Children all over the world look forward to gift giving and receiving during the holiday season. The most popular holiday for this, of course, is Christmas; little ones will stay up as late as possible, and wait by the Christmas tree in hopes of getting a glimpse of the infamous St. Nick and his sack full of Christmas toys. Generation after generation have reveled in this wondrous Christmas tradition, and though the holiday has failed to change dramatically, the Christmas toys list that accompany it have.

A few short decades ago boys and girls wanted wagons, rag dolls, and trains. But with each new generation, and with the increase of smarter and more technologically advanced play things, Christmas toys are taking on new forms. In recent years, Bratz, Big Wheels, and Barbies, were all the rage. This Christmas Pokeman will have been replaced by Bakugan, Lincoln Logs will have been replaced by Legos, and though the Star Wars rave is not too unfamiliar, the toys that have been developed to entertain the newest generation of fans are much more advanced than those of the former.

Society is ever-changing, as are the toys our children play with. Barbie, at one time, was a female icon to small girls all around the world. Now more than fifty years old, she is still popular. She has retained all of her original beauty, with inhuman proportions and shiny blond hair. We cannot forget her convertible car, her dream house, and her constant career changes over the years; it is no wonder she has become an item of collection for little girls.

Big Wheels were very popular in the 70's. And children still find joy in riding around in those cool, yet oddly proportioned tricycles. Somehow though, those little man powered three wheelers are not looked at as way they once were. Children are craving something that rides quicker and requires less physical exertion. They want bikes with engines, scooters with engines, and that old thrill of making something run with your own two little feet is just not what it used to be.

Listed below is a detailed description of what is likely to be on children’s lists of Christmas toys for 2010

Bakugan: This interesting little ball morphs into a robotic looking bug when it is centered on its card. The dynamics are interesting, and the principle of the game -beating the other player’s Bakugan- does require a bit of imagination. The purpose of the cards is similar to that of the Pokeman cards, but fun is enhanced with this cool little robotic like warrior.

*Star Wars toys and games: Many parents are delighted with the popularity of Star Wars because it was popular when they were young. Because of the movie Star Wars, children are asking for light sabers, Princess Leia   and Jaba the Hut figurines, and Darth Vader masks. Thanks to technological advancement, there are DS lite and Wii Star Wars games as well.

*Legos all but replaced Lincoln Logs, though some still prefer them. Lincoln Logs tend to appeal to the older crowd, and parents delight in building log cabins because . . . well, it might remind them of old Grizzly Adams. But children have a different view. Legos have gotten smaller and smaller, and are now used not only to build large skyscrapers, robotic figures, bridges and towers, they are also used to build intricately designed space ships, battle ships, and cars. They can be made into nearly everything, and it is because of this that children are delighted with them. All the small pieces lock together in a specified order to create something incredibly amazing. Lincoln Logs were fun, but even grown ups must admit, they are not as versatile as Legos.

*Wii: This interactive game is entertaining children and adults alike all around the world. With a Wii, you can play golf, tennis, bowling, and ski without ever leaving the comfort of your living room. It's a good way for kids to move their bodies and maintain relatively healthy levels of physical activity. On the down side, it is expensive.

Christmas will be here before we know it. And if we want to make our little ones happy, we have to be aware of what is popular. The Christmas toys kids want this year may differ greatly from the year before, so we have to be on top of things. To ease the impact on a budget, parents should open up a dialog with their kids early, and assess their wants and needs.