The ‘dream dozen’ toys of Christmas 2009
Written by admin on November 18, 2009 – 9:15 pmIf your kids are begging for a Battle Strikers starter set orgoinggaga for a Go Go Hamster this Christmas, you’ll need to move fast because they’re flying off the shelves.
The good news for parents is that this year’s most in-demand toys all retail for less than £50.
In fact the likely bestseller, Go Go Hamsters, are on sale for just £9.99 each – if you can find them, that is.
The Toy Retailers Association has published its ‘dream dozen’, the 12 toys children are most likely to be asking Santa for this year. To see some of these toys in action, watch our video ‘Top toys for kids this Christmas’.
If you’re hunting bargains online, don’t forget to factor in delivery costs when comparing prices – it can make a big difference to what you pay.
So, where can you find these must-have toys and what are the best prices on offer? In alphabetical order, here’s our rundown of the top 12.
Bakugan Battle Pack, by Spin Master
RRP £19.99
Ages 5+
Batteries needed? No.
What is it?
“Answer the call to brawl and decide the fate of the galaxy!”
A cartoon-inspired, two-player card game involving spring-loaded marbles, precision shooting and powerful Bakugan warriors.
Two players are needed, so if you only have one child, expect to spend a baffling Christmas day fighting to morph your spheres into Bakugan battle brawlers.
Where is it?
There’s still plenty of time to find a Bakugan Battle Pack and there are some great deals to be found online and on the high street. You can pick up a starter pack for as little as £14.78 at Toys R Us, although bear in mind delivery fees if you’re ordering online.
Watch out for
There areloads of accessories for this game, including special edition figures. If your youngster gets the bug, you could end up spending far more than £20 on all the latest gadgets.
Battle Strikers starter set, byMega Brands
RRP £9.99
Ages 6+
Batteries needed? Yes, 3xAA.
What is it?
“Battle Strikers are the next generation of battling tops, putting the power to control in your hands!”
One for the boys, this game allows players to supercharge their next-generation spinning tops, launch them at each other and battle it out for spinning supremacy.
There are two different starter sets, Dragonblaze, in red, and Tsunami, in blue.
Where is it?
Because there are quite a few battle sets fighting for space under the tree this year, you shouldn’t find it too hard to pick up a Battle Striker set but some major chains are starting to sell out.
John Lewis is selling the starter kits for just £7.50.
What to watch out for
The kit contains just one launcher, striker and controller, so if you’re hoping the family can play together, you’ll need to buy another set.
Ben 10 Alien Force Kevin’s DX Action Cruiser, by Bandai
RRP £29.99
Ages 4+
Batteries needed? No.
What is it?
“Kevin Levin’s Cruiser from Ben 10: Alien Force is a cool green car which can transform into battle mode and battle the aliens with the included weapons or the included planetary powder!”
The car comes from the popular show Ben 10: Alien Force, in which teenager Ben Tennyson battles evil using the shapeshifting powers he’s accidentally gained.
His pal Kevin 11 drives a cool green car and it’s this cruiser so many kids are desperate for. It can transform from a normal car into flying battle mode.
Where is it?
So far, stocks of this toy are holding out well and it’s widely available. Some major chains are selling it for £24.99, including Toys R Us and John Lewis.
What to watch out for
Although the car comes with a Kevin Levin figure, there’s no Ben Tennyson. Since he’s the hero of the piece, most youngsters will want him too.
Bendaroos Mega Pack, by Spin Master
RRP £19.99
Ages 5+
Batteries needed? No.
What is it?
“Mega pack of 400 coloured Bendaroos, the magical flexible sticks you can twist and bend to make all sorts of creatures and shapes.”
This reusable craft kit is a no-mess, no-stain way for youngsters to get creative. The colourful strands can be rolled, folded and stuck together to create accessories and models. The kit includes templates and a cutting tool.
Where is it?
These kits are selling fast and a number of retailers have already sold out. That said, Toys R Us is stocking them for just £16.99.
What to watch out for
Although a key feature of Bendaroos is the lack of mess, they can end up covered in dust and fluff.
Go Go Hamsters, by Character Options
RRP £9.99
Ages 4+
Batteries needed? 2xAAA
What is it?
“Go Go Hamsters are an assortment of loveable, cute interactive hamsters that are the ideal substitute to the real live pets.”
There are four separate characters – Chunk, Num Nums, Pipsqueak and Mr Squiggles – each sold separately and each promising a distinct personality. They run about, squeak, talk and interact.
Essentially, this is Hamster 2.0.
Where is it?
Almost nowhere. Remember the fuss over Furby? Now imagine that but with a toy that costs just £10 – these furballs are flying off the shelves.
It’s possible to find them from some retailers, including Amazon, but many shops are limiting the number you can buy. Desperate parents turning to eBay face paying as much as £60 for a toy that normally sells for less than a tenner.
What to watch out for
Although these robot rodents don’t need cleaning out or feeding, there are a mountain of accessories available.
From the Deluxe Funhouse (£19.99) to a Hamster Car and Garage (£14.99), your Go Go Hamster runs the risk of becoming a pricey pet.
GX Racers Tightrope Terror, by Flair
RRP £22.99
Ages 5+
Batteries needed? No.
What is it?
“These gyroscopic extreme racers drive incredible speed and perform cool, never-before-seen stunts!”
GX Racers are likely to keep even the grown-ups interested as the cars race down tracks and balance effortlessly on tightropes.
Where is it?
Still available from most retailers, Toys R Us and John Lewis have these in stock for under £15, while most other shops are stocking them at £20 or less, including Argos and Woolworths.co.uk.
What to watch out for
While it is undeniably cool to watch the cars race across the tightrope, this toy set contains just one track set, rip cord, car and line walking stunt gyro.
That means if you want to create an epic track for the cars, you’ll need to buy add-ons and extensions.
Kidizoom Multimedia Digital Camera, by V-Tech
RRP £49.99
Ages 3+
Batteries needed? 4xAA
What is it?
“A fully functioning digital camera for kids, that’s easy to use and virtually indestructable.”
Available in pink or blue, the Kidizoom Multimedia Digital Camera lets your youngsters take pictures and capture footage.
It will even teach them to edit and they can upload their efforts onto the TV or PC.
Where is it?
These are a really popular present this Christmas and many parents will struggle to get their hands on one, let alone find a bargain. However, you can pay less if you hunt around – Toys R Us has them in stock for £39.99.
If you visit the moneysupermarket.com vouchers page, there’s a Tesco voucher that brings the cost down to just £32.47, although at present the store has sold out.
What to watch out for
For older kids, this is a great way to get digitally creative but younger photographers are likely to need some parental help doing anything with their pictures.
LEGO Games Minotaurus, by Lego
RRP £17.99
Ages 7+
Batteries needed? No.
What is it?
“Lead your heroes into the temple, but be careful to avoid the Minotaur, a mythical creature who lives in the temple. Place walls to block your opponents.”
A new take on the old favourite, Lego Games Minotaurus lets you build the board and then play the game.
It’s suitable for two to four players and is a fun way for the kids to entertain the grown-ups – they can build the game and you can all play it.
Where is it?
Although it is selling fast, you shouldn’t have too much trouble finding a set and at a decent price. Toys R Us has it in for less than £15.
What to watch out for
You know how you’re always losing bits of board game and Lego accessories? Well, this game has twice as many fiddly bits to go up the vacuum cleaner.
Also, as the rules of the game can change, parents should beware tantrums if it gets a bit too competitive.
Monopoly City, by Hasbro
RRP £24.99
Ages 8+
Batteries needed? 2 x AAA
What is it?
“This board game will teach your kids about what it takes to be the best property developer and the work that goes into building their dream city.”
Although most of the Monopoly spinoffs don’t come close to the original, this one just might.
In it, you compete to be successful property developers, with a choice of projects to build and the risk your opponent will erect a sewage works next to your luxury block of flats. It’s also 3-D, making the board much more engaging.
Where is it?
Not many retailers are selling this for less than the recommended price, but Argos has it in store for just £12.49 – that’s half it’s RRP.
What to watch out for
Like the original classic, it can take hours and hours to finish a game. Pre-teens may lack the stamina.
Princess Peppa’s Palace, by Character Options
RRP £39.99
Ages 3+
Batteries needed? No.
What is it?
“This amazing Palace is a home fit for Princess Peppa! Her beautiful Palace folds out to reveal a banqueting hall and many other rooms and accessories!”
Mostly popular with little girls, this is a princess-themed dolls house to go with a child’s Peppa Pig set.
The royal family figure set are sold separately, but the palace will fit any existing Peppa Pig toys.
Where is it?
It’s selling fast but mums and dads should be able to hunt one down. Amazon is stocking the palace for just £29.45 but most retailers are offering it for close to the recommended price.
What to watch out for
Although the kids might be happy with anything from the popular Peppa Pig brand, some parents have said they were disappointed at the lack of accessories in the palace.
Sylvanian Families Caravan, by Flair
RRP £44.99
Ages 4+
Batteries needed? No.
What is it?
“The Sylvanian Caravan has everything needed for staying away from home. Open up the roof and side to reveal a very well equipped kitchen area with sink, stove, drawers, cupboards and even a fold-out ironing board.”
The latest in the charming woodland animal world of the Sylvanians, this caravan is laden with more than 30 accessories.
Where is it?
Once again, although it’s selling fast, most major chains still have plenty of these. John Lewis has them for just £34.95 and Woolworths.co.uk is selling the caravan and family car for £50.
Toys R Us is offering a free family set if you spend more than £40 on the line, but it’spriced the caravanat £34.99, so you’d need to buy something else as well to benefit.
What to watch out for
Unless your Sylvanians want a static caravan, you’ll need to pick up the car as well. If this is your first Sylvanian purchase then you’ll want to pop one of the family sets under the tree too.
Transformers Movie 2 Voyagers Figures, byHasbro
RRP £22.99
Ages 5+
Batteries needed? No.
What is it?
“From the long-awaited Transformers 2: Revenge of the Fallen movie, take command of the galaxy’s finest Transformers!”
If you can remember Transformers from your own childhood, you’ll probably be impressed by these latest toys.
They are detailed, filled with gadgets and able to transform into genuinely exciting machines and spaceships.
Where are they?
So far, so good – stocks seem to be holding up. Several retailers have these for less than £20, in fact Tesco has Ironhide on offer for just £17.22.
What to watch out for
Parents buying just one of these models should do some detective work and make sure they have picked their child’s favourite Transformer – there are loads of them.
If you’re buying these for younger kids, bear in mind the film is rated a 12, so you may risk a tantrum if they want to see their toys in action.
Please note: Any prices or deals mentioned in this article were available at the time of writing.
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