So the Toy Retailer’s Association have come up with their list of Dream Toys for 2011. Sorry, but as anyone who lives with kids knows, we don’t need a list of toys because our children pester us daily with their toy wants and needs.

In my house today’s must-have toy is a stretchy monster thing with an eye that pops out when you overstretch his arms. Yesterday it was some kind of blue Frankenstein Barbie and the day before a hideous pink dolls house for mice!

How do I handle my child’s pester power? Easy I say yes to everything knowing my daughter: (1) Has the attention span of a gnat (2) That we will never venture into a toy shop together and (3) By tomorrow she will want something completely different.

Which is just one reason why I hate these Christmas toy lists. All they are basically doing is telling parents that if you don’t buy one of these ‘essential’ toys for your child – she will be the ONLY child to not have one and therefore you will have failed as a parent.

Okay that’s a bit extreme but you get my drift. What’s more looking at the list there is some really expensive stuff on it including a robotic toy called Fijit Friends (see pic) that costs £55.00 and Lego that costs £90!!! Dream toys are the right term there as far as I’m concerned.

Thankfully I don’t feel the pressure to keep up with these lists because in a house that’s already a graveyard for hardly-played-with toys that my child really, really wanted, I’m keen not to add to our toy mountain.

So when buying a toy I use a cost-per-use ratio and ask myself:

• How much will X play with this?
• Does she have anything else like this?
• How many times has she mentioned this toy?
• Will I be able to stand the sight of this lying about (my most important question and the reason why I will never buy the hideous pink dolls house for mice)?

So what are your thoughts on dream toy lists and handling pester power? Let me know.

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