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Believe it or not, the holidays are closer than you think. How can we tell? Because brands are already starting to drop their top gifts for the 2024 season. In fact, Walmart just released its official Top Toy List for 2024 — a.k.a. all the hottest toys they expect to see flying off the shelves come December (or sooner!). If you have kids (or kids at heart) on your nice list this year, Walmart's Top Toy list is the perfect place to find presents for children of all ages and interests.
Shop Walmart's Top Toys of 2024
To help you navigate the retailer's storefront and ace your holiday shopping, our team of shopping experts have put together 15 of the best toys to gift this year, including quite a few items tested in the Good Housekeeping Institute.
"This year, we're seeing that kids love to make their toys personal, whether it's by DIYing their own art or building their own play sets with LEGO or construction kits," says Senior Parenting Editor Marisa LaScala. "We're still seeing collectibles going strong, and the items kids are collecting are getting cuter and cuter, especially when it comes to plush. And kids are already getting excited about toys related to big end-of-year movies, like Wicked."
Expert tip: If you're shopping for children under the age of three, make sure to double-check that the toy isn't listed for ages 3+. This age rating means the toy could contain small parts that pose a choking hazard. We found that some toys with small pieces (and marked for ages 3+) were included in toy guides for two-year-olds.
Ready to become everyone's favorite gift-giver this season? Shop our editors' curation from Walmart's 2024 Top Toy list — starting at just $6.
With the live-action Wicked movie coming out later this season, this Elphaba doll is bound to be one of the hottest toys of the year. Modeled after Cynthia Erivo's character from the film, the doll comes dressed in a flowing black gown and can strike poses with her flexible torso, elbows, wrists and knees for dynamic playtime. Ages 4+
RELATED: Lego Is Dropping Adorable 'Wicked' Play Sets Ahead of the Movie Premiere
"It's so cute, big, soft, and huggable," said one 8-year-old tester about this Hello Kitty plushie. Measuring 18 inches long and almost a foot high, this textured fleece-covered toy makes for the perfect snuggle buddy. And since Hello Kitty turns 50 on November 1, what better way to celebrate the cultural icon than with an adorable collectible? Ages 0+
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If your kid is a Bluey fan (and let's be honest, what kid isn't?), then they'll likely love this cute plane playset — just ask our testers! “Both my 4-year-old and 21-month-old really enjoyed this toy," one tester said. "[They] had a lot of fun with the sunglasses and captains hat, putting the characters in many different places and being silly." Ages 3+
RELATED:What to Get a Kid Who Loves Bluey
This pint-sized Barbie playset is ideal for keeping kiddos entertained on the go since it's small enough to fit in most bags, and it made Walmart's Top Toys list this year. It comes complete with a mini doll, plus her Dream Camper decked out with a color-changing pool! Ages 4+
RELATED: The Best Toys for 4-Year-Olds That Make Unique Gifts
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Learn about the wonder of nature (and maybe even inspire a passion for gardening) with this cool glow-in-the-dark terrarium. It comes with everything you need to customize and create a mini-ecosystem, like potting soil, glowing sand and packets of chia and wheatgrass seeds. Reviewers raved about how their kids had loads of fun putting their terrarium together and watching it grow before their eyes. Ages 6+
RELATED: The Best Toys for 6-Year-Olds That Let Their Creativity Shine
Your Star Wars-obsessed kid will have a blast asking questions to this fortune-telling Darth Vader figurine. It's pre-loaded with 40 different answers to yes-or-no questions — just tap his head to have your future revealed. But be warned: if you rapidly press on his head too many times in a row, you'll unlock a string of snarky responses. Ages 4+
RELATED: The Best Star Wars Gifts for Kids and Adults
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This richly colored LEGO set is actually three toys in one. It transforms from a winged peacock with fancy feathers to a dragonfly resting on a lily pad to a butterfly landing on a flower, all with the same pieces — providing even more hours of play time. Ages 7+
RELATED: LEGO's Highly-Anticipated Advent Calendars Are Here
8
For Pokemon Lovers
Pokemon Pikachu Sleeping Plush
Because kids love adding to their stuffed animal collection, you can't go wrong with this 18-inch snoozing Pikachu plushie. This toy is made out of a squishable material that's great for cuddling, according to the manufacturer. Ages 2+
RELATED: Best Pokémon Gifts for Kid and Adult Fans
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Bring out their inner artist with this sticker-making machine. Simply upload your own art online or select art in the free Hello Blink app, hit print and then color your sticker art with the included markers. Best of all, it uses thermal printing technology, so there's no ink needed. Ages 8+
RELATED: Best Toys for 8-Year-Olds Who Say They Are "Too Old" for Toys
10
Realistic Sound Effects
Jada Toys Godzilla X Kong Remote Control Figure
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At nearly two feet long, this remote-controlled Godzilla figurine will tower over your child's other toys — and our testers loved its realistic sound effects. "The special noise and lights Godzilla makes were a big hit," said one tester. "We loved turning off all the lights and making Godzilla do fire breath." Ages 8+
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This classic card game is a nostalgic favorite that the entire family can enjoy. Unlike the original Uno card game, Uno Teams is designed to be played in teams of two, so you can easily teach your kiddo how it works and engage the whole gang during family game night. Ages 7+
Over 1,000 five-star Walmart reviews rave about this mop, broom and duster play set from Melissa & Doug for its impressive quality and helpfulness in teaching kids proper cleaning habits. Bonus: it's great for improving their motor skills. Ages 3+
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This toy puts a sensory spin on the iconic Rubik's Cube with a satisfying, squishable texture. It features the recognizable 3x3 puzzle design made from soft foam cubes, so it's great for developing problem-solving skills while doubling as a stress ball. Ages 8+
Even if a real puppy isn't in the cards this year, this GH Institute-tested toy puppy is sure to put a smile on their face with its lifelike sound effects. "My child likes the sounds and ways this toy comes to life," said a tester. "The licking and blinking features were our fave." Ages 4+
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Equal parts fun and educational, this kinetic sand set provides a world of sensory experiences for little ones. It comes with three different sand colors and plenty of molds to create all kinds of squishable shapes and structures. Ages 3+
RELATED: Best Toys and Gifts for 5-Year-Olds
Why trust Good Housekeeping?
Lauren Gruber is an associate commerce editor with years of experience researching and writing shopping guides, including toys and gift ideas for children. For this article, she dug through Walmart's Top Toys List for 2024, scoured product reviews and analyzed Lab testing notes from the GH Institute.
Marisa LaScala is Good Housekeeping's senior parenting and relationships editor. She has covered all things family since 2015, from the hottest toy trends to gift guides for every age and stage.
Lauren Gruber
Associate Editor
Lauren Gruber is an associate commerce editor at Hearst Magazines, where she writes for publications like Good Housekeeping, Cosmopolitan, Prevention, Country Living, House Beautiful, and more. She has over four years of professional experience covering a variety of lifestyle topics from home to fashion, with an advanced background in beauty and fragrance. When she’s not researching the most worthy Prime Day deals or hands-on testing all the latest perfume launches, Lauren is probably hanging out with her cat Serafina or flexing her AMC A-List membership at the movie theater.
You can find her previous work at Entertainment Tonight, Shop TODAY, USA Today, Self Magazine, L’Officiel USA, V Magazine, and Modern Luxury Media.
