Top 20 hot toys for Christmas 2010

Paper Jamz Guitar. Photo / Supplied

ONE: Baby born
A life-like doll that can drink, wet her nappy, use her potty,
cry, squeak and be bathed. Age 3+

TWO: Bakugan
Collectable battle game with characters that pop open
when they're rolled onto a game card. Age 5+

THREE: Barbie
The timeless Barbie range. Ages 3+

FOUR: Beyblades
Challenge friends around the global with Beyblade virtual
battles on line - www.beybladebattles.com. Age 8+

FIVE: Bikes
Suitable for ages 4+

SIX: Hot Wheels range
Collectable playsets. Ages 4+

SEVEN: Leapfrog range
Early educational learning products for toddlers.
Age 6 - 36 months

EIGHT: Lego and Lego games
Age 3+

NINE: Littlest Pet Shop range
Collectable pet pals, playsets and accessories.
Age 4+

TEN: My Little Pony
Age 4+

ELEVEN: Nerf range
Includes Supersoaker water blasters.
Age 6 +

TWELVE: Paper Jamx Guitar
A guitar with a built-in speaker that works by touching the
surface.
Age 8+

THIRTEEN: Playworld - Outdoor play equipment
Three, four and six swing and slide sets and trampolines.
Ages 2+

FOURTEEN: Pocket Money Collectables
Mighty Beans, Zoobles, Party Animals, Gogo Crazy Bones.
Cheap ranges that kids love to buy.
Ages 4+

FIFTEEN: Remote control range
Includes cars, helicopters, boats.
Age 5+

SIXTEEN: Scooters
Age 5+

SEVENTEEN: Sylvanian Families
A collectable range of miniature dolls.
Ages 4 +

EIGHTEEN: Thomas wooden range
Thomas the Tank Engine wooden railway.
Age 18 months +

NINETEEN: Tonka Chuck My Rumblin Truck
Speaks when he's picked up, pushed around, or
loaded up.
Age 3+

TWENTY: Zhu Zhu Pets
Collectable characters with different personalities.
Age 4+

MERMAIDS VIE WITH OLD FAVOURITES IN KIDS' DREAMS

Traditional children's toys will be as popular as ever this Christmas, with old favourites such as trampolines, Barbie dolls and Lego at the top of this year's wish list.

In releasing its annual "Top 20" list today, Toyworld is also expecting swings and slide sets and scooters and bikes to be among the big sellers this Christmas.

Toyworld toy buyer Repeka Hauru said sales of higher-priced ranges had remained steady throughout the recession because Christmas was the one day people still tended to splash out on.

Collectable ranges such as My Little Pony and Sylvanian Families, which had been popular for decades, were again favourites this year. They had different price points to suit most budgets and constantly moved with the times.

Miss Hauru said the My Little Pony and Barbie ranges had constantly evolving themes such as "mermaids".

"Traditional play patterns such as toys that allow for creative, interactive and outdoor play remain consistently popular," she said.

"The traditional toys always remain strong ... Mermaids are cool now. Next year it will be something different, but they are engaging the child in new themes. They're really clever."

Lego was now being marketed as games and had a range for girls.

Miss Hauru said the Top 20 list included new toys which were more interactive.

This included the Leapfrog range, which enhances children's motor skills, and the new Paper Jamz Guitar, which works when players touch the surface.

Miss Hauru said new technology meant that toys such as the new Vectron Wave could be used without a remote, using a person's hand as the "motion sensor".