Many shoppers will be hunting for deals this holiday season as high inflation persists.
Toy Insider, a toy reviews site, said it expects shoppers to pay up to 15% more on toys and games this year.
The site released a list of predictions for the hottest toys of 2022 that cost less than $20.
Toy Insider, a New York-based publication that reports on toy companies and trends, revealed in a sneak preview what it predicts will be the hottest toys for the 2022 holiday season. To make the cut, the toys must meet certain standards.
“We usually get hundreds of submissions,” Ali Mierzejewski, editor-in-chief at Toy Insider, told Insider. “We have five criteria that we look for: play value, originality, skill building, product integrity, and then last but not least, we make sure that it’s fun.”
Ahead of the holiday season and rising costs, Mierzejewski suggests shoppers get a move on and save extra money.
“Everything was up this year,” Mierzejewski said. “We’re recommending all consumers budget an extra 15%.”
Here are 20 budget deals on award-winning toys across a wide range of ages that Toy Insider found that won’t break the budget. The prices are the manufacturer’s suggested retail prices, unless otherwise indicated.
Pixar Lightyear: Buzz and Sox Book and 5-Sound Wristband Set (Ages 18 months+) —$16.99Buzz and Sox Book and 5-Sound Wristband Set
The Toy Insider
This interactive book and wristband set allows toddlers to read along and press buttons on their wristbands to hear sounds as Buzz Lightyear journeys with his robotic friend, Sox. Manufactured by PI Kids and available for purchase on Amazon.
EggXpress Yourself! Match & Learn Eggs (Ages 18 months+) — $16.99EggXpress Yourself!
The Toy Insider
Kids can practice social-emotional intelligence and matching skills with plastic eggs with different facial expressions that crack open to reveal shapes and colors — sans yolk. The characters travel inside the Eggxpress school bus, and come with an illustrated storybook and card deck. Manufactured by Battat and available for purchase online at Target.
Tugl Cube (Ages 2+) — $15.95Tugl Cube
The Toy Insider
This handheld cube is covered with silicone bubbles with tabs that kids can push in, pull out, and pop. Manufactured by Fat Brain Toys and available for purchase online at Fat Brain Toys and Walmart.
Lock & Learn Activity Cubes (Ages 2+) — $16.95Lock & Learn Activity Cubes
The Toy Insider
These oversized nesting cubes feature numbers, letters, and shapes for kids to improve their motor skills. Manufactured by Battat and available for purchase on Amazon and Battat.
CoComelon Pattern Party Game (Ages 3+) — $14.99CoComelon Pattern Party Game
The Toy Insider
A matching game that tests the player’s ability to identify characters, colors, shapes, or patterns. Manufactured by Funko Games and available for purchase on Amazon and Funko Games.
Giant Shiny Cat Dominoes (Ages 3+) — $17.99Giant Shiny Cat Dominoes
The Toy Insider
This set features 28 feline-themed, larger-sized dominoes perfect for preschoolers. Manufactured by eeBoo and available for purchase on Amazon and eeBoo.
Playfoam Naturals (Ages 3+) — $16.99Playfoam Naturals
The Toy Insider
A creative and artistic learning kit made with 100% plant-based and nontoxic cork tree foam that combines sensory and tactile play. The “squishable and shapeable” compound is designed to help kids sharpen their fine motor skills, imagination, and creativity. Manufactured by and available from Educational Insights.
Design & Drill T-Rex (Ages 3+) — $16.99Design & Drill T-Rex
The Toy Insider
Kids can assemble pieces to build their very own T-Rex with a moving mouth and legs. Manufactured by Educational Insights and available for purchase on Amazon.
Sketch Pals Ocean Friends (Ages 4+) — $19.99Sketch Pals Ocean Friends
The Toy Insider
These doodle boards, which can be clipped onto a backpack, invite children to sketch, using the included stylus or their fingers. Manufactured by Boogie Board and available for purchase online at Boogie Board.
Express My Feelings Journal (Ages 5+) — $12.99Express My Feelings Journal
The Toy Insider
This journal encourages youth to engage with their emotions in a healthy and transparent way. The journal introduces 20 common feelings. Manufactured by hand2mind and available for purchase on Amazon and at hand2mind.com.
Gigabots (Ages 5+) — $16.99Gigabots
The Toy Insider
Kids can build their own 13-inch action figures and battle them out. Manufactured by Blip Toys, and all models are available for purchase on Amazon.
Pokémon Trading Card Game Battle Academy (Ages 6+) — $19.99Pokémon Trading Card Game Battle Academy
The Toy Insider
The latest version of the Battle Academy includes a new lineup of Pokémon characters. Manufactured by The Pokémon Co. International and available for purchase on Amazon and Pokémon Center.
Pixicade Pets (Ages 6+) — $19.99Pixicade Pets
The Toy Insider
A virtual “How to Draw” activity that encourages children to be creative with how they engage with technology. Kids can scan drawings of their favorite pets into the Pixicade Pets app, customize their pets’ personalities and houses, and then play games with their drawings. Manufactured by Bitogenius and available for purchase on Amazon and Pixicade.
Design Your Own Claycreate Hair Clips (Ages 6+) — $10.99Design Your Own Claycreate Hair Clips
The Toy Insider
Create trendy barrettes and hair clips with this DIY clay set. Manufactured by Purple Ladybug and available for purchase on Amazon.
Disney Kingdomania: Series 1 Game Ball (Ages 6+) — $9.99Disney Kingdomania: Series 1 Game Ball
The Toy Insider
Disney stories and characters are thrown into a problem-solving puzzle game. Manufactured by Funko games and available for order online at Gamestop.
Glow Fusion Marker Coloring Sets (Ages 8+) — $16.44 on Walmart.comGlow Fusion Marker Coloring Sets
The Toy Insider
A glow-in-the-dark coloring set with three different themes, including Mythical Creatures and Monsters & Aliens. Manufactured by Crayola and available for purchase online at Walmart.
Star Wars Micro Galaxy Starfighter Class (Ages 8+) — $16.99Star Wars Micro Galaxy Starfighter Class
The Toy Insider
Kids can build their own micro-fleet of Star Wars starfighters. Manufactured by Jazwares and available for purchase on Amazon.
Escape Kids: Space Storm Strike Puzzle (Ages 9+) — $18.99Escape Kids: Space Storm Strike Puzzle
The Toy Insider
This 368-piece jigsaw puzzle and riddle game draws kids in a race against time to restore their crashed rover before a space storm strikes. Manufactured by Ravensburger and available for purchase on Amazon.
Clue Treachery at Tudor Mansion Escape & Solve Mystery Game (Ages 10+) — $16.99Clue Treachery at Tudor Mansion Escape & Solve Mystery Game
The Toy Insider
The latest Clue “whodunnit” guessing game. Manufactured by Hasbro and available for purchase on Amazon.
Wordle: The Party Game (Ages 14+) — $19.99Wordle: The Party Game
The Toy Insider
The popular The New York Times word-guessing game is now digitized into a party set for 2-4 players. Manufactured by Hasbro Gaming and available for preorder on Amazon, Target, and Hasbro Pulse.
