Latest news with #Tonies
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Not To Brag, But I've Finally Found A Toy That Keeps My Kid Busy For 20+ Minutes
We hope you love the products we recommend! All of them were independently selected by our editors. Just so you know, HuffPost UK may collect a share of sales or other compensation from the links on this page if you decide to shop from them. Oh, and FYI ― prices are accurate and items in stock as of time of publication. As a working mum of two young kids, the most important quality I look for in toys is the ability to keep my child occupied for chunks of time so I can get things done – whether that's cooking dinner, tidying up, or sending a few work emails. While it's all too easy to stick the TV on, I've definitely noticed that my eldest child's behaviour can rapidly go downhill afterwards – so screen-free time is much preferred. When she turned two, we bought her a Toniebox after hearing friends rave about it. It felt like an expensive purchase at the time – but we've certainly got our money's worth. Let me explain why... What's a Toniebox? The Toniebox is essentially a durable audio player for kids. You can buy little figures (Tonies) for it which sit on the top of the player and tell stories and sing songs. There are also other accessories that go with it like night lights (we have the sheep one), headphones and cases for transporting the characters around. The figures, while not cheap at £14.99 each, double up as toys – my daughter spends 20+ minute chunks playing games with them, while also sitting and listening to the stories and songs when she puts one on top of her Toniebox. In fact, every bedtime we sit and play 'nursery' with all the characters, where I'm the teacher and have to read them all some stories. After we've done that, we'll say goodnight – which includes a fairly lengthy process of me saying goodbye to each individual Tonie and us having a chat about her day. Then she'll lie in bed and listen to one (or two, as we discovered during the heatwave) of the Tonies before going to sleep. She recently got the Anna and ElsaTonies for her third birthday which went down an absolute storm (she's listened to them every night since). She's also a huge fan of Peppa Pig's Bedtime Stories, as well as the Julia Donaldson characters, like the Snail and the Whale, and – of course – the Gruffalo. Listening to a Tonie before bed has become a bit of a ritual that enables me to go and clean the kitchen or take the bins out, while she winds down. If you find bedtime drags out for a thousand years, a Toniebox might just be your saviour. The other perk is that kids can listen to it while travelling – ours get car sick, especially if looking at books or watching something on a tablet, but they don't have this problem listening to the Toniebox. We also take it on holiday with us for moments when our eldest needs a bit of quiet time, and to stick to our bedtime routine as much as possible. The squishy (and therefore, drop-proof) box is £79.95 and comes in a range of colours – red, blue, green, pink, purple and grey. It's suitable for kids aged three and up, and there are over 250 Tonies to choose from. Is it more expensive than most 'toys'? Yes. But a moment's peace is priceless when you're a parent – so boy is it worth the Well, This List Of The 'Top 100 Toys Of All Time' Has Sent Me Down Memory Lane Don't Throw Old Toys Away. Here's What To Do Instead Kids Keep Saying 'Chat' And It's (Probably) Not What You Think It Means
Tom's Guide
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Tom's Guide
I tested the Toniebox and Yoto Player for 2 weeks, and they helped my kids cut down their TV time
The Toniebox offers a lighter, simpler media player, unlocking the door for its many cutesy and beautifully rendered figurines, which are a highlight of this device. The box itself is very durable, bright, and has a satisfying squidginess to it, and even though its audio isn't quite stellar, it's a big hit for younger folk. The Yoto Player delivers a solid audio performance coupled with an adorable lo-fi screen. Its cards keep things simple and pack in a fair bit of media, making them easy to travel with. Its app also offers plenty of control and packs in heaps of free content, representing excellent value. As a busy dad of two, I'm always looking for ways to reduce my children's screen time, which is why kids' audioplayers like the Toniebox and Yoto Player seem like a good proposition. Devoid of a typical display, both allow kids to listen to songs and stories without needing to focus on a screen. They also give them the independence to choose what to play, so parents don't have to worry about YouTube's algorithm going off reservation or their kids turning into TV zombies after long sessions in charge of the remote. While they work in similar ways, the Toniebox and Yoto Player have some key differences, which we'll outline further on. And not only will you read my thoughts on the two devices, you'll also discover what my 6-year-old thinks of them. Plus, do they actually reduce screen time? Toniebox Yoto Player (3rd Gen) Ages 3+ 3-12+ Dimensions 120mm x 120mm x 120mm 110mm x 110mm x 105mm Weight 600g 678g Battery life 7 hours 24+ hours A Toniebox Starter Set is available from the Tonies website for $99.99, with a choice of six colours. Some come bundled with a licensed figure, such as Moana or Spider-Man. Tonies also sell bigger discounted bundles, which is great if you're looking to build your collection quickly. The Tonies figures themselves typically range from $9.99 to $19.99. The third-gen Yoto Player can be yours for $99.99 from the Yoto website and comes with a Welcome Card for overwriting with your own recorded audio. It only comes in a dual white and gray color, though jackets in varying shades are available for an additional $20 when bought together. There's a bit more variance in how much Yoto cards cost, with the cheapest cards starting from around $4 and rising to around $14.99 for more popular compendiums. The Toniebox is the slightly bigger box, which features a tactile, squidgy cube design with a plastic, magnetized top to help secure figurines, LED status square, and asymmetric rubber ears serving as the volume buttons. It's clearly built for some rough and tumble, which I tested immediately when I accidentally dropped it, emerging completely unscathed. You wouldn't want to drop the Yoto Player — its chunkier, all-plastic design feels more fragile. It's got a clean, retro alarm clock look to it, with orange dials on the top corners for volume and track selection, and a card slot on the top. Its key feature is its display, which doesn't play video but pixelated stills — seeing fan favorites like Elmo and Paddington brought to life in vibrant mosaic style is genuinely charming. On the rear is a wedge design for tilting and an integrated nightlight. The Toniebox integrates a minimalist control setup, perfect for smaller kids. Simply place a figurine on the top, and it'll start playing. You're supposed to tap the sides to skip a track or repeat the previous, though it requires a fairly firm tap to acknowledge your input. I tried teaching the technique to my daughter, and while it took a few goes, we eventually got the hang of it. You can also tilt the box to fast forward and rewind. The Yoto Player offers a greater level of control but needs more nuanced inputs. During playback with a card, you can click the dials to track forward or back and twist the left dial to control volume. With a spin of the right dial, you can bring up a track selector, represented onscreen by the card's track number and relevant icon. The power button on the side also doubles as a pause button. The Toniebox does a moderate job in the sound quality department — its single speaker has a comparable volume to the Yoto, but there's a slight muffling in the audio that dampens its crispness. Putting Moana's You're Welcome on, I also noticed a lack of oomph in the rap elements, and audiobooks, while offering decent clarity, do carry some tinniness in the vocals. The Yoto Player's dual speaker setup is the winner here. With the volume cranked up, clarity is excellent for such a diminutive box, and there's even a surprisingly decent bass response — just don't expect it to compete with your Bose. I stuck on Moana: The Songs, and its mid-range notes filled the room with crisp lucidity. Both players work similarly, involving a concealed NFC chip in a figurine or card. Once placed or inserted, the player can determine if the media tied to the chip needs to be downloaded, played from local memory, or streamed via Wi-Fi. With the Toniebox, an attractive prospect for kids is collecting the figurines, particularly the licensed models. Queen Elsa and Moana came with my sample pack, and both models represent excellent detail and quality and near-perfect representations of their big screen counterparts. A word of warning though — keep these figures safe, as if they're lost in a toy box or go walkabout, you won't be able to play that media again. The Yoto gets around this issue with its cards — once downloaded, the media syncs with your phone's app, so you can quickly zap over your kid's favourite story without having to rifle through your card library or control the device directly; handy while on car journeys, for example. Due to their size, neither system is particularly portable, and you'd argue that the Tonies figurines are trickier to haul around. Though the Yoto cards don't offer the aesthetic appeal of the Tonies, they're easier to lug around in a card wallet. There is an impressive array of over 200 Tonies available, including Disney's Encanto, Frozen, and Tangled as well as popular characters from Toy Story, Sesame Street, and Cocomelon. I can see kids wanting to build up a vast collection of them, so they can make for great stocking fillers or smaller gifts from relatives. One licensed figurine generally crams in between 30 and 60 minutes of audio. And while the Frozen figure features an abridged story, it would have been nice to pack in a few extra songs than the four included for $20. It's also worth pointing out that not all Tonies feature their film's original songs, instead sung by different vocalists. I was slightly disappointed this was the case, seeing as the company has gone to great lengths to ensure their figurines look authentic. Both the Moana and Frozen tracks feature alternate singers, though Encanto does carry the original vocals, so it's worth checking out product previews to hear what you're getting. That said, while it might cause some uncanny feelings in parents, having different vocals didn't perturb my daughter at all, and she was content playing through all of them. Yoto also carries popular favourites such as Frozen, Moana, and Peppa Pig. While their cards have fewer of the Disney brands, they have much more expansive audiobook selection, with Paddington, The Gruffalo, and the works of Julia Donaldson and Roald Dahl on their roster. The choice is staggering too, with over 1,200 storybooks, music albums, and compilations available. These cards might not be as exciting as the Tonies, but the range means they can suit younger and older kids. I also checked with Yoto HQ, and they confirmed that all their Disney range features the original vocalists on its licensed songs. Another difference is that while the Tonies generally feature a handful of songs plus a shortened story, the Yoto splits them up, selling one card with more songs and another packing in a longer story — both Encanto cards are $14.99. So really, it's a toss-up between the Tonies figurine with less content, and the Yoto card with more. As the Toniebox emphasizes user independence, there's no way to control playback via smartphone app, but you can check out Tonies for sale, review the Tonies you've registered, adjust volume limits and record your own audio. There's also a Free section that carries a decent selection of audiobook samples and free songs and books. The app is looks very clean and is very easily navigable. The Yoto app handily carries all of the media that's tied to your account, so you can operate it like a remote for your player. It also has a create studio feature and news section for product announcements. The standout feature is the Discover section, which has a host of sleep sounds, free podcasts, and exclusive radio stations, giving it a big boost to its value offering. The app itself can be a little trickier to navigate due to its many sections, but most won't have any issues. The Toniebox yields around 7 hours on a single charge. It relies on a bespoke charging base rather than USB-C, so you'll need to remember to pack that if you're on the road. The Yoto Player handily accepts USB-C charging and delivers over 24 hours of playback. Unsurprisingly, my six-year-old was immediately drawn to the Tonies. She loved the songs, figures, and design and squidgyness of the Toniebox. As stated before, when I questioned the use of alternate vocals, she didn't mind at all. And while it took a few goes to get the skipping tracks tap technique right, she enjoyed the tactile experience. She also liked the Yoto Player — albeit to a lesser extent — particularly its cute, pixelated display that she said was very colorful. At the age of six, however, she was more interested in the licensed content that she knew of, rather than giving new stuff a chance. We've been testing both for nearly two weeks, and she's only been too happy to slot in a card or figurine and have a big sing-off with Queen Elsa, Mirabel, and co. Importantly, getting her off the TV has felt less of a chore, and it's great that she's engaging so well with the licensed content. With all that said, in my daughter's view, the Toniebox emerges victorious. Both the Toniebox and Yoto Player have a lot to offer for kids, and their media libraries are extensive. Importantly, both represent a novel way for them to take charge of their media consumption and are much safer and appropriate than letting them loose on an iPad or YouTube. It can be all too easy for them to be hooked on screens these days, so having these devices around is beneficial to give their eyes a rest and get their imaginations flowing. Just be aware that investing in either device locks you into an ecosystem of having to buy more and more figurines and cards, and at around $10-20 a pop, costs can soon spiral. Younger kids will no doubt prefer the colorful Toniebox and its exciting range of gorgeous figurines. With that said, older kids, particularly preteens, will get a lot of enjoyment out of discovering newer books and free content with the Yoto Player. For its functions, superior audio performance, and longevity, the Yoto gets my vote, but there's no denying the Toniebox's vibrant appeal among smaller audiences, including my 6-year-old.
Buzz Feed
14-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Buzz Feed
If You Have A Toddler In Your Home You Might Want One Of These 24 Target Products
A very charming toy kitchen, the MVP of imaginative play, which is also made out of real wood. Is it weird that a toy kitchen might serve as the inspo for the reno you've been dreaming of? Nope. Promising review: "I absolutely LOVE this kitchen. We had a kid's craft before that was given to our kids as a Christmas present, which did NOT hold up well. It was broken within the first week or so. We held onto it for as long as we could until I found something I liked, researched what would last, and held up to its standards for the price. I love that this is actual WOOD! Not some FAKE wood. It is so cute as well. It did not take too long to put together either, and I would say maybe an hour and a half max for the kitchen and the refrigerator with two people. Definitely worth getting if you are thinking about it." —kbPrice: $139.99 A blackout curtain panel with tiny tassels, because you must protect the naps AT ALL COSTS. Keep 'em napping for as long as you can! Each panel sold review: "Very happy with these curtains for my daughter's room, blocks out [the] sun and [they] look pretty!" —PurchasePrice: $25.99 (available in two colors and three lengths) A pack of Magna-Tiles, a fantastic building system that will get used over and over and over again. Pro tip: commit to one building toy type and then just keep adding to it! It will still feel new to your crew and clean up will be MUCH easier. Promising review: "Creative play is endless with this toy. Nine months after buying our daughter keeps consistently coming back to play with her magnetic tiles. When our family gets together, all of the cousins (age range 1–8) will play with them. We've since gifted these tiles to two friends, and both moms later told me that they are one of their favorite presents." —Honest MomPrice: $59.99 for a 37-piece set An outdoor lawnmower toy, because nothing is cuter than a toddler on a mission to mimic the world around nothing is better for them (and the sitter!) than being outside! Promising review: "I'm not lying when I say my toddler ran to this toy when he saw it. He loves seeing people mowing when we go on our walks and watching his dad mow our yard, so it was a no-brainer purchase. No regrets! He gets the biggest smile pushing it around the house and has even started taking it on our walks around the neighborhood." —LivvielouPrice: $27.49 A TonieBox starter set that comes with a Toy Story Tonie. This has been a staple in our home for YEARS now — my kiddos love choosing what music and stories they get to listen to and the Tonies (sold separately) come in all of their favorite characters. Each additional Tonie is $17.99. Need a rec? The Moana Tonie is VERY popular at my house!Promising review: "I have three kids and this is our third TonieBox! Tonies are so universally loved in our house that we needed one for each child. They all love listening to the tonies while playing/drawing/falling asleep. These are durable and worth every penny." —TheBarkingLotPrice: $99.99 A toddler bowling set so you can transform your own home into a super fun bowling alley. Find the perfect room or a hallway and let the good times *roll*! Promising review: "This is a fun little bowling set. We've actually bought a second one as a gift since we liked it so much. The quality is nice and the pins make noise when falling over. We like that the whole set can be stored away in the included holder. Beware — the bowling ball is pretty hard so watch out if you have a toddler that throws things…wink wink.." —MCPrice: $24.99 A set of fun sheets to go with that brand-new big-kid bed. (Ahhh!) These will go perfectly with your nightly reading of Goodnight, Goodnight, Construction Site. Promising review: "Little guy loved choosing his 'big boy' bedsheets and is thrilled to crawl in bed each time." —sisisiPrice: $26+ (originally $49+; available in three sizes and eight patterns) A super durable and leakproof kids' bento box, which will actually help you organize your brain and figure out what you need to put in there. Pssst: If you want to include a sweet treat, M&Ms look pretty cute in the circle compartment. Promising review: "I purchased this for my 7-year-old daughter. She had been asking for it after seeing some friends at her school lunch use one. She loves it! She specifically likes that her food stays in its own compartment and doesn't touch. She is a very picky eater, so this is a way to get her to help me get creative and think of ideas for each section. She takes it five days a week to school and has been very happy. No leaks!! Easy to open on her own. Very easy to clean." —mommymoPrice: $29.99 (available in six colors) A surprisingly sleek spill-proof snack cup that is perfect for little clumsy, adorable little hands. The backseat of your car will thank you. Promising review: "I have a toddler, so snack time is all of the time! We love Mushie products, so we tried this snack cup, and I am so glad we did! It goes where she goes, keeps the snacks inside even when she runs with it/shakes it, is easy to clean, and is just as much of an extension of her as her binky is. I 10/10 on this product design, color palette, and aesthetic! Definitely recommend!" —SarahD628Price: $13.99 (available in two colors) A two-pack of faucet extenders, because hand washing is so important, and your back isn't meant to hoist a 40-pound child closer to a sink over and over again. Promising review: "Love these. Very easy to slip on and off (for cleaning); they extend enough to not make a mess but still be reachable by my average height 2.5-year-old while standing on a stool." —PDPrice: $10.99 A conditioning hair detangler from The Honest Company, so your long-haired little won't hate having their luscious locks brushed. Now that you aren't dreading such a basic everyday task, maybe you can let your hair down a little, too! Promising review: "This has been the best clean ingredient detangling spray that I have ever tried. My daughter has super tangly hair, and our hard water doesn't help; this spray allows me to brush easily after her shower with no fuss. It leaves her hair silky smooth, and it smells DIVINE! I use it myself as well! Checks all the boxes for me." —KellyMPrice: $7.79 A folding travel potty seat, because you can't stay at home forever while potty training. You have to get out there, and your little one is going to have to go (probably at a really inconvenient time)! Now, you're prepared. Promising review: "This is seriously such a brilliant little invention. The carrying bag makes this easy to pop into a diaper bag or an overnight bag instead of carting around an entire potty seat. The suction cups make it so this doesn't slip and slide on different toilet seats. This has been the easiest way to make sure we don't get behind on potty training while visiting family members this holiday season!" —HaleyPrice: $14.99 (available in three colors) An adorable kid-size corduroy chair, which is perfect for looking at a picture book, watching a show, or even for those oh-so-pleasant moments when they need a calm-down corner. Promising review: "My daughter is one, and she loves this chair. She will happily sit on it and watch Bluey all day. It's very comfy to lay and sit on. My 8-year-old sits on it from time to time, also. I would recommend this chair!" —AshPrice: $80 (available in three colors) A wooden Melissa & Doug magnetic daily calendar you might even be able to use to convince your kids that they do, indeed, need a jacket, and no, it's not shorts weather. Time saver! Promising review: "Love that this gets my kids involved with school and prepped for the day." —JaePrice: $14.79 A My First Flybar foam pogo hopper, for those hectic times when your children are bouncing off the walls and you're still finishing up work. Let them get the wiggles out in a healthy way on this safe, foam bouncer. Promising review: "Keeps my 3-year-old entertained in the house. I love it. It's safe and the squeaking does not bother me at all. Can't beat the price. Highly recommend." —BrybearPrice: $14.99 (available in two colors) A rechargeable, Bluetooth-enabled children's toothbrush with an accompanying app that will get your kiddos pretty pumped to brush their teeth each day and night. Clean teeth without a fight? Take that win. Promising review: "This is the most incredible toothbrush for any kid that has any issues brushing. The app is a great fun tool my little one loves. She now looks forward to brushing and has brushed twice in a row just to get a gift from her sparkly." —TCPrice: $34.99 (available in two colors) A Welly first-aid kit that fits perfectly in your bag, because parents know the importance of a bandage when it comes to boo-boos. And these colorful ones especially apply to boo-boos that don't technically even need a bandage. This 24-piece set includes bandages, hand sanitizer, antibiotic ointment, and a cool carrying review: "The cutest mini first-aid kit. I like that it's small enough to conveniently carry in my purse. The adorable [bandage] prints make booboos less sad for our little ones. It is a little pricey but worth it because of the thoughtful design and compact size. I bought one for my husband to keep handy, too." —Sha Sha ShopperPrice: $6.99 An apple slicer that makes 16 perfect, thin, snack-size slices every single time. Listen, kids demand a LOT of snacks, so you'll want this secret weapon in your tool belt. Promising review: "This slicer works great! I love how smooth it cuts regardless of the shape of the apple. I also love that it has the bottom part to finish, pushing it through at the end. Last, I purposely bought it for the smaller slices, and it did not disappoint. Highly recommend for moms and anyone else who loves apple slices for snacks and meals." —Toddler MomPrice: $11.99 A Hatch sound machine, which has a very loyal group of followers for a reason — it's a night-light and white noise machine that can eventually turn into a sleep trainer for toddlers. Anything that leads to healthy sleep habits is a parent's dream come true. Promising review: "Lives up to the good reviews! This sound machine has many different options for sounds and light colors. You can make your own presets on the app for your favorite settings for quick access. My baby loves it, but we also love it so much!! Before the baby was here, we used it in our room to get used to it, and it is so relaxing and helped us sleep even better!" —EmthebrowserPrice: $89.99 A bath towel that can entice even the most reluctant of bathers to get into the water... but more importantly, it'll get them OUT of the water when it's time. Promising review: "These towels are perfect for our toddler and big enough to still grow with him. The quality is great; they are thick and super cute. I wish I had these from the start!" —KFPrice: $15 A four-pack of Re-Play divided plates to make feeding your littles even easier. This is the brand my family has used for more than five years, so I can personally speak to their durability and let me tell the real deal. Promising review: "Just bought another set! I love these plates. I already own about 10 of these and bought the earthy-colored set. These are the best! The ones I've had for YEARS still look new/great! They are not just toddler plates. Even my 6-year-old uses them; they're still big enough for him. Kids of any age can use these. I can't brag about these plates enough. They are hands down the best." —amberlar96Price: $9.99 A Bluey invisible ink book, because when you're traveling in the car or a plane you can't play keepy-uppy, or obstacle course, or this is just as fun! Promising review: "I purchased this for an airplane ride for my 18-month-old, and it was perfect and mess-free! I recommend!" —AudlynnPrice: $5.99 An all-in-one kneeler and elbow saver, which TBH is PURE GENIUS. Bathtime can be so fun for LOs (once you manage to get them in the tub, of course), but it can be a literal pain for grown-ups. Now you just need a splash guard. Promising review: "Amazing for bath time! I think I'd have no knees without it. If you have a taller than normal bathtub it might not work as well, but it works great for us!" —MomPrice: $39.99 A six-pack of plain, white socks, because life is simply too short (and chaotic) to be sorting toddler socks. We invested in a bunch of these with my son, and they were still in good condition for my daughter a couple of years later. Simplify your life with these and you'll never go back! Promising review: "I bought these for my two-year-old, and they fit her perfectly. I love that they have a small grip; they have a bottom part of the sock. They wash nicely and do not shrink. I'll be purchasing more before they run out!" —IvethohPrice: $9 (available in two sizes)
Buzz Feed
01-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Buzz Feed
30 Walmart Toys To Entertain Your Kids
A cottage playhouse so your kids can visit this pretend vacation you can take a little mini brain break while they entertain themselves. Price: $260 (originally $299.99) A TonieBox starter set that comes with Mirabel, Elsa, and Moana, which has been a staple in our home for YEARS now — my kiddos love choosing what music and stories they get to listen to, and the Tonies (sold separately) come in all of their favorite characters. Promising review: "I bought this for my 3-year-old and she loves it! It's super easy for her to change out characters. I love that this set came with three characters to choose from. Love that the characters sing and tell stories. Makes it very entertaining for her age. Love how easy it is to power on and control the volume. Love that it comes with app for the parents." —amberPrice: $122 A Kinetic Sand set for those moments when you're stuck inside with bad weather, but you and your kiddos would much rather be at the beach. Promising review: "Our son loves this set. It came with a good amount of sand and it's good quality. The toys are a great mixture and he sits and plays for hours each week with it!" —CCPrice: $25.35 This simple magnetic maze game that's not only super entertaining, but can also help with fine motor development. Promising review: "My kids love this toy. It's perfect for road trips!" —ElainePrice: $19.99 A Little Tikes pretend pizza-making kit, which features ingredients made out of a reusable, moldable material — making the experience more tactile and realistic for your aspiring chefs. Promising review: "It's well made and hours of fun. Mixing the sand isn't that much of a problem because it isn't very expensive to replace!" —JamiePrice: $24.86 A play kitchen so cute you might even get design envy — but those feelings will be washed out by relief when your kids independently play with this MVP. Promising review: "This set is super cute and perfect for those littles who have a big imagination. The quality is great. It does have a lot of pieces to put together, but was pretty easy. Highly recommend. Colors are exact to pictured." —SammiePrice: $179.99 (originally $199.99) A wooden train set for your cutie conductor. While your little is developing engineering and building skills and imagining a small world, you can keep the other trains running on time... you know, like planning dinner, etc. Promising review: "Honestly, for the price, this is hands down better than train sets that cost twice what this one does. It's almost entirely made of wood, the train itself is good quality, and my son loves it." —CandacePrice: $9.97 A set of four Bluey Heeler family figurines perfectly sized for little hands with big imaginations. Promising review: "My 2-year-old is always asking for his Bluey figurines. We bring them to play outside with the water table, to the hospital for his visit, in the bathtub, and to the dinner table. They are durable and adorable." —MichellePrice: $12.99 (originally $33.11) A bag of 25 balloons (for a grownup to blow up!) because after playing with Bluey figurines, your littles will be asking you to also play "Keepy Uppy." Promising review: "Colors included are not the typical colors and kids were excited to find something different." —EllyPrice: $1 A complete 140-piece set of Crayola markers, crayons, and colored pencils that will hold the attention of mini Monets and petite Picassos for a very long time. Promising review: "This art case is jam-packed with Crayola markers, crayons, colored pencils, and paper. The case itself is sturdy, keeping the art supplies neat and contained. My grandchildren love this set and have enjoyed hours of craft fun with its contents. This is a great gift for kids, and the price is right!" —marmeyPrice: $22.97 (originally $36.99) A water table for hours and hours of outdoor fun. Sun's out means baby buns are out! Of course, whenever there's water involved you need to keep a good eye on them, but you'll feel zen as you sit back and watch this cuteness. Promising review: "I got this for my granddaughter and she absolutely loves it, so glad I purchased this for her!!! Great quality and price!!!" —JuliePrice: $71.99 (originally $85.99) A cute 17-piece tea set from Green Toys to get a play party started, and you can possibly enjoy a real cup of tea. This eco-friendly set is also food-safe and can go in the dishwasher, so the imaginative play can include real treats! Promising review: "I was looking for the right tea set for my 5-year-old daughter. She had a ceramic one which was great but very delicate and had already broken, chipped off in many places. This one is perfect: it's a good size, has lovely colors, and my daughter loves to pretend play and makes tea for all of us :). We are an environmentally friendly family, so we love that its green and made with recycled material. Also love the fact that it's dishwasher-safe!" —Walmart Customer Price: $23.99 A 37-piece set of Magna-Tiles, which will be a staple in your house for years to come. Pro tip: Rather than buying different types of building sets, keep adding new Magna-Tiles to your collection. My kids have had them for five years, and we're still going strong and adding more! Price: $55.99 A play couch that can be anything they need it to be: a pirate ship, a fort, a reading nook, and also extra bedding for kiddos during sleepovers! Promising review: "Holds up amazing and washes extremely well. All the stains wash right out! My kids have had it since Christmas, and it still looks brand new! Couldn't recommend more." —AmandaPrice: $158 (available in six colors) An absolutely darling magnetic dress-up set, which will be a hit at home and when you're traveling. You can make more than 200 different outfits with this self-contained kit, so get ready to see them get creative. My kids LOVED these kits (and anything from this company, really) when they were $22.94 An indoor doorway gym set for kids, perfect for those days when you would go to the playground, but for some reason, you just can't. (Reasons including everything from bad weather to you not feeling like it.) Promising review: "Adjustable lengths. Strong enough for an adult and fun for toddlers. Just read the instructions on how it fits in the door jam, not the whole door frame. There's videos showing set up and installation too." —FiPrice: $154.99+ (available in two colors) An LCD doodle tablet to inspire some serious creativity — and help you save paper. I can't be the only one constantly picking up paper scraps, right? Promising review: "These are perfect for on the go with your children! Great for long car rides to keep those children busy." —SidneyPrice: $4.97 A set of hand puppets so the show can go on, and on, and on. Next thing you know, they've forgotten all about their tablet, and they're making scenery out of a cardboard box. Promising review: "Perfect set of hand puppets! I need the Zebra for some homeschool work, and because of the awesome value for the whole set, I opted for this. It didn't disappoint! Good quality, great price!" —Elyse Price: $20.99 (originally $37.99) An 80-piece chalk set with stencils, a spirograph kit, and a nifty carrying case for storage that is so fun it might bring all the neighborhood kids to your yard. You got the kids to spend time outside AND work on their fine motor AND explore their creativity? Chalk that up to good parenting. Price: $12.84 A set of binoculars made for kids to encourage them to start exploring the amazing world around them, whether that's inside your house or in the backyard. And you? You can sit back and enjoy the view of your kids playing independently. Promising review: "Omg, my great-granddaughter likes to play pirate, but she doesn't know how to close one eye to look through a telescope, so the binoculars are perfect. She loves to look at the moon and when airplanes fly by she gets so excited looking at them now. Loves to see the stars at night. This is a great idea for little ones that love adventures." —JenniferPrice: $9.49 (originally $11.66) This two-piece balance board system which can help restore balance to your day if your kid needs something to concentrate on. It's not just a one-trick toy — it has so many uses! Promising review: "Best thing for my 4-year-old son and 11-month-old daughter!!!" —DinaraPrice: $59.82 A set of Stomp Rockets that are out-of-this-world fun. They get to play outside, and you get to sit and watch the good times. Big jumps only! Promising review: "This provided so much fun for the entire family...I can't believe how much time my family spent outside Christmas Eve playing with this rocket. It was a gift for my 5-year-old and his cousins (ages 6, 9, 14), my husband, my brother, and my dad had the most fun with this!" —EDempPrice: $15.99 A Barbie Dreamhouse Pool Party house because you mean BUSINESS. This house is so cool it'll have you pulling up Redfin and daydreaming about moving... maybe it's time to call up Realtor Barbie. Promising review: "The coolest dream house I've ever seen. At almost 30, I'm wildly impressed and jealous of my 6-year-old. It's so neat! The attention to detail and neat traits it has — like an oven light, stovetop sounds, functional doors, toilet sound, and a whole elevator! Very cool. It's easy to put together but will take a little time just because it's a lot. Also, it's huge. Prob 3 feet high and 3 feet wide." —CharlenePrice: $179 (originally $199.99) A Mr. Potato Head, which is just plain silly and classic for a reason. Your favorite tater tots will sprout smiles and get a real kick out of having his hands come out of his head and his eyes where his mouth should be! Promising review: "My child can easily put pieces in and out of it. Toddler-friendly toy that lets him develop fine motor skills. The toy has been every day since purchase and has not worn out yet. That was my concern with things you push together and take apart. For the price it is great!" —anonymousPrice: $7.97 A Hot Wheels City motorized raceway play set because you know this toy has some serious staying power and will inspire the next generation of gearheads. Do you still sometimes wish you still had your own set? Yes, yes, you do. Buckle up for a good time! Promising review: "Purchased this for my grandson's fourth birthday. He loves the small cars. So far, he has enjoyed this set very much and is constantly playing with it. The set was received as advertised and promptly. All parts seem to be durable. I would recommend this set. My grandson is 4 years old." —marcusPrice: $39.94 A classic 150-piece set of wooden blocks that will stack up against any other toy. Littles love building their own cities and towers... and you love watching them knock it all over as you knock out your to-do list. Promising review: "The blocks come in different shapes, colors, and sizes. They are perfect for little hands to hold. My 1-year-old grandson and I have had a great time building and knocking over blocks. I'm looking forward to playing blocks with him for the next several years." —PatriciaPrice: $16.88 A LeapFrog 100 Words book which will teach your little words in English AND Spanish — all while they're happily playing and learning names for things. That's a win-win. Promising review: "This interactive children's book is fantastic! The activities and illustrations keep kids engaged, and it's packed with interesting content. While there are more words than expected, it's great for sparking conversations and encouraging early readers to explore new vocabulary. Perfect for curious minds!" —AxelPrice: $18.88 A wooden Melissa & Doug magnetic daily calendar that is super fun to play with but, as a bonus, might help you convince the kids later that they do, indeed, need a jacket, and no, it's not shorts weather. Promising review: "I love this Melissa & Doug calendar. I'm using it for homeschool and speech. It's great. My daughter is learning all the months, days, seasons, temperatures, activities, feelings, and holidays. This is great for speech because there's so much language to learn from it." —zippyPrice: $14.79 (originally $27.99) A kid's flash guitar with a mic and stand, so your small Swiftie can get enter their own songwriting and singing era. Promising review: "Our 3-year-old LOVES it. It has push buttons that play rhythms along with the melody of prerecorded tracks. She plays along, sings into the mic and has us join in. I wish the built-in strap were adjustable, but she doesn't mind as she often walks around with the guitar hanging across her torso, looking for her next duet! Great family fun!!" —ZeePrice: $24.99+ (originally $49.99; available in five colors) A Furby allowing kiddos to experience the same thrill of staring into those big, wide eyes and communicating with this chirpy creature that you did as a kid. But these Furbies have had a serious glow-up — they even come with mindfulness exercises now! Promising review: "Love this new version of Furby. My favorite features are the light show and calming (I can't remember the actual name right now) sessions. The calm part is great bc it takes you through breathing exercises and relaxes you. This Furby also comes some old beloved antics." —Panda1213Price: $34.95+ (originally $69.99; available in two colors) Need ingredients for all your new recipes? Shop each recipe directly through the app, or check out Walmart's grocery selection to get veggies, meat, seafood, and more delivered right to your door. The reviews for this post have been edited for length and clarity.
Yahoo
25-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Meta Platforms, Inc. (META)'s Meta AI 'Is The Worst,' Says Jim Cramer
Meta Platforms, Inc. (NASDAQ:META) is one of the . Social media giant Meta Platforms, Inc. (NASDAQ:META) is one of the best-performing mega-cap technology stocks in 2025. The firm's shares have gained 13.8% year-to-date as the firm has benefited from strong performance in the advertising market and robust cost-cutting initiatives. Cramer frequently discusses Meta Platforms, Inc. (NASDAQ:META) in his morning show. Most of his recent remarks have been about the firm's AI platform. While Cramer is a fan of Elon Musk's Grok AI bot, he believes Meta Platforms, Inc. (NASDAQ:META) can do a lot more to improve its products. His recent comments maintained the opinion: 'On Zuckerberg assembling a team of experts to achieve AGI] Maybe he recognizes that Meta AI is the worst. I mean other than if I want to find out who won the Tonies, forget about it. Previously, Cramer discussed Meta Platforms, Inc. (NASDAQ:META)'s current quarter and a potential catalyst: 'I like your thinking very much. I think Meta's having a great quarter. I also think that they are without a doubt the best advertising bet. What happens if he actually starts, Mark Zuckerberg starts to want to, let's say, monetize WhatsApp? Do you know how much that darn thing's worth? I think you got horse sense. Good level to buy.' While we acknowledge the potential of META as an investment, our conviction lies in the belief that some AI stocks hold greater promise for delivering higher returns and have limited downside risk. If you are looking for an extremely cheap AI stock that is also a major beneficiary of Trump tariffs and onshoring, see our free report on the best short-term AI stock. READ NEXT: 20 Best AI Stocks To Buy Now and 30 Best Stocks to Buy Now According to Billionaires. Disclosure: None. This article is originally published at Insider Monkey. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
