Toys to inspire kids’ future careers
“When I Grow Up…”
That’s something we hear so often from the kiddos in our life, so why not inspire their future careers this holiday season with the perfect toy?
Maddie Michalik, Associate Editor, The Toy Insider, shows us a few toys that’ll do just that!
Design & Drill My First Workbench (Educational Insights)
● Little builders can get busy with a workbench and tool set designed just for them!
● Kids can hammer nails and drill bolts directly into the bench to create colorful patterns for hours of unplugged play.
● It helps develop fine motor skills, practices patterning (a key early learning skill) encourages creativity, supports STEM, introduces tools, and promotes interest in engineering.
● Includes a workbench with storage drawer, 120 colorful bolts and nails, a guide with 10 patterns, and a motorized mini-drill and kid friendly hammer.
● Age: 3+
● MSRP: $49.99
● Available: Amazon
Stikbot Studio Pro (Zing)
● Create, Animate, and Share!
● Stikbot Studio Pro one sets include 1 tripod , 2 stikbots (solid red and solid orange color) , 2-in-1 stage green and blue screen.
● With green screen, you can capture the best photo and video and save time editing.
● Easily cut and edit footage to create the sequence you need by using green screen.
● You can digitally recreate the background of your scene.
● Age: 4+
● MSRP: $13.99
● Available: Amazon, Target
Scientific Explorer Veterinary Science (ALEX Brands)
● What makes your pet tick? Find out what it takes to become a veterinary physician and the work that they perform for animals.
● Simulate veterinary X-ray and sonograms with red and blue Lenses that reveal the insides of animals on four different posters.
● Close up wounds and cuts with the soft plastic suture training skin, plastic surgical tweezers, needle, and thread.
● Create a cat anatomy poster with paper parts, mold a plaster pup, and learn how to make casts for broken bones.
● Mix and make gelly ticks and learn about the four common types of ticks and which ones can cause illness.
● The kit includes four animal posters, a red x-ray lens, a blue sonogram lens, suture skin,
a plastic curved needle, plastic tweezer scissors, a black nylon thread, a cat anatomy
poster with fold out sheets, a dog blister mold, plaster powder, muslin fabric, a gelly tick
blister mold, gelatin, a beaker, a stir stick, and instructions.
● Age: 6+
● MSRP: $19.99
● Available: Target, Amazon
Luciana Vega, 2018 Girl of the Year (Mattel)
● Luciana, American Girl’s 2018 Girl of the Year, is a creative, confident 11-year-old girl and aspiring astronaut who launches her dream of being the first person to go to Mars after winning a scholarship to Space Camp in Huntsville, Alabama.
● The Luciana collection includes an 18-inch Luciana doll featuring medium skin , warm brown eyes, and dark brown hair with a distinctive purple streak to show off her creative side, plus several outfits, accessories, and toys that reflect her Space Camp experience.
● Age: 8+
● MSRP: $115
● Available: Now through American Girl channels
First Act Discovery 30-inch Acoustic Guitar (Jazwares)
● Make real music with the First Act Discovery Acoustic Guitar!
● This beginner guitar is designed and sized especially for young players.
● Featuring great tone, comfort & playability. It’s tunable with accurate fret spacing, and low string action means easy playing for beginners.
● Patented string post covers protect little fingers.
● Age: 8+
● MSRP: $39.99
● Available: Target, Walmart
Discovery Extreme Chemistry Lab (Horizon Group)
● Conduct over 20 fun experiments and simple chemical reactions for a fun, hands-on,
interactive learning experience with the Discovery Extreme Chemistry Lab!
● From fizzing and foaming eruptions, to glowing worms and galactic spheres, kids will love the opportunity to experiment and make their own crazy concoctions!
● Along with the easy-to-follow instruction booklet is a colorful fun-fact illustrated poster that offers children additional insight into the science behind their creations
● Age: 12+
● MSRP: $19.99
● Available: Amazon, Walmart
To learn more, visit www.thetoyinsider.com.