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We narrowed down the best nine toys of the year.
ByMiller Kern on
All products featured here are independently selected by our editors and writers. If you buy something through links on our site, Mashable may earn an affiliate commission.
Overview
Best for kids who like to take photos
Seckton Children’s Digital Camera
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Best for science-minded kids
LeapFrog Magic Adventures Microscope
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Best for crafty kids
Stitch ‘N Style Fashion Studio pre-threaded sewing machine
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Best for every kid
Lego Mars Spacecraft Exploration Missions set
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Best for kids into robotics and RC toys
Sphero Mini Golf Ball
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See 4 More
We called in the experts (aka our panel of kid reviewers and their parents) to test this year’s hottest toys. Their favorites earned the Mashable Choice Toys badge of honor.
There are so. many. toys. out there, it's hard to know which ones are actually worth your money and which ones your kids will play with once, then let collect dust at the bottom of their toy box. We wanted to see which of this year's hottest toys were actually worth the hype, so we had our panel of kid reviewers (along with their parents) test out 14 of 2022's top toys based on various lists such as the Toy Insider and Amazon's Toys We Love.
Our reviewers spent a couple weeks playing with some of this year's most popular toys and then chose the top nine based on their experiences. We still liked the toys that didn't make the top nine, but they just didn't wow our kids in the same way. In addition to the top nine, our panel also played with RUKUSfx, Crayola Ultimate Light Board, My Avastars Dreamer_3.0 fashion doll, Alice’s Wonderland Bakery oven, and . Scroll to the bottom of this article to see why these toys didn't quite make the cut.
And keep reading to find out why our kid reviewers loved these nine toys the most.
MORE:
Mashable Choice Awards 2023Best Gifts For KidsBest Laptops For KidsAll Best Products
Best for kids who like to take photos
Kids love to take pictures. Just ask parents, caregivers, or anyone who’s ever had to pry a newly-smudged and crudded-up iPhone out of their preschooler’s hands. The Seckton digital camera is designed specifically for children, and it has a price point fitting for the audience who might not be the most gentle handlers.
The camera features an 8MP resolution, simple buttons, and tons of fun in-camera stickers, filters, and frames. It has a decent battery life and is simple enough for young kids to use without constantly asking for help.
Editor's note: Product information has been synthesized from a review previously published on Mashable. Read the full review here.
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Best for science-minded kids
The LeapFrog Magic Adventures Microscope is a toy first and a fully-functioning microscope second. It has a 2.4-inch screen, and comes with a reusable slide, reusable tray, and "smart slides" that allow kids to inspect several different microscopic samples (minerals, plant material, human cells, etc.) and watch videos related to them.To be clear, the slides don’t contain actual samples — instead, they’re more like memory cards. Placing a smart slide on the microscope allows you to access that themed content.
This is a great toy for parents and kids. Our 7-year-old tester said, "I liked that you can see things up close and inside." As a Minecraft fan, he also loved that there was a smart slide with gold on it. The only downsides are that there's no built-in storage for the slides and there are limited slides, so kids only have certain content they can watch and play with.
Editor's note: Product information has been synthesized from a review previously published on Mashable. Read the full review here.
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Best for crafty kids
A legit sewing machine might be too advanced for a kid starting out, but the Stitch 'N Style Fashion Studio is super beginner-friendly. It's pre-threaded and has a sensor that tells it to sew when fabric is near the needle. It also comes with fabric that has patterns and cut lines printed on it for five different sewing projects, and directions for each pattern are easy to follow.
You're also able to use your own fabric, so the toy sewing machine has a longer lifespan that just the included projects.
Editor's note: Product information has been synthesized from a review previously published on Mashable. Read the full review here.
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Best for every kid
You really can't go wrong with a Lego set. There's a reason the building bricks have been such a popular toy for decades. The Mars Spacecraft Exploration Missions set is unique because you complete missions online as you build and once one mission is complete, you move on to the next and build some more until the set is complete. This online feature makes the experience of building even more exciting than just following paper instructions.
Our 10-year-old reviewer said, “I like the Lego set because it uses an app and not instructions and it lets you build your own stuff for each mission. There’s nothing I don’t like about it.” This Lego set is for people ages 6 and up, so it's a universally good toy for almost anyone.
Editor's note: Product information has been synthesized from a review previously published on Mashable. Read the full review here.
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Best for kids into robotics and RC toys
A golf ball might not sound like a fun toy, but this isn't your average golf ball. It's a robot kids can control from a phone or tablet. They can set up courses with household items or just steer it around using the onscreen toggle. The golf ball also acts as a controller for in-app games where you hold the ball and move it around to complete the challenges on the screen.
Editor's note: Product information has been synthesized from a review previously published on Mashable. Read the full review here.
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Best for kids interested in STEM
Not to be all "kids these days," but kids these days are digital natives in a way that it's actually a disservice to not introduce them to emerging technologies. And as such, coding is not some far-off profession for them, it's a skill built into their toys.
The Osmo Coding Starter Kit is cool because, yes it is digital, but it also has physical game pieces your kid can play with as they code in the online games. You take each of the pieces and build your code on a flat surface in front of your tablet, lending to a more tangible and interactive experience.
Editor's note: Product information has been synthesized from a review previously published on Mashable. Read the full review here.
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Best for fans of magic
You may have seen this toy on TikTok — the appeal is the magical mist that appears before revealing a stuffed animal inside the crystal ball after you wave your wand and cast some spells to summon the plush toy. Even cooler, you can keep recreating this effect with your own toys (as long as they fit inside).
The fun doesn't stop there. You can ask the Mixie plush yes or no questions and it will tell you your "fortune." The crystal ball can even act as a night light. It's a great toy for a wide range of children (or adults).
Editor's note: Product information has been synthesized from a review previously published on Mashable. Read the full review here.
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Best for the aspiring creator
The VTech KidiZoom Creator Cam is ideal for those kids who aspire to have their own YouTube channel and already know how to operate a ring light. It's easy to use and comes with a tripod and green screen (with 22 built-in backgrounds), setting kids up with tools they need to start vlogging.
The camera helps kids be creative and learn how to shoot and edit their own videos. It's not the most high-quality camera, but it's a nice starter option.
Editor's note: Product information has been synthesized from a review previously published on Mashable. Read the full review here.
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Best for young kids
Out of the box, Smart Teddy does just look like a regular stuffed animal and has the softness of one, too. Unlike typical stuffed animals, this bear is connected to an app giving it access to a growing library of songs, stories, games, and more that kids can access via the app or pressing any of Teddy's four paws. And this isn't just early development content — there's engaging material for kids who already know their ABCs and how to count.
Our 5-year-old tester took the smart teddy bear to his kindergarten class and had kids asking if they could hear one more story from Teddy before they left school for the day.
Editor's note: Product information has been synthesized from a review previously published on Mashable. Read the full review here.
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How we tested
We chose these 14 toys based on lists such as the Toy Insider and Amazon's Toys We Love. Our reviewers, ranging in ages from 2 to 14 years old, played with the toys for a couple weeks and determined their favorites based on:
Unique factor: Whether the toy has shelf appeal
Long-term appeal: If this is something my kids will continually choose to play with
Educational value: Whether the toy is just for play or if it has some learning features
In addition to the top nine our panel of kid reviewers chose, they tried out five other toys that they didn't love as much.
My Avastars Dreamer_3.0 fashion doll: This doll comes with stickers to dress it in outfits that transfer to an online game, but the game itself wasn't as spectacular as our 10-, 12-, and 14-year-old reviewers would've liked. Though, they did like the doll itself and can see it being a good toy for younger kids.
RUKUSfx: Our 5- and 13-year-old reviewers had fun with this screen-free music maker, but it was a little too challenging for them to master, which keeps it out of the top nine.
Crayola Ultimate Light Board: Our 7-year-old tester was not really into this drawing toy, but the 2-year-old was, and their parents liked that it was more sustainable than paper. However, the light effects fell short, and this wasn't much cooler than a dry erase board.
Alice’s Wonderland Bakery oven: Our 4-year-old reviewers thought this interactive bakery was fine, but they would abandon it after about 30 minutes. It's definitely a toy for fans of Alice's Wonderland Bakery, and not so swoon-worthy if your kids don't watch the show.
: This chemistry set has that "wow" appeal of a real lab, but it required so many additional ingredients that weren't everyday household items. Our 5-year-old tester was content just filling the test tubes with water, but our 13-year-old wanted to actually try the experiments and found that the included ingredients ran out quickly.
Miller Kern is a New York City-based Deputy Reviews Editor at Mashable, where she writes and edits reviews of tech products including headphones, skincare devices, laptops, sex toys, e-readers, robot vacuums, and more. She has five years of experience writing buying guides, gift guides, and deals, and covering shopping holidays like Prime Day and Black Friday. Miller can tell you which products are actually worth your money. She also explores trends in the shopping sphere, such as dupes and viral TikTok moments.
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