2019-12-01_Good_Housekeeping

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8+

MINI FORTNITE

ACTION FIGURES

Battle your Fortnite enemies IRL with

pint-size figurines from the popular video

game. Each set comes with two players

and lots of gear for the ultimate showdown.

Lab Results Every single Fortnite fan

wanted this toy! We like that the pieces are

interchangeable, so the more characters you

collect, the more you can mix and match.

MOOSE TOYS FORTNITE BATTLE ROYALE

(2" SQUAD PACK), $20, AMAZON.COM

5+

INTERGALACTIC

RESCUE MISSION

Three of kids’ fave things: surprise toys,

slime and aliens! Cut open the creature to

rescue the treasure hunter from its gooey

insides and see if he’s found a real gem.

Lab Results In our Toy Lab tests, mini

scientists had as much fun playing

with the reusable slime and collectibles

as they did dissecting the alien.

MOOSE TOYS TREASURE X ALIENS,

$15, AMAZON.COM

5+

BLOOMING BFF

Sprinkle on water to “grow” a doll hid-

ing inside — as her foam hair expands, it pops

through the top! Once you meet your new

friend, check out her hideaway and extras.

Lab Results Kids were wowed by her magic

hair, but its appearance only happens once,

so make sure everyone pays attention.

Beyond the cool factor, this is great for

sharing or trading among friends, as the dolls’

colorful locks and outfits can be swapped.

6+

COLORFUL

BRACELET BLING

Open the cookie to reveal your fortune and

a charm bracelet. From a unicorn to a heart,

there are 100 cute designs to collect.

Lab Results Our experts were blown away

by the value. For less than $5, you get a dose

of fun plus a bracelet kids of all ages (and

adults!) will love. Keep an eye out — you could

find a gold-dipped four-leaf clover!

WOWWEE LUCKY FORTUNE, $4,

LUCKYFORTUNE.WOWWEE.COM

3+

RYAN’S WORLD

TREASURE CHEST

This takes the mystery toy to a whole new

level! Unlock secret compartments to find

pirate gear, gold coins and much more.

Lab Results Little ones go nuts over Ryan’s

toy videos — his YouTube channel has nearly

22 million followers — so unboxing this is

extra exciting. Our pros also love that the

chest doubles as storage for all the pieces!

RYAN’S WORLD CAP’N RYAN’S MEGA

MYSTERY TREASURE CHEST, $80, TARGET.COM

5+

EGG-CELLENT

SURPRISE SET

“Honey, I shrunk the Hatchimals!” Pick one

of the 12 surprise eggs from the carrying

carton, rub the heart until it turns pink and

help your new friend hatch.

Lab Results Kids love anything Hatchimals

in our Lab tests (as they have for the past

three years!). This pack offers the joy and

anticipation of the original toy — times 12.

SPINMASTER HATCHIMALS COLLEGGTIBLES

ROYAL SNOW BALL 12-PACK EGG CARTON,

$20, AMAZON.COM

These are the collectible toys, vetted by the experts

in our Little Lab, that every kid will be begging for this

holiday season and beyond

how we tested:

We narrowed it down

to the top toys, ensured

that they met safety

standards and enlisted

100 kid testers to help

us rate them on:

• Overall fun


• Value

GOO

DHOUSEKEEPIN

G

BEST TOY

awards

2019

Raising Kids

FUN WITH

BENEFITS

We’ve seen a boom in collectibles and blind bags over the past few years. While little ones love them for the excitement (and

parents love their often low prices), they can be sneaky teaching tools. The biggest thing they can help kids learn: how to deal with

disappointment. With a blind bag, no one knows what’s inside, which means there’s a chance your child could end up with more than

one of the same toy. (It happened to our executive editor and her daughter!) “This is a great opportunity to talk about overcoming

those bummer feelings and remembering that it isn’t the end of the world,” explains clinical social worker Jennifer Rothman.

One solution: Suggest that the child trade the extra item with a sibling or friend who might have run into the same problem.

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