These Top-Rated Toys Are Already Selling Out, so It’s Not Too Early to Shop for the Holidays
by Sabrina Rojas Weiss
Image Credits: Walmart
Magic Mixie Cauldrons, new sets of wheels, indoor bounce houses, and more top Walmart’s Top-Rated by Kids toy list for 2021.
Though you may not have finalized your kids’ Halloween costumes yet, you really may want to consider shopping for their holiday gifts (or future birthday presents, for that matter) right now. You don’t want shipping delays or “supply chain issues” ruining Christmas, for one, and for another, gift shopping for kids should be all fun and zero stress. One thing that should certainly help in that process is knowing which are the hottest toys kids will really be coveting this year, and to that purpose, Walmart has released its 2021 Top-Rated by Kids toy list.
The retailer gathered a “Toy Board” of kid influencers to choose the 39 toys on this list, so you know these aren’t just the items some stuffy execs want flying off shelves, but the things kids are really into right now. For the littlest kids, that means a CoComelon-themed ride-on toy and a real bounce house. For preschoolers, there’s a huge Paw Patrol: The Movie tower and Baby Alive dolls. For kids of all ages, there are sensory-stimulating toys like Kinetic Sand and high-tech items like a KidiZoom PrintCam and an animatronic Star Wars Grogu (aka Baby Yoda). Bigger kids can hop on a scooter or skateboard, while the whole family can join in a giant game of Sorry.
RELATED: The 15 Best Baby Toys for 6- to 12-Month-Olds to Hit, Kick, Stack, and Stick in Their Mouths
This list, organized by age range, really takes a lot of the guesswork out of shopping for children. And because we can’t just assume our kids will be into Barbie just because we were, or that they’ll prefer shooting hoops over slinging webs with these Spider-Man gloves, Walmart has one more trick up its sleeve: the Walmart Wonderlab. This is an interactive tool on the Walmart site that allows you and your kids to look at select toys in action in short on-demand videos.
Then again, if you don’t want them watching those videos and automatically assuming you’ll buy them the most expensive toy they see, maybe you’ll want to do your toy-shopping homework on your own. Below are some of our favorites from the 2021 Top-Rated by Kids toy list. Be sure to go to Walmart.com for more.
Each product we feature has been independently selected and reviewed by our editorial team. If you make a purchase using the links included, we may earn commission.
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Spark. Create. Imagine. CoComelon School Bus Ride-on
Little CoComelon fans can scoot around on top of this school bus, and when they reach their bus stop, they can also sing along with nursery rhymes and press the buttons to learn numbers and letters. Ages 18-36 months.
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Crayola Creative Fun Double Easel
This double-sided easel contains so many activities in one product. Littles can create art on paper, on the dry-erase board, or on the chalkboard. They can also play school, with the help of magnetic letters and numbers. They can even pretend that they’re Mom or Dad at a board meeting, presenting the latest stats, if that’s their thing. Ages 3-8 years.
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Paw Patrol: The Movie Ultimate City Tower
This City Tower set includes six Paw Patrol pups, one vehicle (Chase’s police cruiser), and a tower that stands 3 feet tall. The team of pups can ride up the elevator to the command center and zoom down the ramp to save the day. Ages 3 and up.
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Fisher-Price Bouncesational Bouncer
What if, for less than $70, you would never have to face an indoor play space or overcrowded street festival again? In just four minutes, this bouncer inflates (with its built-in pump) to its full size (69 inches wide, 68 inches long, and 53 inches tall), which is big enough to fit three kids up to 188 pounds. Ages 3 and up.
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Baby Alive Lulu Achoo Doll
Let’s teach kids early on the fundamental fact that babies get snotty colds, like, all the time. The Baby Alive Lulu Achoo doll (available in three different skin tones) sneezes and coughs, and her forehead and nose light up when she’s under the weather. But her little caregivers can then play doctor using a play thermometer, stethoscope, and medical charts. Ages 3 and up.
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Kinetic Sand Sandisfactory Set
Go beyond indoor sandcastles with this multi-color Kinetic Sand kit that allows kids to blend or layer their sand in interesting molds before slicing, cutting, or stamping it. You’ll probably want to join in on the satisfying, squishy fun. Ages 3 and up.
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Magic Mixies Magical Misting Cauldron
This brand new toy is so trendy, it keeps selling out as we write these very words, so check back again soon if that’s the case. Kids add water and special potions to the cauldron before they tap it with a magic wand, utter a magic spell, and reveal their furry plush Mixie pet in an exciting puff of mist. After that big reveal, the witchcraft can continue with other potions and spells.
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VTech KidiZoom PrintCam Digital Camera and Printer
As if having their own working digital camera weren’t thrilling enough (well, especially since these kids have been stealing our phones since birth), this VTech Kidizoom Printcam also prints out black-and-white prints and stickers. Connect it to a computer to print out full-color images and more. Ages 4 and up.
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My Little Pony: A New Generation Movie Unicorn Charms Izzy Moonbow
My Little Pony has a whole new look these days, and a whole new cast of characters—and, of course, a new line of toys. One thing remains the same: It is so fun to comb their hair and give them pretty accessories. Ages 5 and up.
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Star Wars Galactic Snackin’ Grogu
While The Mandalorian is not the most kid-friendly TV show, Grogu, fka The Child, fka Baby Yoda is still irresistible to kids. That’s especially the case when this animatronic Snackin’ Grogu is using the Force, snacking, and making those adorable sounds. Ages 4 and up.
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Barbie Tie-Dye Deluxe 22-Piece Styling Head
Though hairstyles come and go, kids will always be drawn to the joys of styling a Barbie doll’s hair. It’s so much better than a sibling or parent who might not appreciate having their scalp yanked or their locks permanently tangled around a brush. This is also available in a blond version. Ages 3 and up.
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Marvel Spider-Man Super Web Slinger
Peter Parker and Miles Morales would have had a much easier time transitioning into their Spider-Man duties if only they’d had a set of these web-slinging gloves to practice with as kids. It comes with a can of “web fluid,” which is actually just silly string, as well as a canister that can be filled with water.
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Sorry Board Game, Giant Edition
Board games are somehow more fun when they’re this big. Get the whole family in on the Sorry action—indoors or outdoors—and no one can complain about losing their pieces. Ages 6 and up.
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Lego Marvel Avengers: Endgame Final Battle
This 527-piece Lego set is as much for building as it is for imaginative play, once the included Thor, Captain America, Black Panther, Iron Man, Scarlet Witch, Ant-Man, Thanos, and a Chitauri warrior have an Avengers compound in which to battle. Or they could just hang out there and be friends, too. Ages 8 and up.
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Halo Rise Above Supreme Big Wheel Scooter
While kids will love the freedom to zoom around that a scooter gives them, you can feel good knowing they’re doing so safely on a wide deck and large wheels with smooth bearings. This scooter is suitable for ages 5 and up, with a max weight of 220 pounds.
