Believe it or not, the holidays are just around the corner.
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holidays → believe → corner
And you know what that means: shopping season has begun.
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season → know → what
As a shopping reporter and first-time mom, I know the pressure to pick out the very best gifts — and this year, the options are almost too good.
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options → know → gifts
In an effort to put together this guide, The Post also consulted Ali Mierzejewski, Editor-in-Chief of The Toy Insider, for insights into some of the hottest gifts of the year.
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Post → put → year
Mierzejewski has been covering the hottest toy trends in the industry for years and knows exactly what to look for when it comes to holiday gifting.
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it → cover → gifting
- Best Storytime Gift: Toniebox 1 Audio Player Starter Set with Playtime Puppy
- Best for American Girl-lovers: Daisy Davenport 18-inch Doll & Book (Girl of the Year)
- Best Car for Kids: Disney 6V Minnie Roadster Ride-On by Dynacraft
- Best for Multiple Kids: BlueyLights and Sounds 36-Piece House Playset
“We know that a lot of the classic heritage brands — like Fisher-Price, Crayola, LEGO, Play-Doh, Barbie, and more — are always going to be big hits,” explained Mierzejewski.
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Mierzejewski → know → Price
“But with new trends, like the spike in the popularity of squishy toys, other brands are becoming more and more household names, like NeeDoh and Squishmallows.”
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brands → become → NeeDoh
Beyond the brands, Mierzejewski also suggests looking to pop culture for toy inspiration (think The Super Mario Galaxy Movie, Toy Story 5 items from Disney).
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Mierzejewski → suggest → Disney
Fortunately, there’s no shortage of great kids’ toys for every age, budget and personal taste — whether your little one is a die-hard doll fan, lives for ripping open hatching surprise toys or has a slime obsession that has been slowly taking over your home.
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that → ’ → home
Trust us, there’s a toy for every kind of kid — and yes, even some things the parents might enjoy playing with, too.
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parents → trust → kid
Mierzejewski says this is a great pick because Elmo is a universal crowd-pleaser.
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Elmo → say → ?
“Whether it’s kids or adults, hearing this brand-new Tickle Me Elmo laugh himself into giggle fits will have everyone laughing along with him,” she shared.
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she → ’ → him
She also points out that it’s the 30th anniversary of the original Tickle Me Elmo, “so it has a nostalgic appeal parents will love.
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parents → point → appeal
She notes that it’s especially appealing to grown-up Nintendo fans who are looking to share something they love with the next generation.
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they → note → generation
“This playset is full of interactivity, with sounds and moving parts, and includes a Mario figure,” Mierzejewski explained.
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Mierzejewski → move → figure
“It’s great for imaginative play and beginning storytelling for little ones — and definitely a perfect gift from the “cool aunt or uncle.
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: a brand-new hot ride is always on the wish list, and it doesn’t hurt that this one looks pretty cool and is inspired by an iconic Disney character.
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one → hurt → character
“Oftentimes, kids love to mimic the adults in their lives — so what’s a better holiday gift than a
brand-new car?” Mierzejewsi proposed.
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“We love this Minnie Mouse Roadster because it’s super cute, but it also helps build motor skills and encourages role-play for kids.
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Best of all, it’s currently on sale for under $100.
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it → ’ → 100
This year’s American Girl doll is Daisy Davenport, “a confident girl who loves soccer, playing guitar, and biking around her hometown of Madison, Wisconsin.”
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who → love → Madison
Whether it’s their first doll or a new addition to the collection, you can’t go wrong with this iconic brand that celebrates individuality and encourages kids to embrace being themselves.
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Best Play-Doh Gift: Play-Doh Super Sizzlin’ Kitchen Playset w/ Realistic Cooking Toy Sounds
Anything that inspires pretend play is always a great pick.
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that → inspire → play
“Play-Doh sets are awesome for inspiring kids’ creativity!” Mierzejewsi noted.
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Mierzejewsi → inspire → creativity
“They can learn and create, mix and match, and role-play as a chef with this fun kitchen playset.”
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They → learn → playset
She adds that this latest addition to the Play-Doh lineup is extra fun thanks to its engaging accessories.
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With trendy tools like a pasta maker, it allows kids to experiment with their culinary skills.
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kids → allow → skills
Best for Barbie Fans: Barbie in The Nutcracker 25th Anniversary Doll
The all-new “Barbie in the Nutcracker” animated special premieres in November, celebrating the 25th anniversary of the beloved franchise.
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special → animate → franchise
For kids who love Barbie, The Nutcracker, or both, this doll is a must-have.
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Clara looks stunning in her beautiful pink dress (inspired by the original design in the film), and she is ready to dance her way into the holiday season with a pair of matching ballet slippers.
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It’s the perfect festive gift for little fans or Ballerinas, sure to bring a smile to their faces.
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Best Disney Gift: Disney Darlings Winnie the Pooh Birthday Celebration Feature Baby Doll
Mierzejewsi says that dolls are a wonderful gift because they encourage nurturing play in kids.
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they → say → kids
“The Disney Darlings line is a great pick because it adds a little magic to kids’ imaginative play,” she shared.
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she → add → play
“As they are role-playing caring for their dolls, they can wave a wand over them to see their cheeks light up with a little Disney magic.”
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cheeks → play → magic
She adds that the wand even triggers a special birthday surprise, making pretend play even more magical.
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play → add → surprise
For parents looking for a relatively simple, screen-free toy, the Nintendo Yum Yum Yoshi 9.5-Inch Feature Action Figure is a pretty sweet pick — and at under $30, it’s easy on the wallet, too.
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it → look → wallet
“This Yoshi encourages storytelling and imaginative play at an affordable price point,” Mierzejewsi pointed out.
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Mierzejewsi → encourage → point
As kids play, they can engage with their favorite video game character, but without the screen.
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they → play → screen
This screen-free playtime helps spark storytelling, imagination and creative playtime.
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playtime → spark → storytelling
You can never go wrong with fur babies.
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…and 54 more, not listed.
The Aporia
