The holidays are around the corner. Some parents are the type to grab their kid's wish list gifts during the summer, or even right after the last year's holidays for the major sales or to get it checked off the list. Then there are the parents who are running around the week before the holiday. We're offering a solution that's in the middle: shopping now is a great time to snag the popular toys for kids and toddlers while they're still on the shelves.
If kids aren't the best at giving their parents (or Santa) direction for what toys they want, that's what we're here for. We poked around top toy retailers (from Target to Amazon) and other online retailers to find some of the coolest dolls, sets, and games that we think will be super popular among parents and their kids this year. Happy shopping! This early, it might be!
Baby Alive Lulu Achoo Doll
Baby dolls that do the things real babies do, like eat and close their eyes to sleep, have been popular among kids for generations, at least since dolls have been able to do all of those things. That's why we think that Baby Alive Lulu Achoo Doll, which emulates a sick baby, will be a hot commodity this holiday season.
Disney Raya and the Last Dragon: Land of Kumandra Set
Whenever a new Disney movie comes out, kids love to collect the figurines and toys that go along with it. With Raya and the Last Dragon being released in 2021, toys from the movie are bound to be a hit. We think kids will want to play with this Raya set that has eight of the characters from the movie as well as some accessories.
LOL Surprise OMG Movie Magic Studios
$136
from
LOL Surprise
LOL Surprise toys have reigned supreme for a few years and the new iterations of the toy line just keep coming with surprises. One of the latest is the LOL Surprise OMG Movie Magic Studios. It comes with a whole Magic Studios setup so kids can be the director of their own movie.
LOL Surprise! OMG 24K D.J. Family Pack
And because LOL toys are so popular, we had to include another item that we think will be hot this holiday season. It's the LOL Surprise! OMG 24K D.J. Family Pack which comes with OMG fashion doll 24K D.J. and Mix Boi doll, Lil D.J. lil sister, and D.J. K9 pet, making up an entire D.J. family for the kid to play with.
Hot Wheels Monster Trucks T-Rex Volcano Arena
$115
from
Hot Wheels
Who doesn't love Hot Wheels cars? Or even better, a Hot Wheels set? We know kids certainly will, especially this set that brings dinosaurs into the mix. Kids can zip their cars by the hungry dino in a head-to-head race thanks to this Hot Wheels Monster Trucks T-Rex Volcano Arena, which includes two launchers and several zones for kids to recreate stunts, smashes, and crashes.
Lego Hogwarts Wizard’s Chess
For the Harry Potter fans out there, this brand new Harry Potter chess set will likely fly off the shelves. It combines two cultural phenomena that both younger and older kids will appreciate. It's a real chess set that also comes with Harry, Hermione, and Ron figurines, to hang out on the set like they did in the movies.
PAW Patrol: The Movie Ultimate City Tower Playset
These days, it doesn't really get more popular among the kids than Paw Patrol. It's a cartoon, but like lots of popular kids' shows, the series has turned into a huge toy enterprise, too. The Movie Ultimate City Tower Playset is the tallest tower of the Paw Patrol sets coming in at 3 feet. The set has six pup toy figures, a Chase cruiser, and a clip-on backpack.
Blue's Clues & You! Blue's House Play Tent
$65
from
Melissa & Doug
Blues Clues celebrated a big anniversary in 2021, and so its one of the multi-generational shows that both parents and their kids can say that they loved. For the kiddos who are enjoying the show now, we think they'll love this play tent that is meant to look like Blue's house! Complete with Mailbox and everything.
Blue's Clues & You! Wooden Magnetic Picture Game
$21.5
from
Melissa & Doug
If a play tent is just too big of a toy to commit to, there are other Blue's Clues toys that kids will love (and it'll keep them busy, too). The Blue's Clues & You! Wooden Magnetic Picture Game allows kids to create their own set-up of Blue's house and use their imagination to envision different adventures there.
Mirabel Doll from Disney’s 'Encanto'
Disney's latest film isn't out just yet, but Encanto is looking like it might be a major hit. And with that comes a demand for toys from the movie for kids to play with to keep the magic going. If your child loves Disney films, better to snatch up any Encanto toy super fast, as they won't last long on the shelves once the movie is out in November.
Segway Ninebot eKickScooter
Starting at
$230
from
Kids love scooters, motor scooters, and they especially tend to want them for the holidays. The Segway Ninebot eKickScooter is shaping up to be one that is quite sought after this year. This lightweight scooter not only will zip them all around the block, but comes in a sleek design, too. It comes in two sizes and in a choice of pink, blue, or dark gray.
Jetson Sync All-Terrain Dynamic Sound Hoverboard
While we're discussing toys that move, we can't forget about the Jetson Sync All-Terrain Dynamic Sound Hoverboard. It's a "toy" that older kids will love to play with. It's totally electric-powered, has all-terrain tires, and can move up to 10 miles per hour. One of the coolest features: It comes with an integrated Bluetooth speaker to play music on the go.
Beyblade Burst Surge Speedstorm Slayer Showdown Set
Beyblades have become a staple toy for kids during the holiday season. Once they're fans of the toy, they're fans for a long time. The latest battle arena, the Beyblade Burst Surge Speedstorm Slayer Showdown Set, comes with two right/left-spin launchers, six spinning tops, and a red Flame Forge Disk D54.
Pizza Pete the Cat Plush
$20
from
Pete the Cat
Kids have fallen in love with Pete the Cat books, and while those books make amazing gifts on their own (reading is fun-damental! after all) they can also have their very own Pete the Cat at home with this Pizza Pete the Cat plush toy. He comes with a Pizza T-shirt but the website has different versions of Pete, too.
5 Surprise Mini Brands Mystery Capsule
Kids opening mystery boxes. This was true when we were kids (remember those chocolate surprise balls?) and it's true now. While the LOL Surprise brand gets a lot of interest, there are other brands out there, including Mini Brands. These toys come with five different "mini" surprises in each package.
Inflatable Ride-On Hop ‘n Go Unicorns
$45
from
HearthSong
Bouncing on things will always be fun for kids, and for kids who love unicorns, this bouncy unicorn toy is sure to be a hit. It's a blow-up unicorn kids can bounce around on, alone or in a race or game with other kids. Retailer HearthSong sells these inflatable Ride-On Hop ‘n Go Unicorns in packs of two.
Jurassic World Scorpios Rex Danger Pack
Kids love dinosaurs, whether it's an interest in the creatures themselves or in the context of the iconic Jurassic Park movies. This Jurassic World Scorpios Rex Danger Pack set is from the Jurassic World movie and comes with a T. rex and human-in-a-ball ride, just like in the movie. We think it'll be a toy that's a hit this season.
Baby Yoda Plush
Baby Yoda from The Mandalorian is a hit, and has been for almost two years. Kids who didn't get a Baby Yoda toy last year will definitely want one this year, and that's why it's a gift to keep an eye on in case it sells out. Basically anything that's about Star Wars will be a popular item this holiday season.
VTech KidiZoom Creator Cam
Creators are a new type of celebrity that many kids these days follow pretty intensely, whether it's an Instagram influencer, YouTube personality, or TikTok star. Now they can emulate these creators during play time without all the expensive (and delicate) equipment. This KidiZoom Creator Cam (on a tripod) from VTech makes that possible.
Nintendo Switch
Last but not least, video games will always be coveted, especially the latest and coolest gaming systems and accessories. That includes the Nintendo Switch, a handheld gaming system. Kids will be able to play their games in style, but only if you act fast and make sure to get it soon. Or, add it to the first stop for Black Friday.
*Psst: if you choose to purchase an item from this post, CafeMom.com may receive a small cut. Each item and price is up to date at the time of publication; however, an item may be sold out or the price may be different at a later date.
