8 top toys for the playroom
Casdon Dyson Cord-Free Vacuum
Fine, we’ll say it—vacuuming is fun with a Dyson. Modelled after the brand’s best-selling cordless model, this mini vacuum isn’t just for pretend play—it actually sucks up small bits of dust and debris! Colourful balls whirl around in the canister, and the nozzle shortens to help you reach the dust bunnies’ favourite hiding spots.
Casdon Dyson Cord-Free Vacuum, $50, mastermindtoys.ca
Kid Darts Safety Tip Dart Board
Enjoy the thrill of darts but eliminate any risk of danger and the wall holes associated with traditional sharp-ended darts. The whole family will love the challenge of sending soft-nosed darts into the 16.5-inch board. Who has the best aim? Make sure you keep a tally of bull’s eyes.
Kid Darts Safety Tip Dart Board, $25, mastermindtoys.ca
Door Jams Over-the-Door Basketball Hoop
Pump up the jam (and the ball) with this swishy set. The durable and shatterproof bracket easily fits over a door so kids can practise hand-eye coordination, dunking and shooting hoops in the comfort of their own bedroom.
Door Jams Over-the-Door Basketball Hoop, $45, mastermindtoys.ca
Celestron PowerSeeker 50AZ Telescope
Greetings, aspiring astronomers! A no-tools-required telescope is a low-stress foray into the world of astronomy. Put your eye to the Barlow lens for a close-up view of the stars and planets. Download the included software to help identify more than 10,000 objects and print maps of the sky.
Celestron PowerSeeker 50AZ Telescope, $100, mastermindtoys.ca
iDance Party Ball with 2 Microphones
The karaoke-obsessed won’t want to miss out on this compact singing machine that syncs up via Bluetooth to any smartphone, tablet or laptop. The booming speaker includes a light-up disco ball that projects colours on the walls and ceiling and dual microphones—with an echo function—for those powerful duets.
iDance Party Ball with 2 Microphones, $70, mastermindtoys.ca
Wash-Up Kitchen Sink
Toy dishes deserve a scrub and rinse just as much as real dishes do. Fill the basin with water and turn on the tap. Wow, there’s a real stream coming from the spout! Grab the washing brush and squirt some “detergent” to tackle the mess, then stack the plastic cups, knives, plates and forks in the rack to dry.
Wash-Up Kitchen Sink, $27, mastermindtoys.ca
Lanka Kade Dinosaur A–Z Wooden Jigsaw Puzzle
This brachiosaurus is working all of his angles. He’s a chunky upright jigsaw puzzle, sure. But he’s also a teacher, encouraging alphabet retention—both recited and by sight —and colour recognition. This puzzle is all roar and no snore.
Lanka Kade Dinosaur A–Z Wooden Jigsaw Puzzle, $30, mastermindtoys.ca
Art Easel with Chalkboard and Magnetic Whiteboard
This sturdy stand has a magnetic whiteboard on one side (ultra-organized Type A’s will love making lists on this) and a chalkboard on the other. The dowel up top comes with a roll of paper so your little artist can get started. When paint is the medium of choice, simply pull the paper down and get to work dunking your brush into the three no-spill paint cups.
Art Easel with Chalkboard and Magnetic Whiteboard, $90, mastermindtoys.ca
