TUCSON, AZ (Tucson News Now) -
From the Cabbage Patch Dolls of decades ago to Tickle Me Elmo a few years back, there's
always one hot toy that the kids are dreaming of during the holidays.
This is the rundown of what will be
making kid's wish lists this year, along with a few tips on how to be sure you
get your hands on them!
"We
are all about princesses in our house.
We have little tiny princesses, big princesses, medium princesses," said Krystyn Hall..
But
figuring out what to buy the other kids in her life is an issue. And
that's where Toy Insider Mom Laurie Schacht saves the day. She says
ultimately, there are four hot groups to select from.
The first
is tech, no matter what the age.
"They're
swiping before they're speaking sometimes and we're really embracing it because
they're really learning the digital skills that they need for the 21st
century," she said.
For the
little guys, the Leap Pad Two is out now with a second camera and faster
processor. Meanwhile, the iPad is all the
rage for just about every other age. And now, your tech can actually turn into
the game controller. A Y-Spy helicopter is sure to be hot.
"Once
they're airborne, they can take pictures, videos and share on all their social
networks immediately," she said.
Want
something more traditional than tech? Construction toys are the second
category.
Lego is
out with a line for girls these days. There are
also chunkier versions for toddlers with littler hands. Even
angry birds is into the build-it craze.
"You're
actually building the angry bird set, just like you see on the app," she said.
Crafts
are the third category. From the huge
toy train you can color and crawl through, to the Crayola marker air brush to
the haute couture fashion design set.
"Comes
with fabric and cloth and everything they need, including mannequins and a real
working sewing machine," Schacht said.
Pop
culture rounds out the final toy category and this year, Chuggington is taking
train fans to a new level. It's over two feet high. The radio controlled Batman
car comes pre-programmed with commands. Disney's Doc McStuffins is in demand,
along with Merida and Angus her horse built for the brave. In the Alton household, Cinderella is queen.
When it
comes to buying, Schacht says start now.
"Retailers
are not overstocking, so if you see something that's really high on your
child's list, you should buy it," she said.
Something else to point out that's
different this year-some of the stores are now using QR codes, little labels
you can scan, on shelves with the toys.
This allows you to still buy a toy and
have it shipped to your home if it is sold out on the store shelves.
For a complete list of the hot toys click here: http://www.thetoyinsider.com/?page_id=5618
Copyright 2012 Tucson News Now. All rights reserved.
