Publish your own book with the IlluStory Make Your Own Story Kit
The first fully automatic, 20-disc, clip-fed blaster to date, the Nerf Vortex Nitron
Electronic devices like the Nintendo 3DS
The Easy Bake Ultimate Oven 
K’Nex building sets are perfect for older kids who are looking for a bit more of a challenge than the basic Lego building sets. Some sets, like the K’Nex Education Intro To Simple Machines – Gears are designed to demonstrate science and technology concepts such as gear ration, gear configurations, applied force, movement and more! Recommended for ages 8 – 14 years.
Air Swimmers, the new remote control flying fish (available in Shark
On our list for the second year, the Alex Toys Friends 4 Ever Bracelet Making Kit
The Spy Gear Spy Video Car VX-6 
Monster High dolls like the Monster High Ghoul Spirit Action Figure Doll 3Pack continue to show up on the hot toy lists this year! There is a complete Monster High doll line and all dolls are fully articulated so they can be posed in many different ways. In this set, the three Draculaura, Cleo de Nile and Goulia Yelps dolls come with a set of pom poms and a Skullete megaphone and they’re ready to get the high school crowd up on their feet in their fearleading uniforms. Recommended for ages 6 and up.
R/C cars and trucks are popular choices in this age range and one that has great reviews is the Cyclaws Remote Control Vehicle
To view Top Toy Picks for other ages, see this post.
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always score high reviews and this 
is no exception! Standing over 1 foot in height, Imaginext Mega T-Rex adds a new, futuristic dimension to classic dinosaur play. He has motorized action, sound effects and removable armor for added play. Push the button to make his neck swing and jaw open while roaring like a real dinosaur. Includes a helmet, rear control pod and two projectile launchers. Recommended for ages 3 to 7 years.
. Product features include: dry erase board, chalkboard, a locking paper roll holder, a child-safe paper cutter, 4 clips, and a plastic tray. This easel is height adjustable and folds easily to store in the corner or under a bed. Comes with the accessories needed to help turn your child into the next Van Gogh. Recommended for ages 3 years and up.
(also available in 
) – the personalized learning tablet for kids! This learning tablet gives you access to more than 100 educational books, games, videos and apps. The LeapPad’s built-in camera can shoot video, allowing kids to make animation and to share with friends and family! Other electronic learning systems such as the 
, 
, 
, and 
or the 
. Each truck comes with several outfits and accessories to transform your child into a princess or superhero! Recommended for ages 3-7 years.
(also available in 
) encourages children to learn to read and to love reading as words talk, pictures sing and stories live out loud. The Tag library includes over 40 books and games based on favorite TV, movie, and classic tales. Tag storybooks and learning activities help children build reading skills such as vocabulary, phonics, and reading comprehension. Parents can connect the Tag Reader online to collect fun rewards their child has earned and to see their child’s play. Holds audio for up to 10 books at a time. Recommended for ages 4-8 years.
from KidKraft. Made of wood and sturdy construction, the Savannah Dollhouse features four levels and six rooms of open space with 13 pieces of colorful furniture. Wide windows allow dolls to be viewed from multiple points of view. Plus, it is large enough that multiple children can play at once. It also accommodates dolls up to 11.5″ tall (FYI, Barbies are 11.5″ tall!). Recommended for ages 3 and up.
interactive playset brings animals to life by incorporating 4 habitats: grasslands, arctic, jungle and water. Place any animal on the peg at the hut and it recognizes that specific animal and responds with that animal’s name and the sound it makes. 
is perfect for your little engineer! All 
. Little ones choose which instrument Elmo plays and he magically recognizes which ones you give him. For even more rockin’ fun, Elmo also interacts with other Let’s Rock instruments (sold separately) and he knows when you are playing any of the other Let’s Rock instruments and plays along with you! Recommended for ages 18 months and up.
. This 8-instrument set includes centipede drumsticks, jingle bells ants, busy bee maraca & clacker, caterpillar tambourine and two shaka shaka eggs. As an added bonus, all instruments store neatly inside the drum! Recommended for ages 18 months to 3 years.
(also available in 
). Each Tag Junior board book introduces a different preschool skill. Open-ended questions and fun sound effects encourage children to take charge, as they touch any part of any page. You can also download audio for your child’s books and keep up to 5 at a time on your book pal. See your child’s progress through the online LeapFrog Learning Path and get printable activities to expand your child’s learning. Recommended for ages 24 months – 4 years.
which features a molded-in floor, an interactive phone, working doorbell and pass-through mailbox. Recommended 18 months and up.
The 
. This is very similar to the 
which was on last year’s list of our top toy picks (and still highly recommended!). Recommended for ages 9 months and up, this Elefun Busy Ball Popper will have kids squealing with delight with its upbeat music and engaging ball-popping action.
and 
have made this year’s list again. Download your child’s name and favorite things to do with this cuddly customizable puppy. Press your puppy’s paws for lullabies, learning songs, and activities with numbers, animals, food and more. My little girl received this puppy for her first birthday and it quickly became one of her favorite toys! Recommended for ages 6 months to 3 years.
is great because it grows with your child. For kids on the younger side, remove the legs and place the table on the floor. As your child grows and becomes more mobile, reattach the legs to transform back into a table. This Fun with Friends Musical Table has over 50 songs, tunes and musical activities which teach letters, numbers, opposites, shapes, colors and first words. The 
is very similar and is in the same price range. However, it does have different activities, so you can compare to see which one your child would enjoy the most. Recommended for ages 6 months to 3 years.
. Basically a motorized version of the 
, the Laugh & Learn Dance & Play Puppy fosters language development and ability to follow direction by guiding your child through motions, letters and numbers. Puppy can clap, wiggle his body from side to side, raise his ears and knows over 25 songs and phrases. Recommended for ages 9 months to 5 years.
.Over 30 audio responses encourage pretend play and this 14-piece picnic set helps build motor skills as they sort, match, stack, empty and fill. Recommended for ages 6 months to 3 years.
is another one of my favorite 2-in-1 toys. Your little one can start out with the easy-to-remove play panel for floor play. Once he/she becomes more mobile, this push-behind walker becomes fun on-the-run! The Learning Walker teaches shapes, colors, animals, music and much more! Telephone handset, spinning gears and open/close barn door enhance role play fun. Recommended for ages 9 months to 3 years.
will help your little one learn colors, counting, animals and sizes with songs, music, speech and activities. The Learning Piggy comes with 10 colorful coins to drop into the slot while counting along, comparing big and small, and discovering mommy and baby animals. Recommended for ages 6 months to 3 years.
combines auditory, visual and language
) makes it possible for children as young as three years old to take and edit their own digital pictures. The camera’s rugged, rubber-grip is designed to withstand heavy use and children will find the colorful and clearly marked push-buttons easy to manipulate. Recommended for ages 3-9 years.
. Product features include: dry erase board, chalkboard, a locking paper roll holder, a child-safe paper cutter, 4 clips, and a plastic tray. This easel is height adjustable and folds easily to store in the corner or under a bed. Comes with the accessories needed to help turn your child into the next Van Gogh. Recommended for ages 3 years and up.
features 8 extra-large rooms and a family with twins to enjoy it all! The house opens wide for easy access to all the rooms with a grand, curving staircase and charming details. This dollhouse includes baby twins, Mom, Dad, dining room table, 2 chairs and 2 booster seats. Along with a 
is no exception. This set includes a tower with elevator, shuttle with crane, moon vehicle, 2 figures, 2 helmets, and console. The shuttle has lights and sounds and a cockpit that opens and closes. Press a button for takeoff sounds and blinking lights. Recommended for ages 36 months to 8 years.
Recommended for ages 4-8 years.
, the base system comes pre-loaded with an interactive story and activity, a learning game, writing activities, art tools, and music sampler. Recommended for ages 36 months to 6 years.
. It comes complete with windows, doors, flowers, and a figure to help jumpstart the building process. Includes building instructions for 3 models and photo inspiration for 15 more. The container is also perfect for storage. Set includes 221 pieces. Recommended for ages 4 to 12 years.
