The festive season is such an exciting but expensive time, especially for those of us with children. With children being bombarded by advertising on TV and the printed media, it is no easy task to sort the wheat from the chaff and to spend our hard earned money wisely.
Many of the UK’s leading toy shops are members of the British Toy Retailers Association, representing over 150 companies responsible for selling over 90% of the toys sold in the UK. It is an independent body based on 50 years experience and it acts as the retailer’s voice and spokesman to take into account what customers are requesting, what children find exciting and keeping an eye on the latest trend in new products. Each year, after the major toy fairs where all the latest products are shown to the toy trade for the first time, they print a list of what they found to be exciting and what they forsee as the top selling toys the following Christmas.
In days long gone the highest of high-tech was a Triang electric train set. Nowadays there are truly incredible toys such as life-sized puppy dogs that respond to your every word, dolls that drink, sleep, eat, cry and even pee !! and a complete host of electronic toys which range from voice changing masks to games consoles to strange little gadgets that detect weird mutants floating around the ether.
Let’s take a look at three toys from this year’s British Toy Retailers Association award winners and we just have to begin with that loveable puppy. It’s made by FurReal and named “Biscuit – My Lovin’ Pup“. It certainly isn’t cheap at £119.95, but this amazing life-sized Golden Retriever puppy obeys your spoken commands. He sits, lays down, gives you his paw and has umpteen sensors that know when you’re touching him so that he can make little puppy yelps and barks whilst wagging his tail. Leave him undisturbed for a few minutes and he nods off and begins to snore.
It’s time to move from cute and lovable to high-tech, sci-fi and completely weird. The Catcha Beast is a hand held electronic toy that detects invisible beings that inhabit the air that we live and breathe. Once found, the monster has to be wound into the machine. It’s pretty to explain, so I’d advise that click the link and watch the video of the toy being used. The Catcha Beast retails at £17.95.
Let’s finish with something priced midway between the two earlier toys. Elmo Live is a much loved character from Sesame Street and costs £59.95. He’s another amazing creation with the ability to sit on a chair telling stories whilst crossing and uncrossing his legs or waving is arms around as he sings a song. He isn’t voice controlled like Biscuit the dog, but he has a number of actions as you squeeze his foot, tummy, back or nose.
So there we have it. Three of the toys voted as the best of the year by the toy industry. Check out our top toy website for a selection of other fine gifts.
Tags: best 2008 toys | christmas gifts | christmas presents | gift | gifts | gifts for christmas | gifts for xmas | leading toys for 2008 | toy | toys
