What’s hot with toys and games for lads and lasses.

Merry Christmas to everyone and welcome to the toy shopping extravaganza of 2008, where old classics were remade into the new favourites and fresh ideas were turned into winning toys. The following list is but a small assortment of the top toys which are making little boys and girls the world over squeal with delight. This collection of toys was chosen through a series of votes, so do not be disappointed if your favourite toy is not on the list. For ease of use, I have divided the list into a boys and girls section, to make the selection process just a little bit simpler.

• Toys for Boys

First up on my list of hot gadgets had to be the EyeClops Night Vision Infrared Stealth Goggles that are, in one word, ‘amazing’. These work just like real night-goggles for a third of the price of the real ones, allowing anyone to see clearly in the dark for up to 50 metres! This is no mere plaything, but an educational toy bar none, letting you see in the dark like other nocturnal creatures can. With two modes of operation, namely black and white [for low battery usage] and green vision [for maximum night time fun], this true-to-life spy toy is one of a kind!

For children with boundless energy, the Wild Planet Hyper Dash action game will keep your family moving and thinking. This award-winning toy features an easy to learn game mechanism: you need to tag discs that can be scattered up to any distance before the timer runs out. This is a fun and exciting game which encourages team play, co-ordination and quick thinking. The tagger is made out of durable plastic and variable skill levels are available to challenge players of all ages.
• Gifts for Girls

The Fisher-Price Power Wheels Barbie Ford Mustang is a must-have for the little princess in your life. This nifty little car moves with speed and can easily fit up two passengers in its comfy interior. The Mustang is highly-detailed inside and out, with pony grille fog-lamps, a racy rear spoiler and revving engine sounds. The Barbie stylings also include chrome wheels with detailed accents, a beeping horn and cup holders, enabling the little ones to really pretend that they are driving a car, just like mom and dad! It even includes a radio with pre-recorded music to hum to, perfect for those long journeys around the living room or garden. The Barbie Ford Mustang has two optional speeds of 5 and 10kms respectively.

Little chefs can use the Jakks Pacific Girl Gourmet Cupcake Maker to make the tastiest cupcakes and with only a small amount of effort, crazy designs and cool frosting effects can be applied. This marvellous toy can create up to four cupcakes of varying flavours, namely red velvet, chocolate, yellow, and cinnamon sugar. The Cupcake Maker includes everything you need in order to bake, mix and decorate your tiny cupcakes. Mix the cakes, pour the batter into the cupcake paper, place in the baking dish and place it in the microwave to make the perfect cupcake! Once the cake is cool enough to handle, it’s time to decorate. Get your preferred frosting into the machine and place the cupcake down to make perfect frosting spirals. Decorate with sprinkles and serve! If this doesn’t bring a sparkle to a little girl’s eye, nothing will.

This small list of toys should see you well on your way in choosing the right toy for your children. Whichever toy or game you pick, make sure it is done with love and your children will adore you for that. For a more varied selection of outdoor toys or educational toys, hope online and see what other parents are selecting for their family members.

I have been considering buying some educational toys and came across some interesting kids toys websites.