Hot Christmas Toys for 2008

Bakugan Battle Pack
(Bakugan May Vary)

Each year, there's always a scramble to get the hottest Christmas toy of the season. Though Christmas should be about more than just receiving gifts, it's undeniable that parents want to make the holiday as memorable as possible for their children. The perfect Christmas toy can do just that. More often than not though, it just so happens to be the hottest, most in-demand product on the market. To ensure you get yours before the supply runs out, definitely start your search early.

The advent of the Internet has proven extremely useful. From buyer's forums to auction sites, you'll find advice everywhere online. It's a powerful researcher's tool, formatted to help you find the information you need quickly.

Not only can you find out what the hottest Christmas toys are with a simple click, but you can also find information on where to best find them. Auction sites, like eBay, seem to have everything at all times, but big retailers, such as Target, also have an online presence nowadays too. What's more, they're all in competition with one another to secure your business. As a result, you can usually find good deals with a bit of comparison-shopping.

Webkinz Ganz Large Fantail Goldfish August 2008 Brand New Release Hm-218

Buyer's forums and advice articles are also great starting points. They can help you identify the best Christmas toys for a particular age group, such as babies, toddlers, kids just starting school, and teenagers. For instance, there's a big difference between a toy intended for a 2-year-old and a 4-year-old. While a 4-year-old can get the most from his/her new handheld game, a 2-year-old might be less interested because the comprehension level doesn't yet match. These are considerations parents need to take when searching for the hottest Christmas toy for their child's age group.

For 2008, a quick overview finds that the Webkinz, Nintendo Wii Fit, Lego Clone Troopers, Bakugan, Melissa and Doug toys, and Leapfrog toys will be the hottest Christmas toys of the holiday season. As Christmas nears, these particular toys will be more difficult to get your hands on, so start your search early and comparison-shop thoroughly. Note that for the products that can be ordered online, free shipping is often offered as a bonus. It's a win-win!

Wii

For 2008, our pick for the best Christmas toy for any age group is the Nintendo Wii video game system. The reason being is that it can be enjoyed by the entire family, with games available for all ages and skill levels. As for the best Christmas toy for a particular age group, that's a bit of a different story. H

Here are our picks for the best Christmas toys out there, for babies to grown-ups.

Babies: Hasbro Playskool Busy Ball Popper. "Get silly with poppin', droppin' colored balls! Pump the plunger and drop the balls onto the spiral track. When they reach the bottom, look out - the balls pop out the top! Giggles are guaranteed with wacky sound effects and 8 lively songs to help keep the fun rolling along. The Playskool Busy Ball Popper has won numerous toy awards, including American Baby's Best Toy, Child Magazine's Best Toy, and the NAPPA Gold Award" This is a winning choice for babies six months and older (through 36 months)

Toddlers: Fisher-Price Musical Tea Set "This teapot over for magic pouring sounds, or presses the lid to hear a tea time tune. Set includes four cups, saucers and spoons, plus a creamer and sugar bowl with lid, and a tray for serving treats." Ages 3-6 years.

Kids 5-7: Blokus Classic "Grades K and up. Europe's 2003 game of the year! Develops logic and spacial perception while kids learn to be tactical. Players take turns placing pieces on their board, each starting from their corner. Each new piece must touch at least one other piece of the same color, but only at the corners! The goal is to get rid of all your pieces. The game ends when all players are blocked from laying down any more of their pieces. Includes one gameboard with 400 squares, 84 game pieces in four bright translucent colors, and an instruction guide."

Halo 3 Series 2 Master Chief

Kids 8-11: LEGO Clone Troopers Battle Pack "The Trade Federation is on the march! Send your Separatist forces into battle against the Republic with a droid transport carrier and "hovering" STAP vehicle, complete with a full squad of armed and combat-ready battle droids. Set includes four Battle Droid and three Super Battle Droid mini-figures."

Kids 9 and up: Cranium Hullabaloo. "This game is sort of like Twister meets Simon Says. Lay the Hullabaloo pads around on the floor about two 'kid's feet' away from each other. The pads are different shapes and colors and have pictures and words on them. Turn on the game console and the cheerful music begins, a happy voice welcomes you to the game and then gives the simple directions you'll need to play. "Jump on a square shape," "Slide over to a red shape," "Hop to a shape with an animal on it" and so on. Then it might tell you to freeze, or to put a body part on one pad, and then a different body part on another. Then, it'll tell you that if you are on a particular pad at the end of that round, you are the winner. We found it to be fun, and easy to understand--though we did wonder how long it might hold a child's interest." -Megan Sullivan

Teens: Soul Calibur IV "This game rocks! There is so much character customization it is almost like a fighting Final fantasy game. The graphics are top notch and controls are so easy to use. the multiplayer also kicks butt. I would recommend this game to anybody who likes fighting games with the bonus of adding attributes to your character via armor, weapons, etc."

Grown-ups: Wii Fit This gadget is a must, as evidenced by the number of queries it receives on search engines. Everyone is looking for it to help the whole family shed pounds and stay healthy while having fun all at the same time! A Christmas toy that's sure to be enjoyed well into the new year.