An Editor’s Top 12 Picks From Walmart For Holiday Toy Gift-Giving

As Christmas approaches, my three kids seem to want it all. Their first drafts to Santa are uninhibited and unedited, often pages long and filled with circles, arrows, and exclamation points in a rainbow of colors. They know they won’t get everything on their list, but we all agree it’s fun to dream, and frankly, their excitement is adorable and contagious.

When my children can’t seem to narrow down their holiday lists, it’s a good thing Santa isn't the only one paying attention. By the time fall rolls around, I’m making my own lists of gift ideas they’ve offered up during conversations and beginning my favorite part of the holiday season: finding the best deals on quality gifts that don’t break the bank. Walmart helps me do this with an endless selection of affordable toys, so I can maximize my budget and get my kids the toys they really want.

As a seasoned parent of three, here are 12 of my top toy picks from Walmart for holiday gift-giving for kids of all ages:

Younger Toddlers

My kids are past the toddler stage, but they would have gone practically feral over this Choo Choo Train Ride-On Toy from Cocomelon. It comes with a train engine, two cars for hauling toys or snacks, and a train whistle, plus a working projector with 8 Cocomelon scenes and two songs. With a top speed of 1.5 mph, it’s the perfect blend of fun and safety for your little engineer.

Keep reliving Barbie memories of your childhood or introduce your toddler to their first Barbie experience with the Fisher-Price Little People Barbie Little Dream Plane. Lights, sounds, and imagination will keep your kiddo engaged and empowered for a long time.

Older Toddlers & Preschoolers

Gabby’s Dollhouse Cruiseship is a holiday show-stopper for fans of this popular show. The set comes with over 18 pieces including a Gabby Girl doll and MerCat figure, plus tons of accessories and furniture to ignite your little one’s imagination as they embark upon on a magical seafaring adventure with Gabby and MerCat.

Melissa and Doug never disappoint. The Scoop and Serve Ice Cream Counter will engage your kid’s imagination and probably end up prompting more ice cream trips for the whole family. Everybody wins!

I know what you’re thinking: An indoor bumper car? Yes, but this Spidey and His Amazing Friends Bumper Car isn’t just any bumper car. It’s an easy-to-control, slow-moving, fully-assembled with a seat belt, spinning godsend that will keep your kid happy and busy while you get some tasks done or enjoy sitting for five minutes.

Little Kids

Your YouTube-loving gamers will also love the Lankybox Giant Foxy — a box of mystery merch. Don’t be surprised if they get out the ring light and turn their gift into their own unboxing event.

If you’ve got a kiddo who loves magic and mystery, the Magic Mixies Magic Genie Lamp will be a huge hit. This lamp features an adorable genie and spouts real mist in response to your child completing various magical steps, and even comes with a cute magic ring which, when combined with saying the magic words, causes the Genie to magically rise out of the Lamp.

Remote control truck becomes truck launcher becomes favorite toy ever. And when in launcher mode, the Hot Wheels Transforming Rhinomite connects to other Hot Wheels tracks, so don’t plan on seeing your kid open any other presents once they get this one.

Big Kids & Tweens

The UNO Show ‘em No Mercy edition of UNO is sure to bring out everyone’s competitive side. Wild Draw 10 cards and Skip Everyone cards will keep everyone on their toes — or flipping tables.

The PopIt! Go Bubble Popping Sensory Game has three game modes, and the faster you pop the lit up bubbles, the more challenging the games get. This is the perfect game for killing time between classes or while waiting for a sibling to finish soccer practice.

Even big kids like to build with LEGO. If your tween doesn’t pay with the sets they build anymore, they’ll still love the LEGO Super Mario Donkey Kong’s Tree House Expansion Set as a fun addition to their room.

With 20 different patterns of quick change lights, the Jetson Galaxy Kick Scooter will have your kid ruling the sidewalks — but it’s the practical features that make this scooter stand out. It’s made to support bigger kids and their bolder style of riding, with a wider, longer, grip-textured deck for larger sneaks and a rear footbrake for quick stops, plus you can adjust the height and fold the scooter for easy storage and carrying.

Creating memories with my kids is what I love most about parenting, and the holidays are a great time to do that. When it comes to seeing my kids open the gifts they want, I also love that Walmart helps make many of those memories affordable.