13 hot toys for the holidays
By Amy Fleitas • Bankrate.com

Not every holiday has a Cabbage-Patch-Kid-Tickle-Me-Elmo craze. But that doesn't mean one isn't on the way. So what's it going to be this year?

"That's usually a last-minute thing. Nobody knows yet," said Katie McKay, a district manager of FAO Schwarz.

Of this year's hot 13, three toys have potential to become the "it" toys of the season -- Hokey Pokey Elmo, Leapster and Barbie of Swan Lake.

These three toys are part of the Hot (Baker's) Dozen, a list of the predicted must-have toys for the season. The list is published annually by Toy Wishes, a magazine for parents. You may not have heard of the toys on this list, but your children probably have. Whether you should buy any of these toys for the special children in your life depends on a couple of factors besides cost: Is it age appropriate? Is it fun?

Before we get to the hot toys, here's how to know if your kid will like them and how to get the toys at the best price with the least hassle.

Should you hold out?
To get the best price -- and in some cases to get the toy at all -- shop early so you can compare prices. Your best bet is to start on the Web, then call the stores closest to you to check the prices. If you wait too long, your only option may be to run to the closest store and grab what you can before they are all gone.

"By Nov. 1, every new toy is on the shelf. Why do you need to wait until Dec. 1?" says Jim Silver, co-publisher of Toy Wishes.

Silver says the results may be grim if you plan to hold out, hoping for the price to drop. "You can wait for the sales. Yes, there will be toys on sale but the hot items will be gone," he predicts.

The worst deal
It's not a bargain if your child doesn't want it. So do you really need a hot toy?

"It's important to get the right toy -- but not necessarily the hot toy," says Silver. "You have to understand what your child's interests are."

Take for example 4-year-old Charles Brenner who was touring the West Palm Beach, Fla., FAO Schwartz with his mother, seeing what Santa might want to get for him.

"Sometimes I like it, sometimes I don't," said Brenner of one of this year's hot dozen: Hokey Pokey Elmo.

Brenner prefers his old standbys: Spiderman, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and Rescue Heroes.

"He loves the Rescue Heroes," said Brenner's mother, Brandy.

"I also like Spiderman cars," said Brenner, making a beeline for a Spiderman display.

Though he examined the toys on the Toy Wishes list, none of them seemed to be a big hit with Brenner except the Beyblades Remote Control Launcher ($39.95 at FAO Schwarz). But at the end of the trip, Brenner walked out of the store clutching a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Shell Cycle ($14.00) -- another toy not on the list.

Is it the right toy?
What's worse than not getting an "it" toy? Spending a lot on a toy that your child is too young to play with, says Silver.

Many parents buy toys created for children older than their child, says Silver, because most parents think their child is smarter. The toys are generally too advanced for the child to play with. An unused toy is a waste.

"There's a reason the guidelines are the way they are. Buy age-appropriate toys," he says.

You should also consider the play-value of the toy. "Will your child play with it? Will he play with it over and over?" says Silver.

Is it fun? Silver says toys with advanced technology might be interesting to adults -- but boring for kids. "If it's not fun, it's not a toy."

Buy for your kid, not yourself.

Getting a bargain
"There are great toys for $9.99 to $19.99, and there are tons of great toys for under $25," says Silver. He recommends that parents on a budget look into buying non-electronic games, such as board games and card games. There are lots of great deals, he says, noting that the lack of electronic parts makes games more affordable. Plus, games are meant for more than one, which means your dollar gets stretched over several children rather than just one.

The "it" list
Here are the Hot (Baker's) Dozen toys of the year according to Toy Wishes. Click on the toys listed below to get a description of the toy, the recommended age range and pricing.

We've listed the high and low prices we found shopping at Wal-Mart, KB Toys, Toys "R" Us and FAO Schwarz. We shopped online and in stores during the first week of November. Prices may change and may be different in stores near you. Be sure to compare prices before making a purchase.

13 hot toys for the 2003 holidays

Barbie "Cook With Me" Smart Kitchen
Barbie of Swan Lake
Beyblade Remote Control Top with Launcher
Care Bears Bedtime Lullaby Bear
BTR Transformers
Hokey Pokey Elmo
Formal Funk Super Stylin' Runway Disco
Leappad Plus Writing Learning System
Leapster Multi-media Learning System
My Little Pony Celebration Castle
McDonald's McFlurry Maker
Powertouch Learning System
Neopets Voice Activated Plushies