Christmas in July: Top 10 toys for 2014

Toy retailers Hamleys, Argos and The Entertainer agree the top toys this year will have a heavy technology tilt with toy smart watches and educational video gaming systems breaking into the top ten.

The retailers all unanimously agree that an interative doll that can be synced with an Android or iOS device via bluetooth, is set to wow kids on Christmas Day with its ability to answer questions put to it by kids.

Tough questions that stump the doll can be answered by the it logging onto the internet and looking up the answer on Wikipedia, with a clever set of parental controls preventing it reading out any inappropriate answers.

Linzi Walker, chief toy buyer at Argos, said: “Toy trends develop and change every year, and although tech is now given a heavy focus, categories such as arts and crafts are a phenomenal trend this year. In many cases the more innovative and technologically advanced toys like Cayla are built upon the simple classics such as the toy doll.”

Stuart Grant, buying director at The Entertainer, added: “Interestingly in view of the high tech presence in the list, we believe that the number one toy for Christmas will be the Loom kits, especially the Hello Kitty Looms.

“It highlights that ultimately children love the simple pleasure of creating something they can wear and share.”