I’ve been listening to Christmas music since September and have been proudly strutting around in my Santa socks most of the year. While the holidays are a time for getting together with family, sharing love, and being much nicer than usual to everyone you meet, we all know that toys are awesome and we love to play with them once our kids are distracted or napping. Just me? Whatever.

There are some pretty cool new toys this year and are being predicted as the top sellers. Luckily, I’ve got the scoop.

Crate Creatures

First up are ‘Crate Creatures’. They’re fun interactive pets that you unleash from their cage to find out which special features they have. Break into the crate to unleash your new ‘beast friend’. It repeats phrases in a monster voice, lights up, and I know it said to ‘Do Not Pull His Tongue’, but I did. Who needs 10 fingers anyway?

Ages: 4+ years MSRP: from $59.99  Available at: Toys ”R” Us, Indigo and Walmart

Crate Creatures: Flingers

Each Flinger has unique sounds and noises, as well as a light up stomach when you interact with them. Fling them to your friends in a game of catch, use them to knock down targets, or fling them into one another for hilarious noises!

Ages: 4+ years MSRP: $16.99  Available at: Toys ”R” Us, Indigo and Walmart

Crate Creatures: Big Blowout 

This Crate Creature is bigger, grosser & more fun than ever! Pull his tongue and finger for gross sounds, and use the walkie-talkie lock to transmit your monster voice through your creature!

Ages: 4+ years MSRP: $119.99  Available at: Toys ”R” Us, Indigo and Walmart

Ready 2 Robot

These things are cool! Battling robots that come as one of a collection of surprises. You never know what you’ll get until you open it. The kids can trade them with their friends or siblings, build them, and battle them. Perfect for keeping them busy on Christmas morning.

Ages: 5+ years MSRP: from $22.99  Available at: Toys ”R” Us, Indigo and Walmart

Elf on The Shelf

A family classic comes complete with a book to explain the whole story of the Elf and why he watches you on the run up to Christmas. There’s also his friendly reindeer pal, who also comes with a book. Lots of bedtime reading to get into the Holiday spirit.

Ages: 3+ yearsMSRP: $42.95 (Elf) $32.95 (Reindeer) Available at: Indigo, Canadian Tire, Toys ”R” Us, Michaels, and Walmart

Professor Maxwell’s 4D Chef – Augmented & Virtual Reality Recipes

Ok, this is super cool. Download the app and slide your phone into the VR headset and your budding chef can see Professor Maxwell come to life while still seeing the world around him. Using the headset they can learn the science behind food and interact on a whole new level, while making actual food. Pretty clever, right?

The kit includes:

• 42 page cookbook
• Hands-free AR/VR goggles
• Measuring spoons and cups
• Spatula
• Whisk
• Cutting board
• Poach pod
• Rolling pin
• Knife
• Wood skewers
• Paper muffin liners
• Clothespin
• Chef hat
• Apron

Ages: 5-9 years MSRP: Costco – $29.99, everywhere else $39.99 

Treasure X

X marks the spot for a hunt like no other! Search for REAL gold dipped treasure through 10 levels of adventure! Treasure Hunters is the ultimate surprise! Reveal collectibles with a multi-layered reveal process, cool figures, and the chance to find REAL treasure! Rip, Fizz and Chip away to reveal the layers and discover the secrets hidden within! Will you be the hero that finds the REAL gold or will you end up with the booby prize?

Ages: 5-9 yearsMSRP: $39.99 Available at: Toys ”R” Us and Walmart

Tile Mate – (a little something for me!)

I’ve used Tile trackers for a few years and love that they have updated them with a replaceable battery. I have one on my keys, one on my wife’s keys, and one in the car glove box. I wish I could keep one on my daughter too!

No matter where your things/ people are, you can find them. I use mine all the time to find my keys which I swear I left in the usual spot. If you’re nearby, it’ll play a little tune for you to find them, or you can use the map within the Tile app. When I’m running around, I can also tell my Google Home “Hey Google, find my car keys” and I just listen for the tune.

Ages: Dad years old,MSRP: $29.99 Available at: Canadian Tire, Amazon, TheTileApp.com

Disclaimer: I was sent these items in exchange for a review. Most of them will be donated to our local Christmas gift drive so that children in need can have something really fun to open on Christmas morning. 

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