"A lot of toys are less expensive this year, so a lot of what we're considering the hot toys of the year are really under $20," says Byrne.
And kids don't understand what the toy costs. Ever wonder why kids often take the toy out of the box, then leave the toy and play with the box? It comes down to a factor toy experts call "play value." This value can come from a toy's ability to be played with in a number of different ways, interact with other toys a child might have or foster play among a group of kids, says Byrne.
"Kids, at the end of the day, don't know how much money has been spent on them if the toy has a lot of play value," says Byrne.
"It doesn't matter how well-made a toy is if a kid only plays with it once," says Cliff Annicelli, editor in chief of toy trade magazine Playthings. "What's most valued is a toy that they're going to want to play with over and over again."
How to Choose Toys
So, while buying the most expensive, most elaborate toy available may make the gift giver feel good, price doesn't have a lot to do with whether a toy will become a perennial favorite for the child in your life, or will join the pile of unloved playthings that graces many kids' bedrooms.
