Hot Christmas Toys 2011
With Christmas fast approaching, the kids are getting their lists ready and parents are already wondering what toys will be in demand this year. If your children are 5 years or older then you have probably already experienced at least one mad dash trying to source the latest trend in toys. In the last couple of years we have seen parents frantically trying to get their hands on the last Zhu Zhu pet, or Elmo or whatever toy was on the must have list that particular year.
Christmas shopping is always a time of stress and excitement all rolled up into one. Not only are you trying to find the perfect presents but you want to get the best value for money. Nobody wants to be paying off their Christmas debts for the next months but they don’t want disappointed kids either. So the lesson learnt is buy early to avoid disappointment. So what will you be buying this year?
For the babies in the house the Go Baby Go Stride to Ride Dino is the cutest walker ever. It also changes into a scooter when your little one gets a little older. You may also want to consider either the Fisher Price Brilliant Basics Baby’s First Blocks or the Leap Frog Learn & Grove Musical Table. If you want to combine musical with cute and collectible, Sing-A-Ma-Jigs is the answer. If they love Mickey Mouse then you just have to buy Disney Dance Star Mickey. It is amazing and the cutest thing ever especially when it moon walks.
For toddlers, the babies alive bouncin babbles doll is the one to buy for little girls aged 3 and up. They will love looking after this “real” baby. Toddlers will also like the 123 Large Zoo from Playmobil as all kids love cute animal figures. If it is an educational fun toy you want for your kids have a look at Playskool Alphie.
If you want your kids to get out and about but don’t want to buy an ordinary stroller have a look at the Ladybug Smart Trike. This amazing stroller come scooter grows with your child and is great value for money.
The Ladybug theme also appears on another favorite toy this year i.e. My Pillow Pets although this particular one is selling out so fast that stores are finding it difficult to maintain stock levels. In case you haven’t yet seen the numerous adverts, these are cuddly toys with a twist as they turn into pillows for nap time. There is a whole range of animals to choose from, the difficulty will be knowing which one to choose!
Most little boys love trains and cars so Lil Zoomers Spinnin’ Sounds Speedway will be a huge hit with the babies. The cars act as rattlers and the track makes musical sounds to keep them amused for ages. For those aged four and up, the Tomica Hypercity Mega Station Set is on the hot toys for Christmas list this year as is Imaginext Big Foot the Monster.
Toy Story 3 was a huge hit in the cinemas this year so you can expect plenty of toys based on the characters being released. Woody and Jessie Dolls are popular but it is the Imaginext Toy Story 3 Imaginext Tri-County Landfill which has made the hot sellers list this year. Suitable for kids aged 3 and above, they will love using this moving toy set to recreate the scene from the films where the toys come close to being incinerated.
Leapster Explorer, the latest educational toy on offer from Leap World is proving to be a hot seller. If your child needs extra help with school subjects such as writing, math, science or music this is the toy to buy. The kids have loads of fun while learning at the same time making it the perfect combination. The recommended age range is 4 to 9 years but it will depend on the individual child.
If he is over 6 and into action toys you may want to look at the Fast Lane Wild Fire Monster Truck. This is a huge toy as it stands over a foot tall and is very realistic. Do buy a second battery though as parents are complaining that the first one only lasts 15 minutes when all the features i.e. the noises, lights and flame effects are being used.
For older boys, the NERF N-Strike Stampede ECS Blaster is huge this year. If you don’t like guns, Lego is also a best seller in particular Star Wars and Harry Potter themed ones. The Lego Harry Potter Hagrid’s Hut or Lego Hogwarts are already in the top 20 on the best seller list and rising fast. Lego Hogwarts is priced at just under $30 but will keep kids aged 8 and over amused for hours especially if they are obsessed with Harry Potter.
For the girls as you would expect, dolls and their houses are once again on the best sellers list. This year the top choice for girls aged between 3 and 8 is the Calico Critters Luxury Townhouse. You may have played with this range yourself when you were young. It was originally called the Sylvanian family and is as popular today as it was back when you were young. There is a whole range of cute little figures to collect not to mention clothes, furniture and cars to go with the new house.
If it is a doll your little one wants then the Disney Princess and Me range is the one to look at. Alternative suggestions are Best Friends Club Ink or Journey Girls. If you know a doll collector or have a little girl over the age of 6 who loves to collect sets of dolls, the Monster High Cleo DeNile and Deuce Gordon doll set should be on your shopping list. But don’t delay as these are sure to sell out before Christmas.
Traditionally Christmas is a time for board games with Qwirkle and the Settlers of Catan heavily in demand. If you want something fun but a little different then the Lego Minotaurus game is the one to buy this year. If you hate board games but love the idea of family games, Cuponk from Hasbro games is the answer. This is suitable for kids aged 5 and upwards including the adults and the great news is that there isn’t a video screen in sight! At last someone has come up with a game that really gets the creative juices flowing and involves the whole family. Alternatively Loopz is a hot favorite and for good reason. This musical version of “Simon says” is fun and funky at the same time. Definitely worth looking into.
If you have budding pop stars in the family they will love Ucreate Music by Mattel and the Multi Voice changer by Toysmith. If you buy both together you should still have change from $30. Either will provide hours of fun particularly the Ucreate music. If they have ever played air guitar or fancy themselves as a drummer, they will love any one of the Paper Jamz range.
There are so many fantastic toys on the market today. Hopefully the above has given you some ideas of which will suit your family best.