Best kids' toys overall
Hex Bots Wall Crawler Gecko CNET's Bridget Carey says this won her over "both as a mom and as someone who delights in making my co-workers squirm." By using a remote -- that can be as far as 25 feet away -- you can make it scale walls or perform spin tricks, she explains. To charge it, there's a USB-C port and you'll need two AAA batteries for the remote. Read our review here. $25 at Walmart Close
RealFX Disney Stitch Not just any puppet -- this amazing 18-inch-tall Stitch toy offers 100 different action and sound combinations. You can use the buttons inside to move his ears and mouth and make his eyes blink, and the sound effects will automatically change based on how you're using him. He'll react with different moods depending on whether you make his ears go up and down, and if you pet his head, he'll react happily. "He might be the best toy to land on Earth this year," declared CNET's Bridget Carey. $85 at Amazon Close
3Doodler Start Plus This cool 3D printing pen lets kids create anything they could possibly imagine out of plastic filaments. It's slim and light, making it easy for small hands to hold, and it's great introduction to the world of 3D printing. The pen melts sticks of plastic so kids can draw them into any shape, and the nozzle and melted plastic aren't hot, so it won't burn little hands. CNET's Bridget Carey confirms, "I've tested it; you can put the tip to your skin and draw on your finger. I had no worries giving it to my kids." $48 at Amazon Close
Furby interactive plush toy Furby is back and better than ever. It comes with five voice modes, a bunch of dance moves and more than 600 unique responses, including phrases, jokes, songs and more. Plus, it can glow in the dark. It can communicate with other Furbies too and is quite huggable. Past concerns about the Furby can be kicked to the curb -- there's no Wi-Fi connectivity, no app and no LCD screen eyes. Basically, it's more doll than robot, which is a huge plus. $37 at Walmart Close
Dog-E If your little one has been begging for a dog and you're apprehensive about all the responsibility, Dog-E may be the pet for you. Although WowWee's Dog-E isn't the first robot dog to hit the toy market, this pup has a bunch of unique features that make it stand out from the pack (no pun intended). Each Dog-E is unique in their colored light designs and personality traits -- you won't know which version you've got until it's out of the box. There are over 200 sounds and reactions to expect with your new robot pup, including real dog sounds, tail wagging and a cute little run. An accompanying mobile app adds further interactive play, allowing you to teach it tricks and track its basic needs. Read our WowWee Dog-E Robot Dog review. $40 at Amazon $42 at Target Close
WowWee Fingerlings Interactive Baby Monkey Fingerlings are back, and these finger monkeys are more than meets the eye. Equipped with more sensors, these fuzzy cuties know when they're on your finger and have more animated features than ever before. Each monkey in the set comes in a different color and personality, which means they're programmed with a variety of different reactions. Might as well collect them all. $16 at Walmart Close
Thames & Kosmos Gecko Run: Marble Run Starter Set This isn't just any old marble set. This version is more like a gecko, with suction cups that let the chutes and funnels climb up and down your walls. "Kids drop in the included marbles and watch gravity take its course as they roll down and drop from piece-to-piece," explains CNET's Bree Fowler. "Of course, it doesn't work perfectly each time and marbles go flying, but that's half the fun and how kids learn; they can adjust the pieces and try again." Expansion sets are available too and include fun add-ons, like loops and trampolines. $30 at Amazon $30 at Walmart $30 at Target Close
Bitzee Magicals Interactive Bitzee is a screen-free interactive pet that kids can play with, care for and take with them anywhere. It loves treats and is reactive to touch, swipes and other movement. Each one begins as a baby and grows through three evolutionary stages, culminating in a final stage that unlocks a special game. Twenty interactive animals -- like a cat, unicorn and dragon -- can be unlocked the more your kiddo plays with Bitzee. $30 at Amazon Close
Loog Mini Electric Guitar If your child has expressed an interest in playing an instrument, this is a great starter instrument and teaches kids how to play songs via flashcards and video lessons. It's a three-string guitar, has a built-in amp and speaker and comes in six fun colors, from light blue to red to pink. To make the gift complete, you can also get a strap ($19) and carrying case ($39). $179 at Amazon $180 at Walmart Close
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