From fun to educational, these new releases are set to become the hottest playthings of the year.
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It's a lucky time to be a kid: Just when we think the toys couldn't get any more sophisticated, innovative, imaginative and all-around fun, more and more gifts for kids come out that set the bar ever higher.
Check Out Our Ultimate List of the Best Gift Ideas for 2023
Every year, experts from the Good Housekeeping Institute get a sneak at the slate of toys and games headed to shelves. They get called into our Labs for testing with adults and kids — both of whom weigh in on the year-end Good Housekeeping Best Toy Awards — the offerings have been impressive. These are the toys our staff says are the best new toys of the year.
Our Top Picks for the Best New Toys of 2023:
What's big for this year? Similar to last year, there are educational toys and STEM sets that give kids hand-on experience with topics that fascinate kids, from astronomy to magic. "Kidulting" is also huge and a lot of what will be on shelves this year are meant for parents and kids to enjoy together (or for parents to enjoy by themselves after the kids have gone to bed). Similarly, nostalgia is at an all-time high, so look for re-launches, re-vamps and new twists on toys from the past. Older kids are still into everything DIY, and the tiny-ficiation of everything into collectible mini forms continues unabated.
A lot of the favorites have come out already, so if you're looking for a gift for kids, check out these new offerings.
Grab this little 6” x 4” Multi-Color Light Board for your tween or wannabe-tween’s nightstand, bookshelf or desk. Your kid can display their mood, feeling or latest creation on a surface that glows in any of 10 different colors. It's easy to write or draw right on the board with four Gel-FX markers, included. Then it just wipes clean. You'll need three AAA batteries to make it glow. Ages 6+
Disney fans and collectible trading-card enthusiasts alike will love Ravensburger's new strategy trading-card game, featuring all their favorite Disney characters. In Disney Lorcana, you play as an "Illumineer" that can use various items (like dragon fire), actions ("one jump ahead") or characters (Elsa, Mickey, Stitch, Robin Hood and many others) to go on quests and acquire Lore — and stop their opponents from doing so.
Players will need a 60-card starter card deck to get going, and then they can get booster packs to supplement their collection. Once they see all the Disney-inspired artwork on the cards, they're going to want that collection to be as vast as possible. Ages 8+
RELATED: We Played Disney's Lorcana Trading Card Game — Here's What to Know Before You Buy
Kids who saw The Super Mario Bros. Movie over and over again this spring will jump at the chance to bring their favorite game into the real world. Part of LEGO's Super Mario Adventures line, this set lets kids use LEGO bricks to build out an ice level, complete with a Fliprus that shoots ice balls, a snowman whose head can be knocked onto a Koopa Troopa and a baby penguin who needs some fruit.
This works best for those who already have a LEGO Super Mario Adventures Starter Course (and they have them for Mario, Luigi or Peach), which comes with a figure with screens in its eyes and belly that can react to the levels in real-time. The figures also connect to the LEGO app, which will keep track of how many coins were collected. Ages 7+
Connect this robot dog to its app and discover its unique look and personality — everyone’s Dog-E is a little different via eyes, tongue, tail, bark, character traits and more. Other members of the family can use the app to activate their own dog using the same white robot. That way sibling and family members have more “dogs” to interact with, one at a time.
Dog-E communicates messages with lights on its tail, such as a heart for happiness, so watch those to train Dog-E and teach it tricks. Use the app to feed your new pet treats and play games together. Ages 6+
Slumberkins, beloved for their line of soothing plush that each pair with a book that tackle tough emotions, is launching its first-ever board game this year. Players cooperate to get all the creatures' tokens on the Feelings Tree. Along the way, expect positive affirmations, chances to try yoga poses and prompts to reflect and have conversations about feelings. Kids can play together, but this is also a wonderful one for parents to do with their youngster to open the lines of meaningful communication. Ages 3+
Kids can use virtual reality to learn nearly 30 beginning magic tricks alongside legendary magicians Penn & Teller. Apart from being able to dazzle friends and family, this set also has a social-emotional focus, emphasizing the confidence and public-speaking skills performers need when they're up on stage. Ages 8+
We’ve seen “busy bags” handcrafted on Etsy and love that Bizyboo has finally made the concept toy-shelf-official. Keep one of these in your carryall to pull out anytime you need to distract or calm your kid. Each of the 12 Bizyboo characters has objects hidden inside that kids can seek by prodding and pushing the beads around. They search for hidden objects and match them to those shown on the included card. It helps their focus and concentration and also, as the name suggests, keeps them busy. Ages 3+
This toy combines two meg-trends of the year: DIY and mini-everything. Each surprise ball comes loaded with tiny food and accessories. That's fun enough on its own, but the food is actually ingredients that you get to "make" into a dish. Once you assemble them, you set them in UV light until the resin hardens into one, solid figure. Each ball even comes with a little table where you can display the final product. Ages 8+
Imagine a bubble machine attached to a blow-up doll — Bluey shown here, but there's also Marshall and Skye of PAW Patrol as well as Marvel's Spidey. An auto function lets you just flip a switch for bubbles to fan out. Balloobles are big bubble fun, but you do need to be ready with a screwdriver and 3 AA batteries to get the party started (plus you blow up the character the same way you blow up a beach ball, with some huffs and puffs). Ages 3+
This latest brain game challenges kids to look at drawings and then build the 3D contraptions described. If they do it right, the marble should be able to run the maze and land in the red cup at the end. A kid can work on it on their own or it can be a group project, giving your child the chance to lead or help problem-solve with others (even if the "other" is simply Mom). Warning, it is complex and may have you wondering if you're smarter than a fifth grader. Ages 8+
This mini Vespa-lookalike is the cutest — and we're flipping out over the fact that a toy friend can ride in that back seat. It's a foot-powered ride-on that lets a toddler practice balance and have some active fun. It's launched in time for the summer outdoor season, but preschoolers can ride it around indoors as well. If it gets dirty just hose it down! Ages 18 months to 4 years
Collect pocket-sized versions of all your favorite Disney characters from Cinderella to Wall-e with Doorables new Squish'Alots series. Blind bags are a favorite amongst both gift givers and receivers since everyone gets to join in on the fun of the surprise of unwrapping. Each pack comes with either four, five or six collectible Doorables in tiny mystery bags. These squishy figures are great for carrying around since they come in their own collection case and don't take up too much space, plus there are 50 different ones to collect. Ages 5+
Combine finger knitting with Squishmallows to get the ultimate fun activity! This kit teaches you how to make cute and stylish accessories for your favorite 8" or 10" Squishmallows (which are not included). Not only can you make all of these fun accessories without any knitting needles or other tools, but the ultra-soft yarn is the perfect addition to your ultra-squishy stuffed friends. Each kit comes with instructions on how to make a headband, crossbody bag and hoodie for your Squishmallow, as well as two balls of soft yarn. Plus, if you're more of a visual learner, you can hop online and watch the step-by-step video tutorials. Ages 6+
Little STEM enthusiasts have long been wowed by GeoSafari Jr.'s Talking Microscope, which offers scientific facts about 120 zoomed-in images of plants, animals and other items here on Earth. Now, they can gaze out beyond our planet's border with GeoSafari Jr.'s Talking Telescope, which uses real images from NASA. Kids can look with both eyes — no need to try and squint or close one — and the voice of Emily Calandrelli from Emily's Wonder Lab on Netflix offers fun facts about what they're seeing. Ages 4+
Your little ones can turn their bedroom into a safari with this unique SUV truck. Not only do the spinning car wheels double as working binoculars, but the headlights become a handheld flashlight. Plus, the back wheel can be popped off and used as a working compass. All the pieces snap back into place to create a portable toy that has no trouble exploring indoor and outdoor terrain. Ages 3+
One of the trends we noticed throughout the toy launches this year is a huge nostalgia factor. If you remember the first wave of Fingerlings, you might "go bananas" at the news that they're coming back and better than ever. The new Fingerlings will be flocked and fuzzy, make even more interactive sounds and actions, have personalities that are distinct from each other and — most importantly — will be able to sit down when not on a finger. Ages 5+
We love a good geography game, and this one reminds us a bit of one of our favorite apps, Stack the States, but it's mercifully screen-free. In Scout It Out, you get clues about a state (as in, "What is known as The Sunshine State?") and the first player to correctly guess wins a Game Card and a Bonus Token. Your goal is to get to five Game Cards. It's designed for 3 to 6 players (one player is always holding the cards and reading off clues, the others are competing) and the average playtime is a half-hour. It comes with a map of the USA. Ages 7+
Two inches taller than a regular Barbie doll, My First Barbie won’t fit seamlessly into a Dreamhouse or Barbie car but does give young kids still working on their gross motor skills an easier way to play with the iconic character. This Barbie’s clothes fit on with hook-and-loop closures and her accessories, like the hairbrush, are larger and easier to keep track of (though some, like those little shoes, are still choking hazards, so not for kids younger than 3). Her torso and limbs are softer and easier to pose than the traditional version. She’s modeled after the lead character in the My First Barbie YouTube series, so if your kid is a fan of that, this will be a huge hit. Ages 3+
Never fear, preschoolers still learning your phonics: Elmo is here! Your little one presses the big Elmo head to start lessons about the letters. The chunky alphabet pieces come out and have fun pictures underneath, such as Oscar under the letter O. You and your kids can then assemble letters on the pretend school shelves, near Cookie Monster, to practice spelling and sounding out names and words. This It comes with the batteries needed to start. Ages 2+
Kids can get the outdoor kitchen most adults dream of with this 62-piece play set filled with food, condiments and grill tools. There are so many ways this fosters imaginative play: Items like the steak, chicken, hot dog and veggie burger look uncooked on one side and have grill marks on the other; kids can use dials to raise and lower the pretend flames, there's a slot on the side to make it a pizza oven, the smoker has a chimney for wood chips and there are holes in some of the pieces so kids can check the temperature with a pretend thermometer. Forget tea parties — imaginary BBQs are where it's at! Ages 3+
Jessica (she/her) is a freelance writer with several decades of experience writing lifestyle content and evaluating home and parenting products. A mom of two teens and two cats, her previous work can be seen in American Baby and Parents.
Marisa (she/her) has covered all things parenting, from the postpartum period through the empty nest, for Good Housekeeping since 2018; she previously wrote about parents and families at Parents and Working Mother. She lives with her husband and daughter in Brooklyn, where she can be found dominating the audio round at her local bar trivia night or tweeting about movies.
Rachel Rothman was the chief technologist and executive technical director of the Good Housekeeping Institute for over 15 years, overseeing testing methodology, implementation and reporting for all GH Labs. She also managed GH's research division and the analysis of applicants for the GH Seal and all other testing emblems.
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