To help with your gift list this year, we researched the best Christmas toys on the market right now based on factors including age recommendation, educational value, and safety precautions. Our favorite picks include an interactive pet snow dragon from furReal, a magical cauldron from Magic Mixes, and The Fort for its innovative design that keeps kids engaged for hours indoors or outdoors. Here are the hottest toys of the holiday season. Price at time of publish: $33 Price at time of publish: $25 Price at time of publish: $20 Price at time of publish: $50 Price at time of publish: $25 Price at time of publish: $59 Price at time of publish: $10 Price at time of publish: $80 Price at time of publish: $18 Price at time of publish: $20 Price at time of publish: $43 Price at time of publish: $29 Price at time of publish: $17 Price at time of publish: $85
Price at time of publish: $50 Price at time of publish: $20 Price at time of publish: $45 Price at time of publish: $94 Price at time of publish: $128 Price at time of publish: $11 Price at time of publish: $25 Price at time of publish: $25 Price at time of publish: $90 Price at time of publish: $50 Price at time of publish: $32 Price at time of publish: $30 Price at time of publish: $13
Price at time of publish: $25 Price at time of publish: $225 Price at time of publish: $342 Price at time of publish: $130 Price at time of publish: $90 Price at time of publish: $60 Price at time of publish: $28 Price at time of publish: $80 Price at time of publish: $35 Price at time of publish: $45 Price at time of publish: $12 Price at time of publish: $50 Price at time of publish: $49 Price at time of publish: $25 Price at time of publish: $380 Price at time of publish: $39 Price at time of publish: $60 Price at time of publish: $25 Price at time of publish: $28 Price at time of publish: $95 Price at time of publish: $59 Price at time of publish: $10 Price at time of publish: $50 Price at time of publish: $20
Safety
When shopping—especially for younger babies and toddlers—keep an eye out for toys with small parts that can be a choking hazard. In general, avoid toys for tiny tots that are labeled 3+, says Morency Goldman.
Educational Value
Though overt learning components (numbers, letters, colors, and other technical features) are always nice, experts say toys don’t need to be complicated to have great educational value. Children are always learning—even during playtime, says Dr. Natasha Burgert, a pediatrician in South Overland Park, Kansas. Even traditional toys, like blocks and dolls, can help teach young children important cognitive, social, and motor skills, she says.
Why Trust The Spruce?
This article was written by Julia Fields, a lifestyle writer for The Spruce covering all things surrounding toys, gifts, and the holidays since October 2021. Before that, she covered similar topics including toy reviews, product roundups, expert-focused articles, and more. For this list, she considered the recommended age, durability, and how interactive the toy is—plus tapped into her personal experience. She also consulted with two experts to gain further insight: Kristin Morency Goldman, senior advisor of strategic communications for The Toy Association, and Dr. Natasha Burgert, a pediatrician based in South Overland Park, Kansas.
