Laurie Schacht, chief toy officer at The Toy Insider, rolled out her top stocking stuffer picks on WDIV’s “Live in the D,” highlighting fresh twists on fan favorites and collectible trends she says will delight kids across ages.
“I don’t think there’s anything more exciting than finding out what’s hiding in that stocking,” Schacht said as she introduced a slate of small-but-mighty gifts.
Leading her list is Booksy’s new Disney collection, featuring character figures like Stitch, Elsa and Simba that open to reveal a 40-page mini book. “Not only is it a character - when I open this up, there’s a book inside,” she said.
She also showcased Bluey Chat Mates, posable figures that each deliver 10 fan-favorite phrases. “We love Bluey, and Bluey is everywhere,” Schacht said. “This is brand new and so exciting.”
For DIY fans, she pointed to Jelly Bands, scented friendship-band kits with 12 connected bands and about 200 snap-in beads. “They smell delicious,” Schacht said, noting kids can swap letters and designs “easy peasy.”
Nostalgia gets an upgrade with Tamagotchi Paradise, which expands virtual pet care with macro and micro views. “We can zoom out and see the whole planet,” Schacht said. “But my favorite part is zooming all the way in - it opens its mouth, you go inside the body, you can see how happy your Tama is.” She added there are more than 50,000 possible characters to raise, plus connectivity to play with friends.
Rounding out the list: Squish-a-longs. They’re one-inch, squishable plastic collectibles with rare and ultra-rare figures hidden in blind packs. Series 3 offers more than 140 to collect, with 8-packs sized right for stockings.
When balancing fun and practicality, Schacht’s advice is to match gifts with kids’ interests and heed age guidance. “The real key is knowing what your children… love to do,” she said.
To watch the segment, click on the video above. You can learn more at thetoyinsider.com.