A couple of years ago I never paid attention to what most websites and the media in general refer to as the top or hot toys of the year. Sometimes I'd leave my Christmas shopping till late December, and one year I was still looking for ideas on Christmas Eve!
Perhaps it’s because I use the internet more now, but over the last couple of years I’ve begun to notice more and more websites featuring the toys tipped to be the best sellers every year. Often they come from individual stores, which seems a little biased as they are hardly likely to pick toys they don’t stock.
The better lists come from the Toy Retailer Associations which seem to combine the thoughts of several leading toy shops.
The Dream List is one of the best known in the UK, and it's released in October. The 2009 Dream List featured a LEGO game, transformer action figures and a Ben 10 car. One of the other toys on the list was the Kidizoom Digital Camera, and it certainly seemed to sell very well during late November into mid December - most online stores couldn't keep up with demand.
Although this year's list is yet to be revealed it's interesting trying to predict which toys might make it, and I expect to see at least one Toy Story 3 themed toy on the list. The film has been described as being the best of the series, and many retailers seem to be featuring the range prominently on their websites.
The Toy Story range of toys includes updated versions of Operation & Buckaroo with Buzz Lightyear and Bullseye taking centre stage. There's also a few new themed LEGO sets available based on some of the more memorable scenes from the film. While I'm sure they will all sell well, there's one toy that stands out and it's the Jetpack Buzz Lightyear figure. It's a fully articulated 12-inch figure that has a retractable helmet and says a number of phrases from the film.
Jetpack Buzz Lightyear is aimed at children aged four years and older and retails for around £40, though of course the price could rise significantly as we get closer to the big day and parents get more and more desperate to get hold of one.
Here are some more toys I think will be in demand this Christmas -
Stinky The Garbage Truck
Kung Zhu Pets
Fireman Sam Deluxe Fire Station
Leapster Explorer
Sylvanian Families Bus
Armouron
Dave The Funky Monkey
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