Oh to be young again and looking through the latest catalogues, circling what you’d love Santa to bring you. But don’t worry, I’m here to give my fellow Parents the 4-1-1, or things that are ‘lit’ or ‘vibes’, or something. I don’t know slang. Whatever, here’s a bunch of cool stuff.

Pokemon TCG: Holiday Calendar – $84.99

Organize your best festive season with this Pokemon Holiday Calendar. This product came with 25 surprises that include one sidekick dangler featuring, Pikachu and Glaceon, two Pokemon coins, two Pokemon sticker sheets, five Pokemon TCG booster packs, seven Pokemon TCG fun packs, and eight foil Pokemon TCG cards with a festive stamp. Team up with your friends and create strategies to fight and win with this Pokemon Holiday Calendar.

• 8 foil Pokémon TCG cards with a festive stamp
• 5 Pokémon TCG booster packs
• 7 Pokémon TCG 3-card fun packs
• 2 Pokémon coins
• 2 Pokémon sticker sheets
• 1 sidekick dangler featuring Pikachu and Glaceon

VTech® Storytime With Sunny™ – Ages: 3+ Years – MSRP: $79.99

Meet a bright, entertaining friend with Storytime With Sunny™! Sunny’s expressive personality engages kiddos as she tells stories with surprising plot twists to keep them hanging on her every word. Sunny invites participation in 300+ activities with four disks and more than five hours of fairy tales, classic songs, guessing games, a poem creator, silly jokes, tongue twisters, daily routines and much more. Availability: Walmart/Walmart.ca, Toys R Us, Indigo, Amazon.ca

VTech® KidiZoom® Smartwatch DX3 – Ages: 4+ Years – MSRP: $69.99

The coolest kids’ smartwatch brand is here—the KidiZoom® Smartwatch DX3. The kid-friendly DX3 features dual cameras for pictures, selfies and videos along with one- and two-player games, daily reminders and more. The light on the watch doubles as camera flash and flashlight. Create custom clockfaces from your own photos or swipe through 50+ animated faces to make time-telling exciting.

Availability: Walmart, Toys R Us, Indigo, Amazon.ca

VTech® Go! Go! Smart Wheels® Spiral Construction Tower™Ages: 1.5+ YearsMSRP: $79.99

Ready, set, go, go with the Go! Go! Smart Wheels® Spiral Construction Tower™. Spin down the spiral tower, then cruise through the construction site. Build first words and motor skills with a talking dump truck and track set that drive development and imagination with SmartPoint® tech. This work site is ready for loads of play! Collect more Go! Go! Smart Wheels® SmartPoint® cars and track sets to explore unique responses on each SmartPoint® (sold separately). 

Availability: Amazon.ca, Toys R Us, Indigo

Xtrem Bots Charlie The Astronaut – $54.99

Fuel the passion in your little one to explore the galaxy with this XTREM BOTS Charlie figure. Up to 200 programmable actions ensure kids ages 5 and up have exciting adventures, while gesture control promotes the use of hand signals. The two movement modes support walking and sliding across imaginary planets, and app compatibility enables hassle-free programming. This XTREM BOTS Charlie figure introduces your kid to STEM and features space sounds and light for realistic play.

ALEX Giant Art Jar Craft Kit – Nature – 214 pieces – $34.99

Give your children a fun way to explore the world around them with this ALEX Nature giant art jar. This rainy-day activity keeps youngsters occupied with a range of nature-themed supplies. Use items including twine, pom-poms, rattan balls, googly eyes, and felt to create fanciful bugs, jewelry, and gifts to delight friends and family. Packed in a jar that can be reused when it’s empty, this ALEX Nature giant art jar makes an exciting gift for a special little one.

Nintendo Switch – OLED / Original / Lite

The ultimate gaming system. Play at home or on the go. We’ve been addicted to the Pokemon series and all the Mario games. The Nintendo Switch family is home to exclusive games from franchises like Super Smash Bros., The Legend of Zelda, Mario Kart, and many more.

Check out everything that’s coming soon to the world of Nintendo on their latest Nintendo Direct video:

Personally, I’m super excited about the new Mario series, including Mario Wonder. In fact, as I’m writing this, I just got an email that says there’s going to be some cool events across Canada to promote the launch:

JUST ANNOUNCED: Nintendo of Canada Invites Families to Discover Super Mario Bros. Wonder This Fall

Nintendo of Canada announced today that families can jump into the unexpected with Mario and friends at select Science Centres this fall to celebrate the release of Super Mario Bros. Wonder!

There will be activities for the whole family to enjoy, including a scavenger hunt, photo opportunities, free giveaways (while supplies last), and, of course, the chance to try out the Super Mario Bros. Wonder game!

See here to learn more and check out the participating locations below:

Ontario Science Centre

Where: 770 Don Mills Rd, Toronto ON M3C 1T3
Date: October 21 – 22
Time: 10:00 am – 5:00 pm
Learn More

Montreal Science Centre

Where: 2 Rue de la Commune Ouest, Montréal QC H2Y 4B2
Date: October 28 – 29
Time: 10:00 am – 5:00 pm
Learn More

Science World British Columbia

Where: 1455 Quebec Street, Vancouver BC V6A 3Z7
Dates: November 12 – 13
Time: 10:00 am – 5:00 pm
Learn more

An admission fee is required for some locations. There is no additional charge for participating in the Super Mario Bros. Wonder event activities within the Science Centres.

Ok, back to the toys

Barbie Dreamhouse, Pool Party Doll House with 75+ Pieces and 3-Story Slide, Barbie House Playset, Pet Elevator, and Puppy Play Areas – $199

Kids can host the ultimate pool party with the Barbie Dreamhouse! This deluxe doll house has the tallest slide in the Barbie Dreamhouse series to date, with a three-story spiral design for endless fun in the sun. It inspires 360-degree play with a wide and spacious floorplan, three levels, and 10 indoor and outdoor living areas. The playset also features more pet-friendly touches than ever before, including a puppy slide and pool where furry friends can play along with Barbie doll.

Compatible Magnetic Tiles Building Blocks – 102pcs Advanced Set – $59.99

(Note – This is the cheapest version I’ve been able to find!)

• The package includes 102 magnetic blocks, an idea booklet, and a storage bag, no pure plastic pieces. Refill your existing magnetic blocks or even building blocks of other brands to expand model opinions. More pieces, more possibilities.
• Well made with toxin-free materials and has a rounded-edge design. So they’re very safe for kids to play with and suitable for multiple age groups of different learning needs. Kids under 3 years need to be always supervised to avoid choking issues and also more involved in helping them build magnetic shapes and structures.
• Different from other traditional building toys which are easy to fall down, our magnetic blocks are easy to build and hold with strong magnets. Great way to excite kids’ creative imagination and build self-confidence.

Mochi Squishy Toys, 25Pcs – (Great stocking-stuffers or for a homemade advent calendar) – $21.59

Paw Patrol – The Movie and new toys!

There’s a new movie starring Chase, Rubble, Ryder, and the rest of the Paw Patrol gang. How are they funded? Who voted in Mayor Goodway? Why does she have a chicken? These questions probably won’t get answered, but the movie is gonna be a fun one and there are toys to go along with it.

PAW Patrol: The Mighty Movie, Remote Control Car – $39

• CHASE IS ON THE CASE: Race to the rescue with Chase, at almost 4 mph in his PAW Patrol RC Car! With 2.4GHz frequency controller, drive your authentic PAW race car from up to 100 feet away!
• GENUINE PAW PATROL TOY CAR: This PAW Patrol: The Mighty Movie remote control police car is designed with authentic details and styling, so it looks just like it does in the PAW Patrol Movie!
• TWO BUTTON REMOTE CONTROL: The easy-to-use controller features a simple two-button design. Use the left button to move the remote control toy forward and the right button to reverse and turn around!
• COLLECT THEM ALL: Expand your collection of PAW Patrol toys for girls and boys with toy trucks, action figures, diecast cars, dinosaur toys, stuffed animals, board games, jigsaw puzzles and more!

PAW PATROL PAW Patrol, Chase’s 5-in-1 Ultimate Cruiser with Lights and Sounds – $120

• 5-IN-1 CRUISER: This large cruiser has room for all 6 pups and is equipped for any rescue, with 5 different vehicles! Save the day in the cruiser, 2 motorcycles, a boat, and a helicopter!
• LAUNCH THE HELICOPTER: Press the button to lift off – the cruiser opens up as the helicopter raises on a platform inside! Pick up the chopper, spin the propellers by hand, and soar to the rescue!
• DUAL MOTORCYCLES: The Ultimate Cruiser features dual-launching motorcycles! Send them straight into action by pushing the button on top of the cruiser. The sides pop out, releasing the bikes!
• LIGHTS AND SOUNDS: Bring the excitement of PAW Patrol to life! Press the button to activate flashing lights and exciting sound effects, just like a real cruiser! Includes 3 LR44 batteries.
• Includes: 1 Chase Figure, 5 Vehicles, 1 Launcher, 3 Projectiles, 1 Instruction Sheet

PAW Patrol: The Mighty Movie, Transforming Rescue Jet with Skye Mighty Pups Action Figure, Lights and Sounds – $49.97

• LIGHTS, SOUNDS & TRANSFORMATION: Clip Skye into the cockpit of her airplane toy, move it around and squeeze the lever to rotate the wings of her jet and to hear sound effects and music from the movie!
• MIGHTY PUPS ACTION FIGURE: Dressed in her PAW Patrol: The Mighty Movie uniform, this one of a kind Skye toy figure is a must-have, featuring translucent areas that light up when she’s in her vehicle!
• PAW PATROL MOVIE VEHICLE: Designed with authentic details and styling, Skye’s rescue Jet looks just like the exciting toy airplane that Skye uses, to save the day in PAW Patrol: The Mighty Movie!
• COLLECT THEM ALL: Expand your collection of PAW Patrol toys for girls and boys with toy trucks, action figures, diecast cars, dinosaur toys, stuffed animals, board games, jigsaw puzzles and more!
• EDUCATIONAL & LEARNING TOYS: PAW Patrol preschool toys and toddler toys are great gifts for kids who like pretend play with toy cars, toy figures & playsets as an alternative to dolls or a train set.
• Includes: 1 Figure, 1 Vehicle, 2 Projectiles

Ok, that’s it for PART ONE. Stay tuned to SocialDad.ca for more Holiday Gift Guides coming soon.