With Christmas well and truly over and the present buying madness left behind in 2009, it’s time to see what is in store in the toy world for 2010.
MFM headed to the Toy Fair to check out the top toys, gadgets and playthings for the year ahead. Plus we caught up with X Factor mum Stacey Solomon and her 2-year-old son Zach, witnessed a yo-yo world record, celebrated Fifi and the Flowertots 5th anniversary and toasted the new Harry Potter range of toys at Tomy.
Unveiled by the British Toy and Hobby Association (BTHA), the top new toys for 2010 include a host of characters faves (think Ben 10, Bakugan and Star Wars), as well as newcomers such as Zhu Zhu Pets and GX Skates, plus nostalgic gems with a contemporary twist like Sylvanian Families and Thomas the Tank.
With all these fab new toys to go gaga over this coming year, it's little surprise that the average family use 214 million batteries over busy present buying periods, according to new research by the Department of Environment Food and Rural Affairs. The average toy needs 3 batteries to work, equalling to a massive 38 batteries per household. Might be worth checking the kitchen cupboards before buying new ones...
Take a look through the 34 top toys, which were voted across 11 categories by a panel of expert toy retailers.
What will you be buying? Let us know below…
Action Figures and Accessories
- Bandai - Ben 10 Plumbers Communicator
- Hasbro - Iron Man II F1 Racer
- Spin Master - Bakugan New Vestroia Traps
Arts/Crafts
- Flair Leisure Products - Zubber Band Maker
- Spin Master - Moon Dough Pizza Oven
- Vivid Imaginations - Crayola Colour Wonder Magic Light Brush
Building Sets
- Lego - Atlantis: Gateway Of The Squid
Lego - City Fire Station
- Meccano - Xtreme RC
Games/Puzzles
- Drumond Park - Articulate For Life
- Imagination Games - Play That Tune
- Ravensburger - Jolly Octopus Game
For Girls
- Character Options - Zhu Zhu Pets Hair Salon
- Corinthian Marketing - Ocean In My Pocket
- Flair Leisure Products - Sylvanian Families Woodland Bus
Hobby Toys
- DKL Marketing - Hama Beads - Toy Story
- James Galt - Magic Science
- Vivid Imaginations - Klip Kitz
Plush
- Character Options - Animal Planet
- Golden Bear - Igglepiggle Cuddle Harness
- Vivid Imaginations - Animagic Newborns
Pre-School
- Golden Bear - Little Kingdom Magic Castle
- Halilit - Taf Toys Touch Playmat
- Hasbro - Chuck ‘n’ Friends Chuck’s Garage Deluxe Stunt Set
- Playmobil - Dragon Knights Castle
Role-Play
- Bandai - Armouron
- Hasbro - Star Wars General Grievous Lightsaber
- Tomy - Harry Potter Ultimate Battling Wand
Vehicles
- Flair Leisure Products - GX Skates
- Learning Curve - Thomas Early Engineers Wooden Railway
- Re: Creation - Battle Machines - Laser Combat R/C
Youth Electronics
- HTI - Hello Kitty Electronic Diary
- Hive Entertainment - Tomy GachaTronics Mario Kart Wii Light Projectors
- Tomy - Micro Pets-i
