Do you know what your child wants for Christmas? Perhaps they’ve already approached you with a detailed list, sorted by price or priority. Or maybe they’re still umm-ing and ahh-ing, waiting to find that perfect toy.
The most popular Christmas toys vary each year, but they always fly off the shelves. So, the earlier you can grab them the better. More often than not, the best Christmas toys begin to sell out weeks before most families start their Christmas shopping. It’s always worth preparing as early as possible, so as to avoid disappointing your little one.
We’ve compiled a list of the 15 most popular must-have toys of Christmas 2020, for girls and boys alike. So if you (or Father Christmas) need inspiration for what to put under the tree this year, read on.
1. Little Live Pets Gotta Go Flamingo
Little Live Pets is a range of hugely popular toys from the well-known brand Moose Toys. Their most recent release, the Gotta Go Flamingo, is a bright pink bird which comes with its own toilet. Fill the toilet with water, feed your flamingo the included ‘flamingo food’ made from hydrophobic sand, and it will poop (after singing a catchy song). It will also mimic your voice and repeat your own words back to you! Suitable for ages 4 and up.
2. L.O.L. Surprise! O.M.G. Remix Plane
L.O.L. surprise dolls have well and truly taken the world by storm since their inception in 2016. This year, you can take your dolls on a fashion-forward vacation with the L.O.L. Surprise! O.M.G. Remix Plane, with space to fit 5 dolls (including the pilot). Pull out the seat section and it turns into a car; turn the plane on its side, and it becomes a recording studio! This set will fit L.O.L. Surprise! dolls and O.M.G. fashion dolls (both sold separately), and comes with 50 surprises. Recommended for ages 6 and up.
3. Star Wars The Child Baby Yoda Talking Plush Toy
Since the release of Disney’s Star Wars spin-off T.V. programme The Mandalorian, kids and adults alike have been smitten with Baby Yoda (or, as he’s officially known in the show, “The Child”). Now, you can purchase an adorable Star Wars The Child talking plush toy, complete with frog and feeding bowl accessories. Squeeze his soft plush body to hear one of 10 adorable vocal sound effects. Suitable for ages 3 and up.
4. Pictionary Air
The classic game of Pictionary has just been upgraded – and it’s gone digital! No longer will you have to sketch your clue on a piece of paper or a chalkboard. Instead, the Pictionary Air game from Mattel allows you to draw in the air with a smart pen. Using the free Pictionary Air app (available in the App Store and Play Store), you’ll be able to see what you’ve drawn on the screen! You can even connect your device to a smart TV for better viewing. Suitable for ages 8 and up.
5. Kindi Kids Fun Time Friends
In 2019, Moose Toys released Kindi Kids, an offshoot of the Shopkins brand. The adorable 10-inch bobblehead dolls came with snacks they could magically eat. This year, the focus is on playtime! Mystabella comes with a canvas which reveals a masterpiece when brushed with water. Donatina likes to dress up as a princess, while Marsha Mello comes with a bunny outfit. And Dr Cindy Pops will check your heartbeat with a stethoscope! Suitable for ages 3 and up.
6. Melissa & Doug Examine & Treat Pet Vet Play Set
Is it your little one’s greatest ambition to become a veterinarian? If so, they’ll love the Melissa & Doug vet play set. This 24-piece set comes with a plush dog and cat, along with a tote bag filled with plenty of pretend play veterinary equipment. Diagnose your poorly pets with the stethoscope, thermometer and otoscope. Choose from a range of treatments including bandages, casts and ointments. Suitable for ages 3 and up.
7. Hatchimals Pixies Crystal Flyers
The Hatchimals pixies crystal flyers are 25cm-tall pixies that really fly! Simply launch your pixie into the air and she’ll take off. You can actually guide her around the room by placing your hand underneath her. She’ll fly higher or lower according to where your hand is. What’s more, Hatchimals Crystal Flyers don’t require batteries – you can charge her up with the included USB charging cable. Crystal flyers are available in pink or purple, and suitable for ages 6 and up.
8. Monopoly Sore Losers Edition
If there’s someone in your life who hates losing at Monopoly, they’ll love this updated version of the bestselling board game. In the Sore Losers edition, you earn Sore Loser coins for landing on useless spaces, paying taxes, going to jail and paying rent. If you collect four coins, you earn the right to stomp around the board collecting money from your fellow players! Suitable for ages 8 and up.
9. Lego Minecraft The Zombie Cave Adventures Building Set
The LEGO Minecraft The Zombie Cave Adventures Building Set sees construction toy giant LEGO pair with the extremely popular kids’ video game, Minecraft. Using the blocks and instructions provided, you can build yourself a LEGO Minecraft cave complete with elements such as coal, gold and diamond. Mine them with your very own tiny LEGO pickaxe! Included in the set are a Steve Minecraft figurine, a zombie, baby zombie and a bat, as well as accessories such as a furnace and a cookie. There’s even a TNT blast action feature! It’s compatible with all other LEGO Minecraft sets, and recommended for ages 7 and up.
10. Barbie Fresh ‘n’ Fun Food Truck
Barbie has made an appearance on almost every little girl’s Christmas list since she was released in 1959. For Christmas 2020, you can purchase your very own Barbie Fresh ‘n’ Fun Food Truck playset, in which your Barbie doll can make all kinds of tasty food to sell! The vibrant purple truck comes with over 30 accessories including food items and condiments, plates, pots, utensils, a blender and even a fryer. Dolls sold separately. Recommended for ages 3 and up.
11. Melissa & Doug Food Groups
If your child is a foodie (or simply loves pretend play), they’re bound to adore the Melissa & Doug Food Groups play set. This kit comes with four sturdy crates and over 20 painted wooden food items, including breads, fruits and meats. Your little one can use the crates to sort the goods into groups (fruits and vegetables, meat and fish, grains, and dairy). Recommended for ages 3 and up.
12. Horrible Science Explosive Experiments
For the science enthusiasts out there, the Horrible Science Explosive Experiments set is sure to cause a ‘bang’ this Christmas. Using this exciting kit, you can build and launch your very own rocket (outside, of course)! You can also watch a volcano erupt, make a lava lamp and create your own sticky slime. The 32-page notebook includes detailed instructions for each of the 6 experiments. Suitable for ages 8 and up.
13. Throw Throw Burrito Game
From the makers of Exploding Kittens comes the wildly popular party game Throw Throw Burrito. Described as a ‘dodgeball card came’, Throw Throw Burrito comes with a deck of cards and two soft and squishy burritos. Collect three of the same card to earn points – but if you play three burrito cards, a burrito-throwing battle ensues! The first player to get hit by a burrito loses a point. The person with the most points at the end of the game is the winner! Recommended for ages 7 and up.
14. Cutetitos Pizzaitos Surprise Stuffed Animals
Surprise toys, also known as ‘blind bags’, are wildly popular at the moment. Cutetitos by Basic Fun are a relatively new competitor on the market. Series 5, ‘Pizzaitos’, was released in September this year. Each pack comes with one 7.5 inch cuddly beanbag animal, wrapped in a soft pizza blanket (cheese, pepperoni, Hawaiian or spicy) and a collector card. There are 12 Pizzaitos to collect, and you won’t know which one you have until you unwrap it. Will yours be cheesy (common) or super cheesy (rare)? Suitable for ages 4 and up.
15. PAW Patrol Dino Rescue
Fans of the PAW Patrol television series will go wild for the new PAW Patrol Dino Rescue Dino Patroller. This huge motorised team vehicle is big enough to fit all six pups, and comes with a dinosaur figure, a Chase figure, and 2 projectiles. Push the button to watch the Dino Patroller go, and launch the rescue nets. The T-Rex’s mouth and tail really move! The Dino Patroller requires 6 x AA batteries which are included. Suitable for ages 3 and up.
