Top Toys for Boys, 2009

Video games, Legos and Transformers lead the way

With the holidays as close as they are, anyone still shopping for toys is either a great parent or a glutton for punishment. If you’re finding yourself in this conundrum, you might like to get an idea of the top toys for boys this season, according to the National Retail Federation’s 2009 Top Toys survey. Knowing these most-wanted boys’ gifts won’t make shopping any less insane, but it might save you a few precious minutes:

Video games – Video games and boys have been a natural combo for more than 20 years now, and 2009 doesn’t appear to show any signs of that trend ending. With big-name games such as “Batman: Arkham Asylum” and “Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2” topping wish lists this holiday season, boys across the world will likely be madly mashing buttons come Christmas morning.

Transformers – The huge success of the second Transformers movie only helped increase the demand for Transformers, which have been a popular favorite for boys for over 25 years now.

Lego – Though they don’t light up, plug in, make noise or play mp3s, Legos have been consistently popular for over 50 years, and according to the 2009 Top Toys survey, that’s not about to change this holiday season. And, as a matter of fact, today’s Lego has lines that do plug in and light up, so whatever your son prefers, he’s covered.

Cars (generic) – Show me a boy who doesn’t enjoy playing with cars, and I’ll show you a kid who’s probably too busy playing with Transformers, Legos and video games. But still, good ol’ toy cars are as popular now as they’ve ever been.

Nintendo Wii – Though the Wii has been around for a few years now and sales are starting to slow down a bit, the popular video game console is still a highly sought after item by kids and adults alike.

Nintendo DS – The recently introduced Nintendo DSi boasts bigger screens, 2 cameras and a bunch of fun new interactive games that should keep boys entertained, while keep parents from going crazy during long car rides.

Zhu Zhu Pets – One of the hottest toys this season has to be Zhu Zhu Pets. Kids are going bonkers for this interactive hamster, and Zhu Zhu Pets are flying off the shelves so fast that retailers are having trouble keeping them in stock. And with a low $8 to $10 price tag and a high cuteness factor, it’s easy to see why. The bad news: Due to the high demand, Zhu Zhus are now selling at sites like eBay for upwards of $50. So if you can’t snag one at a store, bringing one home could get costly.

Feel free to print out this list before you attempt your next mall incursion!

— Noah Belson, Content Quality Analyst