Thanks to millions of hit on the video site YouTube, one of the unexpected big hits of Christmas 2011 has been the My Keepon. My Keepon is based on the Keepon® Pro, a research robot created by two scientists. The original Keepon was developed to study social development and autism, but when the video went viral the two scientists teamed up with toy innovators Wow! Stuff. On Ebay, in the US, Keepon has been selling for 3 times the market value. At the moment in the UK it is only available for pre-order in a number of different retailers. The company admits that it has been taken aback by the number of pre-orders and it is going to struggle to meet demand this Christmas.
Want to know the Top 10 Toys for Girls this Christmas? Well, according to the Toy Retailers Association (who have been making these lists since the 60s) the must have toys for girls this Christmas are as follows. Old favourites with a new twist such as Barbie make it into the list once more, as well as old favourites like Sylvanian Families. These are joined by brand new innovations such as the adorable Flufflings and Milky the Bunny.
Milky The Bunny is flying off the shelves this Christmas. Milky is an interactive bunny who will wiggle his feet when tickled, chew on carrots and blink his big brown eyes. You will need to be careful as Milky is scared of loud noises and will drift off to sleep after a long day of playing. It is worth noting that Milky needs AA batteries that are not included.
2. Monster High Lagoona’s Hydration Station – £38.27
Monster High Lagoona’s Hydration Station is one of the must have dolls for this Christmas. Lagoona Blue uses her Hydration Station to re-moisturise at night and it doubles as a room décor for girls. The set has 3 different modes of lights and bubbles. It is advised that this gift is for girls over the age of 6.
Barbie had to make it into this years list right? And she has with he latest playset. The Barbie Puppy Water Park. Here Barbie and her puppies can play in the water including a water slide, and ferris wheel for the puppies to ride. As with all Barbies, it should be noted that they cannot stand alone.
Disney Tangled Sing and Glow Rapunzel is another of the must have toys for this Christmas. This really is a magic doll, because when the girl brushes Rapunzels hair then she will sing he lullaby and her hair will really grow! How exciting is that for any girl?
Flufflings are incredibly cute. Mindy is the bright pink fluffling. Flufflings are interactive toys, and Mindy will bounce up and down and make lots of noise when stroked and cuddled. This toy needs 4 AA batteries that are included with the toy.
Fur Real Friends makes it into the must have toys list once again this Christmas with Cookiepie Puppy. Through voice recognition technology, Cookuepie will respond when spoken to my moving her head barking and even blinking! This is the perfect gift for dog loving children who can’t have a real one of their own.
Lalaloopsy Silly Hair Jewel Sparkles Doll is sure to be one the big seller this Christmas. Lalaloopsys hair is wild enough to curl, straighten and twist into any desired style. Laloloopsy is 33cm and comes with her own cat. This is the perfect toy for any little wanna be hairdresser.
8. My First Baby Annabell – Time to Sleep – £28.18
My First Baby Annabell once again makes it into the must have Christmas gift list with Time to Sleep. This toy is recommended for children 1 and over and the baby will make babbling noises until put on her pillow where she falls asleep.
Sylvanian Families are always one of the most wished for gifts at Christmas and they have come out with a real cracker this Christmas. The Sylvanian Families Berry Grove School. This toys is perfect for encouraging imaginative play, as the school comes with 2 floors and rooms for arts and crafts.
10. Zoobles Mama & Zoobling Nursery Playset – £24.99
Last but not least in the list is Zoobles Mama & Zoobling Nursery Playset. This playset is all about letting the child entertain twins by feeding them in highchairs, changing them in the nappy area and letting them play on the swings.
Looking for gift ideas for a pre-schooler? Well we have ten of the best Christmas gifts around this year. Making it into the list includes Fireman Sam, Mickey Mouse and Elmo among others. So if you are looking for something new and different for your toddler this year then you have come to the right place. If you are looking for something for someone a bit younger then checkout our list for babies and if you are looking some something a bit older then be sure to check out our top toys for kids.
Dance Star Mickey is one of the must have gifts for the little ones this Christmas. Mickey sings and dances and is the most anticipated toy from fisher-Price this year. Mickey is full of dance moves and he will get your children singing and dancing along in no time.
The Fireman Sam Pontypandy set is going to be a real hit this year. You child will get to save Naughty Norman when he traps his head in the railings as well as getting a cat down that has gotten stuck up a tree. The set includes Sam figure, Norman figure, cat figure, tree, railings, hose reel, ladder, fire bucket & cones and is going to be one of the top sellers this Christmas.
Like the Dance Star Mickey gift mentioned above, Let’s Rock Elmo is one of the must have Childrens gifts for this year. He sings and dances and even plays musical instruments. The set comes with a drum set and a tambourine and Elmo knows which one you give him to play. You can also buy additional musical instruments to keep the lifetime of this toy going even longer. The musical instruments are the perfect size for pre schoolers little hands.
Elefun Busy Ball Popper is a really fun gift for the little ones this Christmas. Feed the balls into the Hippo and see where he fires them! sometimes the balls are sent flying accross the room which will be great for keeping the child active. This toy is perfect for 6 months and over.
The Kidizoom Twist Camera is sure to be on many a pre-schoolers list this Christmas. This 2 megapixel camera with zoom takes videos as well as pictures and there are 5 games built in. Kids can edit and enhance the photos by adding fun graphics, borders and stickers to the image. You can also hook the camera up to your tv so your child can see the pictures they have taken on a much larger screen.
The Imaginext Batcave is a mush have toy for any little Batman fan. The set comes with 5 activation disks and well as a host of other exciting features. Also included in the set are a Batman figure, a Robin figure, a batcycle, a bat-glider, a computer consol and two small accessories.
If you are looking for one of the must have toys of 2011 then look no further than the Fisher Price Octonauts Octopod Playset. The Octopod rotates 350 degrees and you can press buttons to get fun noises and sounds. This is a great toy for kids to bring Barnacles and Kwazii in their own little world.
The Peppa Pig: Peppa’s World of Playsets is one of the cheaper gift ideas in this years pre-schoolers list. Your child will get to create thir own Peppa Pig’s world with this six in one playset. There is a cafe, toy shop, dolls house and a den.
Follow Me Thomas is a great fun take on the Thomas the Tank Engine series. With this Toy, your child can lead Thomas around the room by shining a light that he will follow. The simple to use controller also has three buttons that allows Thomas to perform preset moves. This gift is sure to be a big hit this year, so it is best to buy it early to avoid dissappointment. Batteries are included and it is suitable for children over the age of 2.
The last gift to make it into our toys list is the Toot Toot Drivers Garage by VTech. This interactive garage is full of fun sound affects and your child can drive the car (included) up ramps, spin on turntables take it up lifts and much more. The Garage is designed to recognise the car and any other Toot-Toot Drivers which are sold seperately.
The Toy Retailers Association have released what they believe to be the Top Toys for Boys this Christmas. The Toy Retailers Association represents 75% of toy retailers and have been making predictions about the best selling toys since 1965. This years Toys for Boys includes current favourites Ben 10, Bakugan and Disney Pixar toys based on the hit films Toy Story 3 and Cars 2. We also have lists for creative toys and construction toys if you are looking for something a bit different.
Bakugan make it into the Top 10 Toys list once again this year with the Bakugan Dragonoid Collossus. You can use your gate card and ability card to enjoy this toy even more.
Once again Ben 10 makes it into the Top 10 Christmas Gifts having been a regular for the last couple of years. Ben 10 uses his Ultimatrix to transform aliens into their stronger forms. If you buy the extra 10cm Ultimate Aliem figures which are sold seperately then you can add the mini disc into the toy to hear the alien sounds.
Cars 2 was one of the top films for boys this year. Now you can get your boy a great gift from the film. Finn McMissile is the secret agent in Cars 2 and the toy is great. Full of firing missiles, sound effects and great transformations.
This is the second year in a row that we feature a Nerf product. This is all about guns that fire soft plastic bullets. This gun features an electronic scope to help with aim as well as a 20 disc magazine aimed at keeping loading times to a minimum. Other magazines can be bought seperately.
5. Doctor Who: Personalise Your Sonic Screwdriver Set – £14.29
The Doctor WhoSonic Screwdriver Set is one of thre cheaper gift options in the Top 10 Toys for Christmas 2011. You can combine sections from the different screwdrivers in different ways to create your own. There are 80 combinations possible and you will beed to get batteries for this gift.
The Star Wars Ultimate FX Lightsaber is a great gift idea for the smaller Star Wars fan. The blade of the saber slowly lights up to create one of the most authentic Star Wars experiences. Experience the Force.
Hot Wheels has become one of the classic toys over the years. This year the must have Hot Wheels is the Wall Tracks set. Some adult assembly may be required, but this just makes the gift even more fun as mum or dad can get involved too! Apparently the gift does not damage the walls so no need to worry there.
Nerf products are going to be so popular this year that we included two in the list! The second is the Nerf N-Strike Barricade RV-10. Put a new “spin” on your battles with this motorized, semi-automatic Barricade RV-10 blaster. The 10-dart revolving barrel keeps the “firepower” coming and the compact design of this sidearm blaster means it’s easy to take along on any “mission”. The tactical rail and stock attachment give you the versatility to hit your mark with precision.
Toy Story 3 was the best childrens film of the year hands down, and possibly the best childrens film ever! (at least in my opinion). So surely the Turbo Glo Buzz Lightyear would make the perfect gift for any Toy Story fan out there!
10. Transformers Movie 3 Ultimate Optimus Prime – £57.98
Transformers is the final gift to make it into our top 10 toys for boys this Christmas. And in particular the Transformers Movie 3 Ultimate Optimus Prime.
The top 10 Christmas Gifts for Children has already been released by the Toy Retailers Association. You can find the list below. This is the Dream list of must have Toys for 2011. Some of the items will be low on stock this year (it already seems that retailers are struggling to get enough of the LeapPad Explorer. Also, make sure you check out the Top Toys of 2010 where you can find some real bargains.
Fijit Friends are meant to be THE must have gift for children this year. If you are planning to get a Fijit Friend this Christmas, then we would advise getting one sooner rather than later. Fijit Friends are interactive friends that recognise over 30 different keywords and responds with 150 different responses. Comes with batteries and is aimed at 6 and overs.
The Kidizoom Twist Camera is sure to be on many a pre-schoolers list this Christmas. This 2 megapixel camera with zoom takes videos as well as pictures and there are 5 games built in. Kids can edit and enhance the photos by adding fun graphics, borders and stickers to the image. You can also hook the camera up to your tv so your child can see the pictures they have taken on a much larger screen.
The Doggy Doo game is probably the most contraversal on the list this year. The aim of the game is to aviod being the one who cleans up the plasticine poop. Every time you roll the dice it determins how many times you squeeze the lead. Get caught holding the lead when the dog does the business, and you are the one that needs to clear it up!
The Fireman Sam Pontypandy set is going to be a real hit this year. You child will get to save Naughty Norman when he traps his head in the railings as well as getting a cat down that has gotten stuck up a tree. The set includes Sam figure, Norman figure, cat figure, tree, railings, hose reel, ladder, fire bucket & cones and is going to be one of the top sellers this Christmas.
The LeapPad Explorer is basically an iPad for children. The tablet is aimed at learning and this is achieved with games, digital reading creativity and personalisation. The LeapPad explorer is compatible with existing Explorer games libararys. This is one of the gifts that retailers seemm to be struggling to get enough stock of, so it is advised to buy early.
Like the Dance Star Mickey gift mentioned above, Let’s Rock Elmo is one of the must have Childrens gifts for this year. He sings and dances and even plays musical instruments. The set comes with a drum set and a tambourine and Elmo knows which one you give him to play. You can also buy additional musical instruments to keep the lifetime of this toy going even longer. The musical instruments are the perfect size for pre schoolers little hands.
Milky The Bunny is flying off the shelves this Christmas. Milky is an interactive bunny who will wiggle his feet when tickled, chew on carrots and blink his big brown eyes. You will need to be careful as Milky is scared of loud noises and will drift off to sleep after a long day of playing. It is worth noting that Milky needs AA batteries that are not included.
LEGO. The classic christmas gift for Children. I was lucky enough to always get a set in my stocking. This years must have LEGO set is the Ninjago Fire Temple. There are other sets in the series to collect and they can be combined to make bigger play areas and adventures.
This is the second year in a row that we feature a Nerf product. This is all about guns that fire soft plastic bullets. This gun features an electronic scope to help with aim as well as a 20 disc magazine aimed at keeping loading times to a minimum. Other magazines can be bought seperately.
Moshi Monsters are huge this year. With over 50 million children playing the game online, the real life toys are sure to be popular. One of the top toys in the Moshi Monsters treehouse, where children get to play with the miniture characters offline in their own treehouse.
11. Monster High Lagoona’s Hydration Station – £38.27
Lagoona Blue– daughter of the Sea Monster–is one of the coolest Ghouls in school with her long blonde and blue hair and pale blue skin. She also has several fins, webbed hands and gills behind her ear. Lagoona is a tomboy and is obsessed with surfing. Lagoona Blue uses her Hydration Station to re-moisturise at night and it doubles as a room décor for girls. Press the shell-shaped button on the front to activate 3 different modes of lights and bubbles. Includes Hydration Station, Lagoona Blue doll with eye mask, her pet Neptuna with eye mask, water bottle and “monsteriser” bottle. For ages 6 years and over.
The all-new Star Wars – The Clone Wars Anakin Skywalker ultimate FX lightsaber provides one of the most authentic Jedi experiences ever for kids! The toy features a progressive light-up blade with vibrant LED lighting and authentic sounds, allowing kids to experience the Force in a whole new way.
RipStiks have been taking the US by storm. They look a bit like a skateboard, but there are two seperate panels (one for each foot) and this is connected with a “torsion bar”. Although they look like a skateboard, they ride alot more like a snowboard or surfboard. The board is recommended for ages 8+ and as with any “extreme sport” it is advised that your child has the correct safety equipment. At the moment they are only available from a very small number of retailers. One of the best places to buy one is through Skate Hut uk. The number 1 online skate shop. Currently priced at £69.95, this would make a great gift for any outdoor loving adventure sports fan. You can currently get them in Blue, Red or Silver and there are premium versions of the product available.
The top 12 toys for Christmas 2011 according to the Toy Retailers Association has been released today. This years list has a strong focus on technology in childrens toys. Gary Grant, chairman of the association’s Dream Toys selection panel, said children “now have the opportunity to interact and engage with their toys more than ever before”.
• Doggie Doo (£24)
• Fijit Friends (£54.99)
• Fireman Sam Pontypandy Rescue Set (£29.99)
• Kidizoom Twist (£49.99)
• LeapPad Explorer (£78.99)
• Lets Rock Elmo (£69.99)
• Milky the Bunny (£59.99)
• Monster High Lagoona’s Hydration Station (£39.99)
• Moshling Tree House (£19.99)
• Nerf Vortex Nitron Blaster (£44.99)
• Ninjago Fire Temple (£89.99)
• Star Wars Ultimate Force Tech Lightsaber Assortment (£39.99)
We will be updating our Top 10 Toys 2011 list in the next day or so, listing where you can purchase these presents online.
Moshi Monsters is a craze that is sweeeping the nations children. Over 50 million children play the online social network like ame for children, where the player adopts and cares for a pet monster. The children can then solve puzzles which earns them Rox which can then be used to buy items for the monster. If your child is really into Moshi Monsters then one of the following Moshi Monsters gifts would make a great Christmas present.
1. Moshi Monsters Magazine Subscription – £17.49 for 6
The Moshi Mosters Magazine is now the best selling Magazone for children. A subsription for your Moshi Mad child would make a perfect Christmas present. Each issue of Moshi Monsters Magazine includes fangtastic FREE gifts and super-secret codes to unlock limited edition in-game items! PLUS: Subscriptions include a Dustbin Beaver Moshling code!
This is the perfect present for any Moshi Monsters fan. The pack includes a 3 month membership (which would cost about £15 by itself) 3x three day friendship cards (to give friends), Moshi Monsters “Iggy” soft toy, Moshi Monsters Collectible Trading Card Pack, Exclusive: Moshi Monsters Stickers, Exclusive: 3x Moshi Monsters Postcards, Exclusive: 3x Unique Items to be Redeemed in-game! and Moshi Bandz. Reviews of the set include “Great set. I have it and it is well worth it! Thanks firebox!”.
If you are looking for a small buy fun Moshi Monsters gift, then a set of Moshi Monsters Top Trumps is a must have. The set includes 30 colourful cards where they compete on stats such as rarity, speed, cuteness, brains and mischief. Each card includes a short description about the monster and include monsters such as General Fuzuki, Stanley and Shishi. This is the perfect Moshi Monsters stocking filler.
Bringing your childs favourite Moshi Monster to live would make for a great Christmas gift idea. Well now you can buy the Moshi Monsters as plush dolls. These are suitable ages 4-16yrs and the best bit is that they include a secret code for a free in-game item. Currently available are; Angel, chop Chop, Honey, Mr Snoodle, Purdy, Shi Shi, Squidge and available for pre order are, DJ Quack, General Fuzuki, Pooky and Snookums.
Looking for a special Moshi Mosters gift? Then how about a limited edition gold tin which contains a gold collection card and eight gold Moshi Monsters. These include, Snookums, Iggy, Angel, McNulty, Gurgle, Fumble, DJ Quck and Stanley. Suitable for ages 4+
The classic 80s game Guess Who is back in Moshi Monsters form. For those of you that dont know, you have to try and guess your opponents Moshi Monster through a series of Yes and No questions. The first to guess correctly wins. This makes a great addition to any familys board game collection.
Here is a review of the Moshling Treehouse that we feel sums things up best: “Well, let me start by saying that I personally don’t see the full attraction of the Moshi Monsters and Moshlings – but, my 6 year old son and all of his friends love them (and there are much worse things they could be into, so I’m happy to encourage it!). I was pleasantly surprised by the quality of the treehouse, it’s sturdy and the parts you have to clip together do so really well and securely.The favourite part for my son is the little basket ‘lift’, but I have to say, the noise of that gets a bit grating after a while! He hasn’t stopped playing with it since he got it. I’ve heard him making up stories about the moshlings visiting each other, and am really impressed by the way it has enhanced his play with the figures.”
Take the Moshi Monster from the virtual to the real with these talking dolls. Here is a review: “Any moshi monsters poppet fan will love this. Nice size, talks in that cute moshi language (it doesn’t speak a language of humans, it speaks in a moshi language), and would recommend it to any kid into the moshi craze.” You also get a Moshi Monster adoption certificate and a secret code for a free in-game item.
Moshi Monsters: Moshling Zoo for Nintendo DS builds upon the popularity of the Moshlings and offers fans a fresh new take on the Moshi universe, including brand new content and a new way to interact with their favorite characters.The game features new locations and an exclusive new Moshling. There are 52 Moshlings to collect from the common to the rare and even the elusive ‘ULTRA-RARE’. You can also play new mini-games and educational style puzzles, plus win awards and trophies to take back to your zoo. Release date is the 11th of November 2011.
10. Moshi Monsters Moshling Value 10 Pack Figures – £9.99
Do you want to really spoil your cat this Christmas and provide it with hours of entertainment? The Frolicat Dart is an automatic rotating laser light that your cat will want to chase and chase. All you need to do is to place it on the floor and turn it on and then watch the fun begin. It has varying speeds and timer setting, with up to 16 different combinations your cat will never get bored of this toy. It can be great exercise not only for cats but it is also great if you have a dog too. Make your cat (or dog) very happy this Christmas.
Advent Calendars are the prefect build up to Christmas. In the last few years, chocolate advent calendars have become the norm, but we thought we would review the top 5 non chocolate advent calendars for 2011. Some come ready made with toys in, some require construction and some are just plain fun (Where’s Wally?).
1. Christmas Cottage – a special 3D re-useable Christmas Advent – £10
The top non chocolate advent calendar for 2011 is this Christmas Cottage. You get to build the calendar yourself and based on the reviews this takes about 30 minutes. You then get to fill each of the drawers with whatever gifts you choose, sweets or small gifts for example. The best thing about the calendar is that it can then be put away and taken out next year to be used all over again.
This Lego calendar is perfect for Star Wars fans both young and old. You get to collect 24 galactic gifts – one for each day – including iconic minifigures, vehicles and accessories from the LEGO Star Wars universe. Includes 8 LEGO® minifigures. Features an exclusive version of Yoda™ not available anywhere else. Vehicles include mini Millennium Falcon and X-wing Starfighter
The second Lego calendar in our list is the Lego city advent calendar. This calendar pack includes; 6 minifigures: 2 policemen, 2 robbers, fisherman and Santa Claus, Vehicles include 2 snowmobiles, Build larger models with the LEGO, bricks from 3 different gift days! Also features a police dog and Christmas tree.
The Playmobil calendar gets really good review on Amazon. Whilst it is not cheap, it has loads of really nice features. This Playmobil Advent Calendar is full of surprises, open a door each day to reveal the mystery for today. The advent calendar includes Father Christmas, Post Officeand backdrop, characters and lots of accessories allowing you to play with the calendar before you start to open the doors. Playmobil Advent Calendar ‘Christmas Post Office.
5. Where’s Wally Santas in Snow Advent Calendar – £6
Sometimes plain and simple is the best. This has to be the best budget Calendar around for 2011. At just £6 you can get hours of entertainment not just looking for Wally but also all of the little extras. Where’s Wally Advent Calendar comes with an envelope. This product is cello wrapped
Peppa Pig related gifts are set to be huge once again this year. We have found the perfect gift idea for Peppa Pig fans. The personalised Peppa Pig goes to playgroup book. Make your child the star of the story, the first day of playgroup where they are a bit shy. You get to personalise the character (hairstyle, colour etc) and the name, as well as a persoanlised message that goes at the start of the book. And all this for just £14.95 from PrezzyBox.com. This really is one of the best Christmas gifts ideas for Children in 2011.
Thanks to millions of hit on the video site YouTube, one of the unexpected big hits of Christmas 2011 has been the My Keepon. My Keepon is based on the Keepon® Pro, a research robot created by two scientists. The original Keepon was developed to study social development and autism, but when the video went viral the two scientists teamed up with toy innovators Wow! Stuff. On Ebay, in the US, Keepon has been selling for 3 times the market value. At the moment in the UK it is only available for pre-order in a number of different retailers. The company admits that it has been taken aback by the number of pre-orders and it is going to struggle to meet demand this Christmas. 
RipStiks have been taking the US by storm. They look a bit like a skateboard, but there are two seperate panels (one for each foot) and this is connected with a “torsion bar”. Although they look like a skateboard, they ride alot more like a snowboard or surfboard. The board is recommended for ages 8+ and as with any “extreme sport” it is advised that your child has the correct safety equipment. At the moment they are only available from a very small number of retailers. One of the best places to buy one is through Skate Hut uk. The number 1 online skate shop. Currently priced at £69.95, this would make a great gift for any outdoor loving adventure sports fan. You can currently get them in Blue, Red or Silver and there are premium versions of the product available.
