Best Toys of 2008

Check out the hottest toys for this holiday season

Dipika Mirpuri

November 10, 2008 — Our Best Toy list for 2008 includes some of the best and most innovative toys of the year. The best toys were judged based on several criteria like enjoyment level, uniqueness, ease of use and toy safety. Choosing the best toys for this list was no easy feat. I was almost tempted to make this the Top 15 Toys instead of the Top 10!

The best toys of the year include several hot favorites from big brands like Hasbro, Wowee, Mattel, Oregon Scientific, Fisher-Price and more. The best and hottest toys list of 2008 is a good mix of technology and entertainment. Take a look!

VTech Kidi Art Studio

The VTech Kidi Art Studio is a perfect example of how art is evolving with the times. With this fantastic art center, kids can experience what graphic design is all about. The Kidi Art Studio consists of an art desk with a stool, which can be connected to the TV in order to view one's work. The difference is that this is no ordinary desk, but rather an electronic drawing board which works with a touch sensistive pen. There's a camera attached which allows kids to take pictures and subsequently modify them. Kids will have a good time doodling, adding colors and special effects, playing around with digital images, all the while feeling super cool about it!
The Kidi Art Studio is great for ages 4 and up.

IToys Me2IToys Me2

IToys' Me2 is a handheld game with a twist. This particular game works on the basis of how physically active you are - it actually counts the number of steps you have taken. You can play offline or online - connect your game to the computer and play in a 3D world. The number of points you gather increases proportionally to the the number of steps you take. Me2 can be used as a clock, an alarm and a reminder service as well.
The Me2 is recommended for ages 8 and up.

WowWee Tribot

WowWee's newest addition to their line of robots is the Tribot, the robot with three wheels. He's an interesting character, to say the least, with really cool dance moves. I liked the Tribot much better than the Robosapien. The Tribot is a cheery fellow who jokes and makes sounds. There's also a remote control which is pretty handy to control this little guy.
The recommended age for the Tribot is 8 and up.

Corolle Marie Doll

Corolle's 17 inch Marie doll is almost like the real thing. Her capabilities will have little girls swooning in delight. Marie is a unique interactive doll with international roots as she says "I Love You", "Tell Me A Secret" and more in English, Spanish, French, German, Greek and Italian. To add to the icing on the cake, Marie can record personal messages too making her a definite hit with kids and parents alike. Corolle's Marie is a perfect fit for the Best Dolls of 2008 list.
Great for ages 3 and up.

Fisher-Price Spike the Dinosaur

Spike the Dinosaur is ultra cool indeed. Spike the Dinosaur walks, blinks, roars, snores, growls and even stands on his hind legs almost like a real pet. The fantastic design and bright spikes will definitely attract kids but, wait, Spike the Dinosaur doesn't come cheap. Spike the Dinosaur's equally large price may ward off parents. If one overlooks the hefty cost, the awesome features in this one of a kind Spike the Ultra Dinosaur toy will make it a worthwhile buy.

Hasbro U-Dance

I've not had this much fun in a long, long while. U-Dance is a fantastic product from Tiger Electronics and it soared right to the top of this top toys list. The concept is great, as dance is something that mostly everyone loves. The best part about this toy is that there are no irritating wires to trip over, or even dance mats to bother about. It works via motion sensors which you slip over your shoes. You can work your way through the menus and select your favorite song to groove to. You can then jump around, cross your feet, go crazy, but all along following the virtual feet which are displayed on the screen. If you want something extra, try the games that come along with U-Dance too!
This toy is recommended for ages 5 to 12.

Playmobil Circus

I am a big fan of Playmobil building sets. I really enjoyed looking at all the new Playmobil sets including the circus which is one of the main themes for this year. I loved the big and small details like the colorful circus tent, the ring master, the little band which plays music, the various animals, the trapeze artists and much more. One of the most authentic features of the big Circus Tent is the twinkling LED lights. Kids and collectors alike are going to love the Playmobil circus sets.
Kids aged 5 and up will enjoy this lovely playset.

Jakks Pacific Eye Clops Night Vision

The EyeClops Night Vision Goggles from Jakks Pacific is the perfect answer to all your espionage dreams. With awesome looks and real night-vision technology, this cool toy will transport you right into your ultimate spy fantasy. The EyeClops Night Vision Goggles let you see up to 50 feet in completely dark environments. The invisible infrared illumination means that you can see your enemies, but they can't see you. The EyeClops Goggles features comfortable padding and a breakaway safety power cord. These EyeClops Night Vision Goggles live upto expectations, thereby justifying the price tag. The recommended age for this toy is 6 and up.

Smart-E-BearSmart E-Bear

Toys are getting smarter by the minute! Smart-e-Bear is a cute and cuddly teddy bear who sports a bright red T-shirt. He comes to life when you press his hands or his feet and then the fun begins. The friendly bear sings songs, tells stories and even says your child's name. The one thing I liked about the Smart-e-Bear is that the entertainment never gets stale. Other toys will do and say the same things over and over again, but it's not so in this case. You can connect the Smart-e-Bear to your computer via a USB cable to download fresh songs and stories. You have a large array of downloads catering to a wide age range to choose from, which means that that potentially, the Smart-e-Bear will entertain your child for a good many years.

Disney Fairies Clickables

It was fun trying out the Disney Fairies Clickables jewelry box and Clickable charms set together with a group of girls aged between 5 and 9. Not surprisingly, they all had something in common - a love of fairies. The best part about the Clickables set is the Disney Fairies Pixie Hollow website, which all of us really enjoyed. What you get when you buy the Clickables set is basically a plastic dome with a jewelry drawer where you can store the included charm necklace. The unit has to be connected to the USB port of your computer, which allows you access to the Fairies website. When you place a Clickable charm on the face of the unit, it plays music. Once you're on the site, you can play games, dress up the fairies and do much more.