The Toy Insider shares suggested toys to help kids destress amid back-to-school season, pandemic
LOS ANGELES - The combination of dealing with a global pandemic, the new school year, and no socializing with friends can make for a stressful time for children right now. FOX 11 spoke with Toy Insider Editor-in-Chief, Marissa DiBartolo about suggested toys to help kids relax amid this year's back-to-school season.
Barbie Breathe with Me Doll (Mattel)
Relax with Barbie! Kids activate one of five guided meditation exercises by pressing Barbie’s necklace, which provides lights and sound effects to help keep them in focus.
• Barbie’s puppy helps kids visualize emotions with four cloud emojis — Love Rainbow, Sad Rain, Happy Sunshine or Grumpy Red — that can be placed over her head to express a new feeling.
• The doll is dressed in inspirational loungewear and features 15 joints for a realistic experience.
• Ages: 3+
• MSRP: $19.99
• Available: Target
Animal Crossing: New Horizons for Nintendo Switch (Nintendo)
Enjoy a variety of relaxing activities like gardening, fishing, decorating, interacting with charming characters and more, as classic Animal Crossing experiences come to life in fun new ways within the deserted-island setting.
• Customize your character and home, and decorate the landscape as you create your very own island paradise.
• Experience a robust crafting system – collect materials to construct everything from furniture to tools!
• Go at your own pace in this easy-to-play, relaxing environment.
• Ages: E for everyone
• MSRP: $59.99
• Available: now at major retailers
Tonies
When kids need a little comfort, they can enjoy custom messages, stories, songs and more from parents, caregivers, or anyone with Tonies. This system promotes independent play, imagination, and storytelling via a screen-free digital audio system, collectible figures, and a vast and diverse offering of audio content.
• Place a Tonie figure on top of the Toniebox to hear its story, songs, and more.
• Upload your existing audio files to creative Tonies, up to 90 minutes of custom content.
• Ages: 3+
• MSRP: $99.99 (starter set that includes Toniebox + one creative tonie), $14.99 each for Content Tonies, $11.99 for Creative Tonies
● Available: September at Barnesandnoble.com, Target.com, Amazon, specialty stores
Kai Teddy Bear (Gund)
Take a beat with a best friend to hug and snuggle. Kai is a sweet dreamer with their head in the clouds, but they always come down-to-earth to spend time with friends.
• This teddy bear has super-soft plush on a modern style with an adorably oversized head, embroidered paw pads, and beige muzzle.
• Kai is appropriate for ages one and up and surface-washable for easy cleaning.
• Comes in a variety of colors such as Taupe, Vanilla, Rainbow and Tie Dye and two sizes - 12” and 16.5"
• Ages: 1+
• MSRP: $20-40
• Available: GUND.com
Kinetic Sand Sandisfying Set (Spin Master)
Mix, shape, and squish the two colors of kinetic sand for satisfying fun. The kinetic sand kit comes with a ribboner, squisher, crinkler, grater attachment, scooper, shaper, and more fun tools for endless creative opportunities.
• Ages: 3+
• MSRP: $19.99
• Available: Major retailers
Sensory Fidget Toy Kits (hand2mind)
Sensory fidget toys help kids reset and refocus. This set includes four colorful sensory tubes, including one calming glitter tube, one fantastic fidget tube, one magical reverse hourglass, and one soothing gravity spinner.
• These securely sealed, easy-to-grip bottles offer fascinating movement patterns and provide an option for children learning how to manage their emotions, focus their attention and practice quiet, calm engagement.
• Includes a "Getting Started Guide" with four calming activities.
• Ages: 3+
• MSRP: $29.99
• Available: Amazon, hand2mind.com