From High-Tech to Traditional Play, the Toy Insider HOT 20 Toys for Holiday 2013 Helps Gift-Givers Create a Well-Balanced Toy Box

Doc McStuffins, Skylanders Swap Force and Disney Planes Among Toys & Gifts Every Kid Will Want This Holiday Season

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Sep 25, 2013, 06:00 ET

NEW YORK, Sept. 25, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- The Toy Insider, the leading holiday gift guide for toys and gifts, announces its list of the HOT 20 toys for the holidays, giving gift-givers a sneak peak at the must-have toys this holiday season. From toys featuring favorite characters like Elmo and Sofia the First to high-tech tablets, robots and motion control toys, this year's list will delight children with a wide variety of interests.

"While tech toys and digital play continue to be high on children's gift lists, it is important to keep in mind the amazing assortment of construction toys, crafts and action figures that is also an important part of a child's development and should have a place in their toy chest," said Laurie Schacht, Toy Insider Mom and contributing toy editor at Grandparents.com.

The Toy Insider's team of toy experts spent months evaluating all the new toys and gifts on the market, resulting in a list will make it fun and easy to find the perfect holiday gift.

This year's HOT 20 are:

0-2 Years

Big Hugs Elmo - Playskool

Go! Go! Smart Wheels Construction Playset - VTech

Laugh & Learn Crawl Around Car - Fisher-Price

Twilight Turtle Tunes - Cloud B

3-5 Years

Despicable Me 2 Talking Minion Dave & Stuart - Thinkway Toys

Doc McStuffins Get Better CheckUp Center - Just Play

Hexbug NanoV2 Black Hole - Innovation First

LeapPad Ultra - LeapFrog

Sofia the First Talking Sofia and Animal Friends - Mattel

Wing Control Dusty Crophopper R/C Plane – Mattel

6-8 Years

Battroborg - TOMY

Blingles Glimmer Glam Styler - Moose Toys

Disney Infinity - Disney Interactive

Flutterbye Fairies - Spin Master

Mega Bloks Barbie Build 'N Play Super Star Stage - Mega Bloks

Skylanders Swap Force - Activision

Air Hogs Elite Helix X4 Stunt - Spin Master

Draw Something Party Game - Hasbro

Kurio Touch 4s - Techno Source

Lego Chima Cragger's Command Ship - Lego

The Hot 20 is the kick-off section of the Toy Insider holiday gift guide, which will appear in the November issue of Woman's Day magazine, as well as www.toyinsider.com . This year's Toy Insider guide is the biggest ever, filled with a list of 120 toys and gifts from more than 75 manufacturers. Now in its eighth year, the Toy Insider offers toy and gift ideas for all ages and both genders. The guide is broken down by age group (0-2 years old, 3-5 years old, 6-8 years old and 9+ years old) with an in-depth description of the developmental needs and interests for each specific age group. A unique toy skill key provides consumers even greater convenience to help them pick not only the hottest toy, but also the right toy for the special child in their lives.

In addition to Laurie Schacht, the panel of toy experts includes Jonathan Samet, Publisher of The Toy Book, the leading trade publication in the toy industry, Jackie Breyer, editor-in-chief of The Toy Book; Marissa DiBartolo, senior editor of The Toy Book and Reyne Rice, a leading toy trend expert.

About the Toy Insider:
The Toy Insider (www.toyinsider.com ) is the source for the hottest toys and gift for the holidays. Now in its eighth year, the Toy Insider is an annual guide featuring toy and gift recommendations broken down by age categories. The 2013 guide is jam-packed with 120 toy recommendations from more than 75 different manufacturers, each carefully selected by a team of experts with years of experience in the toy industry. The Toy Insider is published by Adventure Publishing, publisher of leading industry trades The Toy Book and The Licensing Book.

Contact: Karen Pineman the Toy Insider, 1-917-453-6887, [email protected]

SOURCE The Toy Insider