FORMULA 1, dinosaurs, Stitch and a wacky human controller are among the must have toys for kids this Christmas.
LEGO Speed Champions offers kids and race fans the chance to build models of the most iconic F1 motors from the 2024 season.
Reps say the £29.99 toy boasts “authentic details” and is a more technical build for young racing fans.
Hot Wheels meanwhile has teamed up with the iconic race brand to offer a Grand Prix Circuit for £79.99.
A Matell spokeswoman said: “It caters to dual audiences. There’s an increase in kids watching but all the toy industry has seen a rise in kidults.”
An Ultimate Stitch interactive toy is set to be a hit with kids too. It has more than 100 sound and motion combinations as children can activate it in different ways to get a variety of reactions.
And dinosaur fans can have their own Jurassic pet with the Primal Hatch T-Rex for £64.99. Kids can tap the egg shell and watch as the dinosaur hatches, before looking after it by playing with and feeding it.
Richard Dixon, general manager at Spin Master, said: “The best thing about it is being able to bring something to life. You are hatching your own dinosaur.”
And fun for all the family is promised with a brand new game Interactive Human Controller. The £34.99 promises to put “trust and friendships to the test”.
One person puts on a blinding headset, while another sends simple signals such as ‘turn left’ to the headset from their phone to carry out up to 30 different mini-challenges.
They can include dancing, throwing, laying an egg like a chicken or trying to find a hidden object in the room.
Ben Croucher-Phillips, senior brand manager at TOMY Toys, said: “It’s going to be the number one game this Christmas season. There’s 30 games to play, each more ridiculous than the last.”
A remote-controlled Monster Jam RC Smash & Bash Grave Digger lets kids drive around the truck and ram it into walls and obstacles inside and outside. The truck authentically smashes up when it rams into an obstacle, before then repairing itself to do it all again.
The Toy Retailers’ Association yesterday unveiled its DreamToys List for this year, which is the most authoritative list of the must-have toys.
It features the 15 toys predicted to be most in demand this Christmas, as the market experienced six per cent growth.
Other must-haves include Dress To Impress mystery model dolls for £12.99, a Gui Gui shimmer pack for £19.99, and a LEGO One Piece of the Going merry Pirate Ship for £199.99.
A Marshmallow Madness game for £20 sees families race to eat as many marshmallows in one minute, and Mattel also have released singing Wicked dolls following the blockbuster movie for £34.99.
A Mini Brands Fill The Fridge playset is £20, an interactive doll of Peppa Pigs new sister Evie is £29.99, a Mega Evolution Elite Trainer Box of Pokemon cards is £54.99 and a Sticki Rolls Solluze handbag is £40.
Paul reader, Chairman of the DreamToys Selection Panel at the Toy Retailers Association, said: ““This year’s DreamToys list offers an exciting and diverse range of toys and games designed to spark imagination and fuel creativity.
“Whether you’re a gift-giver in need of some inspiration, or you’re simply looking for a helping hand when it comes to choosing the perfect present, the list provides a brilliant reference point for shoppers ahead of the festive season.
“After an incredible year for the toy industry, it’s reassuring to see families are back to supporting in-store shopping.
“It’s not surprising, given we only stock high-quality, safe toys and we all have experts on hand to help pick the perfect gift, but it is really great to see the support for both local, independent toy stores and larger chains at a crucial time of year.”
