Published: November 24, 2007 12:23 am      

Top toys on kids’ wish list

Shopping for toys can put a smile on the face of children and a dent in parents’ pockets, but they remain at the top of Christmas wish lists of kids across the nation.

“We’ve gone up thousands of dollars a day (in sales),” said Jamie Crews, assistant manager of KB Toys in Richmond Mall.

So what are parents and children grabbing off the shelf this holiday season? At KB Toys, it is Hasbro FurReal Friends’ Squawkers McCall Parrot.

“It’s like a real pet,” Crews said. “It has 40 different responses, you can record your own voice, it sings and you can feed it.”

Among older children, there is the World Wrestling Federation craze.

“We sell wrestling toys galore,” he said. “Anything of (WWF wrestler) John Cena is popular.”

The most popular toys this Christmas season, according to toptoysguide.com are: the TMX Cookie Monster & TMX Ernie anniversary editions (prices vary); Webkinz (prices vary); LEGO Mindstorms ($249.99); FurReal Friends (range from $50 to $270); Pleo Dinosaur (prices vary); iDog, iCat and iFish (prices vary); Transformers toys (prices vary); Kid-Touch digital camera ($48.88); Nintendo DS ($129.99); Barbie Girls ($49.88); Nintendo Wii ($250); 2007 Holiday Collector Barbie ($43); R/C Spy Video Car ($105); Hannah Montana Singing Doll ($17.96); Digi Makeover ($45); EyeClops Bionic Eye ($50); guitar ($55); and Amazing Allysen ($85).

Even though they always will remain popular among youths, toy sales have been on a downward slope for the past few years.

USA Today recently reported that U.S. toy industry is grappling with years of intense price competition, slipping revenues, higher costs, store closings and high-profile bankruptcies.

Last year, U.S. toy sales continued their slide, falling 3 percent to $20.1 billion according to NPD Group, a market information company.

Predictions already are being made as to what will fly off the shelves next year, and “Toy Wishes Magazine” recently released their predictions for toys that will be hot sellers in 2008. Among them are: American Idol Talent Challenge; Barbie Girls; Eye-Clops; Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock; Hannah Montana Singing Dolls & Pop Stage; Nerf N-Strike Disk Shot; Rubik’s Revolution; Fisher-Price Smart Cycle (and Video Games); Spotz; and Swypeout Online Battle Racing.

There are several Web sites that can help parents find the right toy for their child that age-appropriate.

Visit www.toptoysguide.com, www.squidoo.com; www.top10toys.com; and www.BestToys2007.com for Christmas wish list ideas.

Ronica Shannon can be reached at rshannon@richmondregister.com or 623-1669, Ext. 234.