We’ve gone straight to the source; consulted with the experts; our most illustrious end-users: The Kids! We recently consulted some little champions from two of the most important age groups: 5–7 year olds and 8–11 year olds.

We asked them to pick their favourite toys (from our on-line catalogue) and tell us why they chose each one. We asked them to try to consider what they thought their friends – and most kids their age would also like – and to select accordingly.

Our sample groups chose dozens and dozens of toys which we narrowed down to the top 25 for each group. These lists are not supposed to be comprehensive or especially representative – this was a Christmas special: a friendly chat with some kids we know. Nothing like the extensive market research which is conducted at other times, professionally. Nevertheless, the results are interesting, fun and hopefully – helpful!

The quotes are direct from the horses’ mouths. Or should we say the ponies’ and foals’ mouths…? Some of the comments are priceless! The lists are in no particular order.

 

5-7 YEARS

Gigantic Coloring Book

“Colouring is a great way to start your day!”

Doctor Squish Squishy Maker

“It’s all gooey, and me and my friends like goo…”

My Magic Mixes Magic Cauldron Blue

“Really fun to make your own mix: like you’re a witch and you’re poisoning princesses.”

Goglow Bluey Goglow Pal

“You snuggle with it, in case you get scared at night…”

Playworld Metal Shopping Trolley

“Feels like you’re actually shopping and you’re a Mum, shopping for your groceries.”

Twister

“Really good for your flexibility and you’ll get really good at twisting!”

Play Doh Cash Register

“Feels like you’re a cash register lady and the owner of a shop and you can also be a customer and play with your money…”

Zuru Bunch o Balloons Rapid Fill Crazy Colours 3 Bunches Pack

“You can throw them at people when you’re having a water party, and you can also play water tips…”

Little Live Pets Mama Surprise! Playset

“It feels like you have a baby and if her heart starts glowing it’s really beautiful.”

Play-Doh Party Bag 15 Pack

“You can sculpt it into people you love or make something really cool or really silly…”

Colorific Face Paint Deluxe Fantasy Kit

“I would make fairy faces, and Elsa, and Anna…”

Robo Alive Robotic Spider

“It looks real and you trick people and scare people and it’s really funny…”

Playgo Toys Ent. Ltd. Bubble Lawn Mower

“Your parents will think you’re mowing the grass, but then bubbles come out!”

Playgo Toys Ent. Ltd. Battery Operated My Kitchen Blender Blue

“I really want one because it can actually work, and you can pretend you’re making juice or burritos!”

Sylvanian Families Koala Family

“It reminds me of the ad that I saw about Koalas losing their home, so this toy would make me feel like helping to look after koalas.”

Colorific Kids Project Jumbo Chalk

“You can draw and create your own ideas. Your curiosity can come out onto the ground.”

Bluey Plush – Talking Bingo

“Because it’s compared to Bluey but it’s Bingo and it says ‘This is outrageous!’”

Playgo Toys Ent. Ltd. My First Kitchen Set 19 Piece

“The food set is cool because it feels like you’re a Mum and you’re serving your children food.”

Schylling Nee Doh Noodlies

“I think it’s a good Christmas gift because it really straightens your muscles and makes you strong… and they’re like noodles and so fun to bend…”

Zuru Sparkle Girlz Styling Princess Head with Fantasy Nail Design

“You can actually style a cute looking princess and you can also do it on your friends. You can actually do your hair…

Matchbox Vehicle 5 Pack Assorted Styles 

“I like this one because it has different types of cars. I like the blue one the best.”

Peppa Pig Flip Phone

“It’s like you’re a Mum on the phone and you can say ‘I am the boss of you!’”

 Schylling Stress Breaker Hi-Bouncing Stress Ball

“It’s really bouncy and I’d like to squeeze it. You squeeze all your fears out. It feels like you can eat it, but you can’t.”

Elf Pets Plushee Pals Elf Boy 

“You could snuggle with it when it’s Christmas Eve and you could squish it and play with it when it’s Christmas.

 

8-11 YEARS

Kerplunk Game

“A few kids get bored and, like, this is a really fun quick game to play with friends…”

Playgo Toys Ent. Ltd. Paint Art Whirlpool

“Lots of these kids, like, have a strange sensation and they get really tingly and they find it really satisfying watching paint swirl around…”

Magic 8 Ball 

“Lots of kids ask lots of questions, and they’re really curious, and like, they want to know what happens and so it’s really fun, just knowing...there’s a sense of ‘yes’ or ‘no’”

Wahu Mega Slide

“It’s really fun to race your friends. Yeah, it’s really fun!”

Cards Against Humanity

“It’s fun to play with everyone all ages, you can create the craziest sentences there are. Yeah.”

Spalding 44 inch polycarbonate basketball hoop

“A basketball hoop at home and you won’t get bored at all. You’ll always have something to do…”

Monopoly Marvel Eternals Edition

“Loads of kids are into Marvel, and everyone loves Monopoly, so, like, mix them together and you’ve got a really good game that you won’t get bored of…”

Intex Easy Set Pool 12FT With Filter

“Especially in the Summer, people will get eventually hot and they need something to refresh themselves and that would be the perfect thing.”

Harry Potter Headbanz Game

“Because lots of people have a bit of experience playing with it, lot of people have it, and it’s a really fun game for kids who love Harry Potter.”

Wham-o Super Duper Ball Assorted Styles 

“Lots of kids love ball games and, like, that’s a really good thing to have… if you’re bored.”

Tangled Classic Assorted Styles

“It’s really fun because kids are really fidgety and they’re really hard to put down…”

Glitterati Sew Your Own Pillow Llama

“Lots of kids love animals, lots of kids love pillows; so many kids love art, and it’s got lots of colours; sequins, and it would be really fun to make your own pillow…”

Action Active Climber

“Kids are really active and flexible so it would be really cool to have one in your back yard to climb around on when you’re bored…”

Sushi Go! Card Game

“Kids love card games, like Uno; it’s a really fun game to play with, like, a few people, like two to five…yeah…”

Lego 76401 Harry Potter Hogwarts Courtyard: Sirious’s Rescue Building Kit

“Quite a few people want to build Lego things and show them off to their friends and it’s just really fun to build that stuff.”

Rubik’s Cube 3x3

“The Rubik’s cube is a really nice puzzle that can be enjoyed at home or when you’re walking around. There’s loads of ways of arranging the squares… So, yes.”

Stanley JR. Bug Barn Kit

“Because lots of kids have broad imaginations, keeping them engaged; kids are really curious. I think it would be really good for 8 and 9 year olds…”

Marvin’s Magic Box of 300 Tricks

“Lots of kids believe in magic and everything, and it would be a great Christmas present for anyone who’s, like, interested in that…”

Galaxy Tracker 60 Smart Telescope

“Kids love Space, and you can learn all about the stars and stuff with this, and it would be really cool to find planets in the sky and learn a few more things than what you already know…”

Galt Friendship Bracelets

“You can wear it with your bestie, and there are, like, lots of fun designs…”

Whoopee Cushion 

“Definitely the Whoopee Cushion because pranksters will love this toy, because kids love toilet jokes, and it’s hilarious fun…”

Beat the Parents 

“Kids versus Parents, the family fun game is perfect for, like, maybe a family game night or something…”

Lego 41936 Dots Pencil Holder

“Space fans and Arts & Crafts lovers will love it. It’s creative and there’s lots of designs. And it’s efficient; where you can hold all your pens and pencils and it’s not a mess, yeah.”

Razor Hovertrax Brights Green

“It’s a really cool hoverboard for young riders. You can learn at your own pace, and the LED lights make it stand out; it’s really bold, yeah.”

Pop It Fidget Toy Colour Change Owl

“Kids are fidgety; lots of people love, like, popping bubble wrap but this takes it to the next level…”

Did you notice any themes there? Seems to be a fair bit of emphasis on relieving boredom for the 8–11 year old cohort! Marvellous how the use of language changes from one group to the next isn’t it. Growing up!

The results indicate that certain old school items are perennially popular with kids, such as balls and colouring. We also draw the conclusions that kitchen and shopping related toys enjoy evergreen appeal for children. Kids will always enjoy playing grown ups! Most anyway.

They’re all different, and lots of other children in these age groups would have quite different lists from the ones above. That’s why at Toyworld we have thousands of toys to choose from, and there really is something for everyone.