Top toys for Christmas 2011

With summer well and truly out of the way, Christmas is closer than you think. Children are, of course, the central focus of the festive season but finding the perfect gift for them can be difficult. To give parents a helping hand here are some top toy ideas for Christmas 2011.

For boys there are a number of traditional toys which generally fall into two categories: constructive and destructive. This means items such as action figures, toy guns and Lego will always be popular favourites.

For 2011, top boys toys focus on cinematic merchandise with characters from the Transformers 3 and Cars 2 featuring as some of the most popular additions. Action figures of various characters from films are available with the MechTech Leader Bumblebee figure being one of the most popular. With the ability to transform from a car to a robot, this figure is sure to keep little boys amused with its moving parts, pre-recorded sound effects and light up weapons.

Alongside these action figures special edition versions of popular board games, such as Guess Who, Monopoly and even Frustration being available. Lego have also got in on the cinematic action, with a Harry Potter focus being taken in their Hogwarts Castle set. As a traditional and popular Christmas gift, Lego has entered the modern age with its new twist, making it an even better gift. With ten miniature figurines of popular characters, four separate buildings and three towers, all complete with accessories and extra features, this set is sure to be a Christmas favourite.

For girls, the toy focus is often more gentle. Action figures are still fairly popular, this time taking a more delicate and feminine form through Barbies. This year’s newest addition to the Barbie world is through a range designed to resemble pop sensations The Saturdays.

Alongside this, a number of other traditional gifts are available for girls, with dolls and accessories being another popular addition. The Hello Kitty pram is one addition which will give any young girl the chance to parade their baby around in style.

All little girls want a puppy and, thanks to the FurReal Cookie, they could have on. An interactive toy dog designed to cater to younger girls, this great toy has the ability to recognise and respond to its master’s voice. With no veterinary bills to pay for or mess to clean up, this is sure to put a smile on everyone’s face come Christmas morning.

Alongside gender specific gifts a number of great unisex toys are also available. These will typically have a technological or “gadget” with educational toys being a common format. The VTech InnoTab is a user-friendly tablet designed for children. With 64MB of memory and a range of integrated features such as an e-book reader, interactive globe and art studio this is a great fun and functional device for both boys and girls.

Top tech toys aren’t just designed for older kids and children as young as three could enjoy the delights of the Kiddizoom Twist. A two megapixel digital camera with a twistable lens, built in games and digital zoom, this is the perfect gift for toddlers of both genders.