Believe it or not, the holiday season is only a few months away, which means you can start planning your holiday wish list now. Especially when it comes to your kids’ wish lists, as you may have noticed, toys are in high demand. Sellouts are at an all-time high in the toy category, so if your kids are after a particularly high-demand item, it’s always a good idea to shop early. To get that info, we spoke to toy trend specialist Jennifer Lynch. Toy Associationand she shared everything you need to know about toy shopping in 2024.
When is the best time to start shopping for holiday toys?
“If there’s one thing we’ve learned from classic Christmas movies, it’s Jingle All the Way“The earlier you shop, the better, especially if there’s a must-have toy on your child’s holiday wish list,” says Lynch. “While it’s tempting to wait for a last-minute sale, you run the risk of not having the toy when you need it.” In other words, if there’s a toy your child wants more than anything, especially if it’s on trend this season, get it now to avoid disappointment when they open their gift. But, of course, this leads to the next question:
What toys do you expect to be the most popular this holiday season?
“Toys inspired by some of the most popular YouTube channels and digital content will be must-have items this holiday season,” Lynch said. This includes upcoming releases of Rachel’s Toy Serieswill be available for pre-order on September 15th and at all major retailers on September 29th. Lynch also says that with the current cultural interest in magic and all things mystical, toys inspired by magical storylines will be very popular this season, as will technology. “We expect to see a variety of toys that utilize technology in new ways. There’s a lot of innovation happening,” she says.
Toys to buy now before they sell out
When you can’t seem to find that “must-have” toy for your child, it’s tempting to panic and rush out to buy whatever you find, but Lynch urges toy shoppers to shop smart. “Be careful where you shop and who you buy from. Be careful with e-commerce shopping — if a deal seems too good to be true, it probably isn’t,” she says. “Do your due diligence, check product listings for typos (a sure sign of a counterfeit), and only shop from legitimate companies and sellers!” With that advice in mind, here are the toys you should click through to buy now before the sales hit — all from retailers we know and trust.
Monster High Raven Wednesday Collectible Doll
Wednesday Addams’ Monster High collection features a variety of dolls and sets, and if you spot them, you should definitely buy them now – these dolls are already selling out months before the holiday shopping season even begins.
price: $65 at Walmart
buy now
Just play with the playful monkey, Real Peanut
This interactive stuffed monkey is packed with amazing new technology that creates an exciting play experience, but all your child will see is their new best friend.
price: $59.99 at Amazon
buy now
Squishmellows Harry Potter Wave 3
For any parents or guardians reading this, we don’t need to convince you just how popular Squishmellows are, so if you’re looking for a gift for a Harry Potter fan, you’d better get your pre-order in for this new wave before it launches on September 16th. We’re sure they’ll be in limited supply quickly by that date.
Squishmallows Original “Harry Potter” 10-inch Dobby Plush Toy
price: $15.99 at Amazon
Buy Dobby Now
Squishmallows Original “Harry Potter” 10-inch Sorting Hat Plush Toy
price: $15.99 at Amazon
Buy the Sorting Hat now
Squishmallows Original “Harry Potter” 10 inch Mandrake Plush Toy
price: $15.99 at Amazon
Buy Mandrake Now
Squishmallows Original “Harry Potter” 10-inch Fawkes Plush Toy
price: $15.99 at Amazon
Buy Fawkes Now
AI Story Bear Poe
A modern, state-of-the-art reimagining of ’80s Teddy Ruxpin. With the help of AI and the app, Poe “comes to life” and tells the story of your child’s choice. With hundreds of story ideas to choose from, the combinations are endless, resulting in a new story every time.
price: $49.99 at Amazon
buy now
MrBeast Lab Swarm
With over 100 different “flocks” to collect, kids who love MrBeast will love these microscopic creatures, as well as the fun feature of adding water to test tubes to reveal what creatures are there.
price: $8.47 at Walmart
buy now
MrBeast Labs Mutator Stealth Panther
With multiple chemistry lab-inspired steps to “create” the beast, this figure is much more than just an action figure.
price: $24.99 at Amazon
buy now
Evil Elphaba Fashion Doll
With the new movie hitting theaters this November, there’s been a surge in demand for a variety of collectible dolls inspired by the film (with many already sold out), so if you’ve got a Wicked fan on your shopping list, pre-order now to secure this gift before the movie hits theaters.
price: $24.99 at Target
buy now
Trending toys for 2024
Decora Fashion Girls “Decora”
This series of movable dolls has been on the market since last spring, but this is the first time they have been available in stores during the holiday season, and they have proven hugely popular with kids who love accessories and fashion.
price: $21.97 at Walmart
buy now
MYNT3D Super 3D Pen
With 3D printing continuing to grow in popularity every year, this pen is a great way for young artists to turn their drawings into three-dimensional works of art, as well as a great “introduction to 3D printing” tool.
price: $43.86 on Amazon
buy now
LEGO Fortnite Battle Bus
This is a product you can pre-order now. One of the most iconic elements of any kid’s gamer’s favorite game is recreated in a 954-piece set with 9 minifigures. The product will be shipped on October 1st, so you’ll have it in time for the holidays.
price: $99.99 at LEGO
buy now
LEGO Disney Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas
Nostalgia is at its peak during the holiday season, and this highly anticipated set from the cult-favorite film will be a must-have for builders of all ages.
price: $199.99 at LEGO
buy now
VTech KidiZoom Print Cam
Kids love the fun and instant gratification of taking a photo and printing it to display in their room, locker or give to a friend. The camera also comes with templates to create filters, borders, effects and more for your photos. Colors vary by retailer, so shop around.
price: $74.99 at Target
buy now
Bluey 3-in-1 Plane Playset
This playset transforms from a plane to a hotel to a speedboat, comes with 2 exclusive figures and lots of accessories, and can play over 25 sounds and phrases from the show.
price: $59.99 at Target
buy now
MAGNA-TILES Space 32 Piece Magnetic Building Set
This new arrival from the world of MAGNA-TILES has been a huge hit since its release and may already be on your child’s wishlist.
price: $49.99 at Amazon
buy now
The post Hottest Holiday Toys: 2024 Guide appeared first on The Real Deal on RetailMeNot.
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