It might feel like madness to talk about the top Christmas toys for 2024 in July, but for the parents who like to plan ahead, now is a really good time to start shopping.
We've compiled this list of great Christmas toys based on our in-depth product knowledge and expertise, hands-on experience, and feedback from parents and kids. We've also analysed the retailer trends to bring you a definitive list of the top Christmas toys for 2024, to take the hassle out of your Christmas shopping and help you avoid overspending on something that doesn't live up to the hype.
This is supported by child development expert Dr. Amanda Gummer, who says: "I talk to a lot of parents, and time and again I hear that parents panic at the last minute and over-spend in haste when choosing what to buy from the top Christmas toys." To avoid falling into that trap, check out this list of the toys that are worth your money, according to our experts.
Top Christmas toys 2024
In a hurry to get this year's most popular toys crossed off your shopping list? Here's our pick of the top toys for Christmas 2024:
What is it: Enjoy arts and crafts with this Pati-School set. Use the modellable dough icing and decorations to bedazzle trinket boxes and keyrings to look like little cupcakes and sweet treats.
Why we chose it: Our little testers (aged six and nine) loved getting creative with this Pati-School set, that industry experts have also lauded as one of the best kids toys of 2024. They loved trying out the different piping nozzles, and coloured dough, for different icing effects and were excited to see the finished results when it was all dry.
What is it: A screen-free audio player that is designed to be operated by kids from the age of three. Audio are played via hand-painted figures called Tonies.
Why we chose it: I love how easy the Toniebox is to operate. When we tested it, it only took a matter of sections before my nephew was swapping out one Tonie for another, adjusting the volume, and ushering me out of the room so he could listen to his stories in peace. Read our full Toniebox review here.
What is it: The toy phenomenon that took over childhoods in the ’90s is BACK and we're here for it. The latest generation Furby features five voice-activated modes and more than 600 responses for kids to discover, including lights, sounds, and songs.
Why we chose it: Interactive toys like Furby are brilliant for helping kids engage in imaginative play, and can help foster nurturing skills too. Furby responds to hugs, pats, belly tickles, shaking, and (our fave) feeding of its pretend Pizza Charm!
What is it: An audio player with a retro design, that has additional functionality, including an integrated nightlight, room thermostat and clock. Audio is played via credit card-sized cards.
Why we chose it: When I tested the Yoto, I loved how quick and easy it was to set up, and how easy it is to use. The additional features, like the nightlight, are a really nice touch too. My Goddaughters are obsessed with theirs and even have the Yoto Mini for when they go on holiday. Read our full Yoto review.
What is it: A freestanding and durable wooden grocery store, that includes a hand-cranked conveyor belt, bagging area, card machine, beeping scanner and cash drawer.
Why we chose it: GoodtoKnow's Deputy Editor and shopping expert, Heidi Scrimgeour touts this as 'the best toy my children have ever played with'. Need we say more? Heidi added that her daughter particularly loved moving items along the conveyor belt, like she'd seen people do in the supermarket.
What is it? Mattel's Barbie the Movie Doll is based on none other than Margot Robbie. Ask anyone in the toy industry what this year's top Christmas toy is and they'll give you the same answer - Barbie.
Why we chose it: This Dream Villa Pool Party Dollhouse (was £349.99 now £179.99 at Amazon) Barbie Dreamhouse Prime Day deal is a cracker and bound to top wish lists - but Barbie herself gets top billing on our top Christmas toys list.
What is it: This set of 40 magnetic tiles, includes different colours and shapes to help kids build brilliant structures again and again.
Why we chose it: I bought these tiles for my nephew's third birthday and he spent hours building tracks, houses, garages and more. I love how building with these tiles helps him work on his hand-eye coordination and problem-solving. Plus it's adorable to see how creative he can be with his designs.
What is it: A squishable and weighted plush toy that comes in various different characters, including Rocky the Crocodile
Why we chose it: Squishmallows were the biggest toy of last year, so I love how Hug-A-Lumps offer something a bit different. My four-year-old nephew loves cuddling up to Rocky the Crocky. The weight can promote calm and reduce anxiety, so older kids might love them too.
What is it: A Inside Out 2-themed LEGO set, including two mood cubes with interchangeable plates inspired by the emotion characters from the movie, as well as Joy and Anxiety mini figures.
Why we chose it: We love how the Inside Out franchise helps to educate kids about all the different emotions they might feel. This in turn helps kids learn to identify what they are feeling and how to express themselves and we are definitely here for that.
What is it: A super-soft and cuddly plush toy based on Stitch the alien from Disney's Lilo and Stitch.
Why we chose it: Stitch is huge right now thanks to social media, and with a live action film in the works, it's no wonder kids are obsessed with the mischievous little alien. This plush is really soft and tactile, and would be a perfect fit for a collection of toys on the end of a bed.
What is it? It's a plush toy with sensory tactile features and a clever 'surprise reveal' feature - when children open the oven door they'll discover a warm, scented interactive plushy in the shape of a baked treat!
Why we chose it: My Goddaughters aged six and nine adored helping me test this toy our for our review - it's a great lesson in delayed gratification and, in their eyes, the reveal was nothing short of miraculous. We also love how easy repeat play is. Read our Cookeez Makery review.
What is it: A dinosaur shaped writing and doodle board that can be written on and erased more than 100,000 times.
Why we chose it: One of my mum friends said that this is the best thing she ever bought for her kids. It fits in her bag, and whenever the kids get a bit bored when they are out and about, she whips this out and the boredom disappears. Plus is shaped like a dinosaur - what's not to love?
What is it: In honour of the 30th anniversary of Disney's The Lion King later this year, LEGO has released this adorable playset where kids can build their very own Simba.
Why we chose it: My LEGO obsessed Goddaughter Ella (9) managed to build Simba in about 30 minutes with only a little bit of help from her dad when it came to the legs. She loved that she managed to do most of it herself, and loved being able to pose Simba in different positions afterwards.
What is it: An 18-piece cruise ship themed playset, include Gabby and Meerkat figures. The set also has a pool with a smoothie bar, a disco with a light-up disco ball, a photo booth and more.
Why we chose it: If you know a child that's into Gabby's Dollhouse, then they'll love this playset. It's perfect for encouraging imaginative play and creativity, and there's lots to discover so it'll keep kids entertained for ages.
What is it: A durable child-friendly tablet with an eight inch display and built-in stand. It also comes with 12 months Amazon Kids+, and great parental controls.
Why we chose it: This tablet is perfect for keeping kids entertained on long journeys and can encourage them to play and learn independently. The free Amazon Kids+ subscription is a nice touch too, giving them access to loads of ad-free books, games and apps.
What is it: A stretchy, goo-filled deep sea hero that stretches to three times is normal size.
Why we chose it: As well as offering a wonderful sensory play experience, thanks to it's stretchy and gooey body, this hero of the Goo Jit Zu is ready to take on the villains and win, so it's great for getting kids imaginations firing too. Mum-of-one Grace says: "My little boy loves his Hero - it's the perfect size to come everywhere with us without being too much of a hindrance."
What is it: Kids can mix their own magic potion to reveal a magical Pixling doll. There are three Pixlings to create and collect; Unia the Unicorn, Deerlee the Deer, and Marena the Mermaid Pixling.
Why we chose it: Is there anything more exciting than a mystery reveal? When we tested this toy, we loved how every single step, even down to the packaging, added to the magic, and the Pixling doll you reveal at the end is absolutely perfect. Read our Magic Mixies Pixlings review.
What is it: Pull the fluffy outer layer out a tuft at a time to reveal a surprise character underneath, then you collect the fluff and stuff it into a squish pouch to make another squishy toy.
Why we chose it: While younger kids might need a bit of help to pull the fuzz off, they'll love giving it a go to see which soft character is hiding underneath. It was a bit messy when we tried it out, but for my nephew, that was a big part of the appeal.
How to choose the best Christmas toy for a child
- Avoid five-minute wonders
- Focus on value for money and how often it will be played with over volume of gifts
- Choose something that can be played with individually or with friends or siblings
"It’s tempting to get caught up in the ‘what’s trending’ when it comes to selecting the best toys for Christmas," Dr. Gummer says. "I always recommend taking a step back from the ‘hottest’ or most popular toy and have a look around if you want something that isn’t going to have them bored after an hour of play. Taking some time to make the right decision will also be better value for money, whilst if you make a smart choice, will keep your little one entertained for a longer period of time."
So avoid five-minute wonders and focus less on making sure kids have lots of presents to unwrap on Christmas day, and more on what will be value for money and what will be played with now (and later!).
"Purchasing (within your predetermined budget) a careful selection of other toys and games can provide a range of play choices that will suit different situations and promote different skills," Dr. Gummer adds. " If you’re planning to buy a selection, then ensure you have games and toys which can be played individually as well as toys which can be played with friends, other siblings or a wider family group - getting different generations together for play at Christmas is a wonderful way of creating memories and it’s what your child will remember about the festive season as they head back to school."
Afterall, "belly laughs over a board game win with Granny are such that money can’t buy," Dr. Gummer adds.
What are the best Christmas toys to buy?
“Choosing the right toy can be overwhelming, especially during the holiday season,” says Vese Aghoghovbia, founder of Philly and Friends . Obviously it's important to consider your child's preferences and their Christmas wish list if they have one, but do't forget to consider your goals for your child and your parenting style. "As a supporter of STEM education, I often opt for educational toys that provide learning opportunities," explains Vese.
"However, there are times when I simply want to see the joy on my child's face and give them something on their wish list that doesn't fall under the category of learning toys! It's also important to remember that children can be easily pleased. My son is usually thrilled with simple toys like Pop-its or Hot Wheels.”
To make the process easier of choosing what to buy from the top Christmas toys, Vese suggests categorising toys and picking those that best suit your little one's age and temperament. "Toys come in different types, including dolls and figurines, learning toys, craft kits, magnetic toys, pretend play toys, and digital toys," she adds.
- Dolls and figurines — "Ranging from soft dolls to action figures, these encourage imaginative play and help children learn nurturing skills and build empathy," Vese says. "They also offer a great opportunity to introduce diversity into children's toy collections."
- Learning toys with educational aspects — "No matter how young, these are a priority for those who value STEM education," Vese adds.
- Kids' craft kits — "Products such as baking and gardening kits are perfect for keeping children busy building, making, or growing."
- Magnetic toys — "Products like Magna-Tiles and Smart Max create endless possibilities for experimenting with different surfaces and building structures while teaching children about the concept of building," Vese tells us.
- Pretend play toys — "These are excellent for developing storytelling skills."
- Digital toys — like audio boxes are on the rise. According to Vese, they are a 'great way' to build listening skills in children.
What is the latest toy craze?
Why you can trust GoodtoKnow. Our experienced Consumer Editor & parent reviewers spend hours testing products to help you make the best choice. Find out how we test and review products.
Each year, there's always another trending or popular toy release to look out for. While Barbie and all things pink have had their time to shine, we're now seeing new products share some of that spotlight.
Mix and make toys, like Magic Mixies Pixlings continue to be popular, and thanks to social media in particular, Disney's Stitch is soaring in popularity right now too.
How we chose the top Christmas toys
We based this list of top Christmas toys on our in-depth product knowledge and expertise that comes from writing about, and reviewing, all things toys. We've had first hand experience of almost all of the toys on this list, or we know a mum or tiny human who has and we've quizzed them about what they loved about it most.
We also spoke to child development experts to make sure we were choosing suitable toys that offer real benefits for kids.
If you want to know more about how we chose the top Christmas toys, you can also read all about how we test the products featured in our buying guides and product reviews.
Dr Amanda Gummer has a PhD in Neuropsychology, the Postgraduate Certificate in Higher Education and more than 20 years’ experience working with children and families. As such, she is renowned as an expert on all aspects of child development, including toys and play. In 2012, she founded The Good Play Guide, an independent, expert accreditation service for children’s products, including toys, apps and more.
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