ChizComm Holiday Toy Reviews

11/19/2015

It’s that time of year – time to start thinking about kids Christmas presents!  We have kid-tested several toys, so you can learn more before you buy!

www.sandsalive.com
Sands Alive! Glow is fun and easy to use. When you’re ready to take your Sands Alive! to the next level, bring it into the dark and watch it magically come to life. Use the special Sands Alive! Glow tools (included) to doodle on the sand. The indoor, no-mess play sand is bacteria-free and never dries out. It’s fun to play with, stimulates creativity and is easy to sculpt, making it a great indoor and outdoor activity. This incredible sand now has an added element that is truly mind-glowing – you have the power to make it glow!  We have had this product in the past and I really like that it can be put away and brought out for a special indoor activity, especially on those really cold or rainy days.  For those parents that love sensory bins, this totally works without the mess of the wet beads that are usually used in sensory bins.  This one is a hit in our house for both the 3 and 7 year old!
Age: 3+
MSRP: $26.99
Website: www.sandsalive.com

Sure to top this year’s holiday wish lists, Hulk returns in a new remote control vehicle that puts the power of Hulk in your hands. Combine the power of two bulgin’ biceps with four trippin’ tires and you get a jaw-droppin’ rough terrain vehicle that redefines the RC aisle. The RC Hulk Smash lets you control the Hulk’s vehicle with smashes, flips, spins and wheelies! Go through obstacles or knock them over with Hulk’s swinging arms. With Hulk’s awesome power, he can flip over against walls and do high-speed wheelie spins. You can even adjust the arms to 8 different positions for a variety of smashing actions and tricks. Tipping over won’t stop Hulk – he self-rights back into a driving position with the touch of a button. Complete with Hulk-sized sounds and phrases, the Hulk Smash will make any kid without one green with envy.

My 5 and 7 year olds were beyond excited to see this toy arrive, and get a chance to try it out.  They had seen the Hulk Smash Vehicle highlighted on many commercials, and it had been placed firmly on Christmas and birthday lists. This is a remote control vehicle for ages 4-9 years old which performs smashes, flips, spins and wheelies.  It plays 10 Hulk phrases and sounds, and is easily maneuvered back into driving position after tipping over. Hulk’s arms can also easily be manually adjusted to create new smashing actions.

The boys have enjoyed setting up obstacles for Hulk to smash into and knock over or blast through.  It is different than any other remote control toy we have – and we have quite a few.  Its movements are unique in the ability to do wheelies and roll over, and the boys have found that really fun.  The toy is very sturdy and has already stumbled down a set or two of stairs without a mark.  Anything Avengers is pretty much golden in our household, and this toy is certainly a winner.  I can see many more obstacles being built for Hulk to smash his way through!
Age: 4+
MSRP: $99.99
Retail: Toys”R”Us
Website: http://www.jakks.com

Max Tow Truck by JAKKS Pacific Canada Inc. Max Tow Truck is one of the most powerful toy trucks to hit the market. He can pull and push up to 200 pounds and climb over just about any obstacle! Load him up and watch him go! Max Tow Truck also includes 50+ phrases and sound effects!
Age: 4+
MSRP: $59.99
Retail: Toys”R”Us, Walmart
Website: http://www.jakks.com/max-tow-truck.html

Bunch O Balloons by ZURU Toys
A global media sensation, ZURU Bunch O Balloons is transforming both the water balloon market and water balloon fights with an innovative, ready-to-go pre-tied, self-sealing mechanism that allows you to fill 100 water balloons in 60 seconds.  In three simple steps you can forget about the mess and stress of filling water balloons. Connect the attachment, fill the balloons and watch them self-seal to make hundreds of water balloons locked, loaded and ready to launch in minutes.
Each pack contains 3 bunches of 34 balloons plus a quick fix adapter.
Product contains recycled material. Balloons and self-tying O-rings are 100% biodegradable.
Age: 6+
MSRP: $9.99
Website: http://bunchoballoons.com/

My daughter loves the Sing-A-Long Elsa by JAKKS Pacific Canada Inc.!

She puts the microphone near Elsa’s mouth and Elsa sings “Let it Go,” then she start singing her favorite part with the microphone, which recognizes who’s singing so when my daughter stops, Elsa picks up where she left off! The doll will also sing the whole song if you raise her arm. Elsa can stand on her own and her necklace & dress light up as they sing, she also says 15 phrases. The doll comes with batteries but the microphone requires 2 AAA batteries.

Elsa retails at Toys”R”Us and Walmart  for $29.88-39.99.

The Frozen Jewelry Box by JAKKS Pacific Canada Inc. is super cute and the perfect place for my little Frozen fan to keep all her special things! It even came with a little Heart ring for her. 

The jewelry box has sisters, Anna & Elsa as young kids building Olaf on top and when she pushes the button the box plays the song “Do You Want to Build a Snowman?”. The box has two modes; try me mode plays “Do you want to build a snowman” for about 10 seconds and the regular mode plays for almost 40 seconds.

The jewelery box retails at Toys”R”Us and Walmart for $19.99-29.99 and comes with the batteries.