Help - we need suggestions for the must have toys for this Christmas

[JustineMumsnet]

Hi all,
We are helping the Indy produce the 50 best/ must have Christmas toys and we need to supply ideas for the following age groups:
Categories are
babies/toddlers
boys 4-8
girls 4-8
boys 8-12
girls 8-12

and a few reasons why we've chosen them...

So what would you pick and why?

Ta, Mumsnet Towers

8-12 - Nintendo DS Lite with Nintendogs/Princess Peach (girls)

also mp3 players and Ipods for 8-12's

8-12yr boys Science Kit or Telescope

baby - discovery dome - looks fun, bright colours etc.

girls 6+ (sorry not in age bracket) sonic srewdriver RC dalek/K9 - no idea why but I know at least 4 (who don't know each other) who think they are cool

OMG has anyone seen the life size shetland pony the has realistic breathing and neighing I want one, have to be loaded as it's £299 a pop but so so fab!!

Anyways my recommendations

I deffo second playmobil. dd2 4 yrs, adores in and am continuing with the collection this year.

Also for 4+ "Hama beads" all the way

still looking for a few more must have toys for 8-12s, with reasons why if you can manage!

Now why didn't I see this thread before! Just call me Father Christmas!

Now have a peek at some of these but I reckon most of these toys will be sold out soon!

For those who like horses this is perfect! Or for boys who like action men. For those who like Julie Andrews , or for the animal lovers - and trust me, I've a load more ideas just like those ones!

For 2+ - Happy Land from ELC. DD had this from about 18 months old and has loads of it now. She is 4y6m and still plays with it, lost in her own world foor hours at a time. Her friends all like it too.

We are getting DS the ELC lift-off rocket

but that's partly because we like it ourselves! It does look fab though.

Playmobil - boys and girls from around 4 to 9 or 10 - it's fab.

A pop up tent from Millets - any age from 2 to 9ish - biggest hit we've bought in the last couple of years.

CD player and story CDs/music CDs - any age.

9-12 yr old girls - huge box of creft items / huge box of hairbands, bobbles, brush, hairdryer etc / dance mat / baking things including sprinkles and different coloured writing icing / recorder / things for bedroom - eg: funky light shade, rug, cushion, lamp, stickerarounds, picture frames

mobile phones for 8-12 year olds. my ds had one last xmas and wants another one this year, the new one with the fm radio/headphones

Oh and babies - what's the must have toy of 2006 for a baby? Am tempted to suggest the boxes all these other toys come in, which was a tip from someone once (but that does pre-suppose you've got older children)...

a toy sweet shop?
arf arf arfa rf

Wooden running bike's for pre-schoolers are just wonderful in every way. I love leaing the buggy at home when we use what I call our lookielikeylikeabike. It came from ebay and I have to tell 5 people a day where we got it.

ELC pirate ship was a big hit with our 2.5year old son last year and he still plays with it loads.

ELC trumpet went down a storm with my 3 year old nephew last week. Very very shiny (and not too horribly loud!)

Mobile phones for kids? Surely not! I bet you don't live near a phone mast!

For babies the Fisherprice Ball Blaster thing. It is from 9 months.

Stacking cups.

For little children - ELC buggy.

oh yes the tomy eggs
dd2 got them for christmas at 1 and still loves playing with them now - I get them now for little people's bdays!

Our most-played-with baby present has been stacking wooden rings from ELC. Though DS has never stacked them as such, he's played with them every day since about 5 months old, and for ages loved using the central stick as a drumstick, and threading the stick through the rings, and now we often spin the rings on their sides like spinning tops and use the stick to stop them - he loves doing this.