Top 10 toys of Christmas 2021

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This year's top ten toys for Christmas have been revealed by the Toy Retailer's Association.

They're the must-haves that will have mums and dads going full Arnie in Jingle All The Way, the ones kids will be mis-spelling in their desperate pleas to Santa. So if you want to ensure one of these is under the tree, best start the process now, before you're left with nothing but three wooden blocks and a rubber duck.

1. L.O.L. Surprise! Movie Magic Doll Asst from MGA Entertainment | £11 from The Entertainer

The toy contains ten surprises with dolls, movie props, film scenes and 3D glasses. "Collect all 12 brand new LOL Surprise Movie Magic dolls and create the greatest film the universe has ever seen!" Suggest the manufacturers. "Plug all the secret messages into the Movie Script to complete the screenplay. Or, write your own creative words in the blanks!" As any director will tell you, this is pretty much exactly how movies are made.

2. PAW Patrol Chase's Deluxe Transforming Vehicle from Spin Master | £50 from Argos

"Features authentic movie details and graphics, a projectile launcher, flashing lights and realistic sounds. When Adventure City is in trouble, place Chase (action figure included) behind the wheel of his cruiser and race to the rescue." Basically you're teaching children that crimes can be resolved and that can only be healthy.

3. Jurassic World Slash 'n Battle Scorpios Rex | £29.99 from The Entertainer

With this beast, you get action inspired by Jurassic World: Camp Cretaceous: "the all-new hybrid dinosaur, Scorpios Rex, is extremely fast, dangerous and unpredictable—and unleashes terror with its poisonous quills!" Your innocent babe gets a "dynamic claw slashing feature, a chomp and roar, plus a mighty tail whip attack!" They're going to love it.

4. Hot Wheels® Massive Loop Mayhem Track Set | £62.99 from The Entertainer

'Mayhem' is always a worrying word at Christmas, but this may actually keep kids in one place and interested for quite a while. This "epic track" includes a 28-inch wide loop that's designed for multi-car play — "vehicles whip around the loop and avoid nail-biting near-misses with each other! there's the inevitable crash." The set comes with 1 Hot Wheels car and a motorised launcher and it's compatible with other Hot Wheels tracks and cars.

5. Barbie™ Dreamtopia Rainbow Magic™ Mermaid | £22.40 from The Entertainer

This shimmery mermaid bends at the waist so she can 'swim' and has very enviable hair. There are also plenty of fellow mermaids and looking-good-under-the-sea accessories that children will also doubtless want to collect. Be warned, glittery Barbies seldom travel alone.

6. Bluey Family Home Playset from Moose Toys | £39.99 from The Entertainer

Here we have the perfect des res for a small blue dog, with four moulded rooms. Beds, armchairs and kitchen stool included in sale. There's also a purple fridge and bijou bathroom. The wall panel also pulls down to form 'an amazing outdoor patio' which can be used for dog dinner parties in summer and makes a perfect home for stylish plants.

7. Magic Mixies from Moose Toys | £70 from Selfridges

This remarkable item allows children to mix a pet in a cauldron. Yes it sounds slightly alarming, but with the misty cauldron they can "Watch as magic happens right before your eyes! Follow the Spell Book and watch as each ingredient helps to create your Mixie; add Sound Dust to give your Mixie its voice, drop in the Magic Feather to give your Mixie wings or stir in the Fizz Flower to add some colour. Don't forget to give your Mixie a name by writing it on the Naming Scroll and adding it to the potion!"

With over 50 "sounds and reactions" - though parental ones are not mentioned.

8. LEGO Star Wars Boba Fett’s Starship | £44.99 from John Lewis

One for Baby Yoda fans. "Play out bounty-hunting missions and battles with this LEGO buildable model version of Boba Fett’s Starship.." It's got "a handle for easy flying, an opening LEGO minifigure cockpit for LEGO Star Wars minifigures, rotating wings, 2 stud shooters and 2 rotating dual blaster cannons (non-shooting)."

If none of that makes sense, not to worry- you also get Boba Fett and The Mandalorian LEGO minifigures.

9. Gassy Gus Board Game | £19.20 from The Entertainer

Not ideal for teaching children table manners, but they will almost certainly find this hilarious. "It’s dinner time and Gus loves to eat. There’s just one BIG problem, most things Gus eats give him gas! Take turns to feed Gus all sorts of food, and watch his belly bulge, but if Gus passes gas on your turn, you have to take extra food cards."

Basically, you're laughing at a man with gastric problems. Nevertheless, "it's a hoot when you toot."

10. Little Live Pets - Piggly | £24.99 from Ryman

Spoiler: She's not live. However, kids of 4+ won't mind too much. This small pig comes with "sounds and reactions when they play with Piggly, watching as she interacts with them. This set comes with a bottle and lead too, helping inspire children’s adventures."

Be warned- demo batteries are included, but you'll need more fairly swiftly.

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