The Must-Have Toys Of 2016: New Releases For Every Budget And Play Experience | HuffPost Life

The Must-Have Toys of 2016

Amy Packham— The Huffington Post UK

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Parents wanting to get a head start on their children's birthday wish lists this year will be pleased to learn that industry insiders have released a list of predicted "must-have" toys for 2016.

Featuring everything from classic play sets like Thunderbirds and LEGO to newly-released gadgets, the "best new toys" were voted by a panel of independent toy retailers for the 2016 Toy Fair.

The winning toys are grouped into 13 categories, including action sets, dolls, tech toys and puzzles.

Some of the winning toys won't be in shops until later in the year, with the majority scheduled for release in spring 2016.

StikBots (L) and customised sticker machine (R)

"It’s fantastic to see such a diverse range of products on offer this year - for every budget and play experience," said Natasha Crookes, spokesperson for the British Toy and Hobby Association.

"More than 50,000 new toys enter the market each year that need to excite parents and children alike. This year’s winners once again highlight the innovation and creativity of the UK toy industry."

A few newcomers to the scene include Lottie the stargazing doll who has her own telescope and "collector cards" to take children on their own journey into space.

StikBots have been dubbed the "social media sharing toy". They allow kids to make stop-motion films with an easy animation app (and they're only £3.99).

For creative children, there's an easy-to-use sticker machine to create customised stickers, as well as the "next generation of bracelet making" which enables kids to make loom bracelets from digital guidance on an app.

To see all the toys, scroll through the slideshow below.

The Must-Have Toys of 2016

Danger Mouse - Mark IV Danger Car(01 of32)

£14.99
The retro car has made a comeback, this time complete with pop-out wings and a functioning boot. Speedy.
Available from mid March 2016.
Suitable for ages 4+. (credit:Company: Jazwares)

Stretch Armstrong(02 of32)

£19.99.
Stretch Armstrong is the well-known action figure with a twist: he can be squeezed, stretched and tied up in a knot.
Available now.
Suitable for 5+. (credit:Company: Character)

Supersize Thunderbird 3 Playset(03 of32)

£49.99.
An interactive play set with 30 different features and sounds, as well as a launch and smoke deck.
Available: TBC.
Suitable for ages 3-10. (credit:Company: Vivid)

NEXO KNIGHTS: Jestro's Evil Mobile(04 of32)

£39.99
The LEGO Nexo Knights Jestro's Evil Mobile includes three scannable shields for NEXO Powers: Cloning, Mightiness and Sea Dragon.
Available now.
Suitable for ages 8-14. (credit:Company: LEGO®)

LEGO City Airport(05 of32)

£79.99.
The airport has everything from jet planes to a flight terminal, control tower and more.
Available now.
Suitable for ages 6-12. (credit:Company: LEGO® )

Junior Fire Truck Kit(06 of32)

£15.99.
The new kit, available from March 2016, allows children to help assemble their own fire truck.
Available from March 2016.
Suitable for ages 4+. (credit:Company: Revell GmbH)

Corgi Top Gun F-14A(07 of32)

£19.99.
Kids fans of Top Gun? This replica of the F-14A in the famous Top Gun livery will be a must for their collection.
Available end of March 2016.
Suitable for ages 10+. (credit:Company: Hornby Hobbies Ltd)

Scalextric Track Day(08 of32)

£199.99.
Make car racing for your kids even more real with this track day set and app.
Available: estimated September 2016.
Suitable for ages 5+. (credit:Company: Hornby Hobbies Ltd)

JCB 4220 FASTRAC TRACTOR(09 of32)

£19.99.
This toy tractor features multiple control-operated speeds and suspension.
Available now.
Suitable for ages 3+. (credit:Company: TOMY)

Gold Collection Stargazer Lottie Doll(10 of32)

£19.99.
Lottie the doll has her own telescope, stargazing pack and collector cards to take you on a journey into space.
Available now.
Suitable for ages 3-8.
(credit:Company: Arklu Ltd)

Shopkins Shoppies Dolls(11 of32)

£14.99.
Each of the Shoppies dolls has a "food" theme, and two accessories to come with them. Use the dolls alongside the app for a more interactive experience.
Available now.
Suitable for ages 3+. (credit:Company: Flair)

Wicked Mega Bounce XL(12 of32)

£19.99.
A super-sized bouncer that is perfect for the beach, playground or park.
Available now.
Suitable for ages 5+. (credit:Company: Wicked)

Speedy Scooter from Ozbozz(13 of32)

£20.
This scooter designed for younger children has a fixed speed-o-metre to log their fastest speed.
Available now.
Suitable for ages 5+. (credit:Company: H. Grossman)

StikBot(14 of32)

£3.99.
Dubbed the 'social media sharing toy', StikBots help kids build stop-motion films with an easy animation app.
Available now.
Suitable for children aged 4-8. (credit:Company: Brainstorm LTD)

Star Monsters(15 of32)

From £1.00.
Collectable figures that come with stickers, albums and display props.
Available now.
Suitable for ages 3+. (credit:Company: Esdevium)

Popples Talk & Pop Plush(16 of32)

£19.99.
The cuddly toys that roll up in a ball and can pop out. Squeeze their bellies and they say one of 11 phrases.
Available spring 2016. Exact date TBC. Suitable for ages 3+. (credit:Company: Spin Master)

Whizzpopping BFG(17 of32)

£19.99.
This BFG teddy, measuring 45cm tall, makes eight different popping sounds when his tummy is pressed.
Available now.
Suitable for all ages.
(credit:Company: Rainbow Designs)

Teletubbies 8 inch Talking Plush Toys(18 of32)

£9.99.
As the Teletubbies is back on TV, new plush toy versions of the characters are now available.
Available now.
Suitable for all ages. (credit:Company: Character)

Freddie the Firefly Gym(19 of32)

£29.99.
The new Firefly Gym features two arches, a play mat and eight different accessories.
Available from 17 February 2016.
Suitable from birth. (credit:Company: TOMY)

Paw Patrol Air Patroller(20 of32)

£39.99.
This vehicle with rotating propellers easily transforms from a helicopter into a place within seconds.
Available: March 2016.
Suitable for ages 3+. (credit:Company: Spin Master )

Cool Create 2 in 1 Sticker Magic(21 of32)

£19.99.
An easy-to-use sticker machine.
Available now.
Suitable for ages 5+. (credit:Company: Flair)

Lilypad Gardens(22 of32)

£19.99.
A collectible range focused around Lily the summer fairy who loves flowers and nature. Kids can grow flowers in their garden and play with the fairy and her pet frog companion.
Available spring 2016.
Suitable for ages 4+. (credit:Company: Interplay)

Pom Pom Wow!(23 of32)

£29.99.
Creative kids can make their very own pom poms to decorate their room, accessories or photo frames.
Release date TBC.
(credit:Company: Character)

PIXL(24 of32)

£9.99.
Characters that are also keyrings and are pre-loaded with emojis and animations to represent their unique personalities.
Available now.
Not suitable for children under 3 years old. (credit:Company: Vivid)

i-loom(25 of32)

£29.99.
Dubbed the 'next generation of bracelet making', the device lets kids turn their ideas into finished accessories with guidance from digital instructions.
Available now.
Suitable for ages 3+.
(credit:Company: Wooky Entertainment)

Soggy Doggy(26 of32)

£19.99.
Described as ‘the brushing, bathing, doggy shaking game’ Soggy Doggy will leave your kids in fits of laughter.
Release date TBC. (credit:Company: John Adams)

Where Do I Live?(27 of32)

£9.50.
Children develop their understanding of the world as they match animals to their habitats.
Available now.
Suitable for ages 3-6. (credit:Company: Orchard Toys)

My First Railway Battery Train Set from Brio(28 of32)

£39.99.
A battery-powered train set with an easy-to-use engine.
Available from mid March 2016.
Suitable for children 18 months+.
(credit:Company: Ravensburger)

Sylvanian Families Boutique(29 of32)

£39.99.
The boutique is as fashionable as it gets, selling bags, accessories and dresses. Available for ages 3+.
Available now. (credit:Company: Epoch)

Pirate’s Combat Ship(30 of32)

£49.99.
A ship that can float on water or be pushed along the floor. It includes three figures, lots of accessories and is great for imaginative play.
Available now.
Ages 4-10. (credit:Company: Playmobil )

4M Green Science Junk Yard Drummer(31 of32)

£16.95.
Turn used drink cans, cartons and more into a drum set for this drummer.
Available from March 2016.
Suitable for ages 8+. (credit:Company: Great Gizmos)

Large Playmat Games(32 of32)

£29.99.
Made from vinyl, these mats are perfect for kids to play with inside or out.
Available now.
Suitable for ages 3+. (credit:Company: Eduk8 Worldwide)

SEE ALSO:
Charity Wants Toy Manufacturers To Follow LEGO's Lead In Producing Disabled Characters
Dreams Come True As Online Store Customises People's Faces On LEGO Toys
Lego Introduces First Wheelchair Toy Figure Following #ToyLikeMe Campaign

Classic Toddler Toys That Never Get Old

Battat B. Doctor Set(01 of10)

The doctor will see you now! Your mini medic will get a kick out of taking care of mom and dad with this kit. It comes complete with nine medical instruments, including a blood pressure cuff and syringe. Get it here: Amazon, $44.99 (credit:Amazon)

Tupperware Shape-O Toy (02 of10)

This shape sorter is cool because of its unique spherical shape. It also presents more of a challenge than others on the market since it has ten shapes to match! Each block has a number imprinted in the middle with the corresponding number of dots on the other side, helping your little one identify shapes and learn their numbers at the same time. Bonus points because we have fond memories of playing with this exact one when we were kids! Get it here: Tupperware, $35 (credit:Tupperware)

Kritter Table (03 of10)

Your toddler will love having his very own kid-sized table and chairs to sit at. Perfect for everything from crafting to eating, this set will no doubt be a fixture in your house for years to come! Get it here: Ikea table, $39.99; chairs, $16.99 each (credit:Ikea)

Fisher Price Corn Popper(04 of10)

First produced in 1957, the Corn Popper push toy by Fisher Price is still as “pop”ular as ever owing to its toddler-approved combination of noise, movement and colour. Get it here: Chapters, $19.95 (credit:Chapters)

KidKraft Vintage Kitchen(05 of10)

Toddlers will love mimicking the adults in their life by preparing food and washing dishes in a play kitchen. Tip: When buying a sizeable toy like a play kitchen, invest in one that you won't mind looking at every day, like this adorable vintage-inspired set by KidKraft. Get it here: Walmart, $125 (credit:Walmart)

Fisher Price Cash Register (06 of10)

Fisher Price pretty much has a corner on the market when it comes to classic kids’ toys because they do them so well. The cash register has endeared itself to generations of tots with its change ramp and cash drawer that can be opened by turning the crank until the bell dings! Get it here: Toys R Us, $29.99 (credit:Toys R Us)

Green Toys Tea Set(07 of10)

A tea set is a traditional toy, but we love this one by Green Toys for its contemporary updates. The environmentally-friendly set is made from recycled plastic milk jugs and it’s BPA, phthalate and lead-free. Plus, we love the neutral colour scheme. Get it here: Chapters, $34.94 (credit:Chapters)

Brio Pounding Bench(08 of10)

Your little one will be able to practice her hand-eye coordination while making as much noise as she wants on this wooden pounding bench. Get it here: Mastermind Toys, $19.99 (credit:Mastermind Toys)

Uncle Goose Classic ABC Blocks(09 of10)

We all had a set of blocks like this and the reason for their popularity? They are so much more than just building blocks. The popular style features different colours, letters and drawings to help your kiddo learn the alphabet, sort and even spell! Get it here: KolKid, $49.95 (credit:KolKid)

Large Wooden Doll Carriage(10 of10)

New walkers love anything they can push, which means this doll carriage it sure to be a hit. Plus, the carriage allows them to mimic one of the most important people in their lives – you!Get it here: HomeSense, $69.99 (credit:HomeSense)

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