IT'S that time of year already -- shops in the Bolton area are preparing themselves for the Christmas rush.
And parents are preparing themselves for the lengthy lists of must-have toys from children.
Although it may be increasingly difficult to predict exactly what children want, let the BEN ease some of the pressure with our guide to the Top Toys this Christmas.
No doubt the little darlings will still be demanding all things Pokemon and Digimon, but some new arrivals on the block are threatening to usurp Pikachu and chums.
The latest playground craze, Bob the Builder, is tipped to be at the top of many Christmas lists this year.
"Expect any Bob the Builder merchandise to fly out of the shops, from soft toys to remote control TVs," warned Early Learning Centre in Bolton's Deansgate.
The Early Learning Centre has had early indications of their own big sellers this Christmas.
"We manufacture a lot of our own products, and our current best seller is Baby Be Mine, an interactive doll that responds to its owner. Also popular is our Sizzlin' Kitchen, which has a play dishwasher, oven and hob and makes realistic noises.
"In fact, it's been so popular we've already sold out of Sizzlin' Kitchens twice!"
Baby Be Mine and Sizzlin' Kitchen retail for £50 each.
To help both parents and children make the right decisions, Early Learning Centres have launched "Playtime", a nationwide scheme allowing kids to road-test toys before parents part with their cash.
Bob the Builder better watch his back, as an army of electronic toys are also battling for places under the Christmas tree.
The phenomenally successful Furby Babies were the British Association Toy Retailers Toy of the Year in 1999. This year's sure-fire hit is Poo-Chi by Tiger Electronics.
For those not in the know, Poo-Chi is an interactive dog which is light sensitive and can stand, sit or even dance . It also sings and interacts with other Poo-Chi's, and unlike tiresome Tamagotchis, can be switched off at bedtime. Super Poo-Chi, an advanced version that grows from a puppy into a dog, can recognise and respond to its owner's voice.
Poo-Chi retails at £23.99 and Super Poo-Chi retails at £39.99. Both are available from branches of Woolworths.
Another lovable interactive puppy, Teksta, is snapping at Poo-Chi's heels. Teksta is voice, touch and light sensitive, and walks too. Teksta's trump card is an interactive website with new training programs, prolonging the puppy's playability. Teksta is available at Woolworths from £39.99.
"After Poo-Chi, scooters will be the most popular toy this Christmas," predicted Sonia Kliman of Toy Town, in the Market Place. Although there have been recent safety warnings about scooters, Mrs Kliman believes that it is a matter of choosing quality over the lure of a cheaply-priced scooter.
"For girls, I would recommend the interactive dolls this Christmas. Baby First Steps is absolutely brilliant," said Mrs Kliman. "For the boys, WCW figures are very popular with both children and parents, as they're affordable, starting at £5.99.
"It's worth watching out for Spider Man and X-Men action figures, particularly X-Men figures, as they will be in demand after the success of the film."
Other hi-tech contenders include the games console/ DVD player PlayStation 2, only available through a pre-order scheme. However, when it is released on November 24, 50 games are expected to be launched in time for Christmas.
The phenomenal success of the Who Wants To Be A Millionaire? franchise looks set to continue. After last year's best-selling family board game, a junior version is due to be launched later this month. There is also a PlayStation game available, featuring the dulcet tones of Chris Tarrant.
However, the pulling power of the Tweenies should not be underestimated. The pre-school favourites have generated more than £40 million for BBC Worldwide since their launch. Now they're looking to conquer the pop charts with the release of the single No 1 on October 23. An album follows at the end of the year, accompanied by a national arena tour. Top Ten toys 1. Bob the Builder
2. Interactive puppies (especially Poo-Chi and Teksta)
3. Micro-scooters
4. Interactive dolls
5. Pokemon/Digimon
6. Fashion dolls (Barbie, Britney Spears, Steps, etc)
7. Action figures (X-Men, Action Men)
8. Who Wants To Be A Millionaire? games
9. Dinosaur (film tie-in merchandise)
10. Leap Pad (interactive book)
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