Mark Our Words: These Will be the 17 Hottest Toys of the Year

• Recommended age range: 3 and up

What kid doesn't love a play kitchen? But if you're short on space, this new release from Melissa & Doug more than fits the bill. The compact grill and griddle lets kids play short-order cook, frying up wooden and felt fried eggs, bacon, burgers and fries.

It uses the brand's Water Wow! technology, so the food changes color as it sizzles, and when it dries, goes back to its "raw" state. Just try not to let your kid turn into the Bear if business takes off and their mobile orders go out of control.

• Recommended Age: 4 and up

Samantha, Addy and the rest of the classic American Girl doll crew will always hold a place in our hearts, but the brand's latest launch is a bit more modern—and engaging for younger kids. AG Little Sisters features four 14.5-inch dolls that each come with a rainbow-hued outfit and range of accessories, all at an under-$100 price tag. (Our toy testers loved styling their hair and coming up with backstories to match their accessories.)

• Recommended Age Range: 5 an up

The only thing more satisfying than crashing this remote-controlled monster truck and seeing it crumple is pushing a button on the remote to see it stretch back out and "repair" itself, ready for another run. It quickly became my son's favorite toy—and one every kid and adult on the block wanted to borrow.

Another great feature: The car itself is charged using USB-C, so the only batteries you'll need are for the remote control (two AAAs, which aren't included, BTW).

• Recommended Age Range: 3 and up

These dice-sized squishy cubes don't just make for fun sensory play—they're impossible not to smush between your fingers—they stick to each other, and virtually any surface, without leaving a residue. They make for a great travel toy, since they're so compact. "My 8-year-old granddaughter is all about her tablet, but on a recent road trip, she spent the entire 45-minute drive playing with these cubes, making designs on the car window," one of our toy testers told me.

I can vouch for them, too. On a recent trip, when my flight was delayed eight hours (!), StickiKubes helped keep my kids (and me) from losing our sanity.

• Recommended Age Range: 3 and up

Another great on-the-go toy? The Yoto Mini Player, a palm-sized audio player that uses story cards (which are roughly the size of playing cards) to tell stories and play songs. Yoto's range of cards is impressive, too, ranging from the full Harry Potter series to the latest hits, like KPop Demon Hunters and the Wicked: For Good soundtrack. (There are also bedtime stories and nursery songs for little ones, and the ability to record your own stories and tunes.)

• Recommended Age Range: 3 and up

You already know that magnetic tiles are a hit with kids, but if you haven't seen Magna-Tiles's latest launch, you need to check it out ASAP. Rail Racers turn the translucent tiles into a racecourse, allowing kids to create their own marble run or car tracks.

"Not kidding, my son couldn’t help but configure—and reconfigure—the tracks as he considered ways to make the ball travel faster and encounter more obstacles along the way," says Rachel Bowie, PureWow senior director of royals and special projects. "As a parent, it felt equally fun to test different constructions together. I also love that it’s screen-free and something that will keep him engaged for a longer stint of time."

• Recommended Age Range: 3 and up

Kids couldn't get enough of this mess-free art set, which lights up to reveal the color that will appear with each stamp. That surprise-and-delight moment, combined with its affordable (under $20!) price point and the fact that it featured the Taylor Swift of the preschool set (ahem, Bluey) earned it a 2025 Happy Kid Award.

• Recommended Age Range: 4 and up

Move over, Nintendo Switch! The Nex Playground is a gaming system that gets kids moving—no remote needed, as its camera tracks participants, making them literally part of the game. You can play classics, like virtual bowling and whack-a-mole, as well as games featuring the stars of kids' favorite shows and movies, like Sesame Street, Gabby's Dollhouse and How to Train Your Dragon. What I—and other testers—like best is the wide range of ages who can get in on the fun, with activities ranging in skill level. (You can also get in a more traditional workout, as the Next Playground also offers cardio classes and Zumba.)

The device comes preloaded with a few games, but to access the full library, you'll need to subscribe to the brand's play pass, which costs $49 for three months or $89 for a full year.

• Recommended Age Range: 6 and up

Toy Insider named "Make-and-Play" toys as a major trend this year, and I couldn't agree more. This Smartivity set was a hit in Bowie's household; her 7-year-old son loved building his own tabletop mini golf course, then inviting the family to play a round (or three). That's what makes this STEM toy great—not only does it get kids involved in problem solving and critical thinking as they construct their course, they then have a game to play again and again. (There's even a trophy you can award to the winner.)

• Recommended Age Range: 3 and up

If you haven't heard of Danny Go, you clearly don't have a toddler (or preschooler) at home. The YouTuber amasses tens of millions of views for his songs and "brain breaks," and has been on back-to-back nationwide tours. And his new toy line is quickly proving to be the Tickle Me Elmo of 2025, selling out just as quickly as it's listed. (Keep an eye out—my sources say it'll be restocked at Walmart soon!)

Of the lineup, we were most delighted by the Music Mix-Up Boombox, which comes with the entire cast of Danny Go as play figurines. But they're more than just figurines—the boombox plays Danny Go's hits, and when you place each character on it, it changes the way you hear the song. (Bearhead, for example, will add a cool guitar riff, while Gerald brings the beat with the drums.) There are three different play modes too, including a bedtime option that helps kids wind down for the night.

• Recommended Age Range: 5 to 10 years old

Growing up, you dreamed of living that Jetsons life. Nowadays, your kids don't get the reference at all (ditto for CD players, landlines and the joys of dial-up internet). But they are living in an AI world, and this little robot uses the technology in an engaging, age-appropriate way.

The Miko 3 is an interactive buddy, offering jokes and showing off dance moves with its expressive face. There's also a Story Maker feature, encouraging kids to come up with their own adventures and stories, and it can lead them in yoga exercises or play games featuring some of their favorite characters. Your kids will be having so much fun they won't realize they're developing their critical thinking and motor skills. And you'll have the peace of mind knowing that the tech is encrypted within a closed system, and that you can monitor their activity and usage via the Miko Parent app.

• Recommended age range: 3 and up

"My 6-year-old has been begging for the Barbie Dreamhouse, and honestly, I get it," says PureWow's fashion and beauty director at large, Deena Campbell. "She loves pretending and playing 'grown-up,' and this version feels like the Dreamhouse I loved as a kid, just way more upgraded. We’re talking a three-story spiral slide that drops into a pool, ten indoor/outdoor play areas, and 75+ pieces to spark every kind of storyline. There’s even a pet zone with its own slide and elevator. It’s the perfect off-screen escape for her and a sweet hit of nostalgia for me."

As if that weren't enough, the top floor transforms into a sleepover space for four dolls and it comes with more than 75 accessories, so kids can customize every space from the kitchen to the bedroom.

• Recommended age range: 4 to 9 years

This humble, unassuming gift is a real crowd-pleaser. How does it work? Kids select a picture, choose stickers and apply color using the sparkly foil sheets. “I have now gifted it to three different kids in addition to my son, and I keep getting texts from parents freaking out about how amazing it is!” one PureWow editor shared. We love how creative it is without any mess.

• Recommended Age Range: 0 months and up

Baby toys tend to fall into a few key categories: stacking cups or blocks, rattles and stuffed animals. They're fine, but if you're looking to truly surprise and delight that little one—and their parents—look no further than this charming Pooh bear, which raises and lowers its smackerel of honey to play "peek-a-boo" with whoever holds it.

• Recommended Age Range: 6 and up

She's not a girl, not yet a woman...so naturally, your tween has an interest in slime and Sephora. Meet her where she's at with this luxe-looking take on (non-sticky!) slime. Our testers loved uncovering which slime they had—glossy, butter, cloud or clear—and adding in glitter, charms and other mix-ins for a glam, sensory experience.

We’re big fans of woom at PureWow for their ultra-light frames, kid-friendly geometry and unbeatable rideability. We even gave their newest launch—the woom WOW for kids as young as nine months—a Happy Kid Award. This year, executive editor Alexia Dellner is gifting her oldest the woomGO 4 for its zippy power assist and confidence-building design. “My son learned how to ride a bike with woom when he was just 3 years old, and now he’s ready for a big kid bike," she said. "This one has seven child-friendly gears, an ergonomic design for comfort and a lightweight frame so that he can wheel it around the park or up a hill all on his own.”

• Recommended age range: no age recommendation given

Your 6th grader has been begging you for a phone for months but you’re not ready to hand them their own device and everything that comes with it just yet. Enter: The Bark Phone. This smartphone has built-in parental controls, such as a monitoring tool that scans your child’s texts, emails, social media and apps for digital dangers and sends you alerts accordingly. Plans, which are separate from your existing phone plans, start at $29/month and include unlimited talk and text. “If you are wanting to keep tabs on your child and have the ability to be in touch, and you’re concerned about social media, endless text messages that you would otherwise not be privy to and basically everything on the world wide web coming at your youngster 24/7, I would highly recommend the Bark,” our reviewer raved.

Psst: Use code WOW75 to get $25 credits each month for 3 months.