Pre-School

Best Toys 2022: From Fun to Educational, Here are the Top Toys of the Year

Ring the bells, the list is out! These 13 toys are deemed the best of the best toys for 2022. We’ve got toys for all ages and stages too and featuring some of the most popular characters on the planet – PAW Patrol, CoComelon, Gabby’s Dollhouse as well as Minecraft and Jurassic World for the older kids.

We’ve also got the best toys for educational and creative play including wooden playhouses and games, Montessori-inspired toys, DIY and craft kits and hugely-popular magnetic tiles – these are a family favourite in our household right now! 

Join Mum Central as we check out the best toys 2022 – ideal for birthday gifts, Christmas presents, or any other special occasion where your little one deserves an extra special surprise.


Best Toys 2022 – 13 Great Gifts for all Ages 

Riababy Wooden Ultimate Climbing Playhouse

Price: $799.95
Where to buy: RiaBaby
Best for: Ages 1-8

Wooden Ultimate Climbing Playhouse RiaBaby
Source: RiaBaby

If you’re after a kids’ play gym that doesn’t compromise on style or quality, you can’t go past this incredible Wooden Ultimate Climbing Playhouse from RiaBaby. Designed for hours of indoor play, the play gym package comes with a rock climbing wall, a swing-soft ladder, monkey bars, a slide and a play table. Perfect for busy children and strong enough for multiple kids to play together, this is the ultimate play gym for unlimited fun. 

Originally designed in Melbourne, using A-grade solid wood (Beech/Pinewood), the playhouse is built tough but also very compact. There’s no paint or oil so no harsh chemicals and meets all toy safety standards. 

The play gym will unlock hours of active and pretend play, improve hand-eye coordination and provide unlimited joy for little ones. We also love how the boards are interchangeable to create different pathways to explore.

There are heaps of great accessories to add to the play gym too – a gorgeous hammock, swing or how about a glamping tent to transform the play gym into a cubby? There’s also a magnetic/chalkboard and even a Duplo base plate. Adult assembly and supervision are required at all times. 

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Gabby’s Dollhouse: Gabbys Purr-fect Dollhouse

Price: $99
Where to buy: Casey’s Toys
Best for: Ages 3+

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Source: Casey’s Toys

If your child is a fan of the hugely popular Gabby’s Dollhouse Show on Netflix, then give them the gift of joining Gabby’s world with their very own Purrfect Dollhouse! We know this is going to be a huge seller throughout the year. 

The cat-inspired dollhouse stands 2 feet tall and comes with 15 accessories including a Gabby figurine and a Pandy Paws figurine. Plus there are 8 pieces of furniture, 2 Dollhouse deliveries and three stories of fun to explore!

The dollhouse has plenty of space for play and even comes with the Dollhouse Delivery Tower like in the show. Find the surprise QR code inside one of the deliveries to unlock a reward in the free Gabby’s Dollhouse App (available now on iOS & Android). For even more interactive and imaginative fun, there’s also a button on the front to hear songs, sounds and phrases from the show.

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CONNETIX 120 Piece Pastel Creative Pack

Price: $199
Where to buy: CONNETIX
Best for: Ages 3+ 

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Source: CONNETIX

If you haven’t discovered the creative magic that magnetic tiles bring to the table,  now’s definitely the time to give them a try! The CONNETIX Pastel Creative Pack features a variety of shapes in 8 pastel colours, designed to inspire all sorts of play. Build castles, houses, rocket ships, bridges, cities, mandalas, flowers, vehicles, boats … anything their imagination desires.

That’s the beauty of CONNETIX Magnetic Tiles. They provide hours and hours of open-ended creative play for years to come and develop all sorts of important skills including fine and gross motor skills, independence, resilience, problem-solving and more!

CONNETIX Pastel Tiles are STEAM certified toys and come with a unique beveled design for stronger tiles. Durable, non-toxic and suitable for children 3+, you’ll know exactly why this product makes the best toys 2022 list as soon as you unpack them!

Trust us, kids of all ages and stages love these! Both my three-year-old and nine-year-old play with them for hours and hours. And truth be told, so do I. 

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CoComelon Bath Products 

Price: Starting at $8
Where to buy: Target 
Best for: Ages 3+ 

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Source: Hunter Leisure

CoComelon continues to make the best toys list year after year but this year, we’re thinking outside the toy box and bringing you something extra splashy!

It’s a CoComelon Cup and Book Set! Transform your bathtub into a CoComelon-inspired castle and prepare for bathtime fun night after night. Featuring matching bath cups and a waterproof book featuring JJ’s fave nursery rhymes, we have no doubt bathtime will take on a whole new level of fun!

Also available are the waterproof storage bag and bath stickers – YES stickers – for the bath! How clever – and unlike bath crayons, clean! If your little one loves JJ, YoYo, TomTom and the rest of the CoComelon crew, then they will love-love this! 

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Montessori Wooden Bus 

Price: $39.99
Where to buy: Gray Learning
Best for: Ages 3+ 

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Source: Gray Learning

Gray Learning’s Montessori Wooden Bus is another amazing new product that inspires little minds. We’ve never seen anything quite like this – a bus that doubles as a toolbox for pre-schoolers. As we all know, pre-schoolers love to “do it themselves” and this toy lets them do exactly that. 

The Montessori Wooden Bus provides your little one with their very own project that encourages the right amount of complexity for growing minds. It supports the development of hand-eye coordination, dexterity, and concentration. And yes, the wheels are functional.

Packaged in a box that keeps all the bits and pieces nicely secured and ready to be explored, this is one of the best toys of 2022 for little hands and growing minds. We love it! 

This toy contains small parts that may present a choking hazard. We suggest that ONLY children over the age of 3 years old play with this toy under adult supervision.

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PAW Patrol True Metal Launch N’ Hauler

Price: $59.99
Where to buy: Myer 
Best for: Ages 3+

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Source: Spin Master

We really couldn’t have a ‘best toys 2022’ list and NOT feature PAW Patrol! Kids still adore these rescue pups this year’s pick is the PAW Patrol True Metal Launch N’ Hauler. 

The large vehicle opens up, transforming into an action-packed track set for the PAW Patrols True Metal vehicles. The PAW Patrol True Metal Launch N’ Hauler comes with ONE Robodog die-cast vehicle but there are heaps more to collect (sold separately). 

There’s enough room inside for seven collectible vehicles and it’s easy to load up and roll into exciting rescue missions around the house or backyard. Little ones will also discover three rescue missions inside – there’s a fire that needs to be put out; a bear is trapped under a fallen rock and Robodog needs a tune-up.

The best toy for any PAW Patrol fan, this classic PAW Patroller will launch their imaginations and provide hours of rescue mission adventure. 

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Koala Walla Bing Bang 

Price: $34.99 
Where to buy: UGames
Best for: Ages 3+

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Source: Ugames

The best toy for little kids who love to laugh is this adorable and hilarious game, featuring the loveable koala named Wally! Your mission: help Wally climb to the top, but don’t let him drop. Work together with your pre-schooler to get Wally to the top. 

There are a few reasons we adore this game – for one, NO BATTERIES (praise be!). Two, it’s incredibly easy to play and will hold the attention of even the most energetic child. Simply roll the dice, choose an action card and see what happens. Your little one will love watching Wally climb (and fall) and this is a great way to spend some quality one-on-one time together.

It’s also made of high-quality wooden pieces which is a refreshing change from most board games pieces. Plus, Roo Games has committed to donating 5% of every Koala Walla Bing Bang game sold to the Australian Koala Foundation® (AKF). A win for you, a win for your little one, and a win for our furry friends too. 

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Minecraft Outdoor Equipment

Price: $32 skateboard, $35 helmet, $75 scooter, $179 bike
Where to buy: Big W
Best for: Ages 6+ 

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Source: Hunter Leisure

Take their Minecraft adventures outside with Minecraft Skateboard, Bike and Scooter. It’s the ultimate outdoor equipment to keep them active and off their screens.

Our top pick for the best toys 2022 has to be the Minecraft 28″ skateboard which comes with a cool Creeper design, a maple deck, fully printed grip tape and durable light-up wheels with smooth ride bearings. If your child is into skateboarding or would like to give it a go, this is a great board to get them up and running at the skate park. 

Pair the Minecraft skateboard with a Minecraft helmet with 9 air vents. Or, if your child is more into scooters or bikes, check the Minecraft Commuter Scooter or 50cm Minecraft Mountain Bike

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Batman 12” Figures

Price: $17.99
Where to buy: Big W
Best for: Ages 3+

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Source: Spin Master

Batman is predicted to be huge this year thanks to the new feature film. For a bit of Batman in your little one’s life, you really can’t go past the Batman 30cm figurines, ideal for all sorts of pretend play and superhero adventures at home or on the go. 

There are three different ones to collect, each with 11 points of articulation, a cloth cape, and detailed comic styling that brings your favourite BATMAN heroes and villains to life. These Batman figures are also durable, easy to wash and the perfect size for little arms to carry with them wherever they go. And for under $20, they make a popular gift for birthdays too. 

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So DIY Activity Tool Cases

Price: Starting at $20
Where to buy: Big W and Myer 
Best for: Ages 6+

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Source: Hunter Leisure

DIY is another massive trend of 2022, especially for kids. These two new DIY Activity Sets allow kids to create their own bath bombs and slime sets and are perfect for a rainy day and crafternoons. They are also fun activities to keep the troops entertained during sleepovers or birthday parties! And aren’t the tool cases a good idea? So easy to keep everything contained! 

The DIY Bath Bomb Tool Case comes with everything needed to make delightfully fizzy bath bombs. Each tool case includes 3 moulds, 5 bicarbonate sodium bags, 5 citric acid bags, 1 bag of decorations, 3 characters, 1 mini pipette and 1 instruction sheet. 

The DIY Slimelicious Tool Case lets kids make their own slime and comes with 5 scented slime powder packs,  5 packs of decorations, 2 reusable slime shaker containers, 1 mixing tool, 1 sticker sheet and instructions. Just add water and watch the fun unfold! 

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Jurassic World Products 

Price: Starting at just $3! 
Where to buy: Big W and Kmart 
Best for: Ages 3+

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Source: Hunter Leisure

The best toys for dino-loving kiddies has got to be these awesome Jurassic World products. Based on 2022’s biggest blockbuster hit, Jurassic World Dominion, kids will love this massive T-Rex hand puppet ($19.99) for pretend play (and scaring siblings of course).

For the crafty children out there, check out the various Jurassic World craft products. Paint the ultra-realistic 3D plasters ($15 each) and wooden standees ($3.00 each) and create your very own Dino Diorama. This is a great activity for crafty kids and starting at less than $5 too!  

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Kinetic Sand Slice ‘N Surprise 

Price: $15
Where to buy: at Kmart, Big W, Target
Best for: Ages 3+ 

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Source: Spin Master

Sensory sand has been a huge hit for several years now and Kinetic Sand is a favourite on the best toys list. The Slice ‘N Surprise kit is one of the newest Kinetic Sand surprises on the market and looks like so much fun! It comes with everything you need to press, slice, carve and mould your sand into various shapes and surprises.

It’s made with natural sand, is non-toxic and hypoallergenic, magically sticks together, and cleans up easily. Simply pack it up, keep it sealed and bring it out whenever you’re after some sensory or creative play!

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Kaleidoscope Creativity Folio Activity Sets

Price: $15
Where to buy: Big W
Best for: Ages 3+

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Source: Hunter Leisure

Another top toy for crafty kids is the Kaleidoscope Creativity Folio Activity Sets which come with everything to keep boredom at bay and inspire hours of creativity. 

There are two folio themes to choose from – Believe In Magic for Fantasy Rainbow Unicorn Fun and “Dino Time” for little Dinosaur fanatics. Each amazing folio activity set is bursting with crafty activities to keep kids busy such as 5 x colouring sheets, 4 x paint by water sheets, 4 x velvet art sheets, 6 x foam stickers, 1 x stick-a-scene with reusable stickers, 6 x washable colour markers and a paintbrush. 

Packaged neatly and perfect for gifting, this is the creative kit that keeps on giving. It will be landing in Big W soon! 

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So there you have it, 13 of the hottest toys for Christmas 2022! What tickled your fancy and what was a surprise? No matter which way you look at it, there’s something here to satisfy kids of all ages and interests.

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Avatar of Jenna Galley

Born and raised in Canada, Jenna now lives in Far North Queensland with her tribe. When the mum-of-three is not writing, you can find her floating in the pool, watching princess movies, frolicking on the beach, bouncing her baby to sleep or nagging her older kids to put on their pants.

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