We wanted to see what kinds of goodies kids were getting this year, so we talked to managers at Target and Toys ‘R’ Us, both popular places to buy toys this holiday.
“Every year there’s a toy that you expect will be a best seller, and a toy that you’re surprised is a best seller,” says Darryl Meacham, the manager at Toys ‘R’ Us in Arlington Heights.
He never thought Speedeez Hummer H2 Speed City would be popular, but says that it sold out. He thinks the store’s supply of Leapster products, another top-selling item, will be enough to meet the demand.
At Target, manager Robert Harper says the store’s four top sellers for the holidays also are best sellers year-round. VideoNow is new this year, but going fast, he adds.
Sometimes kids have other ideas for what they want, things that aren’t best sellers. Scoop Trooper Husna K., 11, of Mt. Prospect wants a gift card from her favorite store, Rave. Scoop Trooper Madeline W., 8, of Palos Heights wants a sketch book or journal. And Scoop Trooper Jordan C., 9, of Northbrook wants video games for his collection.
Other kids we talked to wanted Go Go My Walking Pup, Yu-Gi-Oh cards or something from the Build-a-Bear workshop.
What you’ll be playing with
Here’s what store managers say are the top-selling toys:
Target
VideoNow, a handheld personal video player; Bratz dolls; Barbies; Leap Frog learning system supplies; and Dora the Explorer toys.
Toys ‘R’ Us
Speedeez Hummer H2 Speed City, a large Hummer vehicle with lots of ramps, roadways and battlefields that fold up into it; Leapster, a handheld multimedia learning system for preschoolers to 2nd-graders; Yu-Gi-oh Duel Disk launcher, which shoots the cards you have collected out from a handheld launcher; Mighty Beans, tiny beanlike characters that move a little when you tilt them; and Shampoochie, a dog you can wash and brush.
