Top 10 holiday toys of 2018 and where to find them in Birmingham

Have you started your holiday toy shopping yet? Watch kids of all ages smile big with these top toys of 2018.

Ages 1-18+ Months

Shopping for children under the age of two can be tough—mostly because it’s an age when kids love to chew on toys and also throw them. So you need to think strategically. The toys below are popular choices this year that can handle some sticky situations.

Sesame Street Let’s Dance Elmo

What kiddo can resist Elmo? Especially on that features music and lights and even dances. This is a toy that keeps on giving, too, because kids up to age four will love it.

Find it here: Barnes & Noble, Target, Walmart,

Bonus Item: The Dance and Groove Rockit is another top-seller this year—and it’s similar to Sesame Street Let’s Dance Elmo. It features moving motions and music with over 100 songs, sounds and phrases.

Find it here: Best Buy, buybuyBaby, Kohl’s, Target, Walmart

Laugh and Learn 3-in-1 Interactive Smart Car

For the little one that’s always on the move, the Laugh and Learn 3-in-1 Interactive Smart Car is the perfect gift. It features exciting sounds, songs and alphabet help, and can also be ridden by both bouncing or walking. Children will especially love being able to turn the wheel, steer, honk the horn and play the radio.

Find it here: Target, Walmart

Ages 3+

Ah, ages three and four. My all-time favorite age. This is the age when kids can finally talk well enough to have real conversations with you and it’s a time when their imaginations truly explode. So what do you buy littles at this spunky and fun-loving age? Interactive animals, of course!

WowWee Fingerlings HUGS

Last year was all about WowWee Fingerlings—the animatronic, interactive baby monkeys that adorably grasped onto your finger. This year, there is a brand-new version on the block that kids are going wild over—Fingerlings HUGS.

Toys only get bigger and better, right?

Fingerlings HUGS are larger than the original finger-sized characters and are designed with long arms that can actually embrace children in a hug. They also interact with you, reacting with noises and movements.

Find it here: Barnes & Noble, Kohl’s, Target, Walmart

Paw Patrol My Size Lookout Tower

Marshall. Sky. Rubble. These are just some of the adorable rescue-pup characters from the hit show Paw Patrol. This year, their lineup of toys continues to make kids jump and scream in excitement—especially the Paw Patrol My Size Lookout Tower.

With vehicles, lights, sounds and tiny Paw Patrol figurines, this gift will keep them entertained for hours!

Find it here: Target, Walmart

Ages 5+

As children reach age five, the number of potential gifts grows enormously. You no longer have to worry about smaller pieces being dangerous (safety score!) and kids has also discovered their personal niche in the world of toys and entertainment. Here are some ideas when shopping for kids ages five and up:

Hatchimals

Hatchimals have been around for a new years now, but they are still as popular as ever. What are they? Small, super cute, fluffy creatures. Each Hatchimals character comes in an egg that will eventually hatch with help from a child. (Get it… a hatching animal?) Imagine a mix between a Pokemon and a Furby that can walk, talk, dance and play games.

Don’t forge the batteries! Each Hatchimals creature require two AA batteries.

Find it here: Books-A-Million, Barnes & Noble, buybuy Baby, Homewood Toy and Hobby, Kohl’s, JC Penney, Target

Osmo Genius Kit for iPad

Kids love the iPad. (Okay, adults do too.) Who wouldn’t be entertained by its bright lights, sounds and endless possibilities? So check this out. The Osmo Genius Kit combines the love of learning tools like the iPad that are meant to entertain and educate with real-world pieces for an interactive learning experience.

The kit includes:

• An iPad stand
• Hand-held pieces
• Storage containers

Before you buy! This toy is not available for Android devices. So be sure the child has an iPad.

Find it here: Barnes & Noble, Best Buy, Target, Walmart

Ages 9+

Once your child hits 9 or so, they have endless knowledge characters and creatures from literature, television and film. Because of this, some of the best toy gifts are ones based on specific entertainment brands. Perfect examples include: Harry Potter and Star Wars. Here are two of the top toys this year to consider for your no-long-a-baby/preteen:

LEGO 75954 Harry Potter Hogwarts Great Hall Building Kit

LEGO sets are fun for any age, but it may just be the very best for kids in the 9-14 years old category. This is when kids finally don’t mind sitting still, and they can also follow more complex building instructions.

One of the most sought-after LEGO kits this holiday season is the Harry Potter Hogwarts Great Hall Building Kit. It features 878 pieces, including many mini figures so you can relieve some of the best wizarding moments from the Harry Potter books and movies.

Find it here: Books-A-Million, Barnes & Noble, The Lego Store, Target, Walmart

Pokemon Shining Legends Elite Trainer Box

Remember the days of Pokemon trading cards? Well, believe it or not, they are still hugely popular. For fans of the cards, the Pokemon Shining Legends Elite Trainer Box is a great gift. It comes with special cards, including a new version of the Legendary Pokemon Ho-Oh, plus:

• Ten booster packs
• Protective card sleeves
• A player’s guide
• Dice
• A free coin

Find it here: Barnes & Noble, GameStop, Walmart

Ages 14+

14+. You know what the “plus” means don’t you? Yep! These next two gifts are fun for everyone from early teen to adult. Who’s ready to play?

Exploding Kittens Card Game

Nothing beats a good card game, especially one that includes the hilarity of explosions. And kittens.

The object of the game: to take turns drawing cards. Draw an exploding kittens card and go BOOM!

Exploding Kittens is the must-have card game this Christmas, so be sure to grab it before the store shelves are all empty!

Find it here: Books-A-Million, Barnes & Noble, Target, Walmart

K’NEX Thrill Rides – Bionic Blast Roller Coaster

So you have a teen at home, huh. I’m guessing they only seem to get any entertainment out of their smart phone or iPad. They couldn’t possibly want to build and play with a toy anymore, right? Well, there’s one toy that will put that theory to rest—the K’NEX Thrill Rides – Bionic Blast Roller Coaster.

This is a truly amazing building and engaging set, easily one of the best K’NEX sets ever release. With 809 pieces and a motor, who wouldn’t be intrigued?

Here’s the coolest part—K’NEX has created their very own virtual reality app that interacts with the final design build. So not can you build your own creation in the real world, but you can also experience what it would be like to ride it in the virtual world. Can’t get much cooler than that!

There’s just one problem with this toy—and that’s getting your teen to let you join in on the building fun!

Find it here: Kohl’s, Walmart

Which toy are you most exciting to shop for this holiday season?