Dolls and Lego will dominate Christmas gift lists this year, with one in seven parents already shopping for the big day, according to a major retailer.
The “incredibly lifelike” £100 Luvabella doll, whose animated blinking eyes and flailing arms have had reviewers describing her as “undoubtedly creepy”, is predicted to fly off shelves and under the Christmas tree, Argos said.
The Lego Friends Sunshine Catamaran (Sebastian Nowell/Argos/PA)
The retailer, which has released its top toys list just over six months ahead of December 25, said it expects memorable gifts such as dolls, Lego and tech-driven toys to dominate lists this year.
User-friendly technology such as the £150 Lego Boost, which allows children to make five different models that can be coded using a free app, the interactive Fisher-Price Teach n Tag Movi (£55) and £50 wearable tech music toy SoundMoovz are all expected to be top sellers.
Lego Boost (Sebastian Nowell/Argos/PA)
The £100 Airhogs DR1 Official Race Drone instructs players to download an app, place a smartphone in the headset and start piloting like a professional with a livestream from the camera.
Popular on-screen toys from Disney’s Cars 3, PJ Masks, Paw Patrol and Transformers are on the list, as are old favourites Hatchimals, a Lego Friends Sunshine Catamaran, and the £80 Tiny Treasures twin dolls that are weighted like real newborns and feature sleepy eyes, silky newborn hair, soft skin and an “authentic baby aroma”.
The Tiny Treasures Twin Set (Sebastian Nowell/Argos/PA)
Argos chief toy buyer Linzi Walker said: “This year’s top toys list is a fantastic blend, as toymakers evolve childhood favourites alongside the introduction of newer and more technology-led gifts.”
A survey for the retailer found 13% of parents have already started buying presents for their children and expect to spend £114 on average on the main gift.
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