Amazon Australia reveals its top 100 holiday toys of 2021 and a limited-edition holiday colouring book

Sensory companion toys help to provide much needed comfort during difficult times. Favourites in this category include the interactive GUND Animated Flappy The Elephant Stuffed Animal Plush, and My Squishy Little Dumplings — a palm-sized pal that comes with over 50 different light and sounds reactions.

Toys built for play and development have been a hit this year and there’s plenty that tick both the learning and fun boxes. The Orchard Toys Match & Spell game encourages letter recognition and teaches word building, while the Learning Resources Primary Science Lab Activity Set is a hands-on chemistry kit that includes real laboratory equip

Hands-on toys are supporting and nurturing creativity and helping kids to expand their worlds. A standout? The CRAYOLA Inspiration Art Case. Packed with a rainbow of hues, this portable art studio equates to hours, days, and weeks of fun for mini-Monets.

In today’s fast-paced world, spending quality time with loved ones is important. Amidst school, friends, and other commitments, it’s really important to come together and enjoy quality time with some multi-generational playtime. Trends this year have seen a return to old-school classics, confirming there’s no boredom in boardgames, such as family favourites Monopoly, UNO, or Articulate.

These go-to classics are also perfect for ‘kidults’ — adolescents and big little kids alike — who are in need of a break away from the screen. Be it building a Ravensburger puzzle, a LEGO Creator kit, or painting by numbers, Aussies can stay entertained without the need to log on.

Toys celebrating our everyday heroes have also been a big hit this year. Whether they’ve been watching mum and dad cook, or workers in their communities, toys such as the LEGO Duplo Cargo Train (for little builders with big imaginations) are helping curious tykes emulate their grown up idols.

With the mercury rising, kids are itching to get outside and to take playtime into their backyards and local parks. And a contender for best backyard battle accessory? The NERF – Fortnite GL Rocket Firing Blaster, which comes with an arsenal of big foam Nerf rockets.

Taking inspiration from the big screen, the world of superheroes and villains is an evergreen favourite. Be it via the fictional galaxies of Star Wars, or through Marvel characters, such as Spiderman (who has been turned into a super-squishy Goo Jit Zu Spider-Man playmate) this escape from reality helps to both empower children, and instill a sense of control in their lives, encouraging them to believe that they can be whoever they want to be.