The 12 coolest toys for kids this holiday season

Every year, there are lots of new and exciting toys to hit the market that usually find their way to the top of kids' wish lists! Toy Insider Maddie Michalik did the heavy lifting for parents this year, and rounded up some of the absolute coolest products on the market to take the guesswork out of your holiday shopping.

Check out Maddie's picks below, and watch the video above for even more  great gifting advice!

We thoroughly research all the products we feature, and we honestly think they’re great. But just so you know, things you buy from links on this page may earn us a commission.

1. Fisher-Price B.B. Hoopster

Young athlete in the family? Then this is the gift for them! This electronic basketball net moves the hoop back and forward to challenge their skills. Sink a basket, and they're greeted with cool noises, lights, and narration.

SHOP: Fisher-Price B.B. Hoopster; $70 at Toys R Us.

2. Pelican Explore and Fit Cycle

Nowadays, multi-tasking is the name of the game - and that's exactly what this cycle bike is all about. Kids can have fun, learn and exercise at the same time! The bike can access trainer adventure videos on YouTube for a whole new added element of fun.

SHOP: Little Tykes Pelican Explore and Fit Cycle; $250 at Toys R Us.

3. Pokémon TCG: Celebrations Elite Trainer Box

It's Pokémon's 25th anniversary, and to celebrate, the company is releasing this Elite Trainer collection. It showcases all of the franchise's most beloved characters along with a ton of awesome booster packs and other necessary game equipment. 

SHOP: Pokémon TCG: Celebrations Elite Trainer Box; $90 at Indigo.

4. Batman Bat-Tech Transforming Batcave Playset

This awesome Batcave playset takes your kids on a trip to Gotham City for some epic adventures. Open it up to reveal Bruce Wayne's Batcave with more than ten areas for awesome action, exciting features, exclusive accessories - and even a hidden escape door. 

SHOP: Batman Bat-Tech Transforming Batcave Playset; $141 on Amazon.

5. Magic Mixies

This interactive cauldron will captivate kids with its mystical magic. With special ingredients, they can brew up a misty potion that reveals a Mixies creature that responds to touch, lights up, grants wishes and much more.

SHOP: Magic Mixies Magic Cauldron; $100 at Indigo.

6. Got2Glow Fairy Finder

Fairies are real, and they're everywhere! Kids can catch them in their bedroom, in the kitchen, in the dark - there's always a fairy everywhere with this fun toy. They can even grow their collection by sharing with friends and downloading the companion app.

SHOP: Got2Glow Fairy Finger; $60 at Toys R Us.

7. LumiTEK Neon Giant

Get ready for some epic drifting with this mini monster truck! Complete with high-speed car lights, customizable chassis and controllable neon lighting, this toy a real thrill.

SHOP: LumiTEK Neon Giant Truck; $150 at Walmart.

8. Tacto Dino

Travel back in time to the dinosaur era with this awesome toy! Your young expeditioner can learn fascinating facts about the dinosaurs while solving puzzles and mysteries. There's even a dino game on the Tacto app that they can try.

SHOP: Tacto Dino by Playshifu; $50 USD on Amazon.

9. Kidizoom Printcam

Your budding photographer will love the Kidizoom Printcam! Kids can capture and print fun photos in seconds, and even add stickers, filters and borders to any image or video. They can even turn the photos into drawings that they can colour themselves!

SHOP: VTech Kidizoom Printcam; $84 at Walmart.

10. Tiny TV Classics

These fun little working TVs are a real blast from the past. They can use the remote to turn the TV on, and channel surf from scene to scene.

SHOP: Tiny TV Classics; $30 at Walmart.

11. Candy Claw Machine

Kids can assemble a working claw machine that delivers them candy! This one is great for their hand-eye coordination skills as they try to grab a claw-ful of goodies.

12. Paper Butterflies Science Kit

A cool STEM gift that kids will love, this science kit teaches them the magic of butterflies. They create gorgeous butterflies using colourful inks that get absorbed into the paper for a beautiful finished product.

SHOP: Paper Butterflies Science Kit; $25 at Toys R Us.