Nielsen: 44% of U.S. kids 6-12 want an iPad for Christmas

The iPod touch (30%) and iPhone (27%) came in second and third in the 2011 wish list

Click to enlarge. Source: Nielsen

Apple's (AAPL) iPad topped a new Nielsen survey of the most desired electronics products among young Americans this holiday season.

Among kids 6-12, Apple scored a hat trick, with the iPad (44%) first, the iPod touch (30%) second and the iPhone (27%) third.

In a similar survey last year, the iPad came in first at 31% and a generic "computer" was No. 2 at 29%

The teenagers surveyed had somewhat broader interests. The iPad was their No. 1 choice at 24% (up from 18% last year), but computers, e-readers, TV sets, non-Apple tablets and Blu-Ray players scored higher than the iPhone at 15%, perhaps because so many of them already have one.

For more detail, see the Nielsen Wire here.

Below: The results for ages 13 and up.