Parents pulling their hair out over the task of finding one of the nearly sold-out Hatchimals still have plenty of alternatives available, with one month left to snap up the hottest items of the season before Christmas.

Margot Somerville of the Canadian Toy Association couldn't offer much in the way of hope for Hatchimal hunters on Tuesday, but she does have a number of other recommendations for the holiday season.

Somerville says "make-and-play" toys are popular this year, because they offer multiple ways for kids to play with the same item. "Not only are you creating the item, but you get to play with it after," she told CTV News Channel on Tuesday.

LEGO kits are always a popular entry in this category, but Somerville also recommends the Num Noms lip gloss truck for young girls.

Remote control toys are also a solid choice for children. "Some of the hottest toys on this holiday are remote control," Somerville said. "They have been around for a long time and they still tend to be some of the most favourite."

She pointed out that innovations are constantly pushing remote control technology in new directions, so there are often new twists on old toys. For instance, last year's hard-to-find BB-8 drone from Star Wars is back this year, but with a new twist. The toy is now available with an accompanying Force Band, which allows the wearer to guide the little robot around with a wave of the hand.

Somerville also shared some new twists on old toys. The Barbie Hello Dreamhouse, which retails for about $500, features a wide range of high-tech bells and whistles, including speech recognition, a working elevator and an in-house floor sensor.

The classic memory game Simon also received a high-tech upgrade this year, with a touch-free ring replacing its old four-button design.

But simple is sometimes best, and there are plenty of toys around that will keep it simple this holiday season. Somerville said one of the most popular toys at a recent demonstration was the Terra wooden animal barn – a lifelike structure that serves as a perfect home for a child's plastic animals.

"That's absolutely evergreen," Somerville said.

She added that parents should act sooner rather than later, to make sure they lock down the top toys on their kids' Christmas lists. "If you don't buy these hot items quickly they do run out," she said.