Amazon's 'Toys We Love' Section Reveals 2022's Hottest Holiday Toys
Snag them before they sell out!
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When it comes to gifts for kids, there's something they'll never get enough of: toys! And with so many cool plushes, building toys, outdoor toys and creative sets for every age, it can be hard to figure out what to buy. Luckily, Amazon came out with its annual list of "Toys We Love," featuring some of the coolest new toy releases of 2022, and it's chock-full of good ideas for the holidays, birthdays and beyond.
So, what toys seem to be hottest this year? As always, STEM sets seem to be ranking highly, covering everything from geology to circuitry and electricity. Board games are also popular, especially those casual games that can be played at parties or family gatherings with a mixed age group. Then there are those sets that let kids get their DIY on, personalizing their own fashions and accessories. And collectibles are still cool, whether they're in the form of mini plushes, surprise toys or objects from their favorite fandoms, like Star Wars or Marvel. When we looked at the list of these stood out as our favorites (some of which are even former Good Housekeeping Best Toy Award winners).
This is just a sampling, though. You can find the complete Toys We Love for 2022 list at amazon.com/toyswelove. And while the Good Housekeeping Institute has not had the opportunity to test every toy on the Amazon list, we still looked for trusted brands and good reviews.
Kids will be amazed when they use their magic wands to really summon a magical creature from a crystal ball filled with mist! (Note: Good Housekeeping Institute testers say the mist smells like a rock concert.) Once it's summoned, the Mixie can do things like perform spells and tell fortunes. It's a follow-up to last year's must-have Magical Misting Cauldron. If your kids love the Mixie world, there's also the $10 Mixlings Tap & Reveal Cauldron or the Mixlings Magic Castle Playset. Ages 5+
Monster is right: This play set stands at four feet wide and two feet high, which is plenty of room for epic stunts! There are lights, sounds and a working elevator for kids to load their trucks into, and when it's not in use it can act as storage for the monster trucks. Ages 3+
Kids can't get enough a Squishmallows, the toy that splits the difference between a stuffed animal and a plush pillow. This box gives you a three-for-one, with a trio of surprise 8" stuffies in one go. (Note: Even though these are safe for babies, they're not for use in cribs.) Ages 0+
This adorable Barbie comes loaded with 10 surprises. First, you take off the head of her costume to unveil the doll underneath. Then, more surprise bags add to her accessory collection — there's even a color-changing element to Barbie's face. You can get either a polar bear, an owl a deer or a husky. Ages 3+
Black Panther has never been so cuddly! This version has a soft body with a molded plastic head. When you squeeze him, his eyes glow purple and he says iconic phrases like, "Wakanda Forever." Ages 3+
Educational Insights GeoSafari Jr. Talking Kids Microscope
We watched kids in awe as they explored 60 high-resolution images of animals and plants. With Bindi Irwin narrating, the facts and game mode both engaged young scientific explorers! Ages 4+
RELATED: The Best STEM Toys for Kids
Ravensburger Star War Villainous: Power of The Dark Side
If you've ever wanted to don a helmet and try your hand at being a Star Wars villain, this strategy board game gives you the chance. Choose from Darth Vader, Kylo Ren, General Grievous, Asajj Ventress or Moff Gideon — each villain has its own strength and resources — and try to accomplish your character's goal before the other players. Ages 10+
hand2mind Numberblocks 1-10 Activity Set
Kids who are fans of the Numberblocks show on Netflix can use the characters to do math puzzles at home. "My kids have learned so much math from it, it’s mind-blowing,” one GH tester noted. Ages 3+
This interactive baby doll helps kids name and identify their emotions. Tickle her belly and she happily laughs, lay her down to sleep when she's tired — she even cries real tears! Ages 3+
Kids can use this drawing surface over and over again — and the included gel markers and light board make sure their design really glow! It also comes with images that kids can trace, and then color in and add their own embellishments. Ages 6+
With this set, kids can build a mechanical hand they can actually wear and operate! Along the way, they'll learn about scientific concepts like pneumatic and hydraulic systems. Ages 7+
Learning Resources Spike The Fine Motor Hedgehog
This colorful hedgehog helps little fingers develop fine motor skills with grasping and pinching and can be used for color recognition and counting learning, too. Bonus: You can store the pieces inside the shell for easier portability. Ages 18 months+
If your child is obsessed with popular musical comedy series, they'll love this play set. It comes with a ton of accessories, including five different records that play different song clips from the show. Ages 3+
A toy the whole family can get behind: Kids will love playing with this colorful sub in the bath or pool. Parents love that it's made from 100% recycled milk jugs, and is also free of BPA or phthalates. Ages 6 months+
Fisher-Price Harley-Davidson Tricycle
They'll look like the coolest toddler on the block when they cruise on this Harley-Davidson tricycle. It has big pedals perfect for toddler feet, and there's even some storage under the seat. Ages 2+
If they spent the spring watching Obi-Wan, they probably already want their own Lola. This inexpensive interactive toy acts more like a pet than robot, with sounds, lights and movements. Ages 4+
If you know kids who saw Encanto and now want a Casita of their own, this is the toy for them. The set comes with 587 pieces, which is not too easy and not too challenging, and also comes with Minifigures of Abula, Mirabel and Antonio. Ages 6+
These adorable 12" tall dolls are perfect for sparking imaginative play. It's part of the Orijin Bees line of dolls, known for its range of skin tones and hair textures. Ages 3+
Calling all crafty fashion designers: Kids can use pre-printed fabric and patterns to make six accessories, including a belt bag, scrunchie and sunglasses. Plus, the thread is loaded onto cartridges, so there's no threading necessary! Ages 8+
Geodes are cool on their own, but this set actually gives kids safety goggles, so they can break open their geodes with a hammer. (You have to supply the hammer.) It comes with display stands, a magnifying glass and a booklet with the science behind geodes. Ages 8+
Marisa (she/her) has covered all things parenting, from the postpartum period through the empty nest, for Good Housekeeping since 2018; previously, she wrote about parents and families at Parents and Working Mother. She lives with her toy-collecting husband and daughter in Brooklyn, where she can be found helping out her team at bar trivia or posting about movies on Twitter and Bluesky.
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