The hottest holiday toys for the kiddos on your list

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Shopping for Christmas gifts has never been easier — but choosing the perfect toys for your little ones has also never been more challenging. With so many stores and online shops at your fingertips, and more toy options than Santa could have ever imagined, deciding what to put under the tree is no easy feat. To ease some of that bah humbug-inducing burden, we’ve compiled a snapshot of some of this year’s most in-demand holiday finds for kids of all ages.

Vtech Soothing Starlight Igloo $29.99 Ages: 6 months and up Part precious baby toy, part parent-approved napping aid, this darling plush penguin is ready for snuggles while its igloo projects a starry sky with twinkling lights on the ceiling as it plays baby’s preferred sound of choice — be it white noise, nature noises or lullabies. Bonus: a built-in cry sensor responds if baby arises from their slumber. Available at: Amazon, Walmart, Toys “R” Us, London Drugs

Hitster $29.99 Ages: 16 and up A party game with a built-in DJ, Hitster is a must for the music lover on your list who’s past the toy stage. To play, they’ll need Spotify and a place to download the Hitster app, but beyond that all they need are some pals and their musical knowledge. From there they’ll pick a music card, scan the QR code and guess when the song was released by placing it on their music timeline. The first person to collect 10 hits wins — unless they’re playing by themselves, which is an option too. Available at: Walmart, Amazon

21 Bluff $24.99 Ages: 12 and up Card gamers can get a fresh take on blackjack with this challenging new twist primed for social gatherings. The deck is packed with some surprises — but the real trick will be trying to reimagine and master this classic game before their opponent reaches 21. Hint: Tell them to read the instructions first. Available at: Walmart

Magic Bag Warmy — Sam the Cat $16.99 Ages: 3 and up A toy with built-in TLC, Sam the Cat makes injuries, tummy aches and bedtime resistance that much easier for little ones (and parents). Slip the organic rice-filled insert into the microwave for 30 seconds and then tuck it back into washable Sam’s belly for soothing warmth, or toss it into the freezer to take down bumps other ouchies with a side of snuggle. Available at: Magicbag.com

Qaba Balance Board $58.99 Ages: 3 and up Portable, durable and usable in so many ways, this 32-inch balance board from Qaba is a unique find for the active kid who has everything. The wobbly, wavy board can be used as a pretend boat, bridge, rocker — let their imagination figure it out. They won’t even realize they’re developing core strength and posture while they play. Available at: Rona

Lego Wicked Elphaba & Glinda Figures $69.99 Ages: 10 and up One of the hottest movie musicals of the holiday season meets one of the hottest toys of all time — the timing couldn’t be better for Lego’s release of the these Wicked Elphaba & Glinda figures (one of several Wicked-themed Lego sets that recently hit shelves). Builders can construct all 558 pieces to bring the scene where Elphaba finds the courage to defy gravity to Lego-sized life — or create new scenes of their own. Tech tidbit: Scan the hidden QR code to play the film’s hit track Defying Gravity. Available at: Lego.com

Pac-Man Arcade Pinball $79.99 Ages: 6 and up Arcade legends Pac-Man and pinball meet in this tabletop mash-up — and nostalgic gamers will eat it up. The sights and sounds of Pac-Man — who’s been on the go since 1980 — are all over this pinball game featuring colourful LED lights and an electronic scoreboard that keeps tabs on your high scores. Bumpers that vibrate and kick the ball give it such an arcade vibe, you can almost smell the sweat and Windex. Available at: Toys “R” Us

Little Live Pets Mama Surprise Bunny $89.99 Ages: 4 and up Come for the cute factor, stay for the experience of watching a mama prepare for and ultimately give birth to her bunnies. Your new pet owner can care for this cuddly interactive mama bunny by feeding her a carrot and brushing her hair until her heart glows — indicating a baby is on the way. Then they place mama back into her interactive hutch and wait for the tot to arrive with a special care package. Repeat until all three babies are born. Tip: Grab this toy sooner than later — it’s a hot seller. Available at: Toys “R” Us

Bluey HugMees $17.99 Ages: 3 and up Beloved Blue Heeler Bluey meets beloved plush toy brand Squishmallows for what’s bound to be a beloved bestseller this holiday season. Run, don’t walk if you want to sink your paws into this soft 10-inch ball of cuddly cuteness. Available at: Walmart, Toys “R” Us

Vtech Magic Adventures Globe $119.99 Ages: 5 and up A dream gift for junior geographers, this 10-inch interactive globe includes a stylus they can use to explore new places, languages, animals, cultures and more through over five hours of BBC videos displayed on a 2.8-inch screen. A mix of animated and live action clips as well as games will keep them engaged while likely boosting their socal studies grade. Available at: Amazon, Walmart, Toys “R” Us, Indigo

Magna-Tiles Castle Set $59.99 Ages: 3 and up File Magna-Tiles under the safe bet gift category. You can’t go wrong with these colourful magnetic building pieces — and this adorable 25-piece princess-themed set takes this top toy up a notch with a splash of sparkle, a working drawbridge and a spiral staircase. The tiles are also non-toxic, BPA free and easy to pull apart — so those with the littlest of fingers won’t get frustrated. They also mix and match with any other Magna-Tiles, setting you up for next year’s gift already. Available at: Staples