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They laugh, they fly, they respond to your cell phone.
The annual lists are in: The toy industry has named the top holiday toys.
Ranging from dolls to advanced robots,
the hot picks span the gamut of prices, from $25 up
to $250. Some toys are so popular they have disappeared
from store shelves already.
T.M.X. Elmo, the new gaming system Wii
and the Kid-Tough Digital Camera are already hard to
find, says Jim Silver, co-publisher of Toy Wishes, a
magazine for parents. Wii, which doesn't debut until
Nov. 19, already has preorders backed up. Elmo, which
he says ships every week to retailers, sells upon arrival.
Your best bet, he says, is to befriend a stockperson
or manager at a frequented retailer who knows when the
next shipment will arrive -- and then show up that day.
Or, pay a premium to someone reselling it on eBay.
If you do happen to see a toy you want
in the store, buy it, says Chris Byrne, a toys and games
consultant known as "The Toy Guy." "Don't
anticipate that it's still going to be there two weeks
from now." Parents also shouldn't wait for sales
on hot toys. Byrne doesn't expect retailers to slash
their prices this year. Hot toys drive enough traffic
by themselves without the lure of sales.
Try to secure must-have toys even if the shop doesn't have them in stock. If the store lets you pay in advance or get on a reservation list, that's always a good idea, says Byrne.
When searching out a toy, your best bet
is to check with major retailers, such as Toys "R"
Us, KB Toys, Amazon.com, Gamestop, EB Games, Wal-Mart,
Kmart and Target, for availability. While all toys and
games might not be available for purchase, the store
may offer to e-mail you when the toy becomes available
again. Ask about it or look for alert signups if you're
shopping online.
Technology still a hit
Many of the toys on the hot lists follow toy trends
popular with boys and girls alike. A continuing big
trend involves technology, according to Reyne Rice,
editor in chief of The Toy Insider. Toys such as Radica
Digi Makeover, Toy Quest's Blue Man Group instruments
and LEGO's MINDSTORMS appeal to kids who prefer toys
with stunning capabilities. On the simpler side, toys
such as Playskool's Peek 'n Play Discovery Dome and
VTech's V.Smile Baby Infant Development System encourage
parent and child interaction, another toy trend. Rice
says radio-controlled vehicles, toys tied to pop culture,
or those that enhance role-playing skills or social
emotional intelligence, are also hot this year.
Despite trends, money spent on an unwanted
toy goes right down the chimney. Make sure the little
one in mind will appreciate a hot toy before you waste
time and money tracking it down.
Should you buy a hot toy?
"The child will always give you the clues,"
says Byrne. "Look at what your child naturally
plays with." Children also make requests for toys
they want, so take note of what they like. Not that
everything they request should make it into your home.
Check out the toys and games they ask for before buying
them. Four-year-olds do ask for violent video games,
he says. If your children doesn't name any particular
toys, try watching their favorite TV shows with them
or go to the toy stores together to see which toys or
characters they gravitate toward.
If you're buying for someone else's son or daughter, know who you're buying for, says Silver. Not every girl enjoys dolls, so ask about the child's preferences first.
"The hot toy is only hot if it's right for your child," says Byrne. "If it's not, you're kind of wasting your money."
Itching for an "it" toy already?
Here's the list, broken down by age category. We compiled
our list from the toys common to at least two of the
hot toy lists published by Toy Wishes, Toys "R"
Us and The Toy Insider, a new consumer gift guide.
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| Age groups: |
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Infant to 2 years |
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These toys,
with bright colors, interactive play and surprising
features, will delight younger kids. |
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3 to 7 years |
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These toys will engage growing young ones looking for more exciting play. |
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8 years and up |
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Older kids can
still find the "magic" in holiday toys with
these technologically advanced treats. |
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