Increased family play time created by lockdown will help influence the most popular toys this Christmas. That’s the view of toy buyers at Tesco, who have picked their top 10 toys for Christmas to give parents a helping hand when it comes to making present choices.

The supermarket chain said the extra family time also led to the ‘kidult’ phenomenon of adults buying toy brands such as LEGO and Jurassic Park for their children that they themselves played with when they were youngsters. It led to a massive 400% increase in demand for board games and ‘kidult’ toys such as LEGO’s Darth Vader Helmet, which is one of the retailer’s toy choices.

Two major film launches will also influence kids’ Christmas wish lists this year with toys already on sale ahead of Jurassic World Dominion, which comes out in 2022, and also children’s favourite Paw Patrol.

Plus, for the first time ever, Tesco has selected a toy from the 2020 top 10 list – the family game Pictionary – because it has continued to be a top seller throughout the year.

““Lockdown created a unique scenario, with many parents and children able to spend more time than ever together, and this has brought about a huge ongoing demand for kidult toys”

Tesco category manager for toys, nursery and sport Anne Borrett

Tesco category manager for toys, nursery and sport Anne Borrett said: “Lockdown created a unique scenario, with many parents and children able to spend more time than ever together, and this has brought about a huge ongoing demand for kidult toys: trusted brands that still bring joy to grown-ups as much as their kids. Choosing presents for little ones at Christmas is never an easy task, but we hope this list gives parents a little bit of insight into what’s been popular in the world of toys this year.”

Tesco’s top 10 toy picks for Christmas 2021 (in no particular order) are:

LEGO Darth Vader Helmet:
A toy that is likely to appeal to adults as much as kids, the model comes with a display stand and nameplate

Paw Patrol Marshall Transforming City Fire Truck:
This toy has a ladder that extends 360 degrees, as well as a water cannon launcher activated by pushing a button inside the truck.

Squishmallows:
These collectable cuddly little creatures come in a variety of sizes, colours and animal types and are made from super soft material. There are more than 1,000 Squishmallows in existence already.

Kindi Kids Baby Pearl:
A doll that giggles and sings as she blows hundreds of sweet-scented ice-cream bubbles. Press her to activate the bubbles.

Rainbow High Fashion Closet:
A playset that includes a rainbow of fashion dolls, including clothes and accessories, which can be mixed and matched to create more than 400 different looks.

Pictionary Air:
The charades-like game but with a techy twist. With this version, players draw their image in the air and can see the result on a tablet or smart phone.

Jiggly Pets – Tan Tan The Orangutan: 
Tan Tan is an electronic orangutan that can jiggle and shake while playing a catchy tune.

LEGO Heartlake City Shopping Mall:
Part of the LEGO Friends range, this 1,032-piece set comes with six characters and five shops to reflect a broad range of interests from music, food and tech to toys.

Jurassic World Stomp N’ Escape Tyrannosaurus Rex:
The dinosaur stomps and roars with dinosaur sounds while searching for its prey.

Instaglam On-The-Go Trolley:
A 100-piece beauty set that includes makeup colours, nail polishes, applicators and hair accessories which clip onto the trolley to create a movable beauty bar.