Young want gadget gifts instead of toys – survey

Children are turning their backs on traditional toys at Christmas in favour of the latest high-tech gadgets, a new study suggested yesterday.

Youngsters are filling their festive wish lists with pricier technology products at the expense of dolls and car sets favoured by previous generations, according to the Duracell Toy Report.

A breakdown of the top 10 most wanted toys for this Christmas among children aged five to 16 revealed a grown-up taste in gifts, with Apple products, including the iPhone 4, iPod Touch and iPad dominating the top three places.

Approximately 39 per cent children quizzed desired Apple gadgets this year, with 17 per cent of five to eight- year-olds, 50 per cent of nine to 12-year-olds and 66 per cent of 13 to 16-year-olds all putting Apple items at the top of their lists.

The report, which quizzed a total of 2,138 children and parents in equal measure, also highlighted the growing similarities between boys’ and girls’ preferred Christmas presents, with both sexes increasingly opting for gender neutral gadgets.

Top 10 toys for Christmas 2010 according to the report:

1. iPhone 4 (14 per cent)
2. iPod touch (13 per cent)
3. iPad (12 per cent)
4. Kinect for Xbox (six per cent)
5. Zhu Zhu Pet Hamsters / Kung Zhu Hamsters ( five per cent)
6. Flip Video Camera (four per cent)
7. Toy Story 3 Jet Pack Buzz Lightyear (four per cent)
8. PlayStation Move (four per cent)
9. Lego Harry Potter Years 1-4 Video Game (three per cent)
10. Barbie Video Girl (three per cent)