Hatchimals tops the toy industry's hit list for Christmas
Will these toys sell out? Hatchimals, Snuggles, Shopkins and Hot Wheels are the Dream Toys your children will want to unwrap this Christmas, say toy industry experts
The toy industry has revealed its Dream Toys list of the children's toys they think will be hottest buy this Christmas. Here's what you need to know about the top 12 toys on their list – plus a few others they've picked out for toddlers and preschoolers, craft-lovers, animal lovers and more...
1. Hatchimals, £59.99
Age: 5+
An interactive furry friend that lives inside an egg. If you love and care for yours while it's still in its egg, it will light up and make cute sounds to tell you how it feels. One day, you'll see a pair of rainbow eyes – and that means it's ready to hatch. And then you get to teach your Hatchimal to walk, talk, dance and play games. (Be warned: many shops have already sold out of Hatchimals, so if want one, you'll need to work hard!)
2. LEGO Friends Amusement Park Roller Coaster, £89.99
Age: 8-12
A nicely sized LEGO set that has plenty of play potential once built – with a working Ferris wheel, drop tower and a rollercoaster track with 4 carriages. Comes with 4 mini figures, popcorn cart, entrance booth, and little extras including sunglasses, tickets, photographs, watermelon slices and a hot dog.
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3. Hot Wheels Ultimate Garage, £89.99
Age: 5+
A huge (72cm x 14cm x 61cm) play garage with spiral ramps, a pier, a 'chomping' shark, 2 lifts, a petrol station, a 'tune up' garage, a helipad and parking spots for 36 cars. Comes with 5 Hot Wheels vehicles and a helicopter. Requires 3 x C batteries (not included).
4. Silly Sausage, £19.99
Age: 7+
A very silly but good fun reaction game, where you listen to Silly Sausage's list of commands and then have to follow them, in the right order, before time runs out. Includes 10 different games – for 1 player or more.
5. Snuggles My Dream Puppy, £49.99
Age: 4+
A soft, furry animatronic puppy that won Gold in our 2016 MadeForMums Toy Awards. Snuggles opens and closes his eyes, yaps and pants, feeds from a bottle and falls asleep in your arms. Comes with a name badge, an 'adoption certificate', a feeding bottle and instructions. Batteries not included.
See the award-winning features of Snuggles My Dream Puppy on our MadeForMums Toys YouTube Channel
6. Shopkins Chef Club Hot Spot Kitchen, £24.99
Age: 5+
A dinky little kitchen-themed playset for Shopkins fans with microwave, oven, cupboards and 2 kitchen stools. Comes with 2 Shopkins characters and 2 recipe books (there are 18 recipe books to collect in all).
7. PAW Patrol Air Patroller, £39.99
Age: 3+
Recreate air rescue adventures from the TV show PAW Patrol, with this plane that transforms into a helicopter, and has rotating propellers, a cargo bay, lights and sounds. Comes with a Robodog pilot.
8. Nerf N-Strike Elite Hyperfire, £49.99
Age: 8+
With its 25-dart drum, this is the fastest motorised Nerf dart blaster – unleashing 5 darts per second to a distance of 27 metres. Comes with 25 Elite darts.
9. SelfieMic, £19.99
Age: 8+
A karaoke mic on a selfie stick that lets you film yourself singing along to your favourite songs – and then add special effects to make a cool pop video you can share with family and friends.
See Cadence, age 10, review the SelfieMic on our MadeForMums Toys YouTube Channel
10. LEGO Star Wars Rebel U-Wing Fighter, £69.99
Age: 8 to 14
Build your very own Rebel fighter from Star Wars: Rogue One, featuring an opening cockpit, opening side doors with pull-out stud shooters and front spring-loaded shooters. Comes with 3 blasters, 2 blaster pistols and 5 mini figures including Bistan, Jyn Erso, Cassian Andor and a Rebel Trooper.
11. Thomas & Friends Trackmaster Sky-High Bridge Jump, £99.99
Age: 3+
A big 80-piece train set with a spiral ascent (where Thomas needs a bit of help from Harold the helicopter) and a huge ramp that launches Thomas into the air. Comes with cargo hopper and waving flags.
12. Speak Out, £19.99
Age: 16+
A slapstick game for older kids and adults that involves trying to read out the words on a card while wearing a plastic mouthpiece that pushes your lips up and won't let you shut your mouth. Definitely funnier after a glass of egg nog...
OTHER TOP DREAM TOYS PICKS
For children who love dolls:
- Disney Princess Colours of the Sea Ariel, £39.99
- Trolls Hug Time Poppy, £24.99
For children who love animals:
- Beanie Boo Buddies, £11.99
- Zoomer Chimp, £119.99
For children who love action stories:
- LEGO NEXO Knights General Magmar's Siege Machine of Doom, £34.99. See this reviewed on our MadeForMums Toys YouTube Channel
- Star Wars BladeBuilders Spin-Action Lightsaber, £44.99
For children who love crafts
- Real Baking Chocolate Pen, £19.99
- Play-Doh Ice Cream Castle, £19.99
For toddlers and preschoolers
- Fisher-Price Dance & Move BeatBo, £39.99
- Toot-Toot Drivers Gold Mine Train Set, £52.99. See this reviewed on our MadeForMums Toys YouTube Channel
Read more:
Authors
Helen is author of the classic advice book Parenting for Dummies and a mum of 3. Before joining MadeForMums, she was Head of Community at Mumsnet and also the Consumer Editor of Mother & Baby.
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