22 Hot Holiday Toys Your Kids Will Be Begging For

'Tis the Season

All year I attend trade shows and previews to see what toy makers are up to. This year, I found personalization, tech toys, STEM and empowering girls were the most dominant trends, and they were used to great success across numerous toys. If you’re still wondering what to give your kids this season, we’ve got you covered.

Not sure how you’ll afford all those shiny new gifts? Drafting a budget is a good place to start, as is checking your credit to make sure your finances are in tip-top shape. (You can view two of your credit scores, updated every 14 days, for free on Credit.com.) Another option would be to put your cash rewards credit cards to use, since you’ll be swiping a lot over the holidays. (Just remember to keep your debt levels low and make payments on time, as not doing so could throw a wrench in your credit.) Now that you’ve got your finances in order, check out the best toys of 2016 (remember, prices subject to change).

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1. Edwin the Duck

Edwin is soft and squishy, and pairs with your smart device to deliver sweet songs, interactive stories and fun games. But he’s more than a toy, he’s also a water thermometer — yes, he can go in the bath! — white noise machine, night light and Bluetooth speaker. Score Edwin the Duck for $99 online at marblesthebrainstore.com.

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2. Budsies

Turn your child’s original artwork into a soft, cuddly plush! Simply send a photo of their artwork with any preferences, and the artists at Budsies will work their magic. They also make Selfie Budsies, creating a plush from your very own selfie. (Note: Since Budsies are handmade, you may need to pay for Express Shipping to get it in time for the holidays.) Start customizing your stuffed animal for $89 on Budsies.com.

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3. My Kingdom Books

Blending reading with tech, these personalized books feature an augmented reality that is experienced through the My Kingdom Books app. Characters come alive in a way that kids have only dreamed about! Get started on your literary masterpiece for $25 on mykingdombooks.com.

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4. VTech Touch & Learn Activity Desk Deluxe Interactive Learning System

This three-in-one desk is educational and fun. The interactive desktop offers tons of engaging content for kids, including lessons on the alphabet, counting, music and more. The desk also transforms into an easel and chalkboard — with room for supplies — for even more fun! You can get the VTech Touch & Learn Activity Desk for $54.99 on toysrus.com.

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5. Props in a Bag

Encourage your child’s imagination with this clever kit! Choose from The Camper, The Builder, The Superhero and more. Each drawstring backpack comes with character props and a 36” x 28” backdrop. Kids can also download the Props in a Box Movie Maker app to take their play to the next level. You can find Props in a Bag for $30 on propsinabox.com.

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6. Barbie Fashionista Doll

This Barbie collection features a ton of new looks and styles, making it the perfect gift for any new or die-hard fan. Mix and match to create a colorful storyline. You can find the collection for $45 on toysrus.com.

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7. Green Toys Tool Set

This environmentally friendly tool kit comes in blue and pink versions for every aspiring carpenter on your list. The 15-piece set includes tough-as-nails tools made from 100% recycled plastic in the USA. You can find the tool set for $28 on shopthegreenlife.com.

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8. My Fairy Garden — Freya’s Magical Cottage

Here’s something new — a real garden that’s also a toy! With My Fairy Garden, kids plant the quick-growing seeds and water as usual. In the meantime, they can play with Freya the Fairy and her magical cottage. You can find Freya’s Magical Cottage for $27.95 on Fatbraintoys.com.

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9. Zing Toys Stikbot Studio Pro 

This cool kit, made famous on YouTube, comes complete with a green screen, blue screen and two pose-able Stikbot characters, so budding filmmakers can make their own movies. You can find Stikbot for $16 on kmart.com.

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10. Wonderhood Corner Shops

Wonderhood was founded by two mothers to address the lack of quality STEM toys for girls. And with this toy, girls can design and build their own 3D, two-level mini mall. The figurine can run her own business, go shopping, dress her windows and more! You can find Corner Shops for $30 on Wonderhoodtoys.com.

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11. Buddy Balls

These soft teddy bears are perfect for cuddling and storing precious items. They also transform into a colorful ball for a totally different kind of play. Buddy Balls come in four original styles and four sports-oriented variations. You can find your child’s buddy for $20 on BuddyBalls.com.

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12. Neon Kyx LED

Neon Kyx make playing outside way more fun. Perfect for the mall or skate park, the LED lights shine in seven different colors and have four different light speeds: pulse, flicker, strobe and gradual. You can score your child a party-perfect pair for $70 on Neonlyghts.com.

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13. PLAYMOBIL Space Rocket with Launch Site Building Kit

Kids will have a blast preparing for lift-off with this launch site set. Complete with working lights and sounds, your kids will love helping the space technicians inspect the rocket prior to launch. You can find the PLAYMOBIL set for $34.62 on Amazon.com.

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14. Disney Tsum Tsum Countdown to Christmas Advent Calendar

Let your kids join in the fun of counting down the days until Christmas by opening a new window each day. Each window reveals one of 18 Tsum Tsum figures wearing holiday outfits or one of six adorable stackable accessories. Perfect for little ones, you can find the Advent Calendar for $40 on toysrus.com.

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15. SkyPaper Paper Plane Launcher

We’ve never seen paper airplanes quite like this before! Load up to three paper planes in the launcher at once, and fire away. Twenty-four DIY planes are included, which can soar as high as 100 feet! (Don’t forget the batteries.) You can find the SkyPaper for $20 on toysrus.com.

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16. Harry Potter Limited Edition Notebook

The perfect gift for your favorite bookworm, these Harry Potter-inspired notebooks feature graphics inside and out, plus a special set of stickers. Not a Potter fan? Moleskine offers countless other limited-edition notebooks to choose from. The Potter notebook is available for $24.95. It’s sold exclusively at BarnesandNoble.com and Barnes & Noble stores.

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17. SpacePOP Dolls

Whether they know about SpacePOP, the runaway hit YouTube series, kids will love these hip new dolls from Madame Alexander. The five teen princesses form a band, which serves as a cover for their secret plot to overthrow an evil empress. The dolls (and their fabulous hair and outfits) are a blast to play with! It’s available November 18 for $19.99 at Toys R Us.

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18. Lionel Mega Tracks — Corkscrew Chaos Green Engine

With this set, kids can create amazing twisting rail systems that run along the floor — and around furniture! Once the layout is built, kids guide the rail racer vehicle over the course with the RC controller. Suitable for kids eight and up, this master set can be purchased for $74 on Amazon.com.

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19. Xtreme Cycle Moto-RC

This easy-to-maneuver cycle and rider lets kids pull incredible stunts. During crash landings, the cycle can stabilize itself for frustration-free play. Score Xtreme Cycle for $29.27 on Amazon.com.

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20. IDO3D Vertical 4 Pen Studio

Kids are accustomed to drawing in one dimension, but this IDO3D kit lets them take their creations to a whole new level. With the squeezable gel pens and blue LED light, kids can spend hours drawing 3D designs. IDO3D Vertical 4 Pen Studio is available for $18.09 on toysrus.com.

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21. Odyssey Toys Turbo Runner NX Climbing & Rolling Quadcopter

Bet you’ve never seen anything like this remote-control drone and land vehicle combo! It flies, but it also climbs walls, scans ceilings and bounces down stairs. The vehicle is housed in a protective cage, so kids can try any crazy stunt without fear of damage. Turbo Runner is available for $35 on Amazon.com.

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22. AirJamz

Kick your kids’ music obsession into high gear with this Bluetooth-connected gadget that syncs with their iOS or Android device. Just by moving this portable, guitar pick-shaped toy, kids can generate tons of musical sounds, including rockstar riffs and air drums. AirJamz are available for $50 on Playairjamz.com.

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