High-Tech Christmas Wishes

Crawford Erin

December 4, 2007 — The predictions are in on what parents will be trampling one another for this year.

Several toys are vying for the hot holiday toy honorific, a title previously held by giggling Muppets, dimpled dolls and video game systems.

All of this year's contenders have something in common: A tech element.

"Kids are growing up in a much more tech world," said Toy Wishes Editor-in-chief Jim Silver, whose publication compiles an annual listing of the dozen hottest toys. "There are cell phones around them. They're in homes with DVRs. They're growing up differently than kids 20 years ago."

So, the stuff he's noticing shortages of tends to have screens.

Expect to scour stores if you want one of the following: Guitar Hero III for the Wii system ($90), Barbie Girls (MP3 player/fashion figurine, $60), Rubik's Revolution ($20) and Hannah Montana Singing Dolls and Pop Star Stage (Dolls, about $20; Stage, $60).
Silver is also expecting the Fisher Price Smart Cycle ($100) to race onto that list before the holiday season is over.

Last year's hottest purchase continues to be hard to find: {}The Nintendo Wii ($250).

On Web retailer eToys, "The Nintendo Wii is a top-selling item for us and as soon as we get inventory in, it sells out within minutes. So that's going to be an item that's hard to find," said eToys spokeswoman Sheliah Gilliland.

Wait, you may be wondering.

What happened to those reticent consumers who were supposed to be dialing it back on holiday spending?

"If you look at the results from Black Friday, the numbers were up," Silver said. "And (weak consumer spending) generally affects the toy industry less than adult items. You cut back on yourself before you cut back on your child."

If your kid hasn't made his or her holiday gift list yet, here are a few of the items you can expect to see on it.

Web Ready

Toys "R" Us has identified "Internet connectivity" as one of this year's big trends. Spokesman Bob Friedland said the Internet is being "integrated into our everyday lives." And that goes for toys, too.

The Power Rangers Mega Mission Helmet ($50) plugs in to the Internet to download different missions.

After receiving a Shining Star stuffed animal ($15), kids can go online to the International Star Registry and name a star.

"It's a cute toy to cuddle with, but there's this entire online component," Gilliland said.

Webkinz ($10) stuffed animals allow kids to go online and play games, interacting as their new animal pal.

Tech and Robotic toys

"Transformers: The Movie" bears some responsibility for surging interest in robot toys.

"It made people remember their love of robots in disguise," said Friedland.

The Hasbro Transformers Ultimate Bumblebee Figure ($90) and Transformers Arm Blasters ($35) both made the Toy Wishes list of hot dozen toys.

"(The Bumblebee Figure) is a very cool toy, and selling very quickly," Gilliland said.

Another big transforming toy is a Star Wars figure, which transforms from Darth Vader into the Death Star ($50).

Rock Star Toys

The Guitar Hero line of games continues to be wildly popular.

But several other music-themed toys have been selling big.

Anything branded with "High School Musical," the Disney musical movie juggernaut, is hot, Gilliland said. Toys "R" Us is expecting big sales of the High School Musical Dance Mat ($30), which gets kids dancing along to the movies' soundtrack.

And Hannah Montana is huge with young girls.

"Anything with her name on it has been selling quickly," Gilliland said. "There's a Hannah Montana music stage ($60; doll $20), and you can connect your MP3 player or iPod to it."

Active Toys

In addition to the High School Musical Dance Mat, Fisher Price Smart Cycle and Nintendo Wii - all toys that encourage activity - some classics like the Radio Flyer Inchworm ($40) are popular this season.

"The Inchworm is a great classic toy," Friedland said. "Kids sit on it and bounce to make the inchworm move along."

Traditional Toys

The proliferation of toy recalls has some parents seeking out the safety of wooden toys, such as train sets, and games. "People want their children to have happy holiday memories," Gilliland said.

And parents hoping to interact with their kids over an old-fashioned board game night could try some of the updates of classic favorites. Try Rubik's Revolution ($20). Or Gilliland recommends Cranium Jam Pack Jam ($20) and the "Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader?" DVD Game ($27).