From drones to mindful gifting, trending toys spread Christmas cheer

Pune: Remote-controlled drones, Barbie doll sets, battery-operated ride-ons, including models like BMW, Lamborghini, and scooters are among the top trending toys this Christmas.

While children dream big, parents are leaning towards more mindful gifting choices. "Digital and electronic games are dominating sales this Christmas. Remote-controlled cars, Avengers-themed toys, Barbie dolls, video games, remote drones and battery-operated dancing dolls have all seen a significant surge in popularity. This year, these toys are even more sought after compared to last year," said Sachin Kulkarni of Toy Station in the city.

"Battery-operated ride-ons are in much demand. New products in better quality are introduced each season, including replicas of Ferrari, Lamborghini, Rolls Royce, Toyota, Mercedes and BMW. From cars and jeeps to bikes and scooties, these toys are equally popular among both girls and boys," said Camp Toy store owner Imran Satkhed.

At the heart of the season's magic is the timeless tradition of writing letters to Santa, where children pen down their dream toys with hope and joy. "I have three kids aged nine, seven and two. They are especially excited about Christmas gifts. They love writing letters to Santa," said Amanda Fleming, a resident of Hadapsar.

"We ask them to list three to four gifts they want, and tell them that Santa will bring whichever ones he has. We always surprise them by placing gifts under the Christmas tree on the night of Dec 24. On Christmas morning, they're thrilled to find the gifts. This year, my two daughters are getting in-line skates, which they've been eagerly asking for. They also enjoy activity books and designing kits, while my youngest son is all about toys," she said.

Old favourites like board games and building blocks are revamped with modern twists to appeal to the new generation.

"We ask our six-year-old daughter to hang socks before Christmas, and we fill them with gifts," said Priyanka Bagade, a city resident, adding, "She gets so excited to see the presents. When she asks, we tell her they're from Secret Santa."

She said, "As parents, it's equally thrilling for us to create these moments of joy. Besides digital games and toys, there's a wide variety of options in the market. Clay sets, puzzles, moulding kits, jewellery-making kits, mandala painting sets, pretend play toys like dollhouses with accessories, magnetic blocks and kitchen sets are all wonderful choices. These toys keep children engaged and encourage creative play. I believe it's important to be mindful of what we give our children. Rather than spending excessive time in the digital space, these activities help foster hands-on learning and imagination."



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