Last month, I shared with you some of the super cool preschool items that Hasbro has in store for this holiday season. Today, I want to share a few of their toys geared towards girls. I'll start off with one of my favourites, the Easy-Bake Ultimate Oven. With this model, light bulbs are no longer needed. The oven comes with a baking pan, cupcake pan, pan pusher, chocolate chip cookie mix, red velvet cake mix, pink frosting mix, rainbow sugar crystals package, paper cupcake wraps and instructions/recipe booklet. I love the colour and the modern design.

Easy-Bake Ultimate Oven - Ages 8 years and up

For the younger crowd, there are a number of toys that will be sure to make it on Christmas lists. Take, for example, the line of Furreal Friends. My daughter fell in love with the Furreal Friends Gogo, My Walkin' Pup last year. She saw the cat in-store and begged me to get it for her. I told her to put it on her Christmas list since I wasn't prepared to spend that kind of money on a single toy. Luckily, Uncle Santa and his wife crossed it off for her. She loved it!

Furreal Friends Gogo, My Walkin' Pup - Ages 4 and up - ARP $69.99

At the preview event, my daughter seemed to really like the My Little Pony Pinkie Pie Learns to Walk toy but at age six, I think it's more suitable from someone younger. Little girls can “teach” her how to “walk” at the press of a button. Simply straighten out her legs and hold the button on her hand and she will start “walking” alongside her “mommy.” She will even playfully kick her legs and say fun phrases to get her “mommy’s” attention.

My Little Pony Pinkie Pie Learns to Walk - Ages 3 and up - ARP $34.99

In our loot bag, we found a Littlest Pet Shop Walkables Pet. My kids fought over who got to play with it. It's kind of like a wind-up toy only it's battery-powered and moves with the push of a button. I think they're cute but I would much rather have a wind-up version and not have to worry about batteries running out.

Littlest Pet Shop Walkables Pet - Ages 4 and up - ARP $9.99

Finally, I wanted to share that the Spirograph brand is back! This colourful, classic toy will keep children mesmerized as they make endless geographic designs. I remember having so much fun getting creative with my Spirograph when I was a kid. The new Spirograph playset is magnetic which will help to keep your piece of paper in place. This is definitely something I would consider buying as Christmas gifts this year. And not just for girls but for boys, too!

Spirograph Magnetic Playset - Ages 5 and up - ARV - $19.99

Doesn't this bring back memories?

Disclosure: I was invited to attend the Hasbro Holiday Preview Event and received some samples to help facilitate this post. All opinions expressed in this post are my own.

Earlier last month, my kids and I attended the Hasbro Holiday Preview event held at the Edelman office in downtown Toronto. It's hard to believe it's already been a year since we went to our first Hasbro preview event. The first one I felt ran very well and this year it was even better. The toys and games were spread out in three different rooms and Hasbro brought in product specialists to help show us all the neat new features that are coming out this year. And right off the bat, we were greeted by the one and only Mrs. Potato Head.


Let me tell you how much fun this event was. When else do you get to try out dozens upon dozens of the latest and greatest toys and games? I had so many questions and loved learning all about them that I cannot possibly share it all in one post. So for this first one, I'm going to focus on a few toys geared towards preschool children.

(PLAYSKOOL - Ages 2 years & up - ARP: $9.99)

Did you hear that the spud spouses have had an extreme “bake-over?” The revamped style features new legs with pants and comes complete with eleven mix and match accessories to complement these slimmer, trimmer taters. All parts and pieces are compatible with existing MR. POTATO HEAD figure bodies. I find his new feet make him a lot more sturdy than before and my kids like the new look. The one thing I noticed, however, is that the hatch at the back won't open unless you take the feet off. Here's a photo comparison of the two versions:

(PLAYSKOOL - Ages 2 years & up - ARP: $5.99)

Of all the preschool toys we played with, my kids spent a lot of time testing out the Playskool Elefun Busy Ball Popper.

(PLAYSKOOL - Ages 9 months & up - ARP: $39.99)

With unpredictable ball popping fun, this toy is sure to be hit. Drop the five colourful balls into the character’s ears, and they could pop out the trunk or roll into the belly for a giggling good time. The elephant’s trunk rotates 360 degrees so you can control the ball popping action. Features ten poppin’ droppin’ tunes. Requires four "D" batteries, not included. I can totally see this providing countless hours of fun for the wee ones. Heck, my kids loved it!


Now, if you have an Elmo fan in your house, check out Let's Rock Elmo. He comes with his very own microphone and two instruments – a tambourine and a drum set. Children can choose which instrument Elmo plays, and he magically recognizes which one it is. Kids can also play along on Elmo’s instruments since they’re perfectly sized for little hands.


Elmo also interacts with other LET’S ROCK instruments (each sold separately) such as a guitar, a keyboard or a microphone. The LET’S ROCK ELMO toy sings six rockin’ songs, 'cause Elmo likes to rock 'n roll, baby! (Requires six “AA” batteries, included.) Geared towards toddlers 18+, it's a little costly with a $79.99 price tag.

(PLAYSKOOL -Ages 18 months & up - ARP: $39.99)

The 2011 Sesame Street product line is chock-full of really fun toys for preschoolers. For example, the SESAME STREET PLAYSET features all of the major icons from the show including Hooper’s Store, 123 Stoop, Big Bird’s nest, Oscar’s can, a cute, chunky Elmo and Cookie Monster figures and a fun “slidewalk” where Oscar might pop out of his can.



One of the preschool toys that instantly caught my son's attention was the TONKA CHUCK & FRIENDS RACE ALONG CHUCK Vehicle. We have a number of the Tonka trucks and we love them for their durability. And Race Along Chuck seems just as durable. Your preschooler can play six active and fun racing games, including tag and red light/green light, with the press of the cab lights. It features working red and green lights, says over 50 upbeat phrases, and inspires preschoolers to chase along as he races. Requires four "C" batteries, included. ARP: $49.99.

(PLAYSKOOL - Ages 3 years & up - ARP: $49.99)

Finally, I wanted to feature this really neat TRANSFORMERS RESCUE BOTS FIRE STATION PRIME Playset. It was just another one of those toys that my son could have played with all morning. The set looks like a standard firehouse equipped with fire pole, ladder, and training tower, but when the call comes in, the station façade converts into OPTIMUS PRIME robot’s face, complete with lights and sounds.


Simply turn the dial to reveal all of the gear TRANSFORMERS need to save the day, and HEATWAVE THE FIRE-BOT vehicle rolls out to help the humans fight the fires. The playset also folds up for quick and easy storage and transport, which is my favourite feature. Includes HEATWAVE THE FIRE- BOT vehicle, one human fire rescue hero figure, and story book. Requires three “AAA” batteries, included. This playset is really neat but I just find it funny that your typical preschooler probably hasn't even seen the movie Transformers yet!

While I have only featured a few of the latest preschool toys set to hit store shelves this fall, you'll be happy to know that there will also be new items for Play Doh, Weebles, Alphie and Wheel Pals too. Stay tuned for the Boys Edition where I will feature some of this year's must-haves, including a really cool product line set to launch this August which your little builders are just going to LOVE!

Hasbro Toys for Girls

Disclosure: I was invited to attend the Hasbro Holiday Preview Event and received some samples to help facilitate this post. All opinions expressed in this post are my own.