Holiday Toy Guide 2026
The holidays are all about making memories, sharing joy and finding that perfect gift! But with so many toys, games and gadgets, where do you start? We’ve done the playtesting for you! Check out our roundup of fun, fresh finds and kid-tested favorites.
Reviewed by the Atlanta Parent staff and readers. Shop early and check with stores on availability. Prices listed are MSRP.
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Top 10 Toys
Enjoy a musical dance party with B. toys’ Boogie Woogie Musical Balance Board. Featuring four interactive game modes, kids can balance and create music through movement by following light patterns, catching colors and more. The challenges can be enjoyed solo or as a family. Ages 5 and older. $39.99.
The fun doesn’t have to stop as your baby grows with Grownsy’s 3-in-1 Wooden Baby Walker. Learn to move with the walker, but then, as he ages, convert it into an activity board. Our local toy reviewer loved the walker’s safety features and hanging the front piece on the wall for playtime. Ages 9-36 months. $79.99.
Crush, squish and smash objects using your own strength with the help of Moose Toys’ CrunchLabs The Crunchinator. Load up different items, crank the wrench, and unleash the power of physics by watching objects crumble. Ages 8 and older. $34.99.
Explore a new world of screen-free, interactive audio gaming with QUBS’ Qubitunes. Place the wooden blocks on the stage to create music, bring characters to life, listen to stories, play games and more. The Starter Set includes Hello, a four-in-one game with different ways to play. Ages 3 and older. $129.
Enjoy an incredible glow up with Basic Fun!’s Lite-Brite Trace & Dot Glowboard. Our tester claims this is the best toy ever! Design colorful pictures that shine with different color light options. Trace templates or draw freely for a beautiful new masterpiece before erasing to create all over again. Ages 6 and older. $24.99.
There’s no such thing as too much slime with Moose Toys’ Gui Gui Mega Slime Haul. Experiment with four signature slimes to create something new. Smear with the Gua Sha tool, roll with the 3-in-1 tool or add an adorable figurine for extra slime-time fun. Ages 6 and older. $32.99.
Put your creativity in full bloom with Hasbro’s Blooms by Play-Doh. Create realistic floral arrangements by shaping individual petals to make a beautiful, hands-on bouquet. The finishing spray will maintain the structure of the flowers, so the blooms will last! Ages 8 and older. $24.99-$39.99.
Play with your food with Klutz’s Felted Food Friends. Learn needle felting by creating breakfast, lunch, dinner and dessert favorites; then give each one an adorable custom face! Ages 10 and older. $24.99.
Vroom, vroom! Perform incredible tricks and stunts with Monster Jam’s Megalodon Storm All-Terrain Remote Control Monster Truck from Spin Master. This remote-controlled car can drive on any terrain – including water! – to pull off epic maneuvers. Our samplers loved that the car was fast, waterproof and stayed charged. Ages 4 and older. $59.50.
Catch, bond and get battle-ready with LEGO’s SMART Play: Training House with Pikachu. Powered by SMART technology, Pikachu reacts to your moves for an interactive Pokémon adventure. Add compatible sets to train even more Pokémon characters. Ages 6 and older. $69.99.
Active Fun
Walk with your new pal with Fisher-Price’s Moves with You Turtle Walker. Stroll along with this toy featuring sensory activities and six ball play areas. Our toy evaluator found this walker cute without tons of overstimulating lights. Ages 6 months and older. $37.79.
Test your aim with Fat Brain Toys’ Hover Shot. Switch on the fan and place the Styrofoam balls over each nozzle. Using magic (air!), the balls hover for a moving target. Grab the blaster, aim for the balls, and fire. Ages 6 and older. $49.95.
Imagination Station
Mix, match and play with everyday heroes with the Wooden Magnetic Mix & Match People from Jasey’s Toy Chest. Imagine a day as a chef, astronaut, firefighter, nurse or police officer. Or, mix it up for all-new careers! Our tester family loved the sturdiness of the items, the open-ended play and the storage bag for easy cleanup. Ages 2 and older. $19.99.
Bring your new bestie everywhere you go with Aleni Brands’ Bizzikins. Each doll opens to feature an interactive book focused on a different adventure and a mini doll. Our sampler loved playing with her new doll, and this sweet toy will grow with your child. Learn about space, gardening, pets or the forest. Ages 1-4. $34.99.
Get Crafty
Show off your fashionista skills with Spin Master’s Cool Maker Charm’d Accessory Studio. This DIY craft kit comes with everything you need to make your own charms. Our reviewer loved creating with this and making multiple charms. Choose shapes, mini gems, icons and holographic mix-ins before placing the charm into the studio for a magical reveal! Ages 6 and older. $19.99.
Build, create and explore the beauty of art with Hape x The Met Hokusai Great Wave Blocks Set. Inspired by iconic artwork, these colorful blocks bring the movement, shapes and rhythms of the sea to life. Kids can experiment with different designs, create their own structures and let their imaginations flow with every build. Ages 2-8. $34.99.
Green Thumb
Enter a magical world with BRIO Flora – Flower House. Use magnets to build a flower house with flora figures, decorations, mini characters and more. Then, play with your tiny new world! Our child evaluator loved playing with the adorable figurines, but the pieces can be annoying for an adult to put together. Ages 3 and older. $49.99.
Younger kids will bloom and grow with Ravensburger’s Play+ Puzzle and Play Set: My Little Plants. Sort and plant using the different pots and take care of your young buds with the magical water can as the flowers grow into beautiful blooms. Kiddos will love playtime, while adults will appreciate the quality and pretty aesthetics of this toy. Ages 1.5-4. $39.99.
Plant a beautiful garden with Thames & Kosmos’ SolarFlowers. When the sun hits these gorgeous flowers, the petals are brought to life in a fascinating display. Our tester enjoyed assembling this flower the most, but the guide also includes educational information for hands-on learning. Available in four colors. Ages 8 and older. $24.95.
Foodie Finds
Become a mini chef! Cook up delicious meals with Hasbro’s Play-Doh Super Sizzlin’ Kitchen Playset. Featuring real cooking sounds, toys activate the noises by sizzling burgers, boiling pasta and more. Our tester family appreciated the cool sounds and how imaginative playtime can be with this set. Ages 3 and older. $44.99.
Serve up sweet treats with Melissa & Doug’s Swirl and Serve Ice Cream Play Set. Scoop delicious flavors of ice cream into magical two-color cones. Our reviewer loved “mixing” the ice cream together, and her mom loved that it was mess-free! Ages 3 and older. $32.99.
Step into an adorable world of feline fun with the Aphmau Cat Café Surprise Set from Bonkers Toys. Inspired by popular Minecraft YouTuber and gamer Aphmau, this mini café comes in an irresistibly cute cat-shaped display case packed with 17 mystery surprises to discover. From tiny accessories to charming café details, every reveal adds to the fun! Our sampler enjoyed exploring all the teeny-tiny pieces and imaginative play possibilities. Ages 5 and older. $49.99.
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Toys Under $30
Create an impressive manicure with Scholastic’s The Klutz Book of Nail Art. With more than 60 designs, including unicorns, aliens, mermaids and more, find the perfect look for every occasion. Ages 6 and older. $21.99.
The early winner gets the worm! Rule the roost in card game Early Bird from Hootenanny Games. Get rid of all your numbered bird food cards through challenges: fend off squirrels, chase worms or build birdhouses. Ages 7 and older. $19.99.
Get active with Just Play’s Hasbro Skip It. A revamp of the ‘90s toy, this retro-inspired product has sounds, lights and a digital counter for an all-new way to play, including a colorful light show and encouraging responses. Ages 5 and older. $19.99.
Test your language learning with Thames & Kosmos’ Dice Words. Choose from letter dice that represent a different iced beverage and attempt to form the longest word possible. The colder your drink, the higher your score. Who will become the coolest? Ages 8 and older. $22.95.
Make a splash with Crayola’s Scribble Scrubbie Bluey Poolside Playset. Enjoy a poolside adventure with Bluey, Bingo, Bandit and Chilli. You can change up their poolside space by decorating the Scenic Recolorable Backdrop. Ages 3 and older. $27.69.
Glow up your slime with Moose Toys’ Gui Gui. With 13 different scents and four amazing textures, this slime experience will give you a fun surprise. And who knows? Maybe you’ll score the ultimate limited edition Over the Rainbow! Ages 6 and older. $9.99-$19.99.
Moose Games’ Flipside is a fast-moving, electronic handheld matching game. Master the moves to beat the blocks by flipping to find the color and sliding to match the lights. Challenge yourself or play with friends. Ages 8 and older. $19.99.
Who really knows you best? Test your family’s knowledge of each other with Moose Games’ Do You Really Know Your Family? Answer questions about each member to spark conversations for the ultimate family game night. Ages 8 and older. $19.99.
Bounce into fun with Hasbro’s Rebounce. Players bounce the squishy foam ball off the tabletop trampoline to opponents, who must catch it or the other team scores! This fast-paced game features three modes, so players can switch it up. Ages 8 and older. $19.99.
Engage your senses with Play-Doh Variety Multipack – 6 Piece. This unique set includes four different compounds infused with delightful scents. Play with glossy Super Stretch, crackly Foam, smooth Butter and goo, and smell strawberry, grape and more for a sensory experience. Ages 4 and older. $14.99.
Stocking Stuffers
Click, connect and collect with Goliath’s Clickeez 2-Pack. Each character is a single keyboard key that clicks and clacks just like a real keyboard, but their size makes it easy for them to travel with you. Discover more than 70 characters, such as Cozy Garden and Celestial Sky. Ages 6 and older. $4.99.
Take your beloved pet wherever you go with Luki Lab’s Pets 2 Love. Housed in a stylish heart-shaped purse, simply press the button, and your sweet pet pops out to greet you. Choose from pups or kittens. The purse strap doubles as a leash to take your new companion for a walk! Ages 5 and older. $14.99.
Style a cute animal companion with Just Play’s Knotz Animals Series 1. Unwind the yarn-ball blind capsule to find everything needed to create a soft new pal, including personalized and special accessories. Ages 8 and older. $9.99.
Master fast moves and test your ninja skills with Luki Lab’s Spinchaku. This finger spinner was inspired by martial arts and comes in four unique styles, along with interchangeable links that are customizable. Ages 8 and older. $11.99.
Roll your way to victory with Ridley Games’ Tortoise Tumble. The first player to earn 500 points is crowned Top Tortoise Tumbler. Our tester loved that this game was fun for the whole family and how easy it was to play a few rounds together. Ages 8 and older. $15.
Light up your imagination with Basic Fun!’s Lite-Brite Touch Mini. This portable toy features 25 light-up buttons in seven different colors for creating colorful images or playing games for a fun challenge. Ages 6 and older. $9.99.
Miniature and interactive Nano-Mals from Hasbro are looking for love. As they bond with their new owner, they’ll celebrate with song and colorful lights. Each pocket-sized character will stay put thanks to the attached clip for easy travel. Ages 5 and older. $19.99.
Build your perfect pet with Petit Collage’s Mini Craft Kit: Pocket Pet Corgi. Using the included items, create a corgi, pillow and a bone treat for your new best friend! A kitten craft kit is also available. Ages 6 and older. $10.
Just Play’s furReal Handfuls need your love and affection. Place one of these adorable pets — cockatoo, panda or penguin — in your palm for more than 50 reactions. The more kids interact with their pets, the more interactive the pets become. Ages 4 and older. $17.99.
Play with your food with MushMeez from Beverly Hills Teddy Bear Co. These tactile toys resemble foods for a stretchy and squishy playtime. Peel apart the layers to disassemble and reassemble your favorite foods over and over. Ages 8 and older. $9.99.
Shop Local
This story appeared in Atlanta Parent’s December 2019 issue.
Kazoo Toys
Find quality, cool and well-made toys that are typically off the beaten path at Kazoo Toys, which offers an enjoyable and whimsical toy shopping experience.
“Parents should shop locally for many reasons,” says Joe Novak of Kazoo Toys. “For one, local retailers know the Atlanta market and know the kids in it and can make gift recommendations. We can let the customers kick the tires a bit and try toys and games out. Local retailers are convenient to get to, and maybe most importantly, we are part of the community. We support schools, teams, hospitals and pay taxes that further help out the schools, roads and overall well-being of the local area. We also provide local jobs.”
For this holiday season, one of his recommendations is the Cosmos Cube by California Creations. This geometric puzzle transforms to show the planets in the solar system and replicate the sun and distant galaxies.
Rhen’s Nest Toy Shop
The blind box toys, like LOL Surprise! Dolls, and unicorn poop remain popular this holiday season, according to Christina and John Bonaccorse of Rhen’s Nest Toy Shop. The shop offers quality, unplugged toys, games and more to encourage creative play.
“Our market is unique toys that you don’t find on the shelves of big box stores,” says Christina. “When you shop locally, you get a different customer experience. It’s more pleasant than zombie-like cruising the aisles. It helps the local economy, as we take those dollars and spend them locally.”
“We pack a really big punch in a very small space,” adds John. “Everything we carry has a lot of thought and a lot of heart behind it. The things that we carry are much more special and last longer.”
One of their favorite toys for the season is the Mischief Maker from Mighty Fun! This wooden slingshot is a classic toy for kids that encourages outdoor play and is easy to use.
Happy Mango
This eco-friendly store serves pregnant moms and kids up to age 4 with books, gear, clothing and more. Phnewfula Frederiksen started the store to show that going green could be affordable and stylish.
“People are going more eco in their toys, as they’re focused more on reusable or educational toys, and parents are more aware of the types of toys they’re buying, if they can be passed down or recycled and reused,” she says of the toy trends she sees. She suggests thinking about the life of your toys when purchasing items for the holidays.
For the holidays, she recommends Eco-Dough from Eco-kids. This non-toxic playing dough is made from natural ingredients, including plant, fruit and vegetable extracts and essential oils.
Learning Express
Cindy O’Hara of Learning Express Alpharetta and East Cobb sees tactile toys, like Floof, fluffy modeling clay; fidget toys, like Shashibo, a magnetic puzzle cube; blind pack toys, like Cutetitos, surprise stuffed animals wrapped in a burrito; and VSCO girl style items, like scrunchies, as trendy gifts. She also sees a push towards screen-free items. One of her recommendations is the Ollyball Indoor Play Ball, a soft ball kids can decorate themselves and play with indoors. Parents can get their items gift wrapped and personalized for free.
The Alpharetta location was the first Learning Express in Georgia and has been in business for 20 years. “We’re waiting on the second generation of kids we served. We know our customers’ names and their kids’ names,” she says. “Here, it’s a different experience than shopping online. It’s a magical place for kids. We help create childhood memories.”
Treehouse Kid & Craft
Kim Bach of Treehouse Kid & Craft believes Plus-Plus tubes and Playmobil sets are always a hit with kids. Nostalgic toys of the 80s and 90s, such as Lite Brite, View-Master and Koosh Balls are back. She’s also noticed an increase in outdoor activity sets. Get your holiday present gift wrapped for free at the store.
For the holidays, she recommends Mad Mattr and Crazy Aaron’s Thinking Putty for anyone searching for sensory toys. Mad Mattr is a soft modeling dough that you can build with, while the Thinking Putty comes in multiple colors and effects.
“Small businesses shape the local culture, and we are so lucky to be in such wonderful communities that support local,” she says, as Treehouse Kid & Craft is in Decatur and Athens. “We are able to help and connect with customers in a way that big box companies cannot. We love our communities and the strong bonds we have created with our customers.”
– Emily Webb
