Yes, giving is better than receiving, but it’s easy to rack up a lot of expenses around the holidays. Toys are getting more advanced—and in some cases more expensive—than ever before, but don’t worry! There are some amazing toys that kids will love this holiday season that’ll impress kids without breaking the bank.
From life-sized (or at least child-sized) trains to robotic pets to bouncing bubbles, these toys are a steal for all that they do, all ringing in at under $50. Once you see the excitement they stir up, you’ll know it was worth it.
Let imagination roll in at full steam with these buildable play vehicles that ring in at just under $50. Each kit contains everything kids need to build their own train, school bus, fire truck, pickup truck, 4x4, or construction vehicle. The set-up is part of the fun, with durable snap-and-click color-coded poles and connectors that are easy to assemble. Once built, the vehicles are ready for active play, with enough space for kids to actually enter the vehicle and take the driver’s seat. All aboard!
Not ready to take the plunge and get the kids a real live puppy this year? It may be the perfect time for a friendly little robotic pupper instead! Chippies are remote control doggos that will react to a child’s touch with barks, kisses, sniffs, and sneezes. Kids can use the remote to make the pup sing, dance, roll over, or chase its tail. Chippies can guard the house from intruders using their sensors, or explore on their own, just like a real pet would. Now that’s a good dog!
The bend and snap is so 16 years ago—now it’s all about the bend and pop! Kids can pop together the colorful Popoids tubes and connectors to build wacky creatures and contraptions that can bend, twist, stretch, and squish. The sky’s the limit with what kids can create, all while encouraging sensory play with the feel and sound of the bendy tubes. This kit comes with 60 pieces and a storage box, which makes it an all-around great deal for under $50. Bend and pop away!
Tigers, lions, and bears, oh my! This colorful train from VTech will hold the attention of little ones with bright colors, moving plastic gears, rolling wheels, buttons, lights, sounds, and of course, zoo animals. Pressing the buttons offers kid-friendly quiz questions and different instruments, making this multi-faceted toy a great value with all that it does. Children as young as 18 months can personalize their train by mixing and matching the 15 included gears—they are the conductors after all!
It looks like a bubble and plays like a ball! Way cooler than blowing bubbles, the Super Wubble Brite is a giant light-up color-changing bubble ball. Inflate it up to a gigantic 2.5 feet tall with the included pump for kids to squeeze, throw, whack, kick, and bounce around. It floats through the air and wobbles like a bubble rather than staying perfectly round like a typical bouncy ball would. It’s squishy, squashy, and lightweight. It also lights up while turning different colors, so kids can play with it in the light or dark. It’s like magic!
Laurie Schacht, also known as The Toy Insider Mom, has covered the toy industry for more than 20 years. The Toy Insider is a year-round resource for parents, grandparents and other gift-givers looking for the best toys for their kids. The Toy Insider also produces an annual holiday gift guide featured in Family Circle magazine. Visit thetoyinsider.comfor the latest toy news, reviews, giveaways, and more.
Follow Laurie Schacht on Twitter: www.twitter.com/ToyInsiderMom