Parents can expect a noisy time come Christmas morning with ‘Talk-back toys’ set to be the new toy craze of Christmas 2011, according to Argos, the UK’s number one toy retailer. It has announced the Fab Fifteen list, a prediction of this year’s most-wanted toys and games, with toys that talk back to children featuring heavily as a clear trend.
The list features a host of chatty chums for all ages like Dance Star Mickey, a pre-school toy that can talk, dance, walk and play educational games and a new dancing, talking robot for girls called Fijit. Described as an ‘interactive best friend’, Fijit can chat with a child by recognising over 30 keywords and responds with over 150 phrases.
For the boys (and big boys) Dr Who Children’s Dalek Ride-In, is set to be a hit. The authentic Dr Who battery powered ride-in Dalek, will allow children to exterminate any timelord with 10 authentic Dalek phrases.
Andrea Abbis, Toys Trading Manager at Argos says, “Many of this year’s top toys are almost like friends for children, with functions that allow them to talk and respond. They’re great for encouraging communication skills, interaction and a sense of friendship.”
Other talk-back toys in the Argos Fab Fifteen includes Sesame Street Let’s Rock Elmo, a toy that speaks to children and sings along while playing instruments and Moshi Monsters Mosh’n’Chat, characters which become more chatty the more they are spoken to.
Commenting on the selection of the list, toy expert Andrea continues, “We normally select a top ten but there was so much choice this year we opted for the Fab Fifteen, with five boys toys, five girls toys and five for pre-schoolers. As number one toy retailer, many parents and grandparents have come to rely on the annual list to get the inside track on what will be on Christmas lists and we wanted to provide them with as much guidance as possible.”
The Argos Fab Fifteen Toys for Christmas 2011
Pre-school toys
Dance Star Mickey (age 2 +) £69.99
LeapFrog LeapPad Explorer Tablet (age 4 +) £79.99
Sesame Street Let’s Rock Elmo (18 months +) £69.99
Octonauts Octopod Playset (age 3 +) £34.99
VTech Kiddizoom Twist Camera – available in pink and blue (age 3 +) £49.99
Boy’s toys
Nerf Vortex Proton (age 8 +) £14.99
Dr Who Dalek Ride-In (age 3 +) £199.99 (currently limited stock, full stock available from 10 October)
Bop It! XT (age 8 +) £26.99
Disney Pixar Cars 2 Secret Spy Attack Finn McMissile (age 4 +) £30.99
LEGO Star Wars Sith Nightspeeder (age 7 +) £25.99
Girl’s toys
Fijit (age 6 +) £54.99
Moshi Monsters Mosh’n’Chat (age 6 +) £24.99
Barbie Puppy Water Park (age 4 +) £29.99
Chad Valley Designa Friend (age 3 +) £19.99
Baby Annabell (age 3 +) £44.99
The Fab Fifteen for 2011 are available now in store or online at www.argos.co.uk and will be featured in the Argos Christmas Gift Guide out in October. A competition to win ten sets of the top 30 toys (which will include the Fab Fifteen) is running on the Argos website as part of ‘The Big Woohoo!’ promotion, where children can also rate their favourite toys.
Here is a buying guide which gives parents tips and advice on buying toys for small children to aid their development http://www.argos.co.uk/static/BuyingGuide/bgTrail/preschooltoys_00132.htm
At Argos, the top 30 toys, including the Fab 15, will have 20% off from 22 September to 12 October 2011. Prices shown in release are full price and do not reflect the 20% discount.
