Other Chistmassy Things Similar to the Monopoly

Bags Direct
BuyaGift
Cheap Smells
Chocolate Trading Company
Firebox
First4Hampers
Flying Flowers
Hamleys
I Want One Of Those
Mail Order Express
My Favourite Magazines
RedSave
The Toy Shop
Woolworths

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Parents will be glad to know that it's going to be toys costing less than £50 that you're children will be putting on their letters to Santa this year, according to the Toy Retailers Association. They have finally revealed their top 12 Christmas toys that they think will be 2010's most wanted.

This year seems to have brought mostly a mix between old classics and TV and film tie-ins, but given a new twist to bring them in line with the demands of today's kids. For example, new ranges of Lego toys and yet another revamped Monopoly variation are on the list, alongside the ever popular Sylvanian Families range and Toy Story franchise toys.

So, how much will these toys cost me, I hear Mum's and Dad's yell? Well, you and your wallets will be taking a battering as the average price for toys on the above list comes out at a tad under £38 - making them around £12 more than the average last year. Recession? Tough luck!

"With licensed toys combining the fun and familiarity of popular characters as well as collectable, pocket money priced toys making a big comeback this year, we are in for an affordable, family orientated Christmas," said the association's chairman Gary Grant. "The list also reveals a trend towards nostalgic characters and brands which have been updated with a modern twist. Consumers are reverting back to heritage brands which will last longer than the Christmas season."

The Toy Retailers Association has been producing it's Christmas toy list for 40 years, and if you delve back in to the realm of lists-past, you will see some very familiar faces, and some complete one-hit-wonders. The first Toy of the Year, in the World Cup winning year of 1966, was the James Bond Aston Martin Car, with the sometimes puzzling and often finger-nail pulling geometric drawing toy Spirograph, the Spyring(?) board game and freakish egg-shaped Gonks dolls also doing well. In the following year, Action Man - the first 'doll' for boys - was the Toy of the Year.

So, what do we have for 2010? Well, someRock Guitar and a fire station join some of the more traditional games and toys toys in the top 12 list. Animals, such as a walking FurReal Pup and Zhu Zhu Grooming, dominate the top 12 toys for girls. Other dolls, including the Sylvanian Families are also high up there on girls' Christmas lists. As for the boys, well, action toys are the most common toys on the list, with the emphasis on playtime destruction and mayhem with blasters, tanks and battle packs aplenty.

All in all, another fantastic Christmas awaits if you're a child, but with higher prices this year, it's not looking so great for the parents this time around!