Mom and Dad may be on a tighter budget these days, but when it comes time for Christmas or Hanukkah, there will be toys for the kids.

We’ve scanned the hot holiday toy lists from the retailersand trade publications such as "The Toy Insider"and "Time to Play"magazine and done a little digging ourselves to bring you a collection of toys that are sure to please children of all ages.

The trends this season include lots of collectible toys such as Squinkies and Zoobles, as well as plenty of new twists on traditional favorites.

Click ahead to see those and some of the other hottest toys of the holidays.


Hot Toy Trends: Legos, Princesses—and Lucrative Licensing


By Christina Cheddar-Berk
Posted 18 Oct 2010

Manufacturer: Playmobil
Suggested retail price: $54.99
Recommended ages: 18 months to 4 years

Sure to inspire hours of open-ended play, this farm-themed playset contains colorful animals that are larger than the traditional Playmobil figures and pieces, in order to be appropriate for toddlers.

Manufacturer: Fisher-Price
Suggested retail price: $69.99
Recommended ages: 18 months and up

Get ready to dance along with Mickey. In dance mode, children can groove with Mickey as he moves to the beat of one of six different songs, or put him in game mode to play “Mickey Says” or “Freeze Dance.”

Manufacturer: Spin Master
Suggested retail price: $9.99
Recommended ages: 3-11 years old

Already a hot seller, Zoobles are a collectible toy from the makers of Bakugan. Although each of the pieces operates in a way that is similar to the popular Bakugan orbs, the design and manner of play is more likely to appeal to girls.

Pop the round balls on top of their magnetic “happitat” and watch them transform into whimsical characters.

Collecting is a popular trend right now, whether it is Zhu Zhu pet hamsters, Silly Bandz bracelets, or many other items.

Manufacturer: Jakks Pacific
Suggested retail price: $49.99
Recommended ages: 6-8 years old

Sales of 18-inch dolls are expected to be robust this holiday season, says Karen Dodge, chief merchandising officer at Toys ‘R Us. This Ariel doll from Jakks Pacific’s Disney Princess & Me line is just one example of the trend. Available exclusively at Toys ‘R Us and the Disney Store, they are likely to be a hot toy this holiday season, because girls are so fond of the Disney princesses.

Other dolls in this category include Mattel’s American Girls dolls and less expensive versions such as MGA Entertainment’s Best Friends Club. Walmart sells an exclusive line of 18-inch Madame Alexander dolls, while Target’s exclusive line is called “Our Generation.”

Manufacturer: Learning Curve
Suggested retail price: $24.99
Recommended ages: 3 years and up

According to Toys ‘R Us, there is a resurgence in the popularity of trains this holiday season. Pictured here is a set for preschoolers based on the popular television series "Chuggington," which airs on Disney. Products licensed with PBS’s Thomas & Friends also are expected to sell well this year, as are other sets designed for older children.

With this set, children can rotate the launcher and eject engines onto the circular track.

Manufacturer: Mattel
Suggested retail price: $12.99
Recommended ages: 3 years and up

Sing-a-ma-jigs has made it on many a “hot toy” list this fall, and it’s no wonder: put simply, this toy makes you smile. Each of the plush characters sings a different song, but the real fun happens when you have several harmonizing together.

Manufacturer: Jakks Pacific
Suggested retail price: $24.99 and up
Recommended age: 5 years and up

This brings role-playing construction to a whole new level. Children can cut and nail the foam as if it were wood. There are different size kits that include construction plans, or children can design their own creations.

We’ve seen numerous spy-themed toys this holiday season that should garner a lot of attention. Two of the most interesting include Jakks Pacific’s Spy Net Secret Mission Video Watch, which is targeted to kids 8 years old and up, and is priced at about $49.99; and the Wild Planet’s Spy Gear Radio Control Spy Video Tracker Vehicle, which is recommended for ages 6 to 12 years, and is priced at about $120.

The lower cost of technology has let a lot of toymakers create innovative products and still keep prices down. Both of these toys include video cameras capable of recording video that can be uploaded to a computer.

The Video Tracker Vehicle even allows kids to write their own applications to download back to the vehicle.

Manufacturer: Mattel
Suggested retail price: $16.99
Recommended ages: 6 years and up

Monster High is a new fashion doll line from Mattel that is off to a strong start, fueled by a social media campaign and online videos. The product taps into the current popularity of vampires; it offers a bold style that is bringing older girls back to the category.

Watch out Wii, there’s competition from new motion-control games and systems. Microsoft is out with Kinect and Sony will be selling Move this holiday season. Both attempt to elevate the motion-control experience to a new level.

Kinect does so without a controller as the system scans your entire body, while Move has wireless controllers that are said to be more precise than Nintendo’s Wii, allowing for more powerful gaming.

Manufacturer: Lego
Suggested retail price: $9.99-$34.99
Recommended ages: 7 years and up

Lego has introduced a line of games that marry two popular trends from last holiday season: construction toys (such as Lego bricks) and board games.

There are more than 10 different games available, each with a different game style and aimed at different age groups. For example, in Creationary, teams play a charades -like game where each side tries to guess what the other is building with their Legos.

Pictured here is Hogwarts, a licensed game based on the popular Harry Potter series, but other titles include Pirate Code and Rames Pyramid, among others.

Manufacturer: Spin Master
Suggested retail price: $14.99-$39.99
Recommended ages: 4 to 11 years

Although Disney’s “Tron Legacy” won’t hit theaters until mid-December, the buzz will likely be building even before this movie brings the series to a new generation. These action figures capture the spirit of the movie.

The Light Cycles use Air Hogs technology to drive up walls and even upside down, all the while emitting 6-foot-light trails, just like in the film.

The action figures also take on a futuristic feel, with projection technology that allows the faces of the characters to light up, move and speak quotes from the movie.

Manufacturer: WowWee
Suggested retail price: $24.99
Recommended ages: 8 years and up

This item shows how much the toy category is benefiting from lower-cost technology to produce more sophisticated products at lower prices.

Paper Jamz allows for either freestyle play or the chance to strum along to programmed songs. There are several different guitars, each with their own music, as well as drums and an amplifier so you can really crank up the tunes.

Manufacturer: Mattel
Suggested retail price: $29.99
Recommended ages: 7 years and up

This memory game will get you out of your seat. Loopz uses motion sensors to detect whether you are correctly following the patterns of light and music it sets out. You can even create your own music with it.

Manufacturer: The Bridge Direct
Suggested retail price: $17.99 and up
Recommended ages: 4 years and up

Does someone on your holiday list have Bieber Fever? To the delight of millions of Justin Bieber fans, music merchandising company Bravado has partnered with Bridge Direct to sell a line of dolls and plush toys based on the teenage heartthrob. Some of the dolls even sing. “And I was like baby, baby, baby, oh…”

Manufacturer: Blip Toys
Suggested retail price: $6.99
Recommended ages: 4 years and up

Already it’s hard to find these collectible toys. Kids will find the squishy characters irresistible. They can be played with, put on top of pencils or worn as jewelry. There also are several playsets, which mimic vending machines that dispense the Squinkies.

Manufacturer: Spin Master
Suggested retail price: $64.99
Recommended ages: 12 years and up

Video cameras are popping up inside the strangest places. There’s one inside a Barbie doll, and there’s one inside this remote-controlled helicopter. So fly around and get a peak at what it looks like from up there.

Manufacturer: Mattel
Suggested retail price: $24.99
Recommended ages: 8 years and up

Kids will like the cool transformation these cars make. Plus, they can fit in a pocket and are collectible. The case serves double-duty as the remote.

Manufacturer: Cepia
Suggested retail price: $9.99 and up
Recommended ages: 4 and up

Can Cepia keep Zhu Zhu pets hot this holiday season?

One way they’re trying is by going after boys with the Kung Zhu clan, which consists of Ninja Warriors and Special Forces that come with battle armor. Pictured here is a Kung Zhu Battle Walker.

The company also has introduced Zhu Zhu Rock Stars with Mohawk hairstyles and the Wild Bunch, which expands the Zhu Zhu family beyond hamsters to bunnies, hedgehogs, skunks and other critters.

For the girls, the traditional Zhu Zhu audience, the company has introduced a line of princess characters, complete with their own castles , carriages and ballrooms.