Walmart will offer lots more toys for the holiday season, tested and approved by kid influencers. (Photo: Getty Images) The kids who demo toys on YouTube aren’t just entertaining your kids — they’re mastering skills as expert toy testers and simplifying your holiday shopping. On Thursday, Walmart unleashed its annual Top Rated by Kids list, a compilation of the hottest toys of the season, voted on by hundreds of kids and road-tested by 25 child experts, aka toy influencers: Panelists such as Ryan Secret, 7, whose stylish Instagram went viral for his resemblance to Bruno Mars; Kyle, 9, whose YouTube channel Kyle’s Toys and Games boasts more than half a million subscribers; and Ava Ryan, 8, a former Vine star whose videos include parodies like Bossy Boss Lady. Why is the kid perspective necessary? Adults usually make toy purchases based on cost, age appropriateness, and — yup — cleanup time, but a kid’s critical eye catches gender stereotypes and developmental details. For example, 11-year-old Gavster, a dancer and model, critiqued the collectible Treasure X, “It’s a surprise toy and there are not a lot of boy surprise toys, but there are many girl surprise toys. It comes with a treasure inside — and you get real treasures!” Or, as kid influencer and Harry Potter fan Clara Lukasiak, 8, of the YouTube channel Clara’s World sums up, “I’m a child and not a grown up. Parents don’t get it.” Walmart’s initiative includes a “National Play Day” on Sept. 8 at more than 1,500 locations, and in-store toy demos and Nerf and Hot Wheels toy roadshows until Nov. 1. The company will also widen its selection by 30 percent in stores and by 40 percent online. When asked to name the hottest toy in 2018, Anne Marie Kehoe, vice president of toys for Walmart U.S., tells Yahoo Lifestyle that a gold-dipped Treasure X collectible, a Paw Patrol Ultimate Fire Rescue Truck, a Fingerlings Hugs plush monkey, a Cool Maker, KumiKreator Friendship Bracelet Maker, a Hot Wheels Ultimate Garage, and a three-story wooden L.O.L. Surprise! House for dolls topped the list. “We have toys that no one expected to become that big — who knew?” Kehoe tells Yahoo Lifestyle. Story continues Here are some of Walmart’s most dynamic playthings: Lego Creator Pirate Roller Coaster 31084. (Photo: Walmart) Lego Creator Pirate Roller Coaster 31084, $88.88 (ages 9 to 14): Pirates can ride a functional rollercoaster that comes with a sunken galleon, a skull archway, a palm tree, and an octopus. Plus a splash pad to cool off when the waters get too choppy. L.O.L Surprise! House with 85+ surprises. (Photo: Walmart) L.O.L. Surprise House with 85+ surprises, $199.99 (ages 6 to 10): A wooden structure, three stories, six rooms, a working elevator, a hot tub, a pet sandbox, and a rooftop helipad are just a few of this home’s pint-sized features. When can we move in? Nerf Laser Ops Pro AlphaPoint 2-Pack. (Photo: Walmart) Nerf Laser Ops Pro AlphaPoint 2-Pack, $40.49 (ages 8+): The laser tag game has unlimited ammo with the click of a reload button and advanced players can boost their skills using the Nerf Laser Ops app. The game is tested and approved by California brothers and superhero fans Gabe & Garrett, who have attracted 1.5 million subscribers on their YouTube channel. Cool Maker, KumiKreator Friendship Bracelet Maker. (Photo: Walmart) Cool Maker, KumiKreator Friendship Bracelet Maker, $29.97 (ages 8+): Putting the classic summer camp hobby to shame, this bracelet maker, inspired by the art of Japanese Kumi bracelets, allows your kid to churn out 10 different styles using 88 spools of string and comes with a handy design booklet. Hot Wheels Ultimate Garage. (Photo: Walmart) Hot Wheels Ultimate Garage, $94 (ages 5-8): For you, it’s a place to store the hundreds of Hot Wheels cars that litter your home; for your kid, it’s a race-track rollercoaster on which cars loop and launch from a tunnel jump. There’s a fueling station, parking spots for 90 vehicles, and surprise shark attacks. Fingerlings Hugs. (Photo: Walmart) Fingerlings Hugs – Boris (Blue), $29.84 (ages 5+): Whereas Fingerlings wrap around an owner’s fingers, the super-long arms on the larger Hugs version, can actually snuggle, kiss, burp, and yep, pass gas. The monkeys talk too — just press their ear and speak, then listen as they mimic in funny voices. (Also available in Bella the Hug in pink.) Treasure X. (Photo: Walmart) Treasure X, $9.84 (ages 5+): Use a map, a coin, and a digging tool to search for gold-dipped treasure with 10 levels of mystery. Disney Princess Rapunzel Vanity. (Photo: Walmart) Disney Princess Rapunzel Vanity, $59 (ages 3+): A Tangled-inspired musical vanity station means no tiny paws in your hair products. Kids can sit on a stool facing a removable mirror while brushing or clipping their hair. Playdate Rapunzel Doll (sold separately) completes any glam squad. PJ Masks Romeo’s Lab Playset. (Photo: Walmart) PJ Masks Romeo’s Lab Playset, $39.88 (ages 3+): Villains Romeo, Luna Girl, and Night Ninja can plot revenge against the PJ Masks in this secret evil lair. Romeo’s laboratory has a light-and-sound control panel, a working crane, and a laser launcher. It includes a Romeo and Romeo’s Robot figure, plus extra tools. Harry Potter Wizard Training Wand – Lord Voldemort’s Wand. (Photo: Walmart) Harry Potter Wizard Training Wand — Lord Voldemort’s Wand, $24.88 (ages 3+): Wizard training has officially started. Kids can cast 11 different spells using a motion-detector wand with five modes of play and sound feedback. Clara approves. Read more from Yahoo Lifestyle: Follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter for nonstop inspiration delivered fresh to your feed, every day.<doc-sep>Christmas wouldn’t be the same without an abundance of toys for children to enjoy on the magical day. But which toys are set to be most popular this festive season? John Lewis has announced its top 10 toy predictions for Christmas 2018 and active toys that get kids moving and enjoying the outdoors are topping the list. This content is imported from {embed-name}. You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site. John Lewis According to the department store, this year will see high demand from parents for toys such as the augmented reality Nerf Laser, scooters and i-Top spinners. Some of the other most sought-after gifts this December are expected to be the Furreal Buzz Pet ‘Ricky The Trick Lovin’ Pup’ who responds to over 100 motions and sounds, LEGO’s DUPLO Cargo Train, the Mini Waitrose Supermarket, John Lewis Play Kitchen, GraviTrax – the new STEM track system – and the Tech Will Save Us Coder Kit. Harry Boughton, toy buyer at John Lewis said: ‘We’re seeing growing demand for toys which encourage kids to get active, whether it’s a scooter to ride to school, or playing Nerf Laser tag in the garden. Parents are telling us that they want to buy toys which encourage their children to spend less time looking at a screen, and more time playing games that get them moving. ‘I predict the pocket-sized addictive i-Top will be this year’s most popular playground toy. It’s an electronic take on the classic spinning top and displays the number of revolutions, allowing players to keep track of their scores.' John Lewis’ Top 10 Christmas toys predictions 1. i-Top, £14.99 BUY NOW from Argos 2. Nerf Laser Alpha, £29.99-£49.99 BUY NOW from John Lewis 3. John Lewis My First Scooter, £80 BUY NOW from John Lewis 4. LEGO Technics Bugatti Chiron, £329.99 BUY NOW from John Lewis 5. Ricky The Trick Lovin’ Pup – Furreal Buzz, £134.99 BUY NOW from John Lewis 6. Mini Waitrose Supermarket, £45 BUY NOW from John Lewis 7. Mini John Lewis Kitchen, £60 BUY NOW from John Lewis 8. LEGO DUPLO Cargo Train, £99.99 BUY NOW from John Lewis 9. GraviTrax, £49.99 BUY NOW from John Lewis 10. Tech Will Save Us Coder Kit, £54.99 BUY NOW from John Lewis These toys will be available in-store and online at John Lewis from Autumn 2018. Mini Waitrose Supermarket & John Lewis Play Kitchen John Lewis ‘LEGO is always a popular choice on letters to Father Christmas, and this year we expect the new LEGO DUPLO cargo train and Bugatti Chiron to be in high demand amongst parents and kids alike,' Boughton continued. ‘Among those wishing to give a gift which combines fun with learning, we think the latest STEM Tech Will Save Us Coder Kit or track system from GraviTrax which teaches children about magnetics and gravity will prove particularly popular. ‘Miniature home products continue to trend, so for parents and family members looking to encourage creativity and role play, we’ve created a Waitrose supermarket and mini wooden kitchen where little ones can pick up “ingredients” before rustling up a delicious imaginary meal in their play kitchen.’ Ricky the Trick Lovin’ Pup John Lewis Fancy seeing what Argos has predicted in their top Christmas toys for this year? Take a look in the gallery below: Katie Avis-Riordan I'm Web Writer at Country Living and House Beautiful This content is created and maintained by a third party, and imported onto this page to help users provide their email addresses. You may be able to find more information about this and similar content at piano.io<doc-sep>It's a land grab for Toys R Us market share. Walmart said Thursday it is expanding its assortment of toys by 30 percent at all brick-and-mortar locations this holiday season, and it will offer 40 percent more toys on Walmart.com. At some locations, the physical space dedicated to toys also will be larger, Walmart said Thursday at a briefing with the media in New York. In those locations, Walmart will shift space allotted for seasonal goods, like back-to-school merchandise, to toys. Walmart's goal is to "show customers the best place to shop for toys is Walmart," said Anne Marie Kehoe, the vice president of the retailer's U.S. toy business. The aggressive push comes after hundreds of Toys R Us stores were shuttered earlier this year, leaving a window for other retailers to step in and take market share. Last year, toy sales rose 1 percent to $20.7 billion from 2016, according to market researcher NPD Group. Sales in the first half of 2018 jumped 7 percent to $7.9 billion, NPD said. Many companies, including Walmart, have already laid out strategies to do just that — even companies that aren't typically known for their toy sales. Party City — not a traditional toy retailer — is opening 50 Toy City stores this holiday season, which will sit alongside its Halloween pop-up shops. The company also said it plans to permanently add more toys to its Party City locations. Kohl's, Five Below and J.C. Penney are just a few other businesses that have already said they plan to sell more toys this year. "We continue to see Amazon as the biggest share taker post-[Toys R Us]," Jefferies analyst Stephanie Wissink said in a research note. The e-commerce giant accounted for a high-teens percentage of U.S. toy sales in 2017, she said. Amazon has already jumped in, releasing its top toy list this week — 10 days earlier than it did last year. It also is expected to soon start handing out holiday toy catalogs at Whole Foods grocery stores and sending them to Prime households, marketing its expanded assortment in a way that it's never done before. Wissink also said she wouldn't be surprised to see Amazon "send catalogs to non-Prime households offering free 60 day Prime trials during Nov.-Dec.," to grow Amazon's share of the toy market further this holiday season. In March, Wissink said that Toys R Us had accounted for about 15 to 20 percent of all U.S. toy sales last year. Target has meanwhile said it plans to push more toys this holiday season. Some analysts have predicted Target will be the biggest winner following the death of Toys R Us, considering many Toys R Us stores were located close to Target stores. "We are investing in categories like toy and baby where we know we have this big opportunity ahead of us," Target CEO Brian Cornell told CNBC after the retailer reported quarterly earnings last week. "We are going to make sure we are taking more than our fair share of that market share." Kohl's also mentioned its opportunity in toys, during its earnings conference call last week. "While we're not the biggest player in toy, we have a bit of a curated assortment," Kohl's CEO Michelle Gass said. "We're bringing in two powerful brands this holiday, Lego and FAO Schwarz, so that will give us a real boost to our toy business." Back at Walmart, the company said Thursday it plans to hold more than 2,000 "retail-tainment" events in its stores this year — up from less than 500 last year — to promote new toys. On Sept. 8, Walmart will host a National Play Day in more than 1,500 of its stores to give kids the chance to play with some of its top toys for 2018. Walmart's layaway service for the holiday season will start this Friday, earlier than it did last year.<doc-sep>
When it comes to toys, tiny tykes say that hoverboards, Barbie's Dreamhouse and a Paw Patrol Fire Truck are among those that are tops. They are a few of the 40 most popular toy picks heading into fall according to Walmart, which compiled the list based on the opinions of hundreds of kids, including many who've built up a following on social media. The selection was not specifically pegged to the holiday season whose official kickoff remains at least three months away. But Walmart's announcement signaled its intention to make an aggressive play for shoppers now that Toys R Us has shuttered all of its stores, making this the first year in decades that the toy giant will not be an option for gift buyers searching for items to tuck under the tree. "We've always been a destination in the toy department,'' said Anne Marie Kehoe, vice president of toys, Walmart U.S. But "this year, we want to be there for shoppers who may be looking for an alternative to . . . Toys R Us.'' Before Toys R Us closed the last of its locations in June, Walmart had already surpassed it to become the biggest toy seller in the U.S. Now this fall, it is aiming to grab an even bigger share of the $27 billion market by enticing customers with in-store events, expanded toy aisles, a new online shopping experience and thousands of new products including more than 300 that can be bought only at Walmart. On Sept. 8, young shoppers will be able to try out toys, snap pictures and leave with giveaways as Walmart hosts a "National Play Day'' at over 1,500 Walmart locations. There will be toy demonstrations from now until Nov. 1. And Nerf and Hot Wheels will be the focus of activities at Walmart Supercenters for the next two months. The retailer is also giving budget-conscious shoppers a head start on their holiday shopping by launching its layaway program on Friday. Walmart, which has challenged e-commerce giant Amazon on fronts ranging from delivery speed to selling e-books, is using its stores to offer experiences customers can't get from a retailer that operates primarily online. And in a retail environment shaken by the fickle tastes of customers who can make a purchase at the tap of a screen, Walmart is tapping into yet another trend to woo shoppers – social media influencers. As part of Walmart's new online toy shop, 25 influencers will offer tips and reviews. And Walmart's exclusives include Ryan's World, a toy collection created by the star of YouTube's RyanToys Review, which will be available only at Walmart until the end of September. Meanwhile, Walmart's new online toy destination will offer tailored collections that make it simpler for parents to check out choices based on factors like a child's age or the brand. The toy industry has been in transition, losing major players like Toys R Us as retailers try to adjust to customer tastes that in recent years have shifted away from dolls and action figures to gadgets and digital games. Still, U.S. toy sales rose 7 percent to $7.9 billion in the first six months of this year, according to The NPD Group. And dolls, particularly Barbie and Hatchimals, and action figures – fueled by successful films such as Black Panther – saw double-digit sales spikes during the first half of the year. More Money:Walmart reportedly thinking of taking on Amazon with new video streaming service More Money:Walmart takes another jab at Amazon as it begins selling e-books for first time More Money:Who are the winners and losers after Toys R Us' fall? Walmart, Amazon and Mattel so far