Parenting Australia

Christmas Toy Choices

WHEN the wrapping is pulled off presents under the Christmas Tree this year, it is going to be a case of “back to the future” for mum and dad.

A trend of shunning cheap plastic and inactive electronic toys is underway, with parents instead opting for creative, well-made, “active” gifts.

Elizabeth Milford, chair of the Independent Toy Specialist of Australia Co-Op, said retro toys that have stood the test of time are in hot demand.

Outdoor toys and ones that involve the whole family, such as board games, are also on the rise.

“There is a swing away from licenced toys back to classic toys,’’ she said.

“People are concerned about buying cheap plastic toys that end up as rubbish and are thinking carefully about what they buy.

“Well-made toys are not more expensive but often they will last for generations.’’

Retailer Toys R Us agrees, predicting quality toys that boast an open-ended play value are among the most sought-after.

The retailer has noticed a huge upswing in sales of trampolines and expects classics such as Barbie, Elmo, trikes, sand and water play tables, Transformers and Star Wars Lego to be among their best sellers this Christmas.

Ms Milford, who runs Toys and Tales toy shops, advises parents to seek out toys that have enduring appeal, educational value and the ability to fire the imagination.

For toddlers, classics such as Jack-in-the-box, spinning tops and quoits are popular. Wooden toys – such as stacking toys, wooden rainbows and pull-a-long toys - are also enjoying a huge resurgence.

Hot toys for school aged children with a modest price tags include board games such as Hive ($35), Cogworks, Camelot Jr ($40) and the magnet battle game Yikerz ($40). Old favourites such as mechano with “real nuts and bolts, science kits, craft and magic kits” are also in demand.

“Fun Fly Sticks, which work by using static electricity to fly silver shapes are also fun ($40) and so is Crazy Fort. That is a kit with poles and balls and a light clip to let kids build the framework of a fort or tent and then they add their sheet. That is $99,” said Ms Milford.

Another value-priced DIY imaginative toy is the Rolobox – a $15 set of wheels and axles to let kids turn any cardboard box into their own special vehicle.

But while old-fashioned fun is in vogue, the best electronic toy around – Wii and particularly the Wii Fit – will continue to be high on Santa’s wish list, with both kids and parents hoping to find one under the Christmas tree.

Visitors to the toy review website, www.ratethattoy.com.au, love the Wii for its ability to get gamers off the couch and involve the entire family in active fun. Reviewers believe the initial hefty outlay is more than repaid by the Wii’s cross-family, multi-game appeal.

The current playground crazes – Bakugun, Ben 10, Transformers, Tinkerbell Spiral Wings dolls and Razor scooters – will also perform well and offer toys across a range of price scales.

But perhaps the best source of inspiration for good value play choices comes from the honour list at the National Museum of Play.

Since 1998, just 44 toys have made it into the prestigious hall of fame. Amongst those are kites, marbles, hula hoops, Lego, roller skates, Tonka Trucks, Etch-a-Sketch, Frisbees, Gi Joe, Barbie, Crayola crayons, Mr Potato Head and skateboards.

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