Top Holiday Gifts for Girls

5 things they’ll want under the tree — and on your site

Though Christmas is still a few weeks away, chances are good that kids have already started making up lists for their folks to give to Santa. Last week[link] we told you what boys are hoping to unwrap this year, and this week we’ll turn our attention to girls. According to the National Retail Federation’s 2008 Top Toys survey, these are the toys that girls want most:

1. Barbie
Though she has more competition than she did when she first hit the scene decades ago, Barbie’s managed to hold onto the top spot year after year, and it looks like 2008 is no exception.

2. Hannah Montana
Girls all over the world have flipped for this fun-lovin’ teenage songstress, so pretty much anything that bears her name will probably be a hot item this holiday season.

3. Dolls (Generic)
Be they baby or Barbie, dolls of all shapes and sizes are always popular with girls. As such, even the no-name brands are top contenders for girl gifts in 2008.

4. Nintendo Wii
Though it’s been out for a while, the Nintendo Wii is still hard to find, mainly because the demand still hasn’t dropped off. Boys and girls alike are asking for this popular gaming system, so if you can find it this holiday season, grab it and run!

5. Video Games
Once thought of a no-man’s land (or rather, no-woman’s land) for girls, video games have transcended gender. And while the games they play may differ slightly (think horses vs. bazookas) there’s no denying that these days, the demand is there for both boys and girls.

Other top contenders for girls include “High School Musical” toys and accessories, Bratz dolls, Disney Princess toys and accessories, and the Fisher-Price Elmo Live doll.

So these are the toys that should have girls acting on their best behavior as they anxiously await Christmas morning. If you’re a toy retailer, get ready for a lot of searches on these terms, and prepare your campaigns accordingly.

— Noah Belson, Content Quality Analyst

Photo courtesy of Flickr user James Laurence Stewart.