Thanksgiving is on the early side in 2023 which means Christmas shopping feels that way too! We’re here to get you jumpstarted, Smarties! Our friends at Toy Mania Cotswold are experts in the industry and have shared with us the latest and best in toys for this holiday season. The experienced staff at Toy Mania shared its insider info with us for this guide, the same way it does every customer who walks through the doors each day. They offer the personal service you can’t get in an online search engine!
This week in our 2023 Smarty Toy Guides, we share some of Toy Mania experts’ favorite picks for children of all ages. Make your list and head to Toy Mania at Cotswold Shopping Center! You can avoid the shipping charges and stress of delayed deliveries and get all your presents wrapped at no extra charge! We at Charlotte Smarty Pants love supporting local, family-owned businesses like Toy Mania!
Without further ado, here are 10 outstanding toy ideas for Ages 6 – 11. Check out our Smarty Holiday Toy Guide for Ages 0-5 and coming soon: our Smarty Holiday Toy Guide for ‘Tweens and Teenagers!
1. Bitzee Interactive Digital Pet. Ages 5 and up. Price: $38.99.
This is the hot toy of 2023, Smarties, and now you’re in the know! They’ve been selling so fast, Toy Mania has had to limit the number customers can buy! Bitzee is the new virtual pet that your little is going to love. This interactive virtual creature reacts to swipes left and right, tilts and touches. Each pet grows from baby to adult to a “Super Bitzee” with tender care from your child. The more they play, the more Bitzee pets they can access. Your child is going to put down the iPad for a chance to play with this digital pet!
2. Soaps and Scents Make Your Own Soaps. Ages 8 and up. Price: $29.99.
What a neat and practical craft children can do, coming away with a lot more than something to hang on a bulletin board. This product was made in France, for parents looking for some European influence. The glycerin-based product melts easily in the microwave and can be mixed with multiple colors and shapes.
3. GraviTrax PRO Starter Set Giant. Ages 8 and up. Price: $279.99.
It’s like an erector set from the ol’ days meets the most incredible marble run you can find and voila you have the coolest STEM toy that will keep your boys or girls playing for ages. Using 409 pieces and the forces of gravity, this is good construction fun that encourages creativity and independent play. (If you’re looking for a version for younger children, Ravensburger makes a GraviTrax Junior Set for kids ages 3-7. Toy Mania has it for $59.99.)
4. Blinger Kids glamour kit. Ages 6 and up. Starter kit for $29.99.
Are you serious? Kids can now bedazzle their own hair with sparkly gems, not to mention their clothes, shoes, purses, sunglasses, backpacks and more with these colorful, adorable, adhesive gems? All I have to say is where was this when I was a little girl? What fun! Extra gem cards are available for $14.99 each.
5. Spider RC Car by Odyssey. Ages 8 and up. Price: $61.99.
It’s not a spider, it’s not a car, it’s a spider car, and it’s the coolest remote control toy under the tree this year. This futuristic metal alloy vehicle can crawl, spin and light up, move sideways and diagonal. It’s a great alternative when you’re looking to replace broken down remote control cars from holidays past.
6. Charmtopia jewelry crafting kit. Ages 10 and up. Price: $31.99.
This 380-piece set includes four bracelets, one necklace, three hairclips and nine yards of elastic cord to keep your jewelry crafter busy! The kit includes shiny metallic lilac, gold, and blue puffy charms to accessorize in all the latest trends.
7. Tracer Pacers Super Looper Speedway. Ages 6 and up. Price: $99.99.
These are remote control cars with a purpose! They come with a dual-sided glow-in-the-dark track – that comes complete with a loop and a segment of “lane changer” – two cars and two controllers. The track is about five feet long and 2 1/2 feet wide, enough space for rip-roaring fun!
8. KLUTZ Super Cute Embroidery Craft Kit. Ages 10 and up. Price: $22.99.
Super cute is right and this 32-page book and activity kit is a great way to introduce young sewers to embroidery and also cross stitching. The kit comes with pre-printed fabric patches that serve as guides to follow easily along while creating trendy characters like a hedgehog and fruit with faces.
9. Zing Marshmallow Blaster. Ages 8 and up. $24.99.
Food fight!! Step aside, Nerf, this is a great alternative – a Marshmallow Blaster that can shoot up to 30 feet thanks to its pump-action blaster, and you don’t have to worry about a pellet taking someone’s eye out. Good wholesome fun, that happens to be delicious too. Throw in a bag of marshmallows and you’ve got instant fun to be had.
10. Artist Studio Kit by Kid Made Modern. Ages 6 and up. Price: $49.99.
You cannot go wrong with a new art kit, especially when you look around your home and find countless pens without caps, colors missing from pencil sets and the like. Who doesn’t love a fresh new sets of colored pencils, washable markers, acrylic and watercolor paint, paint brushes, canvas boards, paper pads and more? The carrying case just means it’s easy to take from the kitchen table to grandmother’s house for a visit. Or just recommend the gift for her and she can keep it at her house for the next time!
– Smarty Carroll
Check out our our Smarty Holiday Toy Guide for Ages 0-5 and stay tuned for our Holiday Toy Guide for ‘Tweens and Teenagers!
The 2023 Smarty Holiday Toy Gift Guide is sponsored by our favorite local toy store, Toy Mania in Cotswold. Find everything on your child’s wish list without having to worry about shipping costs and delivery dates! And guess what? They will wrap every gift BEAUTIFULLY and oh-so-expertly – so you don’t have to pull an all-nighter on Christmas Eve!
Cotswold Village Shops
242 S. Sharon Amity Road
704-910-2001
Hours: Monday -Saturday 9 a.m. – 7 p.m.; Sunday 12 p.m.- 6 p.m.
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