“The following is a sponsored post. While I was compensated for it, the thoughts and opinions expressed in this post are my own and in no way were influenced by the company.”
’Tis the season for gifting little ones the toys they’ve been wanting all year long. This year, it’s not just about play – the most popular toys this season promote learning and creativity! One of the wonderful things about these toys is that they should get a lot of play in 2016 and not simply be forgotten after a few short weeks.
That said, we’ve tapped zulily’s resident toy expert Kenji Yoshinari for a list of trends to keep in mind as you scour the zulily Toy Shop for the perfect gifts that will both entertain and educate your child this season. Kenji’s tips are:
- Use the Force to make sure you give the hottest toys! With the upcoming December 18th premiere of Star Wars: The Force Awakens, we’re sure Star Wars toys and apparel will be flying off the shelves this holiday season. Make sure to purchase early so you don’t miss out! More Star Wars movies will be coming so this trend will not simply fade as fans are excited to see more! Our little geeklings long all things Star Wars to say the least!
- Look out for open-ended building toys. Giving kids the opportunity to let their imagination run wild and not be constrained by instruction manuals is the heart of this hot trend. Each of our children get their own building toys, of course they share but the variety of options is fantastic for them.
- Switch from STEM to STEAM. Adding the ART component to STEM gives you more ways to introduce creativity and fun to your children’s world of educated play. Art is for sure an important part of our homeschool lives and it helps keep learning fun!
- Customize Your Play! Make the play experience meet who your child is – from personalized rockers and ride-ons, to a doll that looks just like your child. Movement helps keep the brain spinning we have heard time and again and in many classrooms it is not being included in a variety of ways. Why not include more movement at home with rockers and ride-ons?
- Retro, classic play remains a top trend. Brands and toys that bring back memories of days gone by are at the top of everyone’s list this season. The childhood toys my husband and I remember loving are certainly great additions to our home for play time as we know what we loved and what lasted.
In addition, Kenji has pulled together a list of the Breakout Toys of 2015 and I’ve featured a few below:
- TEGU Classroom Kit – combine art and education for a great gift. Our children adore their TEGU magnetic blocks, they are eco-friendly and such great quality.
- Green Toys – teach your child to care for the environment with these eco-friendly toys. They are easy to maintain, dishwasher safe and don’t require batteries. This is a great brand my family has enjoyed for a long time now.
- Build-Your-Own (Customizable) 18” Dolls from Madame Alexander – Customizable and hands-on building, this toy covers off on two top toy trends! We have not tried these yet but have heard fantastic things about these customizable dolls.
- Razor Crazy Cart Spinning Go Kart & JoyBay Pink Swing Car – These toys are perfect for kids on the go. Razor is another brand we trust and love and they help kids keep moving and having fun.
- FINIS Mermaid Swim Fin – a fin-tastic choice for kids who love the water!
At online retailer zulily, shoppers have something new to discover each morning including toys, gifts, apparel & accessories, home décor and more. Be sure to check back often on zulily.com or on their mobile app to get the best deals for the whole family this holiday season.
