If there’s one company that immediately springs to mind when it comes to holiday shopping for kids, it’s Mattel. Boys, girls, toddlers and tweens can all find a favourite toy among Mattel’s incredible collection. In fact, my oldest son once went through a Hot Wheels phase that lasted for years and even had me hunting down exclusive vintage Hot Wheels cars for him. And my youngest has been a fan of the cheeky and cheerful Thomas & Friends series since he was a toddler.
This year, to help make your Christmas shopping easier, Mattel has put together the mattelholiday.ca website full of all the year’s hottest gifts for kids aged 1-12. Featuring products from Barbie, Hot Wheels, Monster High, Fisher-Price and many more, finding the perfect gift for your child has never been easier!
Mattel has also identified the Top 10 Toys of the holiday season and to let me see what made them such a great choice, I was given the chance to choose four of them to check out. I decided on the 2014 Holiday Barbie Doll, the Thomas & Friends TrackMaster Avalanche Escape Set, the Barbie Glam Camper and the Hot Wheels Super Loop Chase Race.
When these toys arrived, I have to admit it felt a little like Christmas already even though none of them were for me. I had been stuck trying to figure out a good gift for my oldest niece; her and Zackary are best friends so I wanted to make sure she got something extra special. The Barbie Glam Camper was the perfect choice. I know she’ll love playing imaginary games with it and since her family spends so much time camping in the summer, it’s a great fit for her personally too!
My youngest son Benjamin already has one Thomas & Friends TrackMaster set and since he has so much fun with it, I know he’ll love adding another one to his collection. The battery-powered train is a huge part of this set’s appeal; Benjamin loves watching Thomas zoom around the track at top speed. And of course, seeing Thomas escape danger again and again is always a thrilling experience!
While my oldest son Zackary has outgrown the obsessive love of Hot Wheels that he once had, he still enjoys racing his cars around the many tracks and courses he’s collected. The only downside is that they take up a lot of space. That’s why I loved the Hot Wheels Super Loop Chase Race set as soon as I saw it. Because it leans against the wall, it takes up a very minimal amount of space while still providing tons of action. And for those times when we do want to go all-out, the set connects to other Hot Wheels tracks for even more fun!
I have to admit that of all the toys available, the 2014 Holiday Barbie Doll was the one I couldn’t resist choosing just because it was so pretty. With four young nieces in the family, I’m sure I’ll find a good home for this beautiful doll, but what I was really thinking about when I chose it was how I used to stare longingly at the beautiful Holiday Barbies that appeared on the shelf during the Christmas season. This doll is just as beautiful as the ones I remember from my childhood and I have to admit that I kind of want to keep her for myself.
The Mattel Holiday Toys website also features top toys for younger children like the Fisher-Price Laugh & Learn Smart Stages Chair and fun options for older children including the BOOMco Rapid Madness Blaster and the Monster High Freaky Fusion Hybrid Dolls. And with links to find the toys at all your favourite stores, shopping for the perfect gift really couldn’t be easier. Take a look at the site and see which items would be on your child’s Christmas list. Holiday celebrations are sure to be extra fun with Mattel!
Steph M says
My son just loves cars. He`s only two so we don`t have a lot of Hot Wheels yet, but we will soon enough, I`m sure! 🙂
Chantal A says
We love Mattel in our house. I bought my son a new Hot Wheels track but you are right they take up so much space and its frustrating for them to always have to rebuilt it if you take it apart. Since reading this review I think I am going to exchange it for Super Loop Chase Race. Now if I can only remember what Christmas paper I wrapped it in!!!!
Ava Mifflin says
my son wants lego and hot wheels ty!
sheryl says
two most popular things to buy a girl and boy. great post
srishayini says
my girls are never tired of barbie
M Anderson says
I got my granddaughter that Barbie in the picture. Hope she likes it.
Elizabeth Matthiesen says
Mattel always makes good toys. My grandchildren have quite a few different toys from them now. Hot Wheels is a big favourite with the boys and what girl wouldn’t love another Barbie?
Tracey Flattes says
We have more Hot Wheels in our house than we have furniture! Seriously, my son is obsessed!
Treen Goodwin says
great gift ideas .. my grandson would love the hot wheels he loves cars 🙂
Lynda Cook says
I may be a grandmother, but I get excited at Christmas time just so I can have fun playing with all the great toys by Mattel, I think I have more fun than the grandkids…LOL
Guppy says
Those beautiful Holiday Barbie’s are good for ‘big’ kids too – some adults collect them!
Kimberly B says
Can’t wait for my granddaughter to be old enough for Barbie’s! Will give me a reason to start collecting!
loriag says
Great gift ideas that are sure to please this year.
kristen visser says
my daughter would love that car race track too cool!
Nicole M says
Tones of fun toys. This would be great for my kids.
Stephanie LaPlante says
I love Mattel toys! Great gift ideas.
Chandra Christine O'Connor says
I still like playing Barbie with my nieces
Doris Calvert says
I love Barbie, brings back a ton of memories for me as a child 🙂
Swapandeep says
nice
Karen B says
Mattel offers great choices of toy’s for both boy’s and girl’s that my problem becomes what to choose!
Tiffany Rotulo says
I love the new holiday Barbie that comes out every year
Jeff Skidmore says
Thanks for the great idea! Will make shopping for the grandkids easier!
nicolthepickle says
The Holiday Barbie would be so well played with in my house.
Cheryl says
I love Matel toys!!! And with 3 little kiddies there are tons in this house for sure !! 🙂
Sherry K says
Lots of great ideas for my nieces and nephew.
Melinda L. says
Mattel always comes out with the most awesome gift ideas for kids around Christmas. I know exactly what a certain little boy is getting this year 🙂
kathy downey says
The kids here loves cars
kristy e says
love the holiday barbie
Holly Wright says
Big fan of Matel toys, thanks so much my nieces would love that Barbie!
Karla Sceviour says
Great brand for kids,,both boys and girls!
Erika Belanger says
My daughter would LOVE any of those Barbie toys! My son also loves Thomas or anything to do with hot wheels! He wants so many things this year lol
Rebby says
Mattel is a classic brand with always fabulous toys, these are no different!
Elaine Buonsante says
I think my little granddaughter would really like the Fisher-Price® Laugh & Learn® Smart Stages™ Chair.
Lori JB says
They really do have anything that you could ever want. Such great selection to choose from.
jay n says
I wish I were Barbie…and not just for the nice boobies.
Krista M says
Mattel has always been a solid brand for decades featuring awesome toys, from Cabbage Patch Kids to Polly Pocket, everything Fisher-Price, & more. I grew up with Mattel, & my kids are now too. But Barbie takes the cake for sure.. I loved her, my daughter loves her.. the Holiday Barbie is gorgeous!
Lesley E says
I love barbies! And hotwheels! 🙂
Lori Jackson says
Great post! I spend money and continue to spend money on all these brands!
Maria McLachlan says
My toddler will be turning 2 in April. I’m sure it won’t be long before hes into hot wheel cars like older brother was.
Florence C says
My granddaughter loves Barbie and the Monster High dolls
Peter H says
Just a contest entry hoop to jump through.
Judy Cowan says
These are all great toys, love the Barbie Camper!
Amy Lovell says
They have some awesome toys on there! That holiday barbie is awesome! Even I would love to get that!
Carmen says
I have also liked Mattel toys, and I remember since being a child I already liked the brand. It is a brand that has been in the market for a long time and this gives also peace of mind regarding harmful toys for children.
Carmen says
I have “always” liked Matter toys 🙂
l p says
this brings back such wonderful memories – thanks Mattel and Kat.
nikki robak says
got both barbie and hot wheels for my grandchildren for Christmas
Cairine says
Amazing isn’t it that little girls still love Barbie!
Kiersten says
great ideas for my lil cousins!
Linda Tupper says
Great gift ideas from Matell.