YES, WE KNOW it’s only November – but as any parent will tell you, Christmas is a serious business.
To help you dodge the minefield of gift-buying and avoid, um, “scenes”, around the Christmas tree this 25 December, the Toy Show Experience has predicted the top ten toys for this year.
10. Monopoly Electronic Banking: Irish Edition
The perennial favourite is still tipped to be in demand this Christmas, despite the property downturn – with the new electronic version doing away with paper money and mimicking our modern love of plastic instead.
The Irish version of the game has been updated to include changes in Dublin’s landscape, and now features The Convention Centre Dublin and uses the RDS as the point of ‘GO’. What’s more, it’s manufactured in Waterford – so you can support Irish workers as you force friends and family into destitution. Hurrah!
Video shows non-Irish edition
Video by PASSGOMOMOPOLY via YouTube
9. Bop IT! XT
Test your speed and co-ordination with the well-known Bop IT! series. The concept remains the same in the latest version – players are instructed to pull, twist, flick, spin the game – and will now also be challenged to “shake it” (note to parents: this is not an invitation to dance).
Video by argoscouk via YouTube
8. Kidizoom Twist
Have a budding David Bailey on your hands? Embrace your little photographer’s talents with this chunky, robust snapper.
The best thing about it? It keeps curious, chocolate-covered fingers away from your camera.
Video by netnaja23 via YouTube
7. Baby Annabell Function Doll
The Baby Annabell doll has been on the top ten Christmas list for almost ten years now – proving to be a real hit with little girls who just can’t seem to get enough of feeding, burping and soothing a screaming baby.
Video by DuncansToyAdverts via YouTube
6. Let’s Rock Elmo
Elmo loves you… Elmo also loves to rock.
Video by playskool via YouTube
5. Sylvanian Families
Even if it makes us old fogies, we have to admit it’s comforting to see that the wholesome, idyllic world of Sylvanian families is still loved by children. The Friesian cow family, the dalmation family, the hamster family, and the golden Labrador babies are marked as particularly in demand this year.
Video by CalicoCrittersReview via YouTube
4. Monster High Dolls
Definitely the coolest ghouls in school, Monster High Dolls include such characters as Draculaura, Clawdeen Wolf, Frankie Stein, Lagoona Blue, Ghoulia Yelps, Cleo de Nile, and Holt Hyde. Not just for Hallowe’en.
Video by worldstoys via YouTube
3. Lego Police Station
An all-time classic, Lego will never go out of fashion. This 597-piece set includes a helicopter, motorcycle, police van, five officers, two police dogs, and two baddies. Awesome.
Video by ipodnazar via YouTube
2. Transformers Ultimate Optimus Prime
If you don’t know it already, Optimus Prime is a badass. Ultimate Optimus Prime makes short work of his enemies with blasting battle sounds, glowing weapon lights, and dramatic launching missiles. Popular with children everywhere… as well as more adults than is strictly reasonable.
Video by transformers via YouTube
1. Fijit Friends
Tipped to be the number one selling toy this Christmas, Fijit Friends are little dancing robots that can speak over 100 phrases and respond to music. They all have soft, tactile skin as well as their own personality and colour. Apparently they also tell jokes… but, unfortunately, we can’t testify to their drollness.
Video by OfficialFijitFriends via YouTube
The Toy Show Experience will allow children of all ages to play with thousands
of toys, games, dolls, action figures, bicycles, hi-tech gaming and gadgets, educational toys, musical
instruments, sports equipment, soft-toys, books and craft sets in the Dublin Convention Centre from From Friday 4th to Sunday 6th November 2011.
The Toy Show Experience will allow children of all ages to play with thousandsof toys in the Dublin Convention Centre from From Friday 4th to Sunday 6th November 2011.
