toys – The Next Kid Thing

TTPM Unveils 2017’s Hot Toys

October 5, 2017 by Jen Rabulan-Bertram

Last week, my big guy and I woke up bright and early to head to the city for TTPM’s Holiday Showcase. Always one of my favorite events of the season, TTPM named the 20 toys that they consider to be the hottest toys of the holiday season.

From products featuring notable entertainment characters and the latest advancements in tech to standout classic toys and innovative preschool playthings, the TTPM Most Wanted List reflects the current trends dominating the toy aisles.

TTPM named so many of our favorites as hot toys, and even included a few that are new to us! As much as we love learning about TTPM’s hot list, we love getting our hands on all of these cool new toys at the event.

We’ll be sure to share our thoughts on the hot list, but without further ado, here is TTPM’s Most Wanted List:

Fingerlings by WowWee
Hatchimals Surprise by Spin Master
Barbie Dreamhorse by Mattel
Doc McStuffins Baby All-in-One Nursery by Just Play
Teddy Ruxpin by Wicked Cool Toys
Hot Wheels Super Ultimate Garage by Mattel
Imaginext DC Super Friends Batbot Xtreme from Fisher-Price
Lego Boost Nerf Nitro Paw Patrol My Size Lookout Tower
DropMix by Hasbro
KidBuzz by VTech
LOL Surprise by MGA Entertainment
LuvaBella and LuvaBeau by Spin Master
Nintendo Switch by Nintendo Pikmi Pops
Oonies by Moose Toys
Little Bits’ Star Wars Droid Inventor
Star Wars Hero Droid BB-8 Interactive Droid from Spin Master
Star Wars Force FX Lightsaber from Hasbro

Due to the early buzz, so many of these were no surprise! We’ll share our video and thoughts on these toys soon!

Giveaway: Despicable Me 3 Toothbrush, Mineez and $25 Visa Giftcard

June 30, 2017 by Jen Rabulan-Bertram

Gru, the girls and the Minions are back with a brand new adventure in Despicable Me 3. The boys and I love the Minions and can’t wait to see this fun family film!

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Over the past few months we’ve had a chance to get a glimpse of all the new Despicable Me 3 goodies! In honor of Despicable Me 3’s release, we’re sharing our thoughts on the Minions Talking Toothbrush from Colgate and Moose Toys’ Mineez!

Always a fan of innovative gear, we loved taking Colgate’s Minions Talking Battery Powered Toothbrush for a spin! This cool toothbrush has power that will give freshen up the kids’ toothbrushing routine. My little guy loved the Minions that talk when you push the button. The toothbrush helps kids with easy commands and which area of their mouths to tackle next. It’s totally genius!

Our friends over at Moose Toys have these cool new collectibles called Mineez that fit into that blind bag toy craze. Instead of bags, Mineez are in a plastic ball for kids to collect. We scored one of the cool vacation Minions, complete with hula skirt. I love the affordable price range of these fun new collectibles from Moose.

And in honor of Despicable Me 3 hitting theaters, we’ve got an awesome prize pack up for grabs! Please enter below to win this fun prize pack!

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One (1) winner receives

•$25 Visa gift card to see Despicable Me 3 in theaters June 30

•Two (2) Colgate® Minions™ Talking Battery Powered Toothbrushes

•Two (2) Mineez Despicable Me Surprise Packs

•Official Motion Picture Soundtrack

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DESPICABLE ME 3 – In Theaters June 30

Full disclosure: this is a sponsored post. All opinions on NKT are my own. Thank you for always supporting The Next Kid Thing!

The Best Beauty and the Beast Toys and Dolls from Hasbro and Funko

March 17, 2017March 17, 2017 by Jen Rabulan-Bertram

Disney’s latest live action film, Beauty and the Beast, is debuting today with much Disney fanfare. Cue #BeourGuest and sparkly costumes!When the teaser started to show online and on tv, generations were captivated, including the generation that grew up watching the iconic animated version. Today, those kids who watched Belle and Beast’s animated tale are now parents, and of course, the new film’s appeal is reaching a new generation in an epic way.

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In celebration of the film’s release, we’re sharing some of our favorite toys and trinkets that we spotted at the 2017 Toy Fair here in NYC. The various companies that have the Disney license created magical toys to dazzle kids and engage in cool new ways.

Enchanting Melodies Belle Doll

Dressed in her gold ball gown, the Belle doll sings the “Something There” song from Disney’s live-action movie Beauty and the Beast. With one press of Belle’s stomach, she will sing of her budding love for the Beast in this classic song. Requires three A76 batteries, included. ($29.99/Available: Spring 2017)

Dance and Code Belle

Dance and Code Belle was one of my absolute favorite toys at Toy Fair, and perhaps my most favorite coding doll. This unique and gorgeous doll is inspired by Belle’s brains and graceful dancing. With an app, kids can code Belle’s dances and movements. I thought this was such a unique way to incorporate the tenets of STEAM and introducing coding.

Check out a video of Belle in action, as well as the other Beauty and the Beast dolls from Hasbro’s Toy Fair Showroom

Disney Beauty and the Beast Grand Romance

The deluxe duo 2-Pack includes a Belle doll dressed in a removable dress inspired by her yellow ball gown, Beast figure in his ballroom attire featuring a furry textured body, and fashion accessories. ($49.99) Available Spring 2017

Castle Friends Collection Small Doll Set

Once the human servants of the enchanted castle, the Disney Beauty and the Beast Castle Friends Collection Small Doll Set features five loyal friends to The Beast. The set features some of the characters from the live-action movie including Lumiere, Cogsworth, Chip, Mrs. Potts and Plumette. ($14.99) Available Spring 2017

Beauty and the Beast Village Belle Doll

The Village Belle doll wears the iconic blue dress inspired by the village scene in Disney’s live-action movie Beauty and the Beast. Kids, collectors, and fans of the timeless classic will love reliving their favorite moments and imagining their own stories. Includes Belle doll, outfit, and a pair of removable shoes inspired by her outfit in Disney’s live-action movie, Beauty and the Beast. ($14.99/available Spring 2017)

Funko Disney’s Belle, Beast and Gaston

Funko creates an expansive line of licensed vinyl figures, including many beloved Disney characters such as Belle and the Beast. I loved checking out the multiple iterations of these characters from their Pop! line of vinyl figures. With their over exaggerated animated features, these lovable collectibles are ideal for fans and kids alike. Now if only they had a LeFou character!

Have you seen Beauty and the Beast yet? If so, what did you love about it? More importantly, which toys are on yours and your kids’ wishlist?

Best Toys for 1 Year Olds + Diapers.com Giveaway

February 23, 2017February 24, 2017 by Jen Rabulan-Bertram

Even on the heels of Toy Fair, we always have toys on our minds. With a friend’s baby turning 1 soon, I was inspired to create a round up of the best toys for 1 year olds. I scoured Diapers.com to curate some of our tried and true favorite toys for 1 year olds.

From ride-ons to classic toys to techy toys, I gathered our favorites based on play value, durability, accessibility and whether my kids or kids we know loved them!

1. Manhattan Toy Snuggle Bunny Baby Doll

ManhattanToySnuggleBunnyNKT Transitioning from baby to toddler, one year olds start to change their play patterns. According to KidsHealth.org, babies go from shaking and throwing toys to understanding functions of objects as a toddler. At one year old, kids start to play pretend, so toys that allow for nurturing and modeling behavior is always a hit. Manhattan Toy makes a myriad of interactive and beautiful toys such as the Snuggle Bunny Baby Doll ($17.) This soft and cuddly doll makes for a perfect first baby doll.

2. Plan Toys Sort and Count

PlanToysSortandCount Stacking and nesting toys help toddlers develop hand-eye coordination, as well as cognitive development, according to an article on Cnn.com Simple, open ended stacking toys such as PlanToys’ Sort and Count allows kids to sort and stack the various pieces. This abacus-looking toy is made of Plan Toys’ planwood, organic rubberwood, e-zero glue, water-based dyes, recycled and recyclable materials, soy and water-based ink.

3. VTech Sit to Stand Learning Walker

VTechSittoStandWalker Many toddlers are learning to walk and toddling around at a year old, so walkers make a fun gift. This VTech Sit to Stand Learning Walker offers a lot of play value with its many learning tools and interactive electronic features. VTech is so great at the electronic learning toys, but they’re also masters at creating toys that grow with kids. This walker can be used for kids in a more stationary pattern, as well as for those who are cruising and walking.

4. Melissa and Doug Large Shapes Knob Puzzle

MelissaandDougKnobPuzzle According to Learning4kids, puzzles help toddlers with important skills such as cognitive, fine motor, hand and eye coordination, problem solving, social and self esteem. Wooden puzzles from Melissa and Doug provide fun play patterns for toddlers to co-play and enjoy independence. I love the knob puzzles for toddlers, to give them extra help grasping these chunky pieces. Classic puzzles are timeless and perfect for curious problem solvers.

5. B Toys Fish Splish Boat

BtoysSplishFishBoat Good bath toys are the best for toddlers! I love the colors and creativity that B Toys inspires. This fun boat that can be used in the bath has a number of fun features that help toddlers explore bathtime and the environment around them. From the fishing pole, fish, captain and little rudder, this cool boat helpstoddlers with imaginative play while getting cleaned up.

6. Step 2 Whisper Ride II

Step2WhisperRideII As the winter starts to fade to warmer spring and summery days, ride-on toys will be all the craze. Step 2 are pros at the ride-on and outdoor toys, and the Whisper Ride II is one of my all time favorites. This push car is perfect for going on strolls in the neighborhood without the restraints of a stroller. Toddlers can pretend to steer while driving their ride, all the while mom or dad navigates with the handle. The Whisper Ride features a seatbelt, small storage compartment and cup holders.

There are so many awesome toys for 1 year olds on Diapers.com, and these are just a small sampling of their selection. Do you have a favorite toddler toy? What makes you and your kid love it so much?

Giveaway

Want to grab a few new toys of your own? We have a $50 gift certificate to Diapers.com up for grabs. Tell me what your favorite toddler toy is and why! Share your comment below.

For even more entries, check out the giveaway below to win a Diapers.com gift certificate. This giveaway will be open for a week, so be sure to enter!

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Full disclosure: this is a sponsored post in partnership with Nakturnal, with a gift certificate as a prize. As always, all opinions on NKT are mine. Thank you for supporting The Next Kid Thing.

Momtrends Holiday Soiree: Celebrating the Holidays in Style

November 23, 2016 by Jen Rabulan-Bertram

The Holiday season is officially here, and what better way to kick it off than with friends and style. Last week, Momtrends hosted their annual Holiday Soiree, where, together with fellow bloggers and editors, I got a glimpse of some stylish gifts and entertaining ideas.

Nambe offers a beautiful selection of gifts, including place settings, serving ware, jewelry and so much more. As a major silver fan, I fell in love with several of the rings. What I loved about Nambe’s offerings was that they look highend, yet at an attainable price range. I have this fun ring on my wish list!

Arizona Teas shared an array of 100% natural Good Brew teas. I kept going back for the delicious Lemon tea and Peach tea. The fresh taste of these teas are ideal for those who like iced tea all year round.

Avery as a perpetual DIYer, I loved absolutely everything that Avery was showcasing at the Soiree. While I loved the funny emoji labels that use the circle tags, I also love those square labels and gift tags. I plan on doing several DIY projects to showcase here on the blog, so keep your eye open for those fun gems.

Mabel’s Labels is another one of my all-time faves and staples. Mabel’s Labels are the preeminent brand in personalized labels, so it’s no surprise that they have personalized gifts covered too. I’m definitely eyeing those personalized books. My little guy loves Paw Patrol, so we’ll have to ask Santa for those fun books. The stocking stuffer label set are my faves. I decided that I’m going to use those as labels for my nephews this year. Fun and functional!

American Girl Doll has a beautiful lineup of classic dolls. Wellie Wishers are a popular segment that features a diverse cast of sweet dolls. I personally fell in love with the Asian doll, Emerson. Like the other gorgeous Wellie Wishers, Emerson is a lower price point at just $60.

Avon always has a fantastic variety of makeup and other beauty products to pamper yourself or to save for gifts. Aside from Avon’s gorgeous palettes, these wonderful products are a great option for a home-based business. I loved learning how some people sell Avon to offset school expenses and other expenses.

Armigami is a glamorous multi-function shawl that comes in a variety of fabrics and textures. It can be worn as a shawl over the shoulders, a cape, a bolero, a skirt and so much more. This unique shawl would be ideal for nights on the town to traveling to use in lieu of a blanket or coat. I was so fortunate to win the gorgeous black sequined Armigami which I can’t wait to wear to my community holiday party!

I loved learning about Pearhead, a fun gift company that offers so many unique novelties, many of which can be personalized. In addition to baby handprint gift sets, Pearhead offers pet gifts, ornaments, fun signs and even photo prop sets, which we had a blast trying out ourselves!

Had so much fun with friends while scouting the trends for the holidays! Thanks for another awesome soirée @momtrends and crew! #mtholiday

A photo posted by Jen Rabulan-Bertram (@jenrab) onNov 15, 2016 at 7:17pm PST

A big thank you to Nicole and the rest of the Momtrends crew for throwing another fabulous Holiday Soiree! Thank you to the sponsors for the generous gift bag, many of which were mentioned. Keep your eye out for my gift guide which will feature more items from these companies.

The Summer of Nerf

September 21, 2016September 22, 2016 by Jack B

As Biggie starts to get older, he’s been expressing a lot of interest in blogging and taking a more active role on The Next Kid Thing. J has often been the subject of my posts, not to mention a key reviewer, so it’s fun to help him take on these new responsibilities. Because of J’s obsession with Nerf, I gave him a job to write a post and recap his summer. Fun barely scrapes the surface—it was a phenomenal summer with memories to last a lifetime! And without further ado, I give you J’s first blog post:

This summer was the best! I live in a lake community, and we spend almost ever day outside and play fun games such as Nerf guns. I got to play with all of my friends with Nerf guns every day. Besides swimming and playing on the sand, that’s all I did and I loved it.

This summer I had a Nerf war I could not wait. It was a bunch of fun. We had target practice and capture the flag.

In the battle, I used a Doomlands Lawbringer and got a lot of my friends. I thought capture the flag was fun because we used cardboard boxes as walls. Even when we’re not at our lake, we have fun with our Nerf Guns. We had a Nerf battle where most of us had vests.

I also got a bunch of Nerf guns—they are so BIG! A neighbor who was moving gave us a bunch of classic Nerf guns. My dad, brother and I have fun shooting each other. Sometimes, my dog gets scared of our Nerf guns.

Now that summer is over, I will always remember this as the endless summer of Nerf!

Full disclosure: This is not a sponsored post. Nerf guns and gear are supported by this boy’s obsession and our own checkbook.

Celebrating World Play-Doh Day + Unboxing Fun Play-Doh Package

September 16, 2016September 16, 2016 by Jen Rabulan-Bertram

It’s World Play-Doh Day and the brand is also celebrating 60 years of fun today, September 16, 2016! We are so thrilled to celebrate such an iconic brand, and a fun toy that has brought so many laughs and smiles to our home and millions of others.

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Over the years, we have used Play-Doh to build creatures, help with reading reinforcement, sensory play, brother bonding and so much more! We’ve made a few videos of our own, too!

In case your kids aren’t on YouTube as incessantly as mine, Play-Doh has an entire sector and fanbase for videos on the social platform. I can’t even tell you how many hours Littles has spent mesmerized watching people unbox cool Play-Doh sets and creating fun things with this fun squishy compound.

It was a @hasbro superhero-filled day for this guy! #marvelspectacular

A photo posted by Jen Rabulan-Bertram (@jenrab) onOct 24, 2015 at 12:12pm PDT

Our friends at Hasbro know how obsessed my guys are with Play-Doh, so they sent us a fun box in celebration of World Play-Doh Day. Check out the chaos that ensued:

More Play-Doh, Please

Our playroom might be overflowing with every color on the spectrum of Play-Doh, but here’s just a few of the latest sets that we have our eye on:

Play-Doh Town 3-in-1 Town Center

This cool playset allows kids to create their own town. They can create everything from the clock tower, to the figures’ hairstyles, to the local birds hanging out on the rooftops! Before the citizens go on a downtown drive, stop at the mechanic shop to make custom hubcaps and other automotive details.

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Stamp and Roll Featuring The Minions
Combine those quirky Minions with Play-Doh, and we are officially obsessed! The rolling tools are always a hit; and I love that the Minions are Can Heads! These are two of our favorite things, so this cool collaboration will be a fun stocking stuffer or surprise.
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Doctor Drill and Fill

This set reminds me of one of my favorite Play-Doh sets as a kid. Who doesn’t love playing doctor or dentist, especially when you’re the one performing the work and NOT in that chair! 912bf8282096532304af38327b2f06b8f6adf9a4

Full disclosure: Though we are genuinely obsessed, this is not a sponsored post. We did, however, receive a fun package form Hasbro. As always, opinions on NKT are my own.

Thomas & Friends Minis and DC Super Friends Mash Ups

February 12, 2016 by Jen Rabulan-Bertram

Thomas & Friends Minis might be tiny, but they’re certainly big with the preschool set. In a move that will likely blow my Thomas AND super hero fanatic’s mind, Thomas & Friends is unveiling even more cool DC Super Friends character Minis.

Last Fall, Fisher-Price launched a line of Thomas & Friends MINIs featuring mash-ups of the iconic characters from Thomas & Friends DC Super Friends™, including Thomas the Tank Engine as Superman, and friends decked out as The Flash, Robin, and Cyborg, and others. The collection was a huge success among preschool and fanboys alike, selling more than five million minis at Walmart in just 10 months, and now Fisher-Price will be expanding their mash-up collection by heroic proportions, adding 36 new DC Super Friends mash-ups. In addition to the DC Comics mash-ups, Thomas is also taking things to a pineapple under the sea for an all-new set of 13 Thomas & Friends-SpongeBob SquarePants mash-up MINIs.

Here’s a look at the 2016 Thomas & Friends and DC Super Friends Minis releases:

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I want the entire collection for myself, please!Fisher Price is set to debut more than 35 new DC Super Friends mash-up MINISinspired by the world’s greatest Super Heroes.

Brand new mash-up MINIS for 2016 include:

DC Super Friends:
- Bizarro/Thomas
- Batman/Thomas
- Wonder Woman/Emily
- Bane/Hito
- Poison Ivy/Emily
- Lex Luther/Paxton
- Green Lantern/Gator
- Supergirl/Roie
- Catwoman/Millie
- Green Arrow/Henry

Nickelodeon’s SpongeBob SquarePants:
- SpongeBob/Thomas
- Patrick/Percy
- Mermaid Man/Bash
- Gary/Spencer
- Plankton/Diesel 10
- SpongeBob/Toby

Coolest Star Wars Toys from Hasbro

December 18, 2015December 18, 2015 by Jen Rabulan-Bertram

Like so many of you, we are in total Star Wars mode these days. In honor of the long awaited debut of Star Wars: The Force Awakens, I thought I’d share some of the new Star Wars toys from Hasbro. Back in September, my family was invited to the Global Day of Play where bloggers and other media were invited to play with all of the newly released Star Wars toys. I can’t even begin to describe how excited we all were to geek out with these awesome toys.

Hasbro has a huge selection of Star Wars-branded toys, ranging from toys for preschoolers in their Playskool line to board games to role playing games to cool items for collectors. Because there’s something for Star Wars fans of all ages, my entire family loved being among the first ones to get a look at the Next Kid Things from Hasbro.

There was so much to see and try out, but our favorites include:

Playskool Heroes Star Wars Series

I love the Playskool Heroes Star Wars Series because of its chunky characters and easy to handle vehicles and accessories. Preschoolers like my little guy love these Star Wars sets because they’re more age-appropriate and perfect for open-ended creative play. ($4.99-39.99)

Blade Builders
My older Star Wars fan loved creating his own powerful Lightsaber with the Blade Builders set. By connecting and twisting various different weapons, young Jedis can create their own custom Lightsaber that boasts realistic sounds to be used in battle. ($49.99)

Play-Doh Can Heads

My Play-Doh fanatic can’t get enough of the Star Wars themed Can Heads. I love the way the cans become characters and can be included in open play patterns. Little Padawans can mold and sculpt their favorite Star Wars shapes with these fun sets. ($9.99-19.99)

Kylo Ren Black Series Lightsaber
This super sleek lightsaber is geared to the collectors and die hard fans. It has solid features, light effects, movie sound effects, 3 blades and metal hilt. ($199.99)

Star Wars Mr. Potato Head
What better way to introduce Star Wars to the toddler and preschool set than with the iconic Mr. Potato Head toys. Mr. Potato Head takes on the Dark Side with all the coolest Star Wars accessories. Choose from Frylo Ren, Darth Tater, Spud Trooper and more. ($9.99-19.99)

BB-8
Ok, so, like everyone else, we want BB-8 for ourselves. Biggie loved maneuvering the RC BB-8 and had a great time navigating the Dark Side obstacle course. This BB-8 boasts movie-accurate sounds and expressive droid sounds, just as one would imagine.

We absolutely loved getting our hands on all of these fun toys. To say we were over the moon with excitement at the Global Day of Play was a total understatement. Check out the highlights from the Star Wars Global Day of Play to see these toys and more in action! Biggie was so giddy to train with a Jedi and Littles, my Play-Doh fanatic, LOVES Can Heads!

I truly can’t pick a fave, the whole day was such a treat. If you’re Star Wars fans like we are, I have no doubt that some of these fun goodies are on those wish lists.

Thank you to Hasbro for hosting us at the Star Wars Global Day of Play.

Our Favorite Goodies and Gadgets for #ForceFriday

September 4, 2015September 4, 2015 by Jen Rabulan-Bertram

In case you missed it, today is THE day! Force Friday, that is! Today marked the day that retailers released the highly anticipated toys and gadgets for the upcoming Star Wars installment, The Force Awakens.

In fact, collectors and Star Wars die-hards were waiting in line at midnight to get their hands on the newly released merchandise for Star Wars: The Force Awakens.

Over the past few months, I’ve had the chance to check out some of these cool goodies and gadgets before they officially hit the shelves. Here’s a quick round up of some of my favorite cool toys and gadgets for #ForceFriday!

Chewbacca + Furby=Furbacca

I mean, c’mon! Furbacca speaks wookie and interacts with an app. This is perhaps THE coolest Furby out!

Legendary Jedi Master Yoda

Legendary Yoda from Spinmaster is unlike any other Star Wars toy. It stands at 16 inches, has voice recognition, speaks 115 phrases that tout Jedi Wisdom and Lightsaber mastery. He can show off his Jedi Lightsaber skill, as well as his 360 Lightsaber attack! One of the coolest things about this Master Yoda? My friend Amy, one of the creative minds at Monkey Bar Collective, wrote the toy script for Legendary Yoda. Legendary, indeed!

If only I had 4k to invest in my very own Star Wars bed from Pottery Barn Kids. How insane is this thing?

Speaking of the Millennium Falcon, Lego has several new sets in honor of the Force Awakens. The Millennium Falcon is such an iconic Star Wars ship, so it’s great that this generation of Star Wars fans will appreciate it too—whether a bed or a Lego set.

BB-8 Droid from Sphero

Gadget fans are going crazy for this guy. The app-enabled BB-8 Droid from Sphero is proving to be the must-have for Star Wars fans, collectibles and geeks alike. Gizmodo is even calling it the “coolest Star Wars toy ever.” I saw several friends in my feed hit Toys ‘R Us at midnight for this cool gadget.

In case you weren’t able to snag BB-8 at TRU, our pals at Bed Bath and Beyond are getting in on the Star Wars #ForceFriday frenzy, too. Word on the street is, BBB has some still in stock. Unfortunately for us, you can’t use your stash of BBB coupons on this droid!

Did you score some good stuff for #ForceFriday? What were your favorites?