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Every year, we test all of the hottest new toys to see how they stack up for our Toy Awards program. Not only have these toys gone through rigorous testing in the Good Housekeeping Institute, but they've also been put in the hands of nearly 300 families so we could get their feedback. (We even brought kids into the Lab for a day of testing, so we could see their reactions to make sure these were toys they'd play with more than once.)
With summer right around the corner, the kids are definitely going to start complaining about being bored all the time, so we're excited that some of our favorite toys are on sale right now. We've got some picks below that are up to 50% off.
Toy Award winners on sale right now
Paw Patrol Rescue Wheels Super Loop Tower HQ
- For the preschool and elementary-aged kids who love PAW Patrol, there's a giant playset (it's 40 inches tall!) that launches Chase and his car across the room. Our parents who tested it said this was easy to assemble — so important! — and that their kids were blown away by the size.
- At under $10, the Sticker Wow! activity set from Melissa & Doug is designed for ages 3 and up, and it comes loaded with 300 stickers in an easy-to-use (and refillable) stamper, perfect for road trips. Even my teenager thought this one was fun and uses the stamper for crafts at college.
- Little Mermaid fans can rejoice as this doll is just over $10. Ariel will be great for pool or beach fun, as she lights up when submerged in water. She even sings!
- This Play-Doh pizza delivery scooter doubles as a ride-on set, so kids can make their own pizza out of Play-Doh, then deliver it around the house. One parent said: “We love that everything is stored inside and the molds are incorporated into the design of the scooter.”
- No need to head to the shore to make sandcastles: this Kinetic Sand is colorful and quick to clean up. This kit keeps everything tucked into a little briefcase they can carry around, and it includes stampers that make fun shapes.
- A board game that's easy enough for younger kids to learn — but still fun for older kids — is a rare find. Snack-O-Saurus Rex is a simple family-friendly competition that's guaranteed to make everyone laugh as the dinosaur picks up treats with his big magnetic tongue and knocks caveman opponents off the board.
Angel Madison is a commerce editor at Hearst Magazines, writing for brands like Country Living, Good Housekeeping, Cosmopolitan, House Beautiful, Oprah Daily, Men’s Health, and Women's Health. She’s been testing products for several years and is an expert at scouting deals and finding the perfect gifts. Angel covers many topics, but she specializes in plus-size fashion, Lego, trending products, toys, parenting, fitness, home, and tech. She has previously worked in parenting and entertainment and has vast knowledge in the teen, pop culture, and kid spaces.
Marisa (she/her) has covered all things parenting, from the postpartum period through the empty nest, for Good Housekeeping since 2018; previously, she wrote about parents and families at Parents and Working Mother. She lives with her toy-collecting husband and daughter in Brooklyn, where she can be found helping out her team at bar trivia or posting about movies on Twitter and Bluesky.
