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The Museum Store has polled the experts (kids!) to determine the top 10 toys for the 2024 holiday season with our annual Kid-Tested, Kid-Approved™ selection of kids’ favorite toys.
We've compiled the expert testers' opinions and created this handy guide for you to use when choosing holiday gifts for the children in their lives.
2024 Kid-Tested, Kid-Approved™ winners
1. Go Nuts Chipmunks!
Watch out for the feeding frenzy with Go Nuts, Chipmunks! The chipmunk who eats the most acorns wins! For 2-4 players age 5 and up.
Fun for the whole family, Go Nuts Chipmunks includes 4 chipmunks, a 6-piece, easy-to-assemble border ring, 39 marbles, a push-top tree to hold and release the marbles, and instructions.
No batteries required.
Choking hazard warning—contains small parts, not for children under 3 years old
2. Skunked!
Will you be able to pick your flowers in peace while playing Skunked! and avoid getting sprayed by the skunk? Fill the skunk up with water, crank down its tail and you’re ready to go!
Roll the dice to see how many flowers you have to pick. Roll a zero and your safe, roll 1 or 2 and you must press down on that many flowers. One flower will be unlucky and cause the skunk to spray its water at you! You never know who’s going to get sprayed first! Kids will love the simplicity and suspense of this game.
For 2 or more players
Recommended for ages 4+
Choking hazard warning—contains small parts, not for children under 3 years old
3. Foosebots Stadium Battle!
Spin, kick, WIN!
Fit the Foosbots Stadium Battle parts together to build the stadium and then grab the two included Foosbots. When you squeeze your Foosbot's arms, it spins to kick the ball FAST.
Can you get your ball past your opponent and score the winning goal?
Complete with training gear for honing your skills on the sidelines, this stadium set is a must-have for the ultimate Foosbots tournament!
Recommended for ages 6+
Choking hazard warning—contains small parts, not for children under 3 years old
4. Slithering Snake
This fun and creepy toy snake measures approximately 15“ long with a realistic appearance. Watch as its long tongue retracts in and out of its mouth, and take note of the tail that realistically swings back and forth.
The Slithering Snake comes equipped with a remote transmitter in the shape of a snake egg, which controls the snakes’ movements using infrared technology. Its free-moving design creates life-like, accurate movement – you’ll know it’s not real, but your friends and family won’t!
Recommended for ages 6+
Batteries: Internal Lithium Ion battery and 3 x LR44 batteries, included
Choking hazard warning—contains small parts, not for children under 3 years old
5. Dueling Desktop Basketball
Three...two…one…you shoot…you score!
Dueling Desktop Basketball is a tabletop basketball game that fuses portability with good old-fashioned hoops. Score as many buckets as you can before the buzzer sounds, and if you’re skilled enough, you can claim victory!
Not only is this game just good ole fun, it’s the perfect way for young children to develop hand-eye coordination, as they carefully calculate force and distance while shooting the ball into the hoop. Launch the ball with too much force and it will go sailing over the goal. But if you time it correctly, you’ll be swishing jump shots with ease in no time!
Recommended for ages 8+
For 1–2 players
Batteries: 3 x AA Batteries, not included
Choking hazard warning—contains small parts, not for children under 3 years old
6. Panda Panic!
Don't let the pandas fall! This Panda Panic! game encourages kids to think ahead before each move. On their turn they must pull out one stick of “bamboo” without causing any panda pals to go tumbling to the ground. Whoever has collected the least pandas at the end wins! For 2-4 players.
Recommended for ages 5+
Choking hazard warning—contains small parts, not for children under 3 years old.
7. ZipString
Get the gadget that started the craze! ZipString is a fun easy fidget toy—but also skillful if you want to learn to do tricks with the suspended ropes!
Includes:
- 3 String loops of different sizes and colors
- USB charging cable
- Instruction guide
You will receive one Zip String in assorted random color.
8. Space Adventure Rocket Set
The Space Adventure Rocket Set brings the wonders of space to the playroom. Children can role play visiting distant planets, fostering curiosity and a love for science. With its easy-to-follow instructions, children can assemble the rocket themselves, promoting critical thinking, problem-solving skills, and hand-eye coordination.
Designed to replicate a real rocket, this toy features authentic details such as boosters, detachable stages, a command module, as well as interactive lights and sounds. It can be used as an introduction to basic concepts of physics, engineering, and space exploration. Play can help make learning enjoyable and fosters a passion for STEM subjects.
-Recommended for ages 3+
9 Run Beaver Run!
Run little beavers, run! It’s time to hurry back home… but watch out for the rolling log! Be the first lucky beaver to dodge the log and reach the dam first.
The new Run Beaver Run! game is full of excitement and anticipation with each roll! For 2 to 4 players, age 5 and up. Includes 4 beaver playing pieces, 1 fold-up gameboard case for easy, on-the-go play, 1 die, 1 log, 1 log release lever and instructions. No batteries required.
10. Rainbow Hoberman Sphere
The Hoberman Sphere is the original award winning geometric expanding contracting ball. Made of linked plastic struts each one is a marvel of mechanical engineering. Pull on any of the sphere’s hubs and watch as it expands dramatically from 9.5” to 30”! A feat of engineering so cool that everyone wants to play with it!
Recommended for ages 4+
Choking hazard warning—contains small parts, not for children under 3 years old
The Museum Store has gifts for everyone
Looking for that perfect gift this holiday season? The Children's Museum Store probably has it! You can visit in-person or online. And don't forget that members save 10% off every purchase!
