Hottest Toys for Girls: 2014

Looking for the best toys for girls? Got a girl on your Christmas or birthday list between the ages of four and twelve? If so, have you thought about what you'll get the little princess? As usual, many of the most popular toys for this year are related to movies, TV specials, and regular television series. Disney's Frozen has taken the world by storm, and it seems as if every little girl wants to be Elsa or Anna. Shows like Dora the Explorer, specials like Monster High, and movies like Twilight have sent their related products soaring!Justin Bieber is extremely popular, too. Consider online shopping - it's easy, convenient, and crowd-free! Get the best toys for girls before they become scarce.

Not all the hot toys this year are related to movies or television, however. In fact, two of the hottest girls toys, spa sets and Zoobles, don't have their own movie...yet! Another toy that's getting a lot of attention is Furry Frenzies, by FurReal Pets. And an old toy, Spirograph, is making a comeback.

Below are some of the hottest toys for girls this year:

My middle granddaughter, Audrie, received a pedicure salon set for her birthday, and she LOVES it! The one she received is the Faber Castell Pretty Pedicure Salon, and Audrie and her friends have a blast pretending they're at a real spa or salon, getting pretty feet.

The spa pedicure set comes with an inflatable tub for soaking the tootsies. Just fill it with warm water. I strongly suggest placing it on a beach towel or two to protect your floor. After soaking, the feet are dried off with the included towel, and the toe separator, also included, is popped on. Next, the file and buffer are used, and then the polish and/or nail art can be applied. All these items are included, along with soap and cute little slippers.

The suggested ages are 9-12, but Audrie and her pals are only six, and they've had no problems at all with using and enjoying this toy. For kids that young, though, it might be a good idea for Mom to get involved in the fun, too.

From the popular movies, Twilight,Twilight New Moon, and Twilight Eclipse, these dolls look just like the main characters, Bella Swan, Edward Cullen, Jacob Black, and others. These figures are sure to become collector's items! Your kids will love reinacting their favorite scenes in the movies and creating their own scenarios for these characters, enhancing their imaginations. They might just come up with a completely new script! Not recommended for young children because of small parts.

Jacob is pictured below. Amazon also offers other figures from the hiy films.

The perfect companion for any little girl or boy, My Pillow Pets are toys and pillows in one. They're super soft and cuddly, and when they get dirty, you can just toss them in the washing machine. The colors of the plush fur are soft yet vibrant. Open your pet's tummy with the easy velcro closure and your pet becomes a snuggly pillow!

My Pillow Pets are available in the following critters: unicorn, ladybug, dog, penguin, panda, dragon, dolphin, bumblebee, dinosaur, monkey, horse, pig, T-rex, butterfly, turtle, bunny rabbit, tiger, lion, cat, koala, bear, frog, and zebra. Your child's favorite animal is probably represented. If it's not, at least one creature they're fond of can be found!

What little girl doesn't love Dora? And this Dora actually dances! This doll is fifteen inches tall and comes with two outfits. When Dora wears her fiesta outfit, she dances the meringue, and when she wears her ballerina attire, she performs a ballet. Little girls will feel like dancing along with Dora the Explorer! Who knows - the lucky child who receives this might learn some new dance moves. After all, most kids learn a lot by modeling the behavior of others.

One of my granddaughters has this toy, and she loves it! It's seriously cute. Recommended for ages 3-7.

This is one of the absolutely smokin' items for this holiday season! In fact, many experts agreed that Zhu Zhu pets were among THE toys of the year for last year. Apparently, their popularity hasn't diminished. We have several of these in our family of little girls, and sometimes the boys play with them, too.This cute little furry guy scoots around and makes his own hamster "chatter." They also purr when they're petted. You can purchase habitats for the Zhu Zhu pets, too. It's a lot like having a real pet, with all the fun and interaction but none of the mess and worry. The pets are recommended for ages four and up.

Amazon carries several versions of the pets. Below is Mr. Squiggles.

You've probably seen all the great houses and tunnels for hamsters and gerbils at pet stores, right? Well, this is the same thing, only it's meant for the play pet set. This a great habitat for zhu zhu pets. Your zhu zhu hamster scurries, explores, naps, and talks.The funhouse will entertain you and your pet for hours. It has plenty of openings to add more sections, too. Believe me - this is much easier and cleaner than having a real pet hamster, and I speak from experience. This toy will entertain for hours and give your child a chance to enhance his or her nurturing skills. Amazon also has more versions and additions. Recommended for ages four and up.

This is sure to be a hit! Girls can design and make their own jewelry with these great kits. They'll have fun and use and enhance their creativity at the same time. There's no telling what kind of creations your child might come up with! She might just set a new fashion trend with her own hand-made necklaces and bracelets. My oldest granddaughter is almways making new pieces, after which she photographs them and shares them with me on Facebook. She often shares them with her friends, and sometimes she gives them as gifts for birthdays and Christmas.

Most all the jewelry-making kits are pretty simple to use, so most kids will be able to enjoy their new hobby without much help from you or from another adult. Because of small pieces, these aren't recommended for toddlers. Click the product below to see more jewelry-making kits and sets.

Zoobles are projected by many marketers to be the hottest toy of all this Christmas! Zoobles are adorable little critters that hide inside balls. When the balls roll over certain places in the Zoobles Happitat, they emerge from the ball.

Zoobles and Zoobles Happitats are for boys and girls, but I included them here because of their colors. Most of the ones I've seen are pink, purple, or pastel green - my grandaughters' favorite colors!

Zoobles have small parts, so they're recommended for ages four and up. And because of their diminutive size, they're actually pretty portable.

Mark my words: Zoobles will be hard to find by December - unless the manufacturers really increase production. Buy your Zoobles early so that the kids on your list won't be disappointed!

You can see lots more Zoobles and Zooble Happitats on Amazon, so you're sure to find one that's just right for the little girl on your shopping list.

Wow. Barbie has come a long way. This isn't like the Barbie house I had as a kid! This one has three floors and all kinds of bells and whistes, including realistic sounds like a crackling fire, a shower running, a doorbell ringing, and even a toilet flusing. The outdoor tiki lights and hot tub, along with the indoor chandelier, light up, too. The house is fully furnished, has a big screen TV, an elevator, and a fully stocked kitchen. It looks like Barbie has really made it, and your little fan can be part of all the fun and glamor. Recommended for ages 4-10.

Squinkies are adorable, squishy little pets and pals that come in their own bubble. Inside the Squinkies bubbles are also surprises! Squinkies include dogs, cats, ponies, babies, kids, and more! Buy the Squinkies their own playhouses, too. Collect all the Squinkies and keep them in a special carrying case. Kids can add to their collections by trading with friends or by getting new little critters for birthdays, Christmas, and other holidays and special occasions. My girl gang tells me you can never have too many!

Squinkies are not recommended for children under three years of age because of small parts.

These cuddly Fur Real Pets are almost like having the real thing - without the mess. These FurReal pets are interactive, and most come with accessories. My granddaughters absolutely adore their FurReal pets and have quite a collection. In fact, they always ask for more at Christmas and birthdays, even though they have living and breathing real pets at home. Your kids might enjoy having a FurReal pet that looks like their real pet. And by the way, your real dogs and cats will probably enjoy these virtual critters, as well. Our Great Danes are absolutely fascinated by them!

FurReal Pets have small parts and are not recommended for children under three.

I just purchased my first American Girl doll. My 7-year-old granddaughter told me that's all she wanted for Christmas this year. I'm sure she'll be adding other items to her list, but for now, an American Girl doll is number one with her. The one I bought looks very much like my little princess. Now her sister wants one, too, so I have to buy one that looks like her - blond hair and brown eyes.

The American Girl dolls hold their value and will usually increase in value if they're well taken care of. You can see lots more American Girl Dolls and products by clicking on the doll below.

Barbie has been making her fans happy since 1959, when Mattel introduced the first Barbie doll. In my family, we have three generations who loved playing with Barbie dolls when they were kids. There's a new Barbie in town this year. In fact, there are several. The Barbie Magical Collection, Faraway Forest, introduced its first new doll, Elf Barbie Doll. This is a beautiful doll, decked out in full forest elf regalia, including tall boots, a leather-like rustic corset top, a green velvet cloak, a walking staff, and a magic crystal. Elf Barbie wears long spiral-curled hair, forearm cuffs, and a forest crown.

Another newbie is the Barbie Entrpreneur Doll. She's dressed in a smart business suit and is ready to go to work. This doll is available in several versions, including Caucasian, Asian, African American, and Hispanic.

And don't forget about this year's Holiday Barbie! The 2014 version is dressed in a red strapless gown that has a gold underlay and a gold brocade bodice, and Barbie wears a stunning gold bibb necklace. Click on the Barbie in the following capsule to see lots more versions of Barbie and her friends!

I probably don't have to tell you that Justin Bieber is a real heartthrob for the teeny bopper group. My oldest granddaughter, Lexi, has a huge crush on the singng star, too, and she's only nine years old. This Christmas, Justin Bieber dolls will be a hot commodity. In fact, many stores and online sites are having trouble keeping them on the shelves - especially the singing Justin Bieber dolls.

Dolls are available that have the teen idol singing his biggest hits. Each doll sings a different song and is dressed in a different outfit. The doll uses batteries, so be sure to have some on hand. The Justin Bieber dolls are recommended for ages six through fifteen.

To see more Justin Bieber dolls, click on the Amazon link below!

What's up with the Forune Cookie Maker this year? Two of my granddaughters are clamoring for one, which doesn't really surprise me that much, but I was extremely surprised when my nine-year-old grandson had one as the number two item on his list! And believe me - this is a rough and tough kid who plays tackle football, loves to fish, and enjoys wrestling. There's nothing "girlie" about him! Unless he changes his mind in the next few days, I'm buying three of the Fortune Cookie makers!

This toy/appliance does look like fun, so I might even join the kids in producing a few cookies. Yes, it makes REAL fortune cookies that you can actually eat, and you can include your own messages. Best of all, the cookies bake in the microwave, so they're easy to make and bake. The toy is approved for ages four and up.

Monster High is a serious of books by Lisi Harrison, the first of which was released in 2010. Mattel soon jumped on the bandwagon and produced Monster High dolls. Because of their popularity, more Monster High products followed, including video games, stickers, playsets, bedding sets, pens, sketch books, pencils, cars, toy boxes, jewelry, posters, and more. The Monster High dolls are like Barbie or other fashion dolls with a spooky twist. You can see lots more dolls and Monster High items by clicking on the product depicted below. Dolls and toys can be purchased individually or in sets and collections.

When I was a kid back in the sixties and early seventies, Spirograph was hot. Then it sort of all but disappeared for a couple of decades. Well, now it's back! I had one of these when I was a kid, and so did all my friends. We spent hours playing with these things and making super groovy designs. Actually, I'm not sure why this toy ever went out of fashion.

In case you're not familiar with Spirograph, I'll explain how it works. The basic model includes a small circle inside a larger ring. A colored pen is inserted into the smaller circle, and the user turns the smaller piece inside the larger ring. As the smaller circle travels along the track, a design is created. Depending on how much time you spend and on how many colors you use, the designs can be pretty darn amazing!

Spirograph is lots of fun, and it helps kids learn concepts of mathematics. Recommended ages are eight years and up.

All my granddaughters are in love with the Frozen movie! Even my teenage niece walks around singing one of the songs from the film, and she's in college. There's just something about this movie that has enchanted both the young and the young at heart. Believe me - Frozen toys and accessories will be hot, hot, hot this Christmas! If you have a Frozen fan on your shoppinglist, there are several options from which you can choose. The two main characters in the movie are sisters, Elsa and Anna. You can buy the dolls, the character dresses, the backpacks, the complete playset, the castle, the musical snow wand, the shoes, the teaset, and more!

I've added just one Frozen toy below, but you can see lots more available toys by clicking the Amazon ad.