| 12 must-have holiday toys |
| By Leslie
Hunt • Bankrate.com |
|
A walk through any retail store will remind you that
the holidays are approaching. From the in-your-face displays of
plastic evergreens to the strings of lights and aisles of tinsel
and glittery ornaments -- no one escapes the explosion of red and
green. The merchant Santas have packed their sleighs with presents,
decorations and holiday food.
Taking their example, it's time you prepared for the holidays -- by deciding on what to buy for the children on your gift list.
We spoke with Reyne Rice, a toy trends specialist and spokeswoman for the Toy Industry Association to find out what the hot picks are this holiday season and what toy givers should consider when shopping for little ones.
When it comes to buying toys -- any toys, but especially popular items -- here's some evergreen shopping advice.
Buy early
Don't be last in line -- you might miss a chance to buy a favorite
toy. "With Christmas and the first day of Hanukkah falling on the
same day this year, waiting too long will mean twice as many gift
givers crowding stores in a limited window of time," says Rice.
As soon as you've determined what to buy, sooner is better than later. Waiting too long limits your selection of colors, better prices, special features and even the products themselves.
Jumping on the toy bandwagon
"For girls, personalization is a big trend, and craft kits that
allow kids to explore their inner artist are often winners," Rice
says. Dolls are also hot picks. For boys, action figures and radio-controlled
vehicles are good bets. "Ask your favorite car enthusiast to assist
you in shopping for these radio-controlled vehicles, and you will
be likely to choose a winner."
For "tweens" and teens, the youth electronics category is hot, says Rice. Since these electronics mimic their adult counterparts, they are more affordable for parents. MP3 players, digital cameras, music devices and entertainment playing devices are all popular options. As alternatives to video games, sports games and plug-n-play games are affordable as well.
Before the final sale
Nothing is more wasteful than buying a toy a child is too young
or old to play with. "Always check the age grading on the packaging
to ensure that the product is appropriate for the age of the recipient."
Also check to see if batteries are included, she says. "Buy them when you purchase the toy, to ensure that the child can play with the toy immediately after opening it." If assembly is required, be sure you have all the necessary tools to assemble it -- and don't wait until the day before to do so.
Whether the child in mind likes to take pictures,
practice karate, play pretend, play video games or construct toy
cities, this year's "it" list features a toy for just about every
tike. From Furby to Fly Wheels, from iDog to iZ, this "it" list
has them covered. Without further ado, we present this year's hot
toy list from Toy
Wishes, a magazine for parents.
-
iZ from Zizzle: The tri-legged creature moves to the music
from your CD player, PC, MP3 or iPod. Can stand on one leg, move
eyes and pulse horn. Designed for children ages 5 and up. Retails
for $34 at kbtoys.com.
- Black Belts Karate Home
Studio from Spinmaster: The 30-minute video comes with
a training mat, inflatable bag and step-by-step karate instructions.
Ages 3 and up. $25 on target.com.
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