in love with it.
Kidult Toy of the YearShop Now
Schitt's Creek TV Series Special Edition Set
amazon.Com
$24.99
It's a little bit, it's a little bit, la la la, la la la, it's a little bit Alexis. And a lot of fun. Everyone who loves the show will love this. How do I know? I am surrounded by rabid fans of Schitt's Creek. The box is styled like the motel, and many a kidult will choose to leave them in the box — but not me. I like to use them to create fun tableaus around my house. David by the coffee maker, sitting on the tin of biscuits. Moira on my wine case. Alexis in the car. And of course, Johnny on my DVDs.
Toys for the Kid at HeartShop Now
Icons Retro Radio Building Set
amazon.Com
$168.95
This building toy is designed for grown-ups, and it is amazing. It's a Lego set that says, "I have a lot of time on my hands," but also "If this gets too complicated, I may just pick up a hammer and throw it at the nearest wall."
As a veteran Lego builder, I get that sometimes, you want to build something you don't need to worry about; you just want to build. This is no Hogwarts Castle or Eye of Sauron; this is pure relaxation in 906 pieces. This is having a glass of chard and turning on a serial killer podcast. This is zoning out because you cannot label one more
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