*UPDATE OCTOBER 2011* – This is our list of Hot new Toys from 2010. Still lots of great toys here, so feel free to browse, but you should also check out our newly updated list of the Best Toys of 2011.
Every year during the Holiday season, there are Hot New Toys that capture the imagination and attention of kids everywhere. These Toys become the “must have” popular toys of the year. Toys earn their place on the Top Toy List through popularity, originality and FUN! In no particular order, here are:
The 20 Best Toys of 2010
Squinkies
Squinkies are one of the hottest new collectible toys for kids age 4 year old and up. There are hundreds of Squinkies available such as puppies, kitties, babies, ponies and more. These are small, soft and squishy figures that are very cute and fit in the palm of your hand. Kids like to collect the individual figures and there are also a variety of Playhouses available.
Nerf N-Strike Stampede ECS
The new Nerf N-Strike Stampede ECS is the latest and greatest in the popular line of toy Nerf guns. This is the first fully automatic NERF Clip System blaster available. Designed for kids 8 years old and up, this toy will have you well prepared in case a “Nerf toy gun battle” suddenly erupts nearby. It has a 6 dart Clip and 3 extended Clips that can hold 18 darts each. This toy comes with 60 Clip System darts!
LEGO Harry Potter and Hogwarts
The Harry Potter LEGO Hogwarts game is two toys in one. It has 332 LEGO pieces for building fun and once the game board is built, it is a fun family game for 2 to 4 players. Recommended for kids 8 years old and up, this game keeps the interest of both kids and adults on family game night. The game involves both luck and strategy and the ability to make the game play easier (for younger kids) or harder (for older kids).
Sing a ma jigs
Sing a Ma Jigs are new the newest adorable toys from Mattel. There’s 3 different ways to play with a Sing a Ma Jig, they can “chatter” in their own cute little language, they can sing a song on their own, or collect more than one Sing a Ma Jig and hear them harmonize like a cuter, zanier version of a barber shop quartet! Great for kids age 36 months and up.
iXL Learning System
The iXL Learning System is the newest learning toy for kids 3 years old up to around 6 years old. There are six core applications: 1. Digital Book Reader, 2. Game Player, 3. MP3 Music Player, 4. Digital Art Book, 5. Notepad, and 6. Photo Viewer. Some people are calling the iXL this years “iPad for kids”. This is a great educational toy for traveling and long car rides as it tends to hold kids attention for some time with an engaging variety of activities.
Kinect Sensor for XBOX360
The Kinect is sure to be a hit for a long time to come. It turns YOU into the controller for video games and entertainment. It works with every Xbox 360 and tracks your full body movement in 3-D while responding to commands, directions and even differences of emotion in your voice. Kinect is available November 4, 2010 and available for pre-order now. You really have to see it to understand how unique it is. Click here to Learn more and see a video of the Kinect in action.
Go Baby Go! Stride to Ride Dino
The Go Baby Go! Stride to Ride Dino is the perfect toy for babies who are just starting to walk. Once baby is starting to pull and stand while holding on to something, it’s not long before they want to start taking steps, but still need some support. The Dino provides a stable toy for them to hold on to while learning to walk. He’s cute and plays music while baby walks which adds to the fun and excitement for baby. This toy grows with your baby as they move into the toddler phase by converting into a ride on toy for kids up to age 3 years old. Just push the Dino legs together and it forms a seat for your toddler to ride around. The toy is a great value because it is fun for babies and toddlers both.
LeapFrog Leapster Explorer Learning Game System
The LeapFrog Leapster Explorer is a brand new handheld electronic learning system that was introduced in 2010. Similar to some of the other LeapFrog systems, this hand hand device uses game cartridges (currently around 40 game titles available). This system has games, e-books, videos and even online play within a safe LeapFrog environment. The Explorer has better graphics, a larger screen, faster processor and new functions compared to the older systems such as the Leapster2. LeapFrog has done a great job with this update and it looks like the Explorer will become the new standard in electronic handheld learning systems, just like the Leapster was previously. The Explorer is designed for kids 4 years old up to 9 years old.
My Pillow Pets
Kids age 3 years old and up love Pillow Pets. The Pillow Pets come in large variety of animals from Dolphins, dogs, monkeys, lady bugs, pandas, penguins and more. The cuteness factor is very high here. The Pillow pet is a cute stuffed animal with a small velcro stap that can be opened to transform the pet into a cuddly pillow.
Moon Dough Magic Barn
Moon Dough is a creative play toy that is similar to Play-Doh. This set comes with Moon Dough and a barn that lets kids press out shapes of their favorite barnyard animals. Designed for kids 3 years old up to 7 years old. If you are looking for a creative alternative to Play-Doh, you just may love Moon Dough.
Zoobles
Zoobles are cute, collectible little characters that come to life and “pop” open when they are placed on their special magnetized “Happitat”. There are a variety of gift packs with different characters and playsets available. Zoobles are suggested for kids age 4 year old and up.
V.Reader Animated E-Book Reader
The goal of the new V.Reader Animated eBook System is to bring fun and interactivity to reading for kids. Stories aren’t just read to kids, kids can interact with the reader. Kids can touch to pause the story being read, or touch a word to hear the pronunciation. There are also 8 reading skill games included to help kids improve their reading in a fun game environment. There are a variety of story Book Cartridges available from some of kids favorite characters such as Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, The Little Engine that Could, Toy Story and more.
Barbie Video Girl Doll
The new Barbie Video Girl Doll combines the classic Barbie Doll with a built in video camera! Barbie’s necklace is the camera lens and includes an LCD screen built in for easy playback. You can then connect Barbie to a computer via USB cable to edit with the free Barbie Girl Video Editing Software and share your movie with friends. The Video Girl Doll adds a fun twist to the classic Barbie Doll.
Cuponk!
Cuponk is a popular game that is so simple, it’s addictive fun. The object is to sink your ball into the cup. The challenge cards included with the game will give ideas to setup new challenge courses to compete with friends and family. The game play is a simple and fun lesson in physics and gravity. Suggested for kids 5 years old and up.
Loopz Game
Loopz is a new skill and action memory music game for one to four players. The “loops” flash with an pattern of light and music that players must imitate while slowly increasing in speed. Designed for kids 5 year old and up, Loopz has 7 different game modes that can be played solo or in head to head competition.
Scrabble Flash Cubes
Scrabble continues to find ways to re-invent the classic game by changing up the game play a bit. The new Scrabble Flash Cubes game introduced this year looks to be another big winner. The interactive Letter Tiles will flash and beep with each word that you make. The tiles also automatically time your turn and display your score. This makes for a fast paced and fun game experience. If you are looking for a new interactive twist on the classic game of Scrabble, then Scrabble Flash Cubes may be for you.
Fisher Price Laugh and Learn: Learning Kitchen
The Fisher Price Laugh and Learn: Learning Kitchen is a top toy for babies and toddlers from 6 months old up to around 3 years old. There are more than 15 sing-a-long songs with a volume control for quiet play. The toy teaches Letters A – Z, Numbers and counting, English and Spanish words, Shapes, Colors, Opposites, and encourages thinking skills and early problem solving through shape sorting.
Hot Wheels R/C Stealth Rides Racing Car
This is the first ever folding Hot Wheels Remote Controlled Car. The Stealth Rides Racing car is small enough to fit in your child’s pocket, but when it’s time to drive, this mini mighty car pops up and is ready to race. The carry case for the car becomes the Remote Controller. Start your engines!
FurReal Friends Furry Frenzies City Center Play Set
FurReal Friends have had some big hits the past few years, this year the hot item is the FurReal Friends Furry Frenzies City Center Playset. Designed for kids age 4 year old and up, young kids think it’s fun to watch the Furry Frenzies pets zoom and spin around, while older kids will enjoy dressing up their pet with all the included accessories.
Wow Wee Paper Jamz Guitars, Amps & Drums
The Wow Wee Paper Jamz Guitars, Amps and Drums are way cool! All the instruments are only about a half inch thin, hence the “paper” in the name. The guitar has no strings, but it still responds to your fingers strumming or on the fretboard. There are many guitars and style to pick from, each style comes with 3 different songs that you can play along with, or you can break free from the songs and just play real chords in Freestyle mode. The guitar has a volume control and doesn’t require the amp to be played and heard, but there are multiple amps available if you want to crank up the volume even more! The amp doubles as a speaker that can accept audio input from other sources too, not just Paper Jamz guitars and drums.
Kids as young as 3 years old can get in on the fun in Freestyle mode, while “Perfect Play mode” and “Rhythm mode” will offer a challenge to older kids and adults.
This toy won’t replace the now famous video games Guitar Hero and Rock Band, but it does offer a Fun, simple and economical alternative!
Honorable Mentions
Here are a few toys that didn’t make our List of the Top 20 Hot Toys for Christmas 2010, but that still deserve a mention and are proving very popular this year.
Dance Star Mickey Mouse by Fisher Price
I have to agree with you about the LEGO Harry Potter and Hogwarts game. My 7 year old son loves this game, and we play it together all the time. I think Legos are a great learning tool, and you can’t go wrong with Harry Potter!
I think the best of 2010 is definitely tied between the dancing Mickey Mouse and the pillow pets. Seems to be that everywhere I tried looking for these items they are either sold out or store is waiting for a new order. These are definitely must have items for any child between the ages of 3-8!
I think the 2 best toys of 2010 are the squinkies and the pillow pets they are all my kids talk about, and they are aged 4-10. Fun for all ages!
My child would say that the best toy of 2010 is squinkies – did I even spell that right. She LOVES those things and plays with them ALL the time!
My vote is for Zoobles. You know why? My cousin had one and let my 12 month old play with it for awhile. My baby sat on my lap for 15 minutes just popping that toy open and closed and tucking in out and pulling it out of it’s cute little home! Did you hear that? 15 whole minutes of peace courtesty of Zoobles!