Hot Toys for the Holidays

We're not going to lie, being a parent is tough work. But there are lots of perks—like those sweet sloppy kisses and trips to the toy store. Every. Year. Have fun getting started on your holiday toy list with our Hot Toys for the Holidays.

These strong magnets are beloved by the small and tall and can be used to easily make many a sturdy construction. We've seen everything from beach houses to Ferris wheels appear, with less frustration than other building pieces.

Spin the wheel, use tongs to pick up the corresponding colour of acorn and place it on the log. Steal, pick or lose an acorn—it's all in the name of colour coding and building fine motor skills, while promoting taking turns. Fun even for the smalls!

We're over the moon that our little gal was so inspired by the Canadian women's soccer team. Now that she is so into the sport, we have fun mixing it up with a pink soccer ball—just to brighten up a gloomy winter day (and channel our inner Pinkalicious).

As if the original Twister wasn't hilarious enough, now there are more dance moves to be mastered featuring lights and music and a whole lot more groovy fun. Our little dance divas are over the moon with this dancing showcase. You can even add your own MP3 player and play DJ.

With a tough finish that is totally kid safe, this bobble trio can suction to a surface for more bobbing fun. Sleek design and cool colours, it's hard to stop at just one series.

Remember how the coolest part about Luke Skywalker's sand speeder was how the hood popped up to reveal the ‘engine?' This fire truck takes it to an entirely different level, with moving functions that include a real working ladder, extendable firehose, engine and so much more. Plus, it comes with an interactive storybook that takes you on a guided tour of the red wonder.

We're welcoming the latest member of the Fijit family to our home. These little sib yippits dance and perform tricks based on commands, plus they unlock more content from the original Fijit friends.

We would be 100% OK with our junior pastry chef pursuing an entrepreneurial career in the edible arts. She'll be off to a great start with this chocolate cake pops kit for use with the revamped Easy Bake® Ultimate Oven, which—by the way—includes red velvet cake mix with pink frosting. Ca-ching for the chef!

Barbie meets surfer family. This camper can house a family out for a spectacular vacation, complete with picnic blanket and surfboards.

It's a bat. No, a cat. No, a mystical creature. Whatever it is, it has easy-to-clean vinyl ears and an adjustable headband for hours of creative play.

These great kits guide kids through finger printing and then using pencils and other materials to create amazing dinosaurs and other creative creatures.

This transforming castle recognizes ogres and dragons and prepares its defense—walls flip to shield the castle interior and the drawbridge locks shut. Lights, sounds and catapults make this an imaginative foray into make-believe land.

Just when we thought we couldn't handle another stuffie in the house, along comes the Clump-O-Lump collection and…we're smitten. Is it the zipping and other modifications that beguiles us so? Or perhaps the range of available creatures, from birds to sharks. Not sure, but we do know that these are here to stay.

We remember being absolutely obsessed with toy cash registers as a kid. This version is even better, with larger coins for easier toddler grasping, a swipe card and LCD readout for scrawling their 'signature.'

Over 60 sketch pages plus stencils and markers allows our budding fashionista to create her very own Project Runway. Bonus—she may just design an outfit for us, too.

We admit to still being obsessed with this game, which we've loved ever since we first drove our 'family' around the board in our little plastic car. This new version uses an iPad to deliver hilarious segments from America's Funniest Home Videos and more, to keep the game exciting.

Kiddos have a blast making hairclips and headbands in their own design with gemstones, feathers and more. Add some designer ribbon and they'll have a creation worthy of Taylor Swift.

This toy is what happens when Hot Wheels® meets Bakugan. The vehicle forms a ball and springs into car form when it is released by the cannon—ready to rev another day. Fun for dual or solo play.

The whole family will be clamouring for one of their own. This write-on, push-a-button-to-erase tablet is great for car rides, messages and secret spy games, as well as role-playing school marm.

So lovely, we welcome the chance for a quiet moment spent playing the memory game with our little ones, while secretly imagining the Marimekko patterns worked into our decor.

We love this kit for our crafty kids and were amazed by their recreation of our favourite masterpieces. Equally awesome was the look on their faces when they saw the fabulous painting they had created—definitely deserving of a place of honour in the homestead art gallery.

Angry birds and evil piggies take the reader on an intergalactic adventure, full of astro facts and space data. It's fun and as addictive as the online game (but educational).

We get an awesomely handmade vintage vibe from this baby birdie. With crisp modern colours, it will be at home wherever there is a loving child. Organic Sherpa cotton and felt provide wonderful texture for exploring fingers.

Toys don't need a touch screen, bells and whistles or a lot of batteries to be great. We know, because we played with them in our day. Our list of 18 Toys You Loved, Too proves that a little nostalgia goes a long way when having fun with your kids.

These toys are sure to be more popular than the box they arrived in—and mom might like them too. Try one of them as a gift this year.