TOYS

Most retail and grocery stores are closed for the holiday, but pharmacies like Walgreens and CVS are keeping their doors open for people who have waited until the last minute to shop.

Make sure the most wonderful time of the year isn’t the most dangerous one. Moms and dads will spend an average of 300 dollars on their kids’ toys this holiday season but before you buy, make sure the toys are safe. According to the US consumer product safety commission, emergency rooms treated over 224 thousand toy-related injuries last year.

This article gives details of the latest products you may have in your home that federal regulators say are not safe.

We are always looking for “Ways 2 Save” you money, especially during this holiday season. While your kids are making their holiday wish lists, you might want to check them twice for some of these “hot” resell toys. And if you need cash now, time to go through the toy box, because these are also the items you can sell fast.

Black Friday isn't until Nov. 25, but the early Black Friday deals have already begun. Keep track of them all here.

Before the museum opens, learn about 5 classic toys & games you will see in display

A Katy fourth-grader and his mother have started auctioning off toys he’s outgrown in effort to raise money for people in Ukraine.

“My sales policy is not to collect a single penny," said Mike Sullivan. "Everything we make is given away.”

Houston parents are starting to feel the struggle when it comes to buying their kids’ favorite toys this holiday season, and one report says many counterfeit or recalled toys have already made it to their shopping carts.

With many parents concerned about the supply chain crisis, holiday shopping will start earlier than usual this year!

In honor of Hispanic Heritage Month, Mattel and Barbie adds two unique “role model” dolls to their collection.

This year marks the 65th anniversary of Play-Doh being introduced, and Thursday is National Play-Doh Day.

Fidget toys aren’t just the latest rage on TikTok, they are also a way great tool to reduce stress and anxiety in kids.

Cardi B is taking over the doll business. She dropped the announcement on her Instagram and during Today 3rd Hour on Friday that she is making her own doll for girls. During her appearance on Today 3rd Hour on Friday, Cardi B explained she always bought a doll for Kulture, her 2-year-old daughter and admitted that some of the dolls were “too expensive.”“I’ve never seen a doll look like me, or a doll that represents me,” she said during the interview. Cardi B also said on Instagram she plans to create more dolls. The doll was available for pre-orders on Real Women Are’s website for a limited time.

PAWTUCKET, Rhode Island – How would your kids like to be toy testers? You can sign them up at Hasbro’s FunLab here. The FunLab is Hasbro’s in-house Toy and Game testing research facility, located within Hasbro headquarters in Pawtucket, Rhode Island. Testers normally have to go to a testing site to participate, but because of the pandemic, the program is virtual. The studies in this program are one-time tests and are scheduled anywhere from one day to one week in advance.

HOUSTON – Maya Angelou, activist and author of books such as “I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings,” is the latest addition to Barbie’s “Inspiring Women” collection. According to Mattel, the doll pays tribute to Angelou for her numerous honorary doctorates. Pictures shared by Mattel showed the doll holding a replica of her autobiography, while wearing a head wrap and floor-length dress. Mattel said in a blog post Thursday Angelou is the 10th honoree for Barbie’s “Inspiring Women” collection, which includes previous honorees Ella Fitzgerald, Sally Ride and Rosa Parks. The doll is now up for preorder with a price of $29.99 and will be released after Feb. 8.

HOUSTON – From Cabbage Patch Kids to Transformers, if you or your children saved any of your old toys, you may be sitting on a small fortune. The owner of a Houston vintage toy store says business is booming during the pandemic, with customers trading in their childhood treasures for cash every day. “Anything, I would say, from 2000 to now,” answered Daniel Blackbird, owner of Misfit Toys in Montrose, the Heights and West Houston. “Those toys are becoming very popular again.”He lists these five brands as the “holy grail” of toys:TransformersThundercatsTeenage Mutant Ninja TurtlesStar WarsGI JoeHow much can you make from your old toys? He says the most valuable vintage toys are still in the box, in excellent condition, but most of the collectibles he buys are good quality without the box.

HOUSTON – A brand new Lego store is opening in Willowbrook Mall. To help spread the word, the Lego truck is trolling around Houston giving away free Lego mini build kits. The truck dispenses the kits contact-free. After kids build their free kit, they can take it to the new Willowbrook Lego store to get another free surprise. Here is where you can find the Lego truck this week:Wed, Oct. 7, 20202:30 p.m. - 4:30 p.m.Houston Heights Fire Station107 W 12th StreetHouston Texas 77008Friday, Oct. 9, 20202:30 p.m. - 4:30 p.m.Houston Heights Fire Station107 W 12th StreetHouston Texas 770085 p.m. - 7 p.m.City Centre Plaza800 Town & Country BlvdHouston, TX 77024

Barbie lovers, you might want to add this to your growing collection. The second edition of a collectible Da de Muertos doll that celebrates a time-honored Mexican tradition of honoring loved ones who have passed away. The doll was designed by Mexican-American doll designer Javier Meabe, who also designed the first Da de Muertos doll and the Jurassic Park Claire doll. Meabe said he made sure to stay true to the tradition by adding elements associated with the holiday, such as marigold flowers, the skeletal elements and the traditional calavera design. The doll comes with a Certificate of Authenticity and is priced at $75.

The virtual pet that was so popular in the 90s is coming to North America again in July, with a new product called Tamagotchi On Wonder Garden. Unlike the original Tamagotchi, the new one can go outside its house, celebrate your birthday with colorful balloons and a festive tune, and even travel to different lands. Parent company Bandai America first unveiled Tamagotchi On products in North America last year. The original Tamagotchi was reintroduced in North America in 2018, followed by a more modernized product in 2019. While the Tamagotchi brand has had regular launches in Japan, only a handful of those products have come to North America.

Many of the brands that spoke to CNN told us they can't afford not to sell their products on Amazon. The product CNN bought was listed by a seller called Strolex and shipped from China. Amazon told CNN safety was a top priority, but also that sellers are responsible for meeting Amazon's "high bar" for the quality of products. According to Amazon, "brands in Brand Registry on average are finding and reporting 99% fewer suspected infringements than before the launch of Brand Registry." She believes in cases where a genuine manufacturer is being besieged by counterfeits, Amazon should move a lot faster.

There's a rapidly growing market for toys, games and apps designed to get kids excited about science, tech, engineering and math -- skills that could really pay off later in life.