Top toys for kids this Christmas include Furby, LeapPad 2

BY BRAVETTA HASSELL World Scene Writer
Thursday, November 22, 2012
11/22/12 at 3:25 AM

Only a couple weeks into this year's holiday shopping season and Woodland Hills mall's Santa can tell you what many children want.

The little ones want Furbys and princesses, Lalaloopsy dolls, tricycles in their favorite color, LEGOs, and toys from their favorite movies.

"Of course, the older ones want cellphones," he goes on to say. He tries to dissuade them.

Four-wheelers? They want those.

"But I always ask where they're going to ride them," Santa says.

Electric scooters? They want those, too.

And the lists continue, featuring the newest toys, games, sets of wheels and even a few handheld computers - kid-friendly, tablet-sized and enough to make the easily contented children believe they're close to the big leagues of iPads and everywhere-connectivity.

As Toys R Us tells it, its hot toy list was no easy task and was a year in the making "scouring the world for the most amazing new toy introductions," said Lisa Harnisch, senior vice president and general merchandising manager for Toys R Us, U.S.

Find Lalaloopsy dolls with their playful hair and cutesy looks. Silly Hair Stars Harmony B. Sharp is Lalaloopsy's first talking, singing, dancing and hair-spinning doll.

Baby Alive's Baby Wanna Walk not only walks and talks on her own, but it also eats, drinks and makes a mess, too.

Furby is back, its personality developing uniquely the more your child plays with it.

The LeapPad2 Explorer is in high demand, with a faster processor, featuring two camera/video recorders.

Action heros and the toys that bring them into the comfort of your home and your child's imagination are ever popular and include anything from Fisher Price's Imaginext DC Super Friends Batcave with working elevators and a revolving front door to WWE's plush Brawlin Buddies and tough-looking Transformers toys.

Nerf's hot toy this year is the N-Strike Elite Hail-Fire Blaster that is motorized and shoots up to 75 feet.

For the gamer, check out Wii U, the latest Nintendo console. It has two screens, one on a TV and the other on the touch-screen GamePad controller, allowing players to connect with one another around the world and have different experiences at the same time and within the same game. With Wii U, your child can download content from Nintendo's e-shop, talk in real time with a video chat feature and more.

FURBY (amazon.com, $54)

No two Furbys can be the same because their personalities develop based on how each child plays with the interactive toy. Their emotions are on full display through their LED eyes. Your child's Furby can talk with other Furbys in their native language, Furbish, as well as in English. Children can do more with Furby, such as feed it virtual pet food and translate Furbish, by using their iPod, iPhone or iPad. Great for children 6 years and older.

Laser Pegs (target.com, starting at $19.99)

Laser Pegs' newest kits can coordinate with other popular building block construction toy sets. Your child can use the toy building blocks - such as LEGOs - they already have with the new Laser Pegs, and when connected to a Laser Peg power source, the Laser Peg shapes he or she has created will become illuminated with a colored LED light inside of them.

Lalaloopsy-Silly Hair Stars Harmony B. Sharp (amazon.com, $49.80)

Harmony B. Sharp is officially the first of the Lalaloopsy line to sing, talk and have "dancing" hair. To get Harmony to sing a new song, all your child has to do is change her hairstyle with one of five accessories and hats included with the doll. Harmony's tiny kitty will chime in from time to time as the doll sings, tells jokes and plays games. Great for children 4 years and older.

LeapFrog LeapPad2 Explorer (amazon.com, $99)

The LeapFrog LeapPad2 features front-and-back cameras and video recorders and also a faster processor and more memory. It comes with free content such as a music player already programmed with five learning songs, a Cartoon Director creativity app, an Art Studio and more. Great for children ages 3 to 9.

Wii U (amazon.com, $475)

With this newest Nintendo gaming console, your gamer can connect with gamers everywhere, in the same game at the same time while having their own unique experiences. Two screens - one on a television and one on the touch-screen GamePad controller - make this type of global gaming possible. The new system also features motion control, high-definition graphics and is compatible with most other Wii games and accessories. Great for children 5 years and older.

2012 hot toy list

(In no particular order)

Furby

LeapFrog LeapPad2 Explorer

Wii U

Hot Wheels R/C Terrain Twister

Lalaloopsy-Silly Hair Stars Harmony B. Sharp

Nerf N-Strike Elite Hail-Fire Blaster

Barbie Photo Fashion Doll

Fijit Friends Yippits

Laser Pegs

iTikes - I explore Map

Sources: Toys R Us, Walmart, Target

Original Print Headline: The toys kids want

Bravetta Hassell 918-581-8316
bravetta.hassell@tulsaworld.com

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