Gifts, Games and Toys - Gifts for Kids of All Ages

Gifts - Baby Gifts

• Two Ladybugs burp cloths: Burp cloths can be drab and, more importantly, irritating to a baby's skin. Parents adore Two Ladybugs burp cloths for their cute, personalized designs and softness. The fabric could be more absorbent, but the style alone is worth a bit of extra clean-up after meals. - $10.95
• Baby Einstein Musical Motion Activity Jumper: Music, lights, colors and exercise will stimulate and educate your baby for hours. A baby can sit or bounce in the Baby Einstein jumper. The seat swivels so that baby may play with all of the toys attached to the jumper. It's easy to clean and store, so at the end of the day or play time the Baby Einstein jumper can be moved out of the way. It's so fun, it'd be great if this jumper came in adult sizes, don't you think? - prices vary
• Leapfrog Learning Drum: Your baby will be the next Little Drummer Boy (or Girl) after playing with the Leap Frog Learning Drum. The drum features lights and music that reinforce letter and number recognition skills that are vital to reading success later in childhood. Thankfully there is a volume control, too, so that you won't hear the drum from all over the house. - prices vary
• Mullins Square Hooded Towel: Mullins Square towels are fun for you and baby. The Mullins Square towels come in different characters - puppy, lion, frog and more - and are especially adorable when fitted over a baby or young child's head. The towels are large and are perfect for babies to grow in to, so parents will not be spending extra money replacing towels every few months. - $49.99 or less
• Mega Bloks 80 Piece Maxi Bag: Budding builders will spend ample time constructing structures out of the Mega Bloks. Mega Bloks are large enough for toddlers and young children to use. They are also easy for small hands and fingers to manipulate because they connect loosely. A baby will learn colors, shapes and dexterity, all while building and playing. It probably wouldn't hurt this old man to use the Mega Bloks every now and then for his dexterity. - $19.99
• Fisher Price Laugh and Learn House: Baby will get a head start as man or woman of the house with the Fisher Price Laugh and Learn House. The Fisher Price house encourages baby to learn the alphabet and numbers through sing-alongs and other activities. Baby will learn counting, shapes, colors and language. The swinging door provides hours of fun crawling time. - $69.99
• Leapfrog Little Leaps: Even baby needs a video game system! Leap Frog Little Leaps game system is designed specifically for infants and toddlers. Little Leaps has a two-sided controller and is compatible with DVD players. Leap Frog games and other character titles are available for use with the system. Games teach skills that include five areas of development, including cognitive, physical, verbal, emotional and creative. - $34.99

Gifts - Gifts for Toddlers (3-5 years)

• Radio Flyer Tiny Trike: Ding ding! Older babies and toddlers will never lose interest in the Radio Flyer Tiny Trike. The tricycle is easy to assemble and is safe for babies to use because the tricycle is not tall and, therefore, a fall to the ground is not far. The handlebar bell is sure to be a source of entertainment, too. - $49.99
• LeapFrog Fridge Phonics: LeapFrog Fridge Phonics Magnetic Letter Set is a musical letter reader that teaches kids their ABC's. A child simply places a letter into the reader and the set will recite the letter back to the child. LeapFrog Fridge Phonics says what each letter is and each sound that the letter makes - all in a song! Toys don't get any better than being educational and fun all at once. - $19.99
• Hot Wheels: Hot Wheels cars are classic toys for little boys. The tiny cars and trucks are durable and can be paired with play sets for creating imaginative stories. Hot Wheels cars are packaged individually and in sets so that you can pick and choose which models to buy or pick up a set of the same vehicle. Don't forget that Hot Wheels are great collectibles for older children and adults. - prices vary
• Fancy Nancy books, by Jane O'Conner: Fancy Nancy novels are fantastic (that's a fancy word for great). The books are about a little girl, Nancy, who is unique (that's a fancy word for one-of-a-kind) and sensational (that's a fancy word for great). Values and morals are also a cornerstone of the story. Little girls will love the sparkly illustrations. - prices vary
• Play-Doh: Sculpting and designing never go out of style. Play-Doh entertains kids of all ages, and the EZ 2 Do Zoo is an especially fun Play-Doh set. The EZ 2 Do Zoo kit is complete with three 5-ounce containers of Play-Doh clay, plastic sculpting tools and various animal body parts, like eyes and feet. You'll be making, destroying and recreating your own zoo animals with kids over and over. Good thing there are so many different animals to make. - $9.98
• Crayola Color Wonder Mess-Free Tote: Crayola Color Wonder Mess-Free Tote contains 24 pages of Color Wonder coloring space, a 20-page Color Wonder mini-tablet and six Color Wonder Markers. Crayola Color Wonder only works on special Color Wonder paper, so messes or "tattoos" are a nuisance of the past. With an easy carrying handle, it is small enough to fit inside car storage pockets (or a sleigh!) for traveling. - $14.99
• Fisher-Price Little People Melody the Mini Van: Melody the Mini Van is a four-piece play set. It includes a pink and purple plastic van with a mother, baby and stroller characters to steer around in the van. Melody the Mini Van plays music like "If You're Happy and You Know It" and "Wheels on the Bus," plus sounds like laughter, engines revving and honking horns. If I could just find a life size pink mini van for Mrs. Clause... - prices vary

Gifts - Gifts for Kids (8-12 years)

• Webkinz: Webkinz stuffed animals are available at most toy stores and come in a variety of species and breeds. After purchasing the animal, registration and "adoption" occurs online at the Webkinz website. Children earn KinzCash by playing games and completing activities at the website each day. KinzCash can be used to buy food, furniture and other goodies for the Webkinz animal. Webkinz is fun and teaches children the value of a dollar. What an invaluable lesson to learn at a young age. - $15.00 plus website re-activation fee each year
• Hannah Montana Doll: There's not a girl under the age of twelve who does not know the name Hannah Montana, so any Hannah Montana-themed present will be an immediate success. Hannah Montana dolls come with a brush, microphone and outfit. Give the best of both worlds with the Hannah Montana Concert Series doll: a doll and singing toy in one. Don't forget to pick up Hannah's friends, Lilly and Oliver, in doll form too. - $14.99
• National Geographic Kids' Magazine: National Geographic Kids' Magazine is another unique children's gift that will get kids to tune out of TV and tune in to the world around them. Many of the feature stories focus on animals or entertainment news. The "Family Project" section gives instructions to make cute items out of recycled household items. Parents and kids will learn loads of interesting information from a subscription to National Geographic Kids' Magazine. - $19.95 for 10 issues (one year)
• The Dangerous Book for Boys, by Hal Iggulden: Don't be fooled. The Dangerous Book for Boys is a useful and amusing read for boys and girls. It is a manual I recommend to parents who want to get their kids off of MySpace and outside instead. In it are instructions for building a tree house, tying knots, first aid, discovering insects and spiders, and more. The Dangerous Book for Boys brings back fond childhood memories; it's exactly what today's technologically savvy children need to read - after Harry Potter, of course. - $14.95
• A Box of Silly Word Games: I'd say this gift is straightforward enough - ho ho ho! There are 25 games and 25 game instruction cards in one box, plus paper, pencil, a timer and a die. The games include License Plate Bingo, Rhyme Reply, Pluck the Chicken and more. The Box of Silly Word Games is perfect for road trips, camping, waiting time at restaurants or family game nights. - prices vary
• Razor E300S Electric Scooter: Little Johnny or Susie will be the hippest kids on the block when they come roarin' through the neighborhood on a Razor E300S Electric Scooter. The Razor E300S Electric Scooter isn't an old-fashioned pedaling scooter. If it was, it wouldn't be electric, would it? The Razor E300S can reach speeds of up to 15 miles per hour, so a nice addition to this gift would be a helmet. A handlebar horn or bell could be a great added touch, too. Safety first! - prices vary
• Enchanted: Disney decided to go a bit more modern when it designed to release Enchanted. The fairy tale begins as a cartoon but shifts to real actors after the princess, Giselle, is pushed down a sewer by the prince's evil step-mother, Narissa, and turns up in New York City. Laughter and chaos ensue as Enchanted follows Giselle's journey to return to her home in Andalasia. Enchanted is classic Disney fun for boys and girls. - prices vary

Gifts - Gifts for Teens and Pre-Teens (12-15 years)

• Nintendo DS Lite Console: The Nintendo DS Lite is a portable, handheld game unit unique to other systems of its kind for its two screens. Nintendo DS Lite games are designed to incorporate both screens; gamers often have to touch, draw or blow on the screen in order to play a game. Traditional buttons and controls are used as well. Best of all, Gameboy Advance and original Nintendo DS games are compatible with a Nintendo DS Lite, but I'd suggest starting off with hits like Brain Age and Mario Kart. - prices vary
• Gift cards: Teens can be particularly difficult to shop for because of their constant change in tastes. It's tough for an older generation to keep up with the latest trends - even I have difficult with it, and I'm SantaC! A nice and very appreciated gesture is to pick up a gift card to a few local hot spots, such as restaurants or clothing stores. I also suggest stuffing a stocking or two with an iTunes gift card. It'll save you the embarrassment of picking out the wrong CD or (gasp!) cassette tape from the store. - prices vary
• Discovery Channel alarm clock: The Discovery Channel alarm clock is an ordinary clock at first glance. Snooze button, time display, various time zone selections, ceiling projector, temper... wait, ceiling projector? Sheesh, I suppose I forgot that the Discovery Channel alarm clock has ceiling projector capabilities, so that kids can see the time without having to roll over in bed and adjusting the position of their clock on a nightstand. Sounds like a pretty spiffy gift for parents, too. - prices vary
• Harry Potter Schoolbooks: Finding a teen who has not read the Harry Potter series is like finding a needle in a haystack - virtually impossible. If you can find that rare teen, then be sure to pick up any of the Harry Potter novels missing from their collection. Otherwise, the set of Harry Potter Schoolbooks are sure to entertain. The Harry Potter Schoolbooks cover the history of Qudditch, the wizarding sport, and descriptions of fantastic beasts from the novels. Harry Potter Schoolbooks are a necessary addition to the collection of any avid Harry Potter fan. - prices vary
• North Face Denali jacket: I wouldn't recommend this fleece for frigid weather in the North Pole, but it is a fabulous coat to own for chilly days any where. The North Face Denali jacket can zip in to other waterproof shells, however, so it is a great bargain if you decide to turn it in to a year-round jacket. Nylon sleeves are dirt and water resistant. The North Face Denali jacket comes in multiple colors so that your favorite teen and make a serious fashion statement. - $99.99 or more
• A digital camera: Teens will enjoy having their own digital camera to take with them on the go. Many digital camera companies offer cameras that are not as high-tech or professional and are perfect for pointing and shooting, which is really all a teen needs or wants to do with a camera. Help them create memories one picture at a time with a nice digital camera that will last them for years. - prices vary
• Greek DVD set: Teens can't get enough of ABC Family's TV show, Greek, and lucky for you, the first box set of the first season arrived on DVD earlier this fall. Greek chronicles the lives of several students at the fictional Cyprus-Rhodes University. The comedy-drama series is addictive, so you'll want to set aside some time to tune in to it, too. - $21.99

Gifts - Gifts for High School or College Students (16+ years)

• Nintendo Wii console: The latest and greatest in video gaming technology lies in the palm of yours hands with a Nintendo Wii. Nintendo Wii is interactive and social and requires the use of the Wii Remote or Nanchuk to operate and play games. Classic games that include Mario are available for the Nintendo Wii system. Otherwise, new age interactive games like Guitar Hero or Wii Fit will have you rocking out and losing weight in no time. You can also sing, dance, hunt, ski, play with animals, design a wedding dress, watch fish swim in an aquarium... I'll be out of breath before finishing the types of things you can do with a Nintendo Wii! Check out the Wii games for yourself and save me some oxygen. - $250.00
• Netflix: There isn't anyone out there who doesn't like a good movie, but renting movies or going to theaters often breaks the budget for college and high school kids. Netflix has fast service, low prices and a wide selection of rentals available. Don't forget the free shipping, no late fees and no due dates. Older kids will appreciate the ability to watch any movies, any time they want, all for one low price. Sadly, candy and popcorn is not included. - $4.99-$16.99 per month
• VISA gift card: Forget trying to pick out gift cards to local campus hot spots or popular city hangouts. Remember, I told you that teens and young adults change their tastes as frequently as they do their laundry. Hm, I suppose that's the wrong analogy. Either way, pick up a VISA gift card and load as much money on it as you want. They'll be able to spend it wherever they want and you won't have to look like a fool buying a gift card to Kids ‘R Us for an eighteen-year-old. - prices vary
• Seagate 500 GB External Hard Drive: Did a recent computer crash destroy important term papers, projects and digital photo memories from a fraternity party? Prevent more panicking and heartache and give this child at heart a Seagate 500 GB External Hard Drive. The small, portable hard drive can be used with either a PC or a Mac, and can be connected to a computer via a high-speed USB 2.0 cable. They'll never worry about losing another document again, and there'll be more space on the computer for more of those fraternity party pictures. - $99.99-$139.99
• Flip Video Camcorder: Recording all of life's moments on the pocket-sized FLIP Video Camcorder from Pure Digital Technologies is going to be the next big trend. Get ahead of the curve by picking one up for your favorite college student. The FLIP Video Camcorder family has three different types: the Mino, Ultra or Video. Every FLIP Video Camcorder can capture up to 60 minutes worth of footage and comes in a variety of colors. - $109.99-$118.32
• Bose Companion 2 speakers: Get the party started with some high-fidelity speakers from Bose. There's only basic volume controls installed on the Bose Companion 2 speakers, but the kids will never know the difference. They'll never blast their tunes over half volume unless they want to blow their eardrums out. - $69.99
• Hewlett Packard photo printer: Now that they'll have all of their fraternity party pictures saved on an external hard drive, it'd be fabulous if they could print their pictures off in their own room or dorm. The Hewlett Packard photo printer is small and portable, so 4x6 pictures can be printed any time, any where. Maybe they'll even share some of the pictures with you during winter break (but not the one from the fraternity party). - prices vary

Surprising a toddler, teen or college kid with presents that they did not put on their holiday list is a wonderful feeling. Educational toys make new parents and babies happy. Crafts for kids or other toys and games are hits with parents and kids, especially on road trips or family nights. Music, movies and electronics are safe bets for older kids. As always, take my suggestions and modify them to fit the personality of the child. There's nothing quite like a personalized touch to a gift!

Happy Holidays!