Canary Islands Holidays

Biscuit Pup

Christmas is always an expensive if exciting time, especially for families with young children. With youngsters being targeted by TV advertising, it is no easy task to sort the wheat from the chaff and to spend our hard earned money wisely.

Many of the UK’s leading toy shops are members of the British Toy Retailers Association, representing over 150 companies responsible for selling over 90% of the toys sold in the UK. It is an independent body based on 50 years experience and it acts as the retailer’s voice and spokesman to take into account what consumers are requesting, what children find exciting and keeping abreast of the latest trends. Every year, following the major toy exhibitions where all the new products are introduced, they produce a report of what they found to be exciting and what they forsee as the top sellers for Christmas that year.

In days long gone the ultimate high-tech toy was a Triang electric train set. These days there are truly amazing toys such as toy dogs that obey your every word, dollys that drink, sleep, eat, cry and even pee !! and a complete host of electronic toys which range from consoles to voice changing masks to funny little machines that can find weird mutants loitering in the very air that we breathe.

Let’s take a look at a few of this year’s stars and we’ve simply got to start with that loveable puppy. It’s made by FurReal and named “Biscuit – My Lovin’ Pup“. It costs a a hefty £119.95, but this amazing full sized Golden Retriever puppy obeys your every command. He sits, lays down, gives you his paw and has umpteen sensors that tell him when you’re stroking him so that he can make little puppy yelps and barks whilst wagging his tail. Leave him undisturbed for a few minutes and he falls asleep and begins to snore.

It’s time to move from cute and lovable to high-tech, sci-fi and totally weird. The Catcha Beast is a hand held electronic toy that finds invisible beings that inhabit the atmosphere around the user. Once found, the monster has to be reeled into the machine. It’s very difficult to explain, if you click on the following link, there’s a video that shows the gadget in use. The Catcha Beast is for sale at £17.95.

Let’s finish with something priced midway between the two earlier toys. Elmo Live is a much loved character from Sesame Street and sells at £59.95. He’s another amazing creation being able to speak, sing, sit and stand together with crossing his legs whilst seated on a chair telling stories. He isn’t voice controlled like Biscuit the dog, but he does a variety of actions as you squeeze his foot, tummy, back or nose.

So there we have it. Our top three toys for Christmas 2008. Check out our top toy website for a selection of other fine gifts.