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Get them while you can... The top 12 toys for Christmas

If you haven't already been lobbied for some of the items on the recently released 'hottest toys for Christmas' list, you soon will be, writes says Lisa Salmon

Harry Potter Hedwig from LEGO
Harry Potter Hedwig from LEGO Harry Potter Hedwig from LEGO

YES, it's that time of year again, mums and dads: the list of the toys set to be the most wished for this Christmas has been announced, packed with all the games and gadgets Santa is going to be inundated with requests for.

DreamToys – the Toy Retailers Association – has unveiled its annual predictions for the top 12 toys, but are urging parents – ahem, Santa – to get a move on when it comes to getting the Christmas present shop done, as the impact of the pandemic means there could be supply chain and stock issues.

“We implore consumers not to leave their Christmas shopping to the final few weeks of the year,” says Gary Grant, chair of the DreamToys selection committee. “Our advice is to shop early to avoid missing out.” After all, no-one wants to face tears come Christmas morning…

Here are the top 12 toys your little ones will be hoping to open on December 25 (in no particular order)…

1. 5 Surprise Mini Brands Mystery Capsule, Zuru, £6.99

If your kids love The Borrowers, they’ll adore these miniature collectibles – you never know what you’re going to peel back and unwrap. There are more than 100 miniatures of favourite brands to collect (look out for rare metallic and glow in the dark minis, plus super-rare gold minis) including the likes of Birds Eye Fish Fingers, Aunt Bessie’s Yorkshire Puddings, and Mentos Gum.

2. Barbie 3-in-1 DreamCamper, Mattel Toys, £79.99

The super fancy candyfloss pink DreamCamper has everything: five living spaces, a patio, a pool, a bathroom with pop-up shower, and even a rooftop bedroom. It also comes with a boat, no less, as well as a pickup truck, and lots of accessories, from fishing gear to a picnic table. Barbie is nothing if not prepared.

3. Harry Potter Hedwig, LEGO, £34.99

For ultimate Harry Potter fans, this collectible 630-piece LEGO Hedwig is a must. Once built, she has a wingspan of over 13 inches, and can even ‘fly’ (OK, she can’t actually fly) thanks to a handle that makes the jointed wings move up and down. To sweeten the deal, it comes with a detachable LEGO Harry Potter minifigure and another, smaller, Hedwig the owl toy.

4. L.O.L. Surprise! O.M.G. Remix Fashion Doll, MGA Entertainment, £39.99

For mini-fashionistas, these dolls come with 25 surprises, plus two outfits for each. Choose from R&B diva Kitty K, popstar fashionista Pop B.B., country gurl Lonestar or hip hop queen Honeylicious. Each doll has her own ‘showstopping style’ and are the big sisters to the classic L.O.L. Surprise! characters. As an added bonus, it comes with a full-size record to play on the record player packaging – which really does play music.

5. Laser Battle Hunters Vehicle, Character Options, £59.99

These radio-controlled vehicles can move forward, reverse, spin and turn at speed, and have two play modes – Multi-Player R/C Combat Mode where kids use the built-in infrared cannon and blast their opponent three times to win, or Single Player, which makes one Laser Battle Hunter a moving target for one minute. The battle is on.

6. Monopoly For Sore Losers, Hasbro, £22.99

If your family games night turns into a row over Monopoly, sore losers might actually stand a chance with this version of the classic. Players make money from the normally unpleasant elements of the game, like going straight to jail, paying rent, or even going bankrupt.

7. PAW Patrol Dino Rescue Dino Patroller, Spin Master Toys, £64.99

For smaller kids, this Dino Patroller is the first motorised PAW Patrol team vehicle, featuring room for all six pups. It’s got monster wheels, a projectile launcher (watch out!) and an exclusive Chase and T-Rex dinosaur action figure. You can press the vehicle’s badge button down to make it move, and push the tail to make the dino’s mouth roar.

8. Peppa Pig Peppa’s Shopping Centre, Character Options, £39.99

Peppa’s got her own two-storey shopping centre, from which budding shop keepers can make six different shops. You can also pop Peppa in a lift that goes up and down. There’s also a working microphone, sound effects and lots of fun accessories, as well as a Peppa pig figure.

9. Pokemon Carry Case Playset, Character Options, £39.99

Kids can re-enact Pokémon battles and explore the Pokémon world with this playset, which is scaled for any two inch Pokémon figure and features a bounding boulder trap, treetop trap door, battle arena complete with launch pads, secret caves, a spinning whirlpool, treetop platform lookout spots, and a shaking bridge – which all folds up into a handy backpack.

10. Present Pets, Spin Master Toys, £54.99

These cute and cuddly interactive pets can create more than 100 sounds and actions, and have two themes. With one of two possible pets in every box, children won’t know who’s inside until they unbox them.

11. Star Wars The Mandalorian – The Child “Baby Yoda”, Mattel Toys, £29.99

Inspired by the Disney+ series The Mandalorian, this really quite adorable green skinned figure with big ears and large eyes resembles a baby Yoda, but is actually named The Child. The soft-bodied toy has a sturdy base filled with beans, so it can be cuddled or displayed.

12. Super Mario Adventures With Mario Starter Course, LEGO, £49.99

Featuring a LEGO Mario figure that gives instant expressive responses via LCD screens and a speaker, players earn virtual coins moving LEGO Mario from the Start Pipe to the Goal Pole via spinning and cloud platforms. Bricks can be rearranged to create new levels to master, it has zoom and rotate viewing tools to make building easier, and a free LEGO Super Mario app is available for enhanced play.