The Toy Retailers Association has announced its Christmas DreamToys list, highlighting 12 “must have” toys, heavily influenced by spin-offs from major films and TV shows.
The average price of this year’s Top 12 list is £36.
There are concerns that there will be shortages of some due to a variety of global issues caused by the pandemic, which continues to disrupt supply chains.
It has to be noted that few of the “top toys” appear to reflect huge concerns about plastic use or sustainability, despite acknowledgement of the climate crisis, particularly among the young. If you’re looking for alternatives to plastic, then head over to the Good Things site, which has a great alternative Christmas list for kids of all ages.
The biggest licences from film and TV are driving the must-have toy wish lists this Christmas – with toys based on Cocomelon, the hyper stimulating American YouTube channel and streaming media show, Star Wars, Pokemon, Jurassic World and Paw Patrol making the Top 12 Toys list, alongside perennial favourites like Barbie, Hot Wheels and L.O.L.
The Top 12 Toys list, issued by the Toy Retailers Association, is the most authoritative predictive list of what will be hot this Christmas, selected by an independent panel of retailers and industry experts.
The Top 12 Toys List
The complete Top 12 list is as follows, in alphabetical order – please note the top 12 is not selected in any particular order). All prices quoted as RRPs, market price may vary from retailer to retailer.
Barbie Dreamtopia Colour Change Mermaid
Mattel, £24.99
Bluey Family Home Playset
Moose Toys, £39.99
Cocomelon Deluxe JJ Interactive Doll
Bandai, £39.99
Gassy Gus
John Adams, £24.99
Hot Wheels Massive Loop Mayhem
Mattel, £54.99
Jurassic World Scorpios Rex
Mattel, £31.99
L.O.L. Surprise Movie Magic Doll
MGA Entertainment, £10.99
Little Live Pets My Pig Piggly
Character Options, £24.99
Magic Mixies Cauldron
Moose Toys, £69.99
Paw Patrol Chase’s Deluxe Transforming Vehicle
Spin Master Toys, £44.99
Pokemon 8” Plush Pikachu
Character Options, £13.99
Star Wars Boba Fett’s Starship
LEGO, £44.99
The Toy Retailers Association’s role is to inform and advise members on current and future legislation, as well as ethical practices in respect of toy safety, requirements under the Health and Safety Executive, consumer and employer rights. It acts as both a watchdog and persuader to ensure fair play for toy retailers and represents the toy retail sector on government panels and safety organisations in the UK and Europe.
“This year’s DreamToys list is an exciting blend of evergreen favourites and the year’s biggest brands that we believe will be the most sought after under the Christmas tree this festive season,” commented Gary Grant, chair of the DreamToys selection committee.
“Toys have played such a vital role in family life over the past two years and this Christmas will be no exception. That’s why the industry is working to overcome supply chain challenges to ensure there will be toys on shelves throughout the festive period.”
Alongside the Top 12 list, the Toy Retailers Association released a longer list of 81 toys, demonstrating the depth and quality of choice available to consumers.
Frederique Tutt, vice president – global industry expert, toys, The NPD Group commented, “Brits have continued their love affair with toys this year and sales have been strong. Compared to 2019, pre-COVID, sales are up 9% for the nine months ending September 2021. We expect the final sales quarter of the year to deliver a solid performance despite supply chain challenges.”
Commenting on shortage concerns, he said, “Toy manufacturers and retailers have planned ahead and stocked up to avoid anticipated shortages, so most toy shoppers will be able to get the items they want.
“But as we always say at the DreamToys event each November, if you know what particular toy the child in your life is dreaming of this Christmas, it is best to buy it now.”
• Good Things: The Best Sustainable Christmas Gifts for Kids | Gift Ideas by Age
Good Things seeks out inspiring ethical and sustainable gifts that support charities, empower people and protect their planet. Then we make it easy for you to find them in their online shop.
• Sustainable Toys offered by various retailers and makers through AmazonUK
• Having trouble buying that must-have toy online?
The use of bots that can buy out scarce products from online retailers faster than any human is expanding to new categories, including collectibles, according to an in-depth report from Bloomberg (subscription may be required).
Shoes, TCGs, trading cards, Star Wars Lego sets, and other hot products are among those targeted
The Top Toys Long List
The list, which also includes the Top 12 toys above, showcases what the Toy Association considers 81 of the most exciting toys available for children and families this Christmas. The toys are chosen by a panel of retailers and industry experts independent of toy manufacturers and makers.
All prices quoted as RRPs, market price may vary from retailer to retailer.
License to Thrill
Among Us 11.5cm Figures
Sinco Creations £10.99
Batman All Terrain Batmobile
Spin Master Toys £59.99
Blue’s Clues & You! Peek-A-Boo Plush
Flair Leisure Products £32.99
Bluey Family Home Playset
Moose Toys £39.99
Bluey Jumbo Plush
Moose Toys £19.99
Godzilla Monsterverse 6’’ Figure
Flair Leisure Products £10.99
Harry Potter Hogwarts Chamber of Secrets
Lego £129.99
Harry Potter Wizarding World Magical Minis Hogwarts Castle
Spin Master Toys £69.99
Hey Duggee Talking Duggee Plush
Golden Bear £16.99
John Deere Build a Johnny Tractor
Tomy £24.99
Jurassic World Pic N Push T-Rex
Tomy £19.99
Jurassic World Slash ‘N Battle Scorpios Rex Dino Escape
Mattel £31.99
Peppa Pig Adventures Family Motorhome
Hasbro £49.99
Pikachu Pokemon 8’’ Plush
Character Options £13.99
Star Wars Boba Fett’s Starship
Lego £44.99
Star Wars The Mandalorian Child Plush
Mattel £30.99
Technic McLaren Senna GTR
Lego £44.99
The Winner Takes It All
Akedo Ultimate Arcade Warriors Battle Arena
Moose Toys £29.99
Crossed Signals Electronic Game
Mattel £19.99
Gassy Gus Board Game
John Adams £23.99
Logo 2 Game
Tomy £32.99
Monopoly Cash Decoder/Crooked Cash
Hasbro £25.99
Tamagotchi Original – Flower Gingham
Bandai £15.99
Pictionary Air Harry Potter
Mattel £24.99
Super Mario Blow Up Shaky Tower
Epoch Making Toys £19.99
Play Set Go
3-in-1 Sports Centre
VTech Electronics £41.99
5 Surprise Mini Brands Convenience Store
Zuru £14.99
Barbie Day to Night Dreamhouse Playset
Mattel £309.99
Count-Along Basket & Scanner
LeapFrog £33.99
Fisher-Price Laugh & Learn 3-in-1 on the Go Camper
Mattel £74.99
Play-Doh Kitchen Creations Rising Cake Oven Bakery Playset
Hasbro £24.99
Spider-Man & His Amazing Friends Webquarters Playset
Hasbro £67.99
Super Mario 2.5’’ Bowser Castle Playset
Jakks £44.99
Sylvanian Families Baby Amusement Park
Epoch Making Toys £49.99
V&N Crazy Fun RocketShip Playset
Bandai £39.99
Zoobles Magic Mansion Transforming Playset
Spin Master Toys £29.99
Actions Stations
CoComelon Musical Yellow School Bus
Bandai £19.99
FurReal GoGo My Dancing Pup
Hasbro £59.99
Heroes of Goo Jit Zu Figures
Character Options £10.99
Hot Wheels Massive Loop Mayhem
Mattel £62.99
L.O.L. Surprise! RC Wheels
MGA Entertainment £30.99
Nerf Elite 2.0 Flipshots Flip-16 Blaster
Hasbro £39.99
Sonic Figure
Jakks Pacific £10.99
Squeakee the Interactive Balloon Dino
Character Options £79.99
Treasure X Dino Gold Dissection
Character Options £19.99
Crafty Christmas
Let’s Glow Studio
Flair Leisure Products £24.99
Magicolour
John Adams £20.99
Magic Mixies Cauldron
Moose Toys £69.99
Little Live Pets Scruff-a-Luvs Cutie Cuts
Moose Toys £29.99
Shimmer ‘n Sparkle InstaGlam On the Glo MakeUp Trolley
Character Options £79.99
Top of the Tots
Baby Annabell Little Sweet Princess
Zapf £36.99
CoComelon Musical Bedtime JJ Doll
Bandai £24.99
Cry Babies
IMC £24.99
Fisher-Price 4-in-1 Ultimate Learning Bot
Mattel £54.99
Little Live Pets My Pet Pig Piggly
Character Options £24.99
Magic Blanket Babies
Spin Master Toys £34.99
Purse Pets Fox/Leopard/Unicorn
Spin Master Toys £24.99
Toot Toot Drivers Garage
VTech Electronics £41.99
PAW Patrol PAW Patroller 2.0
Spin Master Toys £69.99
PAW Patrol Chase’s Deluxe Transforming Vehicle
Spin Master Toys £44.99
PAW Patrol Movie Ultimate City Tower
Spin Master Toys £159.99
My Best Friend
Animagic Tiki & Toko Gorillas
Vivid Toys £74.99
Barbie Dreamtopia Rainbow Magic Mermaid
Mattel £27.99
Barbie Groom ‘n Care Playset with Doll, Horse Toys
Mattel £64.99
Cats vs Pickles Jumbo Pillow Assortment
Cepia £14.99
CoComelon Deluxe JJ Interactive Doll
Bandai £39.99
Doc McStuffins Wash Your Hands Doll
Flair Leisure Products £24.99
Jiggly Pets Tan Tan the Orangutan
Character Options £24.99
Kindi Kids Poppi Pearl Bubble N Sing
Moose Toys £29.99
L.O.L. Surprise! Movie Magic Doll Assortments
MGA Entertainment £10.99
L.O.L. Surprise OMG Fashion Doll – Outrageous Millennial Girls
MGA Entertainment £32.99
Little Live Pets Gotta Go Turdle
Character Options £34.99
Miraculous LadyBug Fashion Doll
Bandai £16.99
Peek-a-Roo
Spin Master Toys £59.99
Rainbow High Fashion Winter Break Dolls
MGA Entertainment £41.99
Everybody’s Building
Aquabeads – Day on the Farm
Epoch Making Toys £24.99
City Stunt Show Truck
Lego £54.99
Space Shuttle Adventure
Lego £44.99
Friends Forest Camper Van & Sailboat
Lego £44.99
KidiZoom PrintCam
VTech Electronics £73.50
Kinetic Sand Sandisfactory Set
Spin Master Toys £19.99
• To find out more about DreamToys, consumers can head to the DreamToys Facebook page
• Full details of the list can be found here on the Toy Retailers Association web site
• Good Things: The Best Sustainable Christmas Gifts for Kids | Gift Ideas by Age
Good Things seeks out inspiring ethical and sustainable gifts that support charities, empower people and protect our planet. Then they make it easy for you to find them in their online shop
• Sustainable Toys offered by various retailers and makers through AmazonUK
The founder of downthetubes, which he established in 1998. John works as a comics and magazine editor, writer, and on promotional work for the Lakes International Comic Art Festival. He is currently editor of Star Trek Explorer, published by Titan – his third tour of duty on the title originally titled Star Trek Magazine.
Working in British comics publishing since the 1980s, his credits include editor of titles such as Doctor Who Magazine, Babylon 5 Magazine, and more. He also edited the comics anthology STRIP Magazine and edited several audio comics for ROK Comics. He has also edited several comic collections, including volumes of “Charley’s War” and “Dan Dare”.
He’s the writer of “Pilgrim: Secrets and Lies” for B7 Comics; “Crucible”, a creator-owned project with 2000AD artist Smuzz; and “Death Duty” and “Skow Dogs” with Dave Hailwood.
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