Grab These Popular Kids’ Toys Now Before They Sell Out During The Holiday Shopping Season

When it comes to kids and presents, one thing is for sure: You’ll know exactly how they feel about their gift as soon as they open it. Gift correctly and you’ll be rewarded with the most adorable oversized reaction. But if they aren’t into it? Get ready for the waterworks — or at minimum, a very begrudged thank you.
If you want to be the MVP of gift giving this holiday season, now is the time to start your shopping. If you think it’s early, it’s not: The toys kids really want may be hard to find after the Black Friday rush, so it’s worth it to get ahead of the game and buy them now. Don’t know what to get? Rounded up here are 15 toys kids are so obsessed with that it spurred parents and grandparents to leave reviews as an ode of gratitude.
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Even adults think holograms are cool, so imagine how magical this pixie-inside-a-lantern will appear to a kiddo. The 5-inch doll inside is sparkly, sassy and rocks some sweet braids. It’s interactive, too — kids answer questions in order to “unlock” the lantern and release the pixie.
Kinetic sand is so darn satisfying to sink your fingers into. It helps kids explore their senses and many find it soothing to play with. This kit is especially a fun one because it allows kids to make their favorite treats, like ice-cream sundaes, waffles and ice-cream sandwiches. And get this: It’s even scented like chocolate, vanilla and strawberry. No wonder it has more than 14,000 ratings from shoppers. Promising review: “My grandsons play for hours with this set. I always play the customer and enjoy every minute. It’s easy to clean up and fun to use.” — MG
Mario and his friends are more popular than ever following the success of 2023’s “The Super Mario Bros. Movie” along with several recent Nintendo Switch titles like Mario Vs. Donkey Kong, Princess Peach: Showtime! and Super Mario Party Jamboree. If you have a Nintendo-obsessed kid who you want to see spend less time staring at screens, this remote-controlled Mario kart is the way to go.
Promising review: “I was a bit unsure of what to get my son, but I figured this would be a hit—and boy, was I right. At first, it took him a few minutes to figure out the controls, but once he got the hang of it, there was no stopping him. This thing has some serious speed, even on our carpet! He had an absolute blast making it do crazy tricks, zooming around the house at lightning speed, and doing big circles in the living room. Not only did it keep him entertained for hours on end, but it also brought a huge smile to his face—which, as a parent, is priceless.” — kay (This review has been edited. See the full review here.)
With almost 600 pieces included, the youngster on your holiday list will be entertained for hours building Mirabel’s dreamy house from Disney’s “Encanto” — or using them to create their own masterpieces. It also comes with characters and key objects from the movie, like the gramophone and accordion.Promising review: “This set comes with cool little items, like a tea kettle and Mirabel’s accordion. There are a bunch of little details, and building it with my 6-year-old was super fun. He loved the little figures and playing with it like a doll house after it was built.” — Jessica
No matter which house the sorting hat assigned your little one to, every Harry Potter fan will love having their own house elf to spend time with. This Magical Dobby moves, has over 35 sounds and phrases and comes with his own sock in hand.
Promising review: “I have a reading nook in my library that is Harry Potter themed. When I saw this little Dobby, I knew I had to have him. He has been a huge hit with my students. They love pressing his hand and hearing him say different phrases, and the younger ones love reading stories to Dobby. We have done a STEAM activity where students made Dobby “clothes” to give him freedom, and several have made socks that we switch out with the sock that he came with. He has become an unofficial mascot of our library, and I’m ok with that. This Dobby is perfect for any fan of the Harry Potter universe.” — Ms. Parrothead
Some caregivers worry about the overstimulation of screentime, but a Toniebox eliminates that worry by providing audio entertainment without the flashing, addictive screens. Kids will be entertained with the songs and stories without getting too hyped up. Promising review: “My daughter loves music and she loves stories. This is such a great combination. I also love that you can get more figures to tell more stories. We have ‘Spiderman and Friends’ and she loves to listen to them anytime! This would be a great gift or just a great thing in general!” — Heather
Ms. Rachel has been teaching and entertaining kids on YouTube since 2019 and has gained over 12M followers on the platform. This Speak & Sing doll has over 16 phrases and 4 songs for children to interact with. It even has a quiet/loud switch for little ones with sensory sensitivities.
Promising review: “Just amazing. My two year old was so excited when I took this out of the box, and she’s been playing with it all day! She hugs Ms. Rachel and Rachel tells her she’s so loved and she’s so proud of her! Sings her favorite songs, and it’s so soft and such great quality!! I love this doll as much as my toddler does! It’s a must buy!” — Roxie Lee
More than 50,000 people have bought and rated this insanely popular card game, which has a cumulative rating of 4.8 out of five stars on Amazon. It’s super easy to play and each round takes only 10 to 15 minutes, so you don’t have to worry about anyone getting bored. It’s fast-paced and hilarious — everyone will be cracking up! Promising review: “Kids love this game! I feel like I need protective handwear to play because my kids take it so seriously. It’s fun and very engaging. My son especially loves it; he is learning to read so some of the games my older daughter likes are out of reach. The game is durable and holds up to many slaps. The game also goes back into the box easily so it doesn’t get ruined and cards are harder to lose. I am looking at other games from this brand because Taco Cat Goat Cheese Pizza is so fun!” — lauryell812
Have a budding artist on your holiday list? They’ll have a blast creating mini masterpieces using this rock painting set, which comes with glow-in-the-dark paint. Rocks, paint brushes, googly eyes and stickers are all included too.Promising review: “We used this whole kit on a day when we couldn’t be outside. All the kids and adults enjoyed the project. There were plenty of rocks, paint and stickers for everyone.” — B
This starlight lamp makes for an enchanting nightlight and isn’t so bright that it gets in the way of falling asleep. There are 16 different color combinations and it also plays soft, white noise.Promising review: “I have kids ranging from 2 years old to 11 years old and all of the children love the lights. I bought one for each room and they are enjoying how calming the lights are as well as the different colors. It also is very easy to use; my 2-year-old adjusts on his own to which colors he wants to see.” — Areatha A.
Know a little one obsessed with “Spider-Man”? This toy was made for them. It comes with a web slinger that attaches to a glove they wear. They can shoot web fluid out with a press of the button! Promising review: “My kids (7 and 10 years old) really enjoyed this toy. They had a blast playing outside in our yard battling each other. I was anxious to buy more silly string, but Amazon and Dollar Tree have refills. It’s also great that it can be used as a water shooter. We are very satisfied with this item.” — Batman shoes
Kids will have so much fun constructing this robot that they won’t realize they’re developing STEM skills in the process. It transforms into three different action heroes, so it’s like having three toys in one.Promising review: “This is a perfect building set. Not too big to get bored and not too small to build and be done too fast! Perfect for a third grader and super fun to play together!” — Tiffany