Kids' Wish Lists Decoded: Toys"R"Us, Canada Unveils Top Toy and Gaming Trends for the Holidays

- To download the Toys"R"Us, Canada Top Toy and Gaming Trends Infographic, click here: www.toysrus.ca/trendreport -

TORONTO, Oct. 29, 2014 /CNW/ - Looking to give a gift this holiday season that will pass the "cool test?" Today, Toys"R"Us, Canada released its annual Top Toy and Gaming Trend Report for the holiday season. The report, based on a year-long trend and purchasing behavior analysis by Toys"R"Us merchants and manufacturers, provides gift-givers insight into what's new, innovative and on-trend in the toy and gaming world for this holiday season. The top toy and gaming trends for 2014 are: Customized Creations; "R" Pets, No Mess; Kid-Powered; On-Screen Faves; and Toys to Life.

"As the leading toy retailer in Canada, the holidays are a special time of year and at Toys"R"Us, our team of expert merchants works throughout the year to identify the top trends so we can make it easy for gift-givers to know what will be popular for the kids on their list," said Liz MacDonald, vice president, marketing and store planning, Toys"R"Us, Canada. "Our goal is to ensure our customers can shop with confidence this holiday season, knowing that Toys"R"Us is committed to making gift-giving as convenient as possible. From our Price Match Policy and bonus AIR MILES® reward miles program, to our in-store and online shopping options, Toys"R"Us is the ultimate destination to shop for toys this season."

Outlined below are this year's top five holiday season toy and gaming trends identified by Toys"R"Us, Canada, along with specific toys that epitomize each. All items can be found in Toys"R"Us stores nationwide and online at Toysrus.ca.

CUSTOMIZED CREATIONS

There are no rules when it comes to this season's art toys. The latest art sets let kids make the rules, and even invent their own colours. The Crayola Paint Maker and the Toys"R"Us exclusive Crayola Pink Marker Maker allow kids to mix colours to create their own paint or markers before designing their masterpieces.  

Art kits for 'tweens' are also a hit. With the DohVinci Style & Store Vanity, tweens can design and make their own vanity, and the Fashion Angels' Not Just Knotz Bungee Braids lets girls create their own bracelets. The It's My Biz kits are entrepreneurial sets that provide the tools needed to become business savvy and confident as kids develop, create and merchandise their own line of products.

Kids can also recreate their favourite movie scenes with the Toys"R"Us exclusive Disney Frozen Play-Doh Sparkle Snow Dome, or play with sand indoors this winter with the mess-free Kinetic Sand Box Set from Spin Master. The special make-up of the sand ensures it only sticks to itself, allowing for easy clean up.

KID-POWERED

Customers shopping for kids with a lot of energy, need not look further than toys that get them moving. Scooters have made a big comeback in recent years and the Toys"R"Us exclusive Y Fliker F3 is one of the latest models to scoop up. Kids can propel themselves using their own momentum and make tight turns. Bikes have also held their popularity on wish lists, with the most sought-after this year featuring movie characters, like the new Toys"R"Us exclusive Frozen Bicycle by Huffy.

And, while health-conscious adults are clamoring for activity-tracking bracelets, kids are too. Products like the LeapFrog LeapBand track kids' movements while the device challenges them to complete activities such as "leap like a frog!" Keeping little minds active and curiosity piqued during the holidays is easy to do with the Toys"R"Us exclusive Vtech Go! Go! Smart Friends Busy Sounds Discovery Home, which encourages preschoolers to learn 'cause and effect' relationships.

Lastly, classic games have been rebooted with new technology this season. Great to enjoy during family game night, playing fast-paced games like Hasbro's Simon Swipe, Bop It! Beats and Jenga Quake are all the rage.

ON-SCREEN FAVES

Family movies and kids TV series create characters that little ones love to watch and often inspire some of the most coveted holiday toys. From Disney Junior's Doc McStuffins Get Better Talking Mobile to the newly launched Nickelodeon Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Half Shell Hereos, there is a toy for all of the most recent lovable characters. Disney's Frozen Snow Glow Elsa is expected to be the doll atop many holiday wish lists, and the Toys"R"Us exclusive Monster High Freaky Fusion dolls are right on trend with their unique looks and fierce fashions. To ignite the inner hero in little action fans, there is the TRANSFORMERS Stomp & Chomp Grimlock Figure and their STAR WARS Command Star Destroyer Set.

"R" PETS, NO MESS

Parents shopping for kids with a puppy on their lists can look to this season's popular mess-and-allergen free pets. The FurReal line of toys feature the Toys"R"Us exclusive FurReal Friends Lulu My Cuddlin' Kitty and the Baby Butterscotch Magical Show Pony, which kids can feed pretend carrots.

Continue the fun with the little ones by having them hold the lifelike Toys"R"Us exclusive Little Live Pets Butterflies in their hands to watch them magically flutter, or fill up the fishbowl and enjoy the underwater movements of the Tropical Robo Fish and Robo Mermaids. Dinosaurs are also on-trend right now, especially the Toys"R"Us exclusive robotic Zoomer Onyx Dino. Or, for a friendlier companion, kids can create a unique bond and teach their own Zoomer Zuppie, to bark, sit, lay down and fetch.

TOYS TO LIFE

When technology and traditional toys converge, magic happens, and kids get to enjoy playing in a whole new way. Even teddy bears have gone digital. The Toys"R"Us exclusive Toy-Fi Teddy is Bluetooth enabled, allowing  parents to record personalized messages in the teddy with a smart device (iOS or Android). Once the message is heard, kids can record their own message on the teddy and send it right back. 

Robotics, app-based toys and video games also remain popular choices for kids. Both MiP a robot equipped with GestureSense technology, and the Toys"R"Us exclusive Tamagotchi Digital Pets bring nostalgia and nurturing back into play. Apps come to life with various Minecraft playsets and Hasbro's Angry Birds Stella Telepods and kids can play as their favourite heroes or villians in the new Skylanders Trap Team Exclusive Legendary Series, Disney Infinity Marvel Super Heroes 2.0 Edition and Nintendo Amiibo.

About Toys"R"Us, Canada:

Toys"R"Us (Canada) Ltd and Babies"R"Us (Canada) Ltd are part of Toys"R"Us, Inc., the world's leading dedicated toy and baby products retailer. Toys"R"Us, Canada operates 81 full-sized stores across the country, as well as more than 15 Express locations. For store locations and convenient online shopping visit www.toysrus.ca and www.babiesrus.ca.

SOURCE: Toys "R" Us (Canada) Ltd.

Andrea Hanft / Carolyn Abbass, Paradigm Public Relations, [email protected] / [email protected], 416-413-5196 / 416-413-5190