Popular toys making the wish list to Santa

Classic toys like LEGO and Barbie are still popular with children, but nontraditional items are finding a way onto children’s wish lists this year, according to NRF’s 2013 Top Toys survey conducted by Prosper Insights and Analytics. For the first time, iPads are among the most popular gifts for both girls and boys, with demand among young girls being slightly higher (girls #4, boys #13).

“Although consumers may spend slightly less on holiday gifts this year, parents will still find a way to check off items from their child’s wish list,” said NRF President and CEO Matthew Shay. “Early promotions and attractive holiday deals will put parents in a position to find their children the perfect gifts while still maintaining their budgets.”  

According to NRF’s 2013 holiday consumer survey, 44.3 percent plan to buy toys as gifts this holiday season. Children are still asking for timeless items like Barbie and dolls (girls #1 and #2 respectively) or LEGO and toy cars (boys #1 and #3 respectively). And the younger generation is clearly more technologically savvy than ever, asking this year for tablets/iPads, smartphones (girls #11) and game consoles like Xbox One (boys #5) and PlayStation 4 (girls #10, boys #6).

Other popular toys for girls include Monster High Dolls (#3), Disney Princess (#4) and American Girl (#5). The hot new item for boys this year is Skylanders (#7), a hugely popular interactive video game that allows kids to play with a toy action figure at the same time.

“Timeless, classic toys will always resonate with children, but tablets and smartphones continue to steal more attention from today’s kids, leaving mom and dad with no option but to look for ways to get their children their own items - and leave theirs alone,” said Prosper’s Consumer Insights Director Pam Goodfellow.