A £10 dinosaur bath toy and the other most popular Christmas toys this year
A £10 dinosaur bath toy, a squishmallow and a Jiggly pet Giraffe are set to become some of the most-wanted Christmas toys this year.
If trying to track down an in-stock Magic Mixies Magical Misting Cauldron, last year’s sell-out festive must-have, is still fresh in your mind, you might want to check out this year's predictions for the toys that could top children's lists to Santa.
With the big event now less than 100 days away, Argos has unveiled the 15 toys it expects to be popular this year so parents can get ahead of the present-buying game.
As well as perennially popular classics like Barbie, Hot Wheels, and LEGO, parents are predicted to be planning some more budget buys this year, so the £10 Chad Valley Dinosaur Waterfall Bath Toy is expected to be a sell-out.
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Other spend-less options, such as the Paw Patrol Big Truck Pups, 12” plush Squishmallow and the NERF Elite 2.0 Ranger PD-5 Blaster, which all cost £18, are also likely to appeal.
“This year’s top toy list is a great mixture of classic and much-loved toys such as LEGO as well as newer brands like Squishmallows which have quickly become wish-list staples," says Fay Williams, head of toy buying at Argos.
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While there has been a move away from screen-time based presents in previous years, Christmas 2022 is expected to see a return to tech-based toys.
“It’s clear digital entertainment and some of the biggest and most loved film and TV franchises continue to have a massive influence on the most in-demand toys," Williams continues.
This year’s list sees the much-loved Harry Potter and Transformers continue to influence the most popular toys, with the Harry Potter Ministry of Magic LEGO set and the LEGO Transformers Optimus Prime figure both predicted to be must-haves.
“It’s great to see classic franchises like Harry Potter, Transformers and Pokémon continue to prove popular amongst children in 2022, alongside the newer ones with cult followings such as Bluey and Paw Patrol,” adds Williams.
And those awaiting the hotly anticipated Barbie film release next year will no doubt be adding the Barbie Cutie Reveal Snowflake Sparkle Husky to their lists this Christmas.
At the higher end of the price scale, Dreamworks’ Gabby’s Purrfect Dollhouse clocks in at £89, and is predicted to prove popular.
The most expensive item making the cut this year is the LEGO Technic McLaren Formula 1 Race Car Model Set, which retails at an extravagant £170.
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Thankfully, if that's out of budget, there are still plenty of penny-conscious picks making the cut this year.
"With the cost of living on customers’ minds, we wanted to make sure that over half of our top toys were under £50, so parents can still make this time of year special without spending beyond their means,” Williams adds.
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Argos Top Toys for Christmas 2022
1. Chad Valley Dinosaur Waterfall Bath Toy - £10
2. Paw Patrol Big Truck Pups - £18
3. Squishmallow - £18
4. NERF Elite 2.0 Ranger PD-5 Blaster - £18
5. Pokemon TCG: Tin - £19
6. Sink N’ Sand Game- £20
7. Jiggly Pets Giraffe - £30
8. Barbie Cutie Reveal Snowflake Sparkle Husky - £33
9. Fisher-Price DJ Bouncin’ Beats Musical Toy - £45
10. Hot Wheels Action Spiral Speed Crash Track Set - £65
11. Bluey S7 School Playset and Adventure Bus Bundle - £75
12. Gabby’s Purrfect Dollhouse - £89
13. LEGO Harry Potter Ministry of Magic Modular Set - £90
14. LEGO Icons Optimus Prime Transformers Robot Model Set - £160
15. LEGO Technic McLaren Formula 1 Race Car Model Set - £170
Additional reporting SWNS.