In a year plagued by a deadly virus, closures and cancellations, parents are eager to give their kids a Christmas like, well, every other.

Overall holiday spending is expected to be muted as the second wave of COVID-19 worsens, causing ongoing economic uncertainty and tighter travel and gathering restrictions. One report from Deloitte Canada says holiday spending is expected to fall 18 per cent, with one in three Canadians planning to spend less.

But retail analysts say the lack of normalcy in 2020 may a driver for strong toy sales. Much of the drop is tied to lower spending on travel, dining out and entertaining, and experts suggest parents will forgo gifts for each other or make other sacrifices to put toys under the tree.

91裸聊视频淧eople will want to do something to keep it as close to normal as possible, especially if you91裸聊视频檝e got kids,91裸聊视频� says Tim Sanderson, executive vice-president and national lead for retail with JLL Canada

In fact, the toy category has proven resilient throughout the pandemic so far.

Since lockdowns last spring, parents have scooped up 91裸聊视频渂oredom busters91裸聊视频� like puzzles, Lego, arts and crafts supplies, board games and outdoor activities.

Now retailers are expecting that trend to hold up during the biggest gift giving season of the year.

91裸聊视频淲ith all kids91裸聊视频� events, camps and schools closing, parents have really tried to compensate to make sure that their kids are having fun or entertained or distracted,91裸聊视频� says Gail Banack, chief kids officer for Indigo Books & Music Inc.

91裸聊视频淲e91裸聊视频檙e continuing to see that trend going into the holidays.91裸聊视频�

With strong toy sales expected, retailers have rolled out sales early to keep shopping safe and physically distanced. Black Friday deals have been extended over the month, for example, to spread out shoppers and avoid long queues.

They91裸聊视频檝e also released hot toys lists and tips ahead of schedule, and are encouraging parents to shop early to avoid disappointment.

The messaging appears to be working. While there are fewer customers shopping in stores, there are also fewer people just browsing or 91裸聊视频渟hopping around.91裸聊视频�

91裸聊视频淭here has been a decline in traffic in our stores, but we91裸聊视频檙e seeing that offset by the average transaction value going up with larger basket sizes,91裸聊视频� says Sarah Jordan, CEO of Mastermind Toys.

She says the toy store chain, which focuses on educational kids91裸聊视频� toys, has also seen meteoric growth in online sales and curbside pickup orders.

91裸聊视频淐ustomers are crossing off their holiday shopping list earlier than ever before to avoid crowds and last-minute trips to the stores,91裸聊视频� Jordan says. 91裸聊视频淭he bigger ticket items are flying off the shelves.91裸聊视频�

Indeed, the messaging from retailers and mail delivery services urging people to shop early is working 91裸聊视频� perhaps too well, for the procrastinators among us.

Retailers say some inventory is already thin as people shop earlier than normal.

Sean Williams, vice-president and chief merchant with Toys 91裸聊视频淩91裸聊视频� Us Canada, says the toy industry has been good at avoiding the Tickle Me Elmo toy shortages of years past 91裸聊视频� a plush children91裸聊视频檚 toy that sparked a holiday shopping frenzy in 1996 after it sold out.

But he says the pandemic is not something the industry could have prepared for.

91裸聊视频淭here91裸聊视频檚 been an insatiable demand on the consumer side for toys throughout the pandemic,91裸聊视频� Williams says.

He says early holiday sales numbers are 91裸聊视频渇ar exceeding our expectations.91裸聊视频�

91裸聊视频淭here are some items that are going to disappear and be much tougher for people to find for the big day.91裸聊视频�

With that in mind, executives from three of the country91裸聊视频檚 top toy retailers are naming the hottest holiday toys, giving some insight into what products could run low on inventory 91裸聊视频� or are already nearly sold out.

One of the most sought-after toys this season is a collaboration between plastic construction toy maker Lego and video game company Nintendo. Lego Super Mario Adventures lets users build real-life versions of the video game levels, like deserts and grasslands.

91裸聊视频淚t91裸聊视频檚 had a spectacular debut,91裸聊视频� says Mastermind91裸聊视频檚 Jordan. 91裸聊视频淚t is proving to be a popular item 91裸聊视频� if you want it, you should get it soon.

She adds: 91裸聊视频淚f there is a hit toy of the season, that is certainly it.91裸聊视频�

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The next hot toy is the Star Wars 91裸聊视频淭he Child91裸聊视频� Animatronic Edition 91裸聊视频� also known as Baby Yoda.

The Hasbro figure makes sound effects inspired by Disney Plus91裸聊视频檚 91裸聊视频淭he Mandalorian,91裸聊视频� with a motorized head, ears and eyes.

91裸聊视频淚t just landed and it91裸聊视频檚 starting to fly off the shelf,91裸聊视频� Williams with Toys 91裸聊视频淩91裸聊视频� Us says.

Another hot item is expected to be Present Pets by Canadian toy company Spin Master.

The interactive pets unbox themselves, revealing one of two possible plush puppies programmed with more than a hundred sounds and actions.

91裸聊视频淔or parents that aren91裸聊视频檛 ready to buy a puppy, this is a great alternative,91裸聊视频� says Banack with Indigo. 91裸聊视频淚t91裸聊视频檚 really bringing together the innovation of the pet with this trend that we91裸聊视频檝e been seeing for years about unboxing.91裸聊视频�

Other hot sellers include Vtech91裸聊视频檚 Kidizoom Creator Cam, MGA Entertainment91裸聊视频檚 Na! Na! Na! Surprise Ultimate Surprise Rainbow Kitty and Spin Master91裸聊视频檚 Hatchimals Pixies Crystal Flyers toy.

But toy retailers say classic children91裸聊视频檚 gifts like games, puzzles and outdoor activities are also expected to post strong sales this holiday.

91裸聊视频淭hat was something that really took off during COVID and has sustained itself,91裸聊视频� Banack says.

She says many parents are trying to limit screen time for children, increasing the appeal of some of the more traditional gifts.

91裸聊视频淚 think one of the objectives of every parent going into the holidays is to get their kids off devices,91裸聊视频� Banack says. 91裸聊视频淲e believe books are always a great choice.91裸聊视频�

Brett Bundale, The Canadian Press

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