Expert reveals the best toys to buy for Christmas this year
Experts reveal the hottest toy trends for the holidays and Black Friday, including a weird throwback every 90s child craved.
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It is never too early to think about shopping for Christmas, believe us.
As the most in-demand toys tend to sell out before December, starting early is a smart move. Not sure what to buy? Amazon’s annual Top 100 Toy List has landed, all tested by the world’s highest qualified toy experts – kids – and most are under $25 or on sale so you can’t really go wrong.
Known as ‘The Playmakers,’ these kids are enlisted by the Starlight Children’s Foundation to test and review a selection from the Top 100 Toy List. Their stamp of approval secures each toy’s spot on the final list, providing inspiration for children’s gifts ahead of the Black Friday sales.
For those not clued in to what’s high on wish lists for Aussie kids, we’ve grouped the Top 100 by trend below. We’ve also got extra tips for stocking fillers and buying for children with additional learning and sensory needs.
According to Avneel Narayan, Head of Toys at Amazon Australia, year on year there are staple toys on kids’ wish lists, such as Barbie and LEGO, but this year there’s a stand out trend – sport.
“This year kids are adding more sporting-related toys, such as AFL footballs and cricket sets to their wish lists,” he said.
“For toddlers, sensory toys like Steam Studio, Play Doh, and VTech Tasty Treats Axolotl are great picks. Active play items like Scoot and Ride, NBA and Razor are expected to be hot for under 5s, too.”
For kids a little older, there’s a touch of nostalgia, with one very popular toy having something of a renaissance.
“For kids under 10, we’re seeing beginner tech-y toys like the Holy Stone mini-drone, the Disney Bitzee and even Furby is back!
“For teens entering a phase where socialising with friends is key; board and card games will be a winner, including Big Potato Games and That Sound Game as well as older outdoors toys like the Razor electric scooter.”
TOP TOY TRENDS 2024
1) Going for Gold
Following a mammoth year for sports in 2024, our next generation of athletes will find toys to start the training early in the backyard such as soccer kits and rollerskates.
• Powerplay 2020 Deluxe Size 3 Cricket Set, $17.52
• Sherrin AFL Youth Football, $34.99
• Speedo Unisex Kid’s Biofuse 2.0 Goggles, $30
2) Top Toys for under $25
With cost-of-living pressures hitting hard, many Aussies are looking for value over the holiday period, these are toys at great value, that kids actually want but won’t hurt the hip pocket including LEGO, Littlest Pet Shop and some classics like:
• Hot Wheels 5-Car Pack Assortment, $9
• LEGO® Disney Simba The Lion King Club, $22
• Rubik’s cube The Original, $15
According to Mr Narayan, the biggest volume of stand out toys were in this category. “The stand out toys given the tick of approval by our official toy testers are the Despicable Me 4 Ultimate Fart Blaster, Barbie Dream House and LEGO. As well as the Nerf super soaker and Nerf Pinpoint dart blaster which are great value,” he said.
3) Animated Icons
The stars of the big and small screens continue to be popular with a healthy representation on the list from Bluey, Spider-Man, Disney+ these icons:
• Bratz Slumber Party Doll – Cloe, $60.98
• SAF Dance N Crawl Spidey, $82.04
• Moriah Elizabeth 11 inch Georgie Plush, $39.99
4) Sharing is Caring
Toys and games designed for group fun sharing are popular choices for the holidays when you’re spending more time with friends and family. Hot Wheels and an Exploding Kittens card game are top picks, with these picks ideal for keeping everyone entertained at once:
• Big Potato Games The Chameleon Card Game, $23.49
• NERF Sports Vortex AERO HOWLER, $22.99
• Drop Trivia Game from Trivial Pursuit, $39
5) Edu-Play
Turns out toys can be fun and educational, which we kind of know already thanks to the likes of Play-Doh and VTech toys, but these picks are also brain boosting and fresh.
• ThinkFun – Gravity Maze, $57.94
• The Fun Zone Ice Cream Slime Kit, $69.95
6) Quiet Time
Toys that just require kids’ brilliant imaginations and are designed to keep the kids quietly entertained, including Hatchimals and Melissa and Doug, plus
• L.O.L. Surprise Tweens MERMAID Doll – Lana Marine
• Kidizoom Duo FX Interactive Kid Camera
TOY IDEAS FOR THOSE WITH ADDITIONAL LEARNING AND SENSORY NEEDS
For parents who need toys that will entertain their kids while also enhancing their cognitive development for those with additional learning and sensory needs, Mr Narayan recommends checking out Amazon’s Edu-Play trending category.
“These include Galt Science Lab which inspires creativity, while Educational Insights tests your knowledge as well as stimulating brain memory development”.
TOY IDEAS FOR BIGGER KIDS AND ADULTS
Slime continues to captivate kids, with The Fun Zone emerging as the ultimate slime-making kit, providing a sensory play experience that keeps kids entertained for hours.
STEM toys also remain in high demand, with Narayan recommending the National Geographic Mega Magic Set as “an excellent choice for curious young minds looking to explore and learn”.
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But if you really want to impress the bigger kids and adults Narayan recommends choosing through a lens of nostalgia.
“We have toys across all six of the trends that appeal to older kids and even adults, with
nostalgic toys like Rubik’s cube and with the AFL season having just wrapped; an AFL football is the perfect gift for sports fanatics, and lastly Star Wars The Vintage Collection; a must-have collectable for devoted long-term fans”.
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