18 top toys for big kids

Globber NL 205 Scooter

Safety and speed are aligning. This expertly engineered scooter has excellent shock absorption and built-in front suspension, which give riders a comfy and safe experience. The adjustable T-bar can be set to three different heights to grow with your child, and its sturdy aluminum deck makes it the perfect ride for urban sidewalks and spaces. Plus, it’s got a kickstand!

Globber NL 205 Scooter, $150, mastermindtoys.ca

Mattel Crossed Signals

A feat of hand-eye coordination, this fast-moving game is highly addictive. Two controllers light up with arrows or an “X.” Players must quickly shake the controllers for “X” or move them in the direction of the arrows. The four game options enable solo or team play, with points doled out for speed and accuracy.

Mattel Crossed Signals, $25, mastermindtoys.ca

Ravensburger Raya’s Journey: An Enchanted Forest Game

Raya, the heroine of Disney’s Raya and the Last Dragon, is putting her spin on the decades-old family fave Enchanted Forest. Players roll the dice, taking turns moving across the board and matching cards to find Raya’s friends. Wanna win? Collect the most friend cards.

Ravensburger Raya’s Journey: An Enchanted Forest Game, $35, mastermindtoys.ca

Craft-tastic All About Me Empower Flower

A flashy-fun work of art as unique as you are is waiting to bloom. Personalize your fleur with 250 strips of paper boasting words and phrases that are designed to pump you up, like “quirky,” “joyful” and “team player.” Fill the shaker-bubble centre with metallic confetti for extra pizzazz. Love that for you.

Craft-tastic All About Me Empower Flower, $25, mastermindtoys.ca

Elenco Snap Circuits Discover Coding

This box of over 30 Snap Circuit parts is designed especially for entry-level learners. Click electrical connectors into place on the board then use the app to communicate with your circuit, instructing it to turn on lights, control sounds and fire up a motor. The full-colour project manual lays it out in a clear and engaging way.

Elenco Snap Circuits Discover Coding, $100, mastermindtoys.ca

Thames & Kosmos Exit: The Cursed Labyrinth

Uh-oh! It looks like you got lost in an impenetrable labyrinth during a tour of a historic castle. First, this is why you shouldn’t wander away from the tour group. Second, a gargoyle has climbed over the gate toward you. Better work as a team to decode the clues on each card and make your great escape from the maze’s tall walls.

Thames & Kosmos Exit: The Cursed Labyrinth, $21, mastermindtoys.ca

Blue Orange Games Taco Hat Cake Gift Pizza

What a frenzy! In the new birthday-themed version of this fast-paced game, players must recite the five title words in order while illustrated cards get dealt on the table. As soon as a card matches one of the repeating words, hurry up and slap the deck. You don’t want to be last!

Blue Orange Games Taco Hat Cake Gift Pizza, $15, mastermindtoys.ca

Wowee Style Squad Hype Hair Floral Frenzy

Do your locks resemble Rapunzel’s? Probably not. But you can unlock those hair goals with this squad-in-a-box. Adorn your strands with over 250 flowers and jewels using the Hype Hair applicator that clicks and sticks your new signature look.

Wowee Style Squad Hype Hair Floral Frenzy, $30, mastermindtoys.ca

Gridopolis Games Gridopolis

Inspired by a classic, this game can be best described as Checkers with a three-dimensional twist. It’s a build-as-you-go family hit that will never be played the same way twice. Don’t get too confident if you’re ahead, because the gameplay is open-ended and your opponents can tweak the layout, leaving you blocked or kinged.

Gridopolis Games Gridopolis, $50, mastermindtoys.ca

Educational Insights Artie Max

Joining the right and left sides of the brain, Artie Max is a cute little coder who loves to draw. The bopping bot is fluent in five advanced coding languages, but even beginners can illustrate with simple instructions and develop their skills. After you’ve completed the code, watch Artie glide markers across the paper to create *voila* works of art.

Educational Insights Artie Max, $100, mastermindtoys.ca

LEGO Friends Heartlake City Shopping Mall

Let’s go, besties, we’re going shopping! This three-storey mall—with a moving escalator—has everything you need for a day of retail therapy. A photo booth for iconic selfies? Check. A food court to grab some noodles and bubble tea? Obviously. Shops teeming with toys, games, musical instruments, makeup and more? Duh. When you run out of cash, visit the ATM. There’s even a changing station for your baby brother. Comes with six characters and loads of accessories.

LEGO Friends Heartlake City Shopping Mall, $140, mastermindtoys.ca

Ravensburger Escape Puzzle Kids

Bring home the thrill of an escape room with these 368-piece puzzles. Each one begins with an enchanting story that sets up the mystery. Oh, BTW, the image on the box isn’t an exact match to the richly illustrated puzzle that you’re building. Better pay attention to those clues! Available in Museum Mysteries, Jungle Journey and Amusement Park Plight.

Ravensburger Escape Puzzle Kids, $25 each, mastermindtoys.ca

Danawares Studio Creator 2

Influencers in training, take note: We’ve got all the ingredients for viral content. Start unboxing to reveal a large green screen for creating professional backgrounds, an adjustable LED ring light with varying colour modes, and a book of tips and tricks. Just add a dash of personality.

Danawares Studio Creator 2, $60, mastermindtoys.ca

Hasbro Bulls-Eye Ball Game

This bouncy twist on classic skee-ball brings the arcade to your living room. Instead of rolling the balls up a ramp, you’re launching them off a super-springy trampoline. Aim for the targets to score big! Can you hit the bulls-eye in all five game modes and get the most points?

Hasbro Bulls-Eye Ball Game, $32, mastermindtoys.ca

Klutz Tiny Ceramics Studio

Put on your clogs* and throw on an apron; it’s time to hand-build bitty vessels on a teeny wheel. Using air-drying clay and mini moulds, you’ll skip the tedious kiln-firing and wheel-centring, focusing instead on sculpting, pinching, painting and glazing your works of art. *Clogs not required, but they do add to the vibe.

Klutz Tiny Ceramics Studio, $27, mastermindtoys.ca

Hasbro Nerf Elite 2.0 Flipshots Flip-16

It’s important to be prepared for anything when you’re in battle. Two eight-dart-capacity spring-barrel chambers are locked and loaded. Fire your first round then use the slide to reveal darts in waiting. But that’s not the only cool part: The dual-stage trigger gives operators the option to blast single or double darts at a time. *Raises white flag.*

Hasbro Nerf Elite 2.0 Flipshots Flip-16, $63, mastermindtoys.ca

4M KidzLabs Wind Powered Racer

The future of racing is at your fingertips with this build-your-own aerodynamic racer set. Eager drivers want to know how it gets up to speed? A motor that really zips by transforming wind into kinetic energy. Zippy-ki-YAY.

4M KidzLabs Wind Powered Racer, $20, mastermindtoys.ca

Hasbro Monopoly Builder

The econ-themed board game that’s been around for over 80 years has a fun new twist. Instead of just buying property, players physically construct it by stacking buildings onto Monopoly Island. Of course, there are classic conundrums and life events—ugh, adulting is rough—that get in the way as you race to stack the diamond penthouse.

Hasbro Monopoly Builder, $35, mastermindtoys.ca