Toys

I don’t know what it is about ’90s kids, but our wistful longing for simpler days feels uniquely potent.

It's actually a 3D puzzle.

Each one comes with a whole mini nursery setup.

It features 25 functioning keys, hammers, moving dampers and pedal, a lid that can be propped up, and even an adjustable bench.

If you build Baby Yoda yourself, doesn't that make you basically its parent?

And it's full of perfect gifts!

Two iconic Scandinavian brands are teaming up to make playtime more fun. Finding the balance between YouTube and actual physical activity, IKEA and LEGO have partnered to create a comfortable space for playtime that’ll be enjoyable for kids and parents alike.

If our binges of Marie Kondo’s popular Netflix show have taught us anything, it’s that cleaning is good, but mindfully tidying up is so much sweeter. In the process, you inevitably discover the items that truly bring you joy and say farewell to those that don’t. But what if tossing unnecessary items could bring you joy and a stack of cash? If your tidying has unearthed treasures like vintage Cabbage Patch Kids dolls, you could be in for a solid payday.

If your kids are on the nice list this year, we imagine that they have compiled a thorough list for Santa with all the coolest toys and latest doodads. From year to year, the lineup of popular playthings changes consistently, and it’s hard to keep up. So what’s trending this holiday season? One of the most sought-after toys has been the kid-sized Dyson vacuum that actually works ($30), which we reported on in November.

If you’re thinking about throwing out those old Beanie Babies stuffed in the back of your childhood closet, stop right there. Turns out those plush toys might be your ticket to making an online fortune (if they’re in good condition, of course!). Despite the growing popularity of other e-commerce sites (read: Amazon), eBay has remained the go-to place to buy and sell rare goods, including Beanie Babies.

The folks over at LEGO are finally set to release the brand’s highly anticipated Statue of Liberty architecture set. Although this isn’t the first LEGO set to pay homage to one of the Big Apple’s most renowned landmarks, fans of the popular building blocks have eagerly awaited its release since the Nuremberg Toy Fair last January, where the brand announced its upcoming summer 2018 release.

In an effort to help sort out the world’s overwhelming plastic waste issue, LEGO has announced plans to launch a new set of sustainable elements made from a plant-based plastic produced using sustainably sourced ethanol from sugar cane. The set is made from polyethylene plastic and carries a botanical theme that is reflected in its tree, bush and leaf-shaped pieces.

In honor of International Women’s Day, Mattel just announced that they will be releasing a run of new Barbie dolls modeled after inspiring women. Along with adding dolls to their Shero collection, Amelia Earhart, Frida Kahlo and Katherine Johnson have all been given the Barbie treatment for the new Inspiring Women series. I am truly honoured to be part of the Barbie family, celebrating International Women’s Day.

You’ve got to love a comeback. After making a splash this summer for being a cash queen, Polly Pocket is officially back in business. BuzzFeed reports that the compact toys will once again be available to own, love and cherish—starting this very summer. The Polly Pocket compacts were first launched in 1989 and quickly became staples on the slumber party scene. Each toy came with a Polly doll and a new, incredibly small habitat for her to reign over.

Did you have Polly Pockets as a kid? I sure did. Those tiny little choking hazards lived in minuscule worlds tucked inside jewel-toned compacts. And like many things I wish I still had even decades after they got passed on to cousins or thrift stores, I often contemplate hunting some down on eBay. And apparently, I’m not alone. Well it turns out, if you’re stricken with the nostalgia bug, it could cost you.

Last month we shared that the latest building in LEGO’s Architecture series to get the brick treatment was going to be its very own LEGO house in Billund, Denmark, but in even BIGGER news (literally) the LEGO House is now open to the public. The sleek modern exterior belies an extremely colorful and creative interior that is a LEGO lovers play land. Designed by Bjarke Ingels, the 130,000 square foot building is in every way a shrine to the LEGO ethos of simple design and imaginative play.

Anyone who grew up in the ’80s remembers Teddy Ruxpin. The talking bear with the cassette tape in his back hit the market in 1985, scared us all with his uncanny valley face and low battery voice, and faded into oblivion for awhile. Until now. In case you need a refresher: MommyandGracieShow got a look at the new Teddy at the Dallas Toy Fair and he’s ripe to terrify a whole new generation. Produced by Wicked Cool Toys, the biggest visual difference is in the eyes.

As soon as you have kids, toys become a big part of your home and your life. You buy toys, people give you toys, your kids pick out their own toys. You worry about having too many or not enough or the right ones. Toys will come and toys will go from your children’s lives, but these ten toys are what we consider the essential, pardon the pun…building blocks for a young child’s life of play.