Take a look at the 'must-have' toys for Christmas 2022
From a simple conker or stamps from across the world, to a Hot Wheels car or Pokemon card, everyone can recall the childhood yearning to complete a collection of toys.
And this year, collectible toys are back in fashion on Christmas lists, as families seek affordable toys they can collect at their own pace.
The DreamToys list from the Toy Retailers’ Association includes a range of collectible items, from a retro Pokemon card set to new action figures such as Heroes of Goo or the Squishmallows range of plush toys.
Paul Reader, marketing director at Toymaster and a member of the selection panel for the list, described collectible toys as a “fantastic category” as it is “so diverse”.
“We are just about to kick off the World Cup and that brings in another highly desirable collectible with football stickers,” he added.
He said that the toys are also accessible to all, as families might choose just to start a collection with one item or buy a larger collection of toys.
“Everyone can participate,” he said. “You can take it as far as you want - you can start with a Pokemon trading pack or you can go right the way up to the Elite Trainer pack.”
“It does suit every price point, whatever your disposable income might be, there’s something there for everyone.” Squishmallows, for example, start at £7.99.
Collectibles seen on shelves again
Other toys that can be collected on the list, which is compiled by the Toy Retailers’ Association through asking toy companies to predict their best-selling items, as well as assessing which have been stocked by the most retailers, include the Heroes of Goo Jit Zu Goo Shifters Hero Pack, a Magic Mixies Mixlings castle playset featuring collectible figures and Rainbow High fashion dolls.
Collectibles may also be more popular now because they are more visible to children on shop shelves, whereas they could not visit toy stores with their parents during the pandemic.
“During the pandemic when people couldn’t go into stores and see the range, sales of collectibles slowed down dramatically, but since the reopening, they have come back to the front,” Mr Reader said.
“Collectibles are all about the experience of going into the toy store and seeing what’s available,” he said, giving the example of a child seeing a new range of Hot Wheels and wanting to buy them.
“Surprise and reveal” toys have also proven popular this year. The Barbie Cutie Reveal Doll comes with an animal onesie so children can discover the doll underneath, while Little Live Pets’ Mama Surprise, featuring an electronic guinea pig which can be nurtured before giving birth to three babies in her hutch, appeals to children seeking more of an interactive experience from their toys.
Amy Hill of the Toy Retailers Association said: “Surprise is more popular because technology is more interactive…things like the Magic Mixlings where you get a little wand that opens wings, or even using water to change a character’s colour.”
The Rainbow High series of fashion dolls on the list, which now feature in a popular YouTube series that has been brought to Netflix, also have a focus on inclusivity and include dolls with vitiligo and albinism.
And some toys on the list are on the quirkier side, such as the GiGi the Giraffe disco dancer, a 12-inch bright orange giraffe that shakes its bottom to three tunes, to the delight of younger family members and the possible consternation of parents.
Adults can also join in the fun - the Lego Star Wars Hoth, from the 1980 film The Empire Strikes Back, is as much for AFOLs (Adult Fans of Lego) as it is for children, the team say.
With so many figures and types of toys to collect, parents can be sure to find something special for Christmas morning to sate their budding collector’s appetite.
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