TORONTO - Consumers can expect to see flashes of the past and a taste of the future in toys and games for children when the latest items hit shelves for the festive season.
Updates on retro favourites alongside tech-driven playthings were featured at the ninth annual Hot Toys for the Holidays event on Tuesday.
The Canadian Toy Association hosted youngsters at the Toronto Zoo to test the latest in toys, games, puzzles, arts and crafts.
Association vice-chair Kerry George says retro dolls for girls like troll-type dolls and Cabbage Patch Kids are making a comeback. Superhero characters also have a strong presence, translating beyond the big screen to action figures, construction sets and colouring books.
Meanwhile, motorized toys such as race cars and helicopters remain favourites among boys. But there have been some recent additions to the battery-operated field of play like the Hexbug line of miniature robotic creatures with tentacles and jittery movements reminiscent of real-life insects.
Construction toys remain a strong draw, with kids eagerly spinning the colourful K'NEX Ferris Wheel ($24.99) and manipulating blocks in a Lego set replicating the Black Pearl ship in the "Pirates of the Caribbean" ($129).
George said technology has also made its presence felt this year, as companies like LeapFrog and VTech Technologies introduce their own respective versions of kid-sized tablets: the LeapPad Explorer ($109.99) and Inno-Tab -- The Learning App Tablet ($89.99).
"They can download apps, they can play games, learn to print, write, storytelling, take pictures, all that kind of stuff with their version of an iPad," she said.
George said while there is no single buzz-worthy toy that she's aware of, children on hand gravitated toward a variety of items depending on their age and gender.
There were some standouts that appeared popular with children observed at the event, including new rock star incarnations of Elmo from "Sesame Street" for $80 and Mickey Mouse for $60 geared toward the preschool set.
"Those types of dolls are interactive dolls where you push a button and they play music, they follow voice commands, they interact with you," said George.
But finding a desirable gift won't necessarily force parents to shell out big bucks at an already costly time of year.
George pointed out that one of the most popular items with kids on hand was the Discovery Kids Eco-Friendly Colour Me Play Castle retailing for around $30. Youngsters crawled in and out of the towering structure made from recycled materials which they can customize using markers, crayons and paints, to colour within and outside the castle.
Half of the more than 100 toys and games showcased at Hot Toys for the Holidays are under $30.
But for parents on hand, it was durability, safety and longevity that were high on their list of must-haves in addition to toys that help in engaging their kids and fostering brain development.
"I'm looking for safe toys, toys where I'm not worried about lead or those types of items in them," said Maria Komljanec, holding her daughter Sarah, 2. "I'm looking for toys that don't peel, toys for her that don't have little pieces that are a choking hazard."
While Sarah has a few dolls at home which she loves, she shares similar tastes with Komljanec's sons, aged nine and 10, with respect to games and activities.
"She builds with the blocks that the boys have, she plays with the cars that they have," she said. "Really, a good-quality classic toy the kids will play -- boys or girls -- just exactly the same." The Canadian Toy Association also held a joint announcement with the RCMP and Santa Claus Parade on plans to continue their "Toys for the North" toy drive. Launched last year, the drive netted more than $50,000 in toy donations primarily from CTA member companies, and benefited nearly 12,000 children in Canada's far north.
The event also featured an early appearance by St. Nick himself.
Santa Claus popped in to visit with the children, testing some of the toys and even taking the kids outside for a visit with a pair of live reindeer.
