Adults are buying more toys for themselves than their children
For the first time ever, adults are purchasing more toys for themselves than for their children, a trend that has reshaped the toy industry.
unbranded – Newsworthy
Preparing your holiday shopping lists early? Walmart is here to help with its 2024 Top Toys List.
“Customers are searching (for holiday gifts) earlier. They’re thinking and planning. And so we like to announce the list to help people plan ahead,” said Julie Barber, Walmart’s executive vice president of general merchandising.
The 66 item-long list includes 25 items priced under $25, TV-inspired toys, crafting products and an exclusive Barbie World collection.
Barber said Walmart’s list includes a “whole different assortment” of toys for shoppers of all ages. There are options “not just for the little kids and medium-sized kids, but for big kids like ourselves,” she said, pointing to puzzles and offerings from Lego.
Shoppers 18 and older have bolstered toy sales this year, with adults contributing over $1.5 billion in sales in the first quarter ‒ overtaking the preschool-age segment for the first time, according to Circana, which researches consumer behavior.
More: Krispy Kreme marks Barbie’s 65th anniversary with pink, sparkly doughnuts
Barbie World collection
Mattel says its Barbie World collection, now available in Walmart stores, lets shoppers more easily customize their dolls’ environments. While playsets of the past would include a specific Barbie doll, the new collection focuses solely on furniture and accessories.
“Whether it’s a garden set or grill set, it’s your opportunity to mix and match and really give you the most diverse, customizable experience,” Steve Totzke, Mattel’s chief commercial officer and president, told USA TODAY.
Based on trending activities shown to resonate with kids, the Barbie World launch includes 10 themed sets: a garden set, grill set, dishwasher set, bathtime set, gameroom set, hammock set, chair set, water sport set, farm set and horse set. The collection is priced between $9.99 and $24.99.
Walmart’s 2024 Top Toys List
Here’s this year’s roundup of Walmart’s top toys, based on trending products from top brands. The prices below may vary online, in store and on the Walmart app.
25 under $25:
- LEGO Creator 3-1 Peacock, Dragon, Butterfly ($19.97)
- Creativity for Kids Grow N Glow Terrarium ($12.97)
- Hello Blink Sticker Maker Pro ($24.97)
- Kinetic Sand Squish Motion Playset ($19.97)
- Rainbow Loom Wear & Share ($14.97)
- Miniverse Birthday ($9.97)
- Spiderman Web Slinger ($19.97)
- Munchlings Stitch Plush ($14.97)
- Barbie World Collection (Starting at $9.97)
- Force-N-Telling Darth Vader ($19.97)
- Pickleball Blast Game ($12.71)
- Wicked 12” Dolls – Elphaba, Glinda or Nessarose ($24.97)
- Wild Manes Sugar Crush Carnival Playset ($21.94)
- Mr. Beast Lab Mutators Gold Panther Action Figure ($19.83)
- Despicable Me 4 The Ultimate Fart Blaster ($24.84)
- Adventure Force Combat Robot Action Figures ($9.96)
- Monopoly Go Board Game ($19.82)
- Uno Teams Card Game ($6.44) and Uno Elite: Core Set Card Game ($14.88)
- Catchables Party Game 4 Pack ($14.88)
- Finders Creepers Board Game ($24.82)
- Nerf N Series Pinpoint Blaster ($19.97)
- Rubik’s Puzzle Brain Teaser Squish Cube Game ($14.88)
- Barbie Mini BarbieLand Collection (starting at $2.88)
- Little Tikes Creative Chef Make-It! Collection (starting at $9.84)
- Melissa & Doug Blockables Building Sets (starting at $19.97)
Forget Halloween: It’s Christmas already for some American shoppers
DIY and craft toys:
- LEGO Creator 3-1 Peacock, Dragon, Butterfly ($19.97)
- Creativity for Kids Grow N Glow Terrarium ($12.97)
- Hello Blink Sticker Maker Pro ($24.97)
- MGA’s Miniverse – Make it Mini Harry Potter Playset ($49.00)
- Kinetic Sand Squish Motion Playset ($19.97)
- Yummiland Lipgloss Truck ($29.94)
- Rainbow Loom Wear & Share ($14.97)
- Miniverse Birthday ($9.97)
Toys inspired by film and TV:
- Bluey 3-in-1 Airplane Playset ($59.82)
- Godzilla x Kong 14” Radio Control Figure ($45.00)
- Hello Kitty 18” Sleeping Plush ($34.97)
- Peppa Pig Muddy Puddles Party Doll ($39.92)
- Sonic 3, Sonic the Hedgehog Action Figure ($39.83)
- Spiderman Web Slinger ($19.97)
- Pokémon 18” Sleeping Plush ($29.97)
- Munchlings Stitch Plush ($14.97)
- Barbie World Collection (Starting at $9.97)
- Paw Patrol Rescue Wheels Super Loop Tower HQ ($98.86)
- LEGO Star Wars: The Phantom Menace Darth Maul’s Sith Infiltrator ($70.00)
- LEGO Disney Stitch Toy Building Kit ($65.00)
Tech toys:
- Pixel Petz Interactive Digital Pets ($29.92)
- Sharper Image Pixie Cruiser Doodle RC Car ($29.97)
- Contixo 7″ Kids Tablet 32GB, 50+ Disney Storybooks ($49.99)
- New Bright Super Rebound RC 1:16 ($39.97)
- Little Tikes Story Dream Machine ($49.84)
- Force-N-Telling Darth Vader ($19.97)
- Jurassic World All-Out Attack Tyrannosaurus Rex ($49.84)
- Transformers Optimus Prime Transforming RC ($39.84)
Toys to inspire movement:
- 12” License Character Kid’s Training Wheel Bikes ($94.00)
- Blue Glow 6V Bumper Car ($99.00)
- Huffy 26” Rock Creek Mountain Bikes ($118.00)
- VTech Sort & Discover Activity Center Wagon ($29.97)
- Spidey and His Amazing Friends Dance ‘N Crawl Spidey Interactive Plush ($39.92)
- Razor Crazy Cart Shuffle ($97.00)
Whimsical, fantasy toys
- Wicked 12” Dolls – Elphaba, Glinda or Nessarose ($24.97)
- HoloBrite Pixie Lantern ($79.00)
- LEGO Harry Potter Mandrake Plant Toy Building Set ($70.00)
- Hatchimals Mystery Hatch ($59.97)
- Wild Manes Sugar Crush Carnival Playset ($21.94)
- Mr. Beast Lab Mutators Gold Panther Action Figure ($19.83)
- Despicable Me 4 The Ultimate Fart Blaster ($24.84)
- Adventure Force Combat Robot Action Figures ($9.96)
- Smashers Mega Horror House ($29.97)
- Miraculous Hero Switch Ladybug 10.5″ Fashion Doll ($24.97)
- Miraculous Paris Heroes Playset ($150.00)
Toys for shared moments:
- Monopoly Go Board Game ($19.82)
- Uno Teams Card Game ($6.44) and Uno Elite: Core Set Card Game ($14.88)
- Catchables Party Game 4 Pack ($14.88)
- Finders Creepers Board Game ($24.82)
- Nerf N Series Pinpoint Blaster ($19.97)
- Hot Wheels City Ultra Shark Car Wash ($56.90)
- LEGO Speed Champions Aston Martin F1 Race Car & Safety Car ($44.98)
- Pickleball Blast Game ($12.71)
- Ultimate Dino Adventure Playset ($36.99)
- LankyBox Giant Cyborg ($44.84)
- Melissa & Doug Blockables Building Sets (Starting at $19.97)
Toys to spark imaginations and learn life skills:
- Barbie Mini BarbieLand Collection (Starting at $2.88)
- Fisher-Price Rockin’ Record Player ($39.97)
- Disney Junior Minnie Mouse Flipping Fun Pretend Play Kitchen Set ($68.00)
- Little Tikes Creative Chef Make-It! Collection (Starting at $9.84)
- Melissa & Doug Dust! Sweep! Mop! ($27.97)
- Cookeez Makery Freezy Cakez Interactive Plush ($29.97)
- furReal Daisy the Yoga Goat Interactive Toy ($39.97)
- Little Live Pets My Really Real Puppy, Interactive Toy ($49.97)
- Play-Doh Pizza Delivery Scooter Playset ($94.97)
- Rubik’s Puzzle Brain Teaser Squish Cube Game ($14.88)