Calling all parents!
Here are the hottest toys of 2018
We’re barely into back-to-school season, yet it might already be time to think ahead about toy shopping for the holidays.
Because of the time it takes to produce and ship toys, especially when they’re incredibly popular, it’s impossible to keep the shelves continually stocked. The hottest toys might be available at your nearest retailer right now, but as we get closer to December, all bets are off.
Here are five toys that kids and parents alike are obsessing over in 2018. One thing in particular that makes these toys so popular? They’re highly collectible with sought-after rare items, and have engaged, loyal followings on social media. Toys nowadays are still about playing and having fun, but there’s a community aspect to them that collectors can’t get enough of. Brands that used to grow organically now have the potential to go viral online overnight. Remember fidget spinners?
SHOPKINS LIL’ SECRET:
It’s all about collectibles this year, and no brand is currently more synonymous with addictive, immersive universe building than the mini and mighty Shopkins. The Lil’ Secrets – dubbed the best-kept secret in Shopville – come in tiny padlocks, meaning you don’t know exactly what you’re getting until you crack the code and open them. Inside there’s a miniature world to explore that kids can’t wait to discover.
GROSSERY GANG TIME WARS AND CHOMP ’N’ CHEW TRASH-O-SAUR:
The sewer-bound and slimy Ninja Turtles-esque equivalent to Shopkins’ cutesy world, the Grossery Gang collectible line comes with cartoony monsters and toilets to play with. In their latest adventure into the world of grossness, the Grossery Gang have travelled back in time and have teamed up with a prehistoric partner in their battle against the Rotbots. The T-Rex Chomp ‘n’ Chew Trash-OSaur comes equipped with a rocket cannon, but the real pièce de résistance is the dino’s ability to chew up and poop out its unsuspecting foes. Gross? Perhaps, but also good for a chuckle.
The Time Wars line also comes with regular, large, supersize and surprise packs with the potential for limited edition gems, as well as vehicles and action figures Putrid Pizza, Gooey Chewie and CyberSlop Pizza.
SQUEEZAMALS:
Squishy toys are usually a solid bet. In previous years, slime was a huge deal and is always en vogue to an extent, although this time around it’s all about these cute circular critters. What makes them special? These plush, rosy-cheeked animals come in two sizes and are filled with memory foam, an industry-first, making them the definitive item in a category filled with imitators. When they’re squished, the foam will ensure they return to form more slowly than usual. Also, they can be clipped to backpacks and are scented. Is there anything these soft penguins and cats can’t do? There are 30 different types to collect.
SHIMMEEZ:
Ostensibly the sparkly, colour-changing cousin to the squishy Squeezamal, these plush toys are covered in glittery reversible sequins, making them perfect for doodling designs by flipping them over with your finger. They’re ostentatiously eye catching – shining beacons of light on a toy shelf – and allow for endless creative possibilities since it’s easy to flip the sequins over and start a fresh design. Available in two sizes: big plush size and 3.5-inch backpack clip-on. There are 27 different animals to collect of the latter size.
The original gold rush involved taking a treacherous route to the Klondike in the hopes of striking it rich. Today, there’s no need to risk it out in the wilderness when there’s a one in 24 chance the next Mine It toy you purchase will come with a hidden piece of gold or diamond underneath its rocky exterior. That’s right, actual gold and diamonds. Playing with them feels like a true excavation: chip away at the outer shell with the provided hammer and chisel, and then have a look at what’s inside. There’s a guaranteed collector’s specimen in every box, but you won’t know what it is until you dig for yourself.
There’s Mine It gold and diamond, but there’s also the World Coin Mine collection, which comes with a hidden world collector coin or genuine ancient roman bronze coin, with 20 different real world coins to collect in all. It also comes with a magnifier so you can inspect the coin.
Considering that coins were one of the original collecting fads, Mine It’s coins are bridging the gap between collecting back in the day with the cool toys of the present.