In a year plagued by a deadly virus, closures and cancellations, parents are eager to give their kids a Christmas like, well, every other.

Overall holiday spending is expected to be muted as the second wave of COVID-19 worsens, causing ongoing economic uncertainty and tighter travel and gathering restrictions. One report from Deloitte Canada says holiday spending is expected to fall 18 per cent, with one in three Canadians planning to spend less.

But retail analysts say the lack of normalcy in 2020 may a driver for strong toy sales. Much of the drop is tied to lower spending on travel, dining out and entertaining, and experts suggest parents will forgo gifts for each other or make other sacrifices to put toys under the tree.

B次元官网网址淧eople will want to do something to keep it as close to normal as possible, especially if youB次元官网网址檝e got kids,B次元官网网址� says Tim Sanderson, executive vice-president and national lead for retail with JLL Canada

In fact, the toy category has proven resilient throughout the pandemic so far.

Since lockdowns last spring, parents have scooped up B次元官网网址渂oredom bustersB次元官网网址� like puzzles, Lego, arts and crafts supplies, board games and outdoor activities.

Now retailers are expecting that trend to hold up during the biggest gift giving season of the year.

B次元官网网址淲ith all kidsB次元官网网址� events, camps and schools closing, parents have really tried to compensate to make sure that their kids are having fun or entertained or distracted,B次元官网网址� says Gail Banack, chief kids officer for Indigo Books & Music Inc.

B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檙e continuing to see that trend going into the holidays.B次元官网网址�

With strong toy sales expected, retailers have rolled out sales early to keep shopping safe and physically distanced. Black Friday deals have been extended over the month, for example, to spread out shoppers and avoid long queues.

TheyB次元官网网址檝e also released hot toys lists and tips ahead of schedule, and are encouraging parents to shop early to avoid disappointment.

The messaging appears to be working. While there are fewer customers shopping in stores, there are also fewer people just browsing or B次元官网网址渟hopping around.B次元官网网址�

B次元官网网址淭here has been a decline in traffic in our stores, but weB次元官网网址檙e seeing that offset by the average transaction value going up with larger basket sizes,B次元官网网址� says Sarah Jordan, CEO of Mastermind Toys.

She says the toy store chain, which focuses on educational kidsB次元官网网址� toys, has also seen meteoric growth in online sales and curbside pickup orders.

B次元官网网址淐ustomers are crossing off their holiday shopping list earlier than ever before to avoid crowds and last-minute trips to the stores,B次元官网网址� Jordan says. B次元官网网址淭he bigger ticket items are flying off the shelves.B次元官网网址�

Indeed, the messaging from retailers and mail delivery services urging people to shop early is working B次元官网网址� perhaps too well, for the procrastinators among us.

Retailers say some inventory is already thin as people shop earlier than normal.

Sean Williams, vice-president and chief merchant with Toys B次元官网网址淩B次元官网网址� Us Canada, says the toy industry has been good at avoiding the Tickle Me Elmo toy shortages of years past B次元官网网址� a plush childrenB次元官网网址檚 toy that sparked a holiday shopping frenzy in 1996 after it sold out.

But he says the pandemic is not something the industry could have prepared for.

B次元官网网址淭hereB次元官网网址檚 been an insatiable demand on the consumer side for toys throughout the pandemic,B次元官网网址� Williams says.

He says early holiday sales numbers are B次元官网网址渇ar exceeding our expectations.B次元官网网址�

B次元官网网址淭here are some items that are going to disappear and be much tougher for people to find for the big day.B次元官网网址�

With that in mind, executives from three of the countryB次元官网网址檚 top toy retailers are naming the hottest holiday toys, giving some insight into what products could run low on inventory B次元官网网址� or are already nearly sold out.

One of the most sought-after toys this season is a collaboration between plastic construction toy maker Lego and video game company Nintendo. Lego Super Mario Adventures lets users build real-life versions of the video game levels, like deserts and grasslands.

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 had a spectacular debut,B次元官网网址� says MastermindB次元官网网址檚 Jordan. B次元官网网址淚t is proving to be a popular item B次元官网网址� if you want it, you should get it soon.

She adds: B次元官网网址淚f there is a hit toy of the season, that is certainly it.B次元官网网址�

READ MORE:

The next hot toy is the Star Wars B次元官网网址淭he ChildB次元官网网址� Animatronic Edition B次元官网网址� also known as Baby Yoda.

The Hasbro figure makes sound effects inspired by Disney PlusB次元官网网址檚 B次元官网网址淭he Mandalorian,B次元官网网址� with a motorized head, ears and eyes.

B次元官网网址淚t just landed and itB次元官网网址檚 starting to fly off the shelf,B次元官网网址� Williams with Toys B次元官网网址淩B次元官网网址� Us says.

Another hot item is expected to be Present Pets by Canadian toy company Spin Master.

The interactive pets unbox themselves, revealing one of two possible plush puppies programmed with more than a hundred sounds and actions.

B次元官网网址淔or parents that arenB次元官网网址檛 ready to buy a puppy, this is a great alternative,B次元官网网址� says Banack with Indigo. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 really bringing together the innovation of the pet with this trend that weB次元官网网址檝e been seeing for years about unboxing.B次元官网网址�

Other hot sellers include VtechB次元官网网址檚 Kidizoom Creator Cam, MGA EntertainmentB次元官网网址檚 Na! Na! Na! Surprise Ultimate Surprise Rainbow Kitty and Spin MasterB次元官网网址檚 Hatchimals Pixies Crystal Flyers toy.

But toy retailers say classic childrenB次元官网网址檚 gifts like games, puzzles and outdoor activities are also expected to post strong sales this holiday.

B次元官网网址淭hat was something that really took off during COVID and has sustained itself,B次元官网网址� Banack says.

She says many parents are trying to limit screen time for children, increasing the appeal of some of the more traditional gifts.

B次元官网网址淚 think one of the objectives of every parent going into the holidays is to get their kids off devices,B次元官网网址� Banack says. B次元官网网址淲e believe books are always a great choice.B次元官网网址�

Brett Bundale, The Canadian Press

Like us on and follow us on .

Want to support local journalism during the pandemic? Make a donation