Mummy, I want to be a zoo-keeper! What the kids’ Top Toys say about their future careers…

My sister and I always used to pore over the Argos catalogue as children, in the weeks running up to Christmas. When I was young it was THE way to decide what to put on your list for Father Christmas!

These days, we tend to use the iPad app rather than the catalogue of the paper variety, but the excitement of my own children is just the same as they swipe and press their way through what’s on offer.

This year, even more excitingly, we were invited to see for ourselves well in advance what we can expect to be clamouring for in our stockings!

Argos presented their predicted Top Toys list, and judging by the reactions of the Wee Man and Bubby D, they’ve pretty much hit the mark. Here’s what they reckon everyone is going to be after this year:

• The all new Furby Boom
• The new Teksta Dog
• Sesame Street Elmo Hugs
• LeapFrog LeapPad Ultra
• Sofia The First Talking Sophia
• Lego Star Wars R2D2
• Monopoly Empire
• Planes Wing Control Dusty
• Nerf Elite Rapidstrike CS-18
• Lego Friends Dolphin Cruiser
• VTech InnoTab
• Flying Fairy by Flutterbye

and they’ve made an exclusive video demonstrating them all too!

But that wasn’t all that was on show. There was plenty of other stuff to grab our attention including toys, games, technology, homewares, beauty and jewellery. And of course, the big man himself, Lego Father Christmas…

The Wee Man’s attention was caught immediately by Furby Boom and Teksta as well as the Playskool Camera which cleverly projects images after you have taken them, and the Playskool Elefun. He got very possessive of the blue Furby, to the point that there were almost Furby wars about to kick off!

I was interested to see what toys he was going for, because Argos had also commissioned some research into the type of toys children play with, the skills and passions that those toys demonstrate and the likely future career this could lead to. According to the Wee Man’s choices, he could well be a future teacher, vet, dog walker or zoo keeper.

He already loves walking dogs – so I guess that one is right for a start!

He’s also very hopeful of getting a ‘big boys bike’ for his birthday in two weeks, so of course as soon as he saw that he was off for a ride.

And then it was Bubby D’s turn to be scrutinised.

She absolutely fell in love with the miniature Silver Cross pushchair, and couldn’t wait to take various ‘babies’ for a walk in it.

She also really loved the Playskool Elefun walk along toy, which pops balls out of it’s trunk as you push it – and the Smart Trike, which she monopolised for at least an hour.

But in terms of the Top Toys, it was Sofia the First Talking Sofia that really grabbed her eye – and apparently that suggests a career as a fashion or lifestyle stylist…

She does have a fascination with hats, beads, cardigans, shoes and bags so we will see in twenty years or so if Argos are right!

But of course it wasn’t all about the kids. I like to have a little play too, and I was really, really excited to see the new PS4 sitting ready to be played. I got to have a little go with The Playroom – hoovering up robots, shaking them around the controller and then swiping them out on to the carpet before playing peekabo with them or waving at them madly.

Then the Wee Man saw what I was up to, and it was Game Over for me.

He LOVED the robots, he couldn’t get enough of playing with them and I really can’t thank the lovely playstation man enough because he sat playing with the Wee Man for ages, even ending up with him jumping all over him squealing in delight!

The Other Half is very much lusting over the PS4 and would dearly love Father Christmas to stick one in his stocking. I have no doubt that the Wee Man is firmly in support of that too.

I do concur with the PS4 wanting, but I also really liked the Argos CNM Touchpad tablet and the Kenwood KMix Stand Mixer, as well as the new collection from Andrew Barton which might just make drying my hair into some semblance of style possible. His new hairdryer is incredibly light and has an awesome diffuser – my last diffuser got used as a joss stick holder by my younger brother and is now in hairdryer heaven, so I am in need of a new one!

Consider yourself pre-warned, Father Christmas. The new catalogue is hitting the shelves on July 27th and if Argos are right, you’ll need to get in there early and bag us those toys!

 

Disclosure: I was not paid to write this post. I just love Argos. And the PS4. Pleeeease can I have one, Father Christmas?