2009 Children's Holiday Gift Guide

Compiled by Janice Hands
If you’re looking for children’s gift suggestions beyond the lists your kids have provided you, you’ve come to the right place. A host of the latest in children’s toys, books, and electronics is described below. Take a moment to look them over, and select something totally new and unexpected for the lucky youngsters in your life.
Be sure to scroll down and check out the helpful sidebars, including “Ways to Save” for the word on websites that will help save you bucks, “Every Child is Special” for tips on shopping for a child with special needs, and “Smart Holiday Spending” full of shopping advice from Consolidated Credit Counseling Services, Inc.
Have a great holiday!

Suggestions are arranged by category. Within the categories, items are arranged according to age, youngest to oldest. Suggested ages were not available for all products; when provided, they have been included. Prices listed are manufacturers’ suggested retail prices, provided several months prior to the publication of this guide. Baltimore’s Child cannot be responsible for price or availability changes.

Looking Forward to the Holidays
Your youngster’s Veggie Tales friends Bob the Tomato and Larry the Cucumber present a new holiday video, Saint Nicholas: A Story of Joyful Giving. When little Laura Carrot’s stocking is in danger of coming up empty, Bob tells her the story of a little boy named Nicholas who made a discovery in Bethlehem and found the true joy of giving to others. Ages 2-5. $14.93. Wherever DVDs are sold, amazon.com.

Your tiny tot will enjoy his or her introduction to Chanukah with A Chanukah Present for: Me! by Lily Karr. The book, dressed up like a wrapped gift box, features a simple story filled with the most popular Chanukah icons and traditions. Ages 3-under. $6.99. store.scholastic.com.

Celebrate the eight-day holiday with this Chanukah set, perfect for little hands and big ones, too. The colorful, 31-piece wooden set contains a menorah, nine candles with removable flames, six gelts, one dreidel, two latkes, a pan, spatula, and canvas storage bag. Ages 3-up. $35.95. Sensational Beginnings, 800-444-2147, www.sb-kids.com.

Your child will enjoy counting the days until Christmas with this magnetic Advent calendar. Constructed of wood and fitted with hanging hooks, the calendar holds a door for each day that conceals a magnetic character piece to be placed in the metal manger scene. Ages 3-up. $49.99. Constructive Playthings Toys. 800-832-0572, www.constplay.com.

Little ones are encouraged to touch A Child’s First Wooden Nativity and learn about the very first Christmas. The nativity set features a sturdy stable and 14 colorful all-wood pieces, including the baby Jesus, Mary, Joseph, the wise men, and more. They’ll enjoy arranging and re-arranging the scene throughout the holiday season. Ages 3-up. $29.95. Young Explorers, 800-239-7577, youngexplorers.com.

Anticipate the excitement of the holidays with I SPY Christmas by Jean Marzollo, a Scholastic puzzle book. The book features rhyming riddles inviting your child to locate hidden objects—clocks, nickels, frogs, and more—among its photographic pages filled with holiday delights. Ages 4-8. $13.95. store.scholastic.com.

Gather your youngsters around you and introduce them to what Kwanzaa is all about with The Sound of Kwanzaa by Dimetrea Tokunbo. The book features lively verse and colorful illustrations to help your children discover the seven principles of Kwanzaa. Ages 4-8. $16.99. store.scholastic.com.

Baby and Toddler
Eric Carle’s beloved picture book, The Very Hungry Caterpillar, is celebrating its 40th anniversary this year. Kids Preferred presents developmental play pals for little ones based on Carle’s characters—a caterpillar, of course, as well as a butterfly, ladybug, lion, penguin, and elephant. These soft toys each feature at least four actions—a crinkle, a jingle, a teether, or a squeak. Each includes a clip to keep them nearby on baby’s crib or play yard. Ages newborn-up. $15 each. www.kidspreferred.com.

Such big blocks for tiny tots, but soft, and so much fun! These super soft building blocks are velour-covered foam blocks in various bright colors and shapes. Set of 24. Ages 3 mos.-up. $29.99. Constructive Playthings Toys. 800-832-0572, www.constplay.com.

These blocks are just baby’s size. Twenty-six colorful, clear plastic Alphabet Peek-a-Blocks feature the letters of the alphabet complete with special objects inside illustrating each letter – interesting objects for baby to see and watch move, interesting sounds for baby to hear. Ages 6-36 mos. $27. Catalog exclusive, fisher-pricestore.com.

No matter what they’re hungry for, the Shop & Play First Food Set has what they’ve been craving. Your tiny tot will love playing with these 21 washable fabric and vinyl soft play foods. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner are covered with items such as bacon, eggs, bread, lettuce, tomato, banana, pizza, milk, and more. It all comes in a vinyl shopping bag with handles. Ages 6 mos.-3 yrs. $29.95. Toys to Grow On, 800-987-4454, www.ttgo.com.

Your toddler will love Tailgate Trios, colorful, chunky cars that are easy for little hands to handle. Choose from either emergency vehicles or construction trucks, in sets of three. Each vehicle has magnetic hitches in front and back so that kids can hook them together to form a “train.” Ages 12 mos.-up. $9.99 each set. Lakeshore Learning Store, Towson; lakeshorelearning.com.

Your tot’s First “Fleet” cars are made of soft, stuffed fabric, with rubber wheels that can be detached for ease in sending the cars to your washer. Best of all, the school bus, police car, fire truck, and taxi will zip across the floor when pulled back and released. Ages 12 mos.-up. $29.95 set of four. One Step Ahead. 800-274-8440, www.onestepahead.com.

Your little one will be delighted to discover a surprise at the bottom of his or her plate every time a meal is finished with the Kids Pirate or Princess Surprise plate. Parents can fill the removable base of this plate with small prizes for being a member of the “clean plate club.” Preschoolers. $14.90 each. WMF Americas, Inc. www.wmfamericas.com.

Here’s a unique nightlight that will help your tot drift off to sleep at night and recognize when it’s time to get up in the morning. The Good Nite Lite features a friendly, glowing caricature face that changes from a moon in the evening to a sun in the morning at your pre-programmed night-night and wake-up times. Now your youngster will know that unless the “sun” is shining, it’s not time to get up and rouse the rest of the household. $34.99. www.GoodNiteLite.com.

Cuddly Friends
Gund’s plush Elmo loves to be cuddled, but he’ll also teach your youngster how to button, zip, buckle, snap, and tie. Elmo stands 15 3/4-inches, and has an easy-to-grasp button, snap, and zipper on his overalls, as well as laces on his shoes. $34.99. You’ll want to snuggle up together and read from Elmo’s Funny Friends, a four-book set of stories to enchant your child. Ages 1-up. $12.99. Back to Basics Toys, 800-356-5360, www.backtobasicstoys.com.

Your youngster will enjoy carrying all her treasures in this Puppy Purse, a cuddly, plush polyester pocketbook, fully lined and complete with a patent leather “leash” strap. Choose from a beagle, a pug, a chihuahua, or a yorkie. Ages 3-up. $6.95. The Lakeside Collection, 847-444-3150, www.lakeside.com.

These snuggly little fellows are guaranteed to accompany your child to dreamland each night. My Pillow Pets, soft, plush, chenille companions come in more than 20 styles from A to Z, alligator to zebra, and practically everything in between. They come in two sizes, 11-inch at $16.99 and 18-inch at $24.99. All ages. www.mypillowpets.com.

Hugg-A-Planet’s Foundlings stuffed toys are “green” toys made from organic fabric scraps that otherwise would be discarded. Your child can cuddle up with a bunny, bear, elephant, puppy, and more. All ages. $9.95-$29.95. www.peacetoys.com.

You’ll find these pet hamsters are pretty easy to have around, and your child will love them too. Zhu Zhu Pets hamsters each have their own personality and sounds; hear them chatter, watch them scoot across the floor. Your child will enjoy petting their soft fur and creating a habitat for them. Choose from Mr. Squiggles, Pipsqueak, Num Nums, or Chunk, each for $7.99. Accessories include a hamster wheel, carrier and basket, blanket and bed, surfboard, and more; prices vary. www.zhu-zhu-pets.com.

Oh, You Beautiful Doll!
Safe, soft and so sweet, your little one will fall in love with Her First Doll. This soft sculpture baby doll features silky satins and velour and a safe embroidered face. Best of all, when she’s in need of a little sprucing up, she’s machine washable. Ages newborn-up. $15.95. One Step Ahead. 800-274-8440, www.onestepahead.com.

Just the right size for your little one, My First Dollhouse from Fisher-Price features a colorful three-story dwelling with lots of space to decorate, easy to handle accessories, and a mom, dad, and baby who reside there. $40. Accessory sets include a TV room, baby’s room, and mom and dad’s room. $11. each. Ages 2-up. Toys R Us, Target, amazon.com.

One doll is great, but triplets can triple the fun! The Teeny Triplets Dress-Up Set features three magnetic wooden dolls, and 54 pieces of clothing and accessories to mix and match for hours of fun. Set includes a vinyl tote bag for kids on the go. Ages 3-up. $9.95. The Lakeside Collection, 847-444-3150, www.lakeside.com.

If your young lady is looking for a new friend or two this holiday season, Best Friends Club, Ink. dolls, Kaitlin and Calista, are waiting to be discovered by her. These are 18-inch dolls that look and dress just like her real-life friends. They come with extra outfits and some cool accessories. Ages 6-up. $29.99 each. Toys R Us, target.com, amazon.com.

All Booked Up!
More than just colorful books, The Metropolitan Museum of Art Store’s Puzzle Books feature eight 16-piece jigsaw puzzles portraying child-friendly works found in the Museum. The text encourages children to notice details about the artworks as they have fun “puzzling.” Choose from Puzzling Places, Puzzling People, Puzzling Cats, or Puzzling Beasts. $15.95 each. Purchase the set of four for $49.95. Ages 3-up. 800-468-7386, store.metmuseum.org.

There’s nothing like a pop-up book to bring stories alive. The Metropolitan Museum of Art Store presents A Pop-Up Book of Nursery Rhymes by Matthew Reinhart, featuring all your child’s favorite characters, springing to life from its imaginative pages. Ages 3-up. $26.99. The Metropolitan Museum of Art Store, 800-468-7386, store.metmuseum.org.

Kids discover the beauty of the written word with one or all of these beautifully illustrated classic Poetry for Young People books. American Poetry features a collection of 26 verses from Ralph Waldo Emerson, Maya Angelou, and others. Animal Poems introduce the poetry of John Keats, Walt Whitman, and others. The Seasons shows children the wonder of nature with poetry by Emily Dickinson, William Wordsworth, and others. Hardcover, 48 pages each. Ages 6-up. $14.95 each; set of three $34.95. MindWare catalog. 800-999-0398, www.mindware.com.

Billed as “410 pages of silliness,” the Klutz Encyclopedia of Immaturity will provide the whole family with lots of giggles. It contains hundreds of crazy tricks and silly ideas, including how to “bounce a doughnut, make grass squeak.” Ages 8-up. $19.95. Young Explorers, 800-239-7577, youngexplorers.com.

A 300-year-old giant oak tree in her Cambridge Maryland backyard and the neighborhood children’s interest in it inspired author K. S. Brooks to write The Mighty Oak and Me. This is truly a primer on trees, especially the oak, our national tree. The book is full of lively discussion about the parts of the tree, its propagation, the animals that inhabit it, and seasonal changes. Dozens of photographs illustrate the text. For each purchase this holiday season, a donation will be made to the Arbor Day Foundation to support the planting of a tree in our nation’s forests. Elementary age. $14.95. www.themightyoakandme.com, amazon.com.

My Heritage Book gives your child a window into his or her own unique heritage. This personalized children’s book contains information about the countries his ancestors came from and some of the traditions they brought to America. You may choose up to four countries to highlight. The original, hand-painted illustrations greatly enhance the copy. A family tree for you or your child to complete is included at the end. Sign on to their website to “page through” a sample copy. All ages. $39.95. 866-383-7833, www.myheritagebook.com.

The latest in the series, The World Almanac and Book of Facts 2010 is a great addition to your family’s library, full of the latest fascinating facts and trivia from the worlds of entertainment, sports, science and technology, cultural trends, and much more. All ages. $12.99. amazon.com, borders.com, walmart.com.

Ignite the Imagination
Celebrate the 40th anniversary of Sesame Street with K’NEX Sesame Street Neighborhood Collection 1-2-3 Brownstone, a replica of the house your children see on TV. The 40-piece construction set includes the stoop, trees, fire hydrant, buildable Elmo and Cookie Monster, and an activity sheet. Ages 2-up. $19.99. Target Stores, www.target.com, www.toysrus.com.

Kids can return to prehistoric times with the Animal Planet Wooden Dino Land Playset. The set features a multi-level dinosaur play land that children construct themselves, a play mat with jungle and river scenes, and two plastic dinosaurs. Ages 3-6. $34.99. Toys R Us, www.toysrus.com.

Your children can construct just about anything they can imagine with CitiBlocs. This unique set of blocks features wooden pieces, precisely cut to be exactly the same size and shape. They require no glue, clips, snaps, or connectors of any kind, but rather rely on gravity and balance to create structures simple and complex. All your child will need is a flat surface and an active imagination. Sets available from 52 to 1,000 pieces. Ages 3-up. $14.99-up. Toys R Us, www.citiblocs.com.

Dinosaurs like these were never part of the prehistoric age. Build-A-Saurus building set contains colorful durable plastic, interchangeable legs, arms, fins, and heads to build both a tyrannosaurus and a stegosaurus, or any combination of the two that your youngster dreams up. 32-piece set. Ages 3-up. $24.99. Constructive Playthings Toys. 800-832-0572, www.constplay.com.

Magnetic Geo Builders is a truly unique set of building “blocks.” Made of foam in six shapes and textures and in a rainbow of colors, these pieces contain easy-stick magnets along every edge, allowing your youngsters to create an endless array of structures. Set includes 48 building pieces and a 12” metal tray that provides a sturdy building surface. Ages 3-up. $14.99. Lakeshore Learning Store, Towson; lakeshorelearning.com.

The princess’ ball is this evening, and it’s up to your youngster to decide what she will wear, as Babalu, Inc. presents Pretty Princess FeltTales. This imaginative felt playset includes a colorful background felt canvas for your child’s storytelling, as well as 20 precut pieces, and a storage pouch. Babalu specializes in FeltTales playsets; other titles include Dinosaur Days, Day at the Zoo, Pirates of Shipwreck Cove, Let’s Go to the Ballet, Pups in the Park, and more. Ages 3-up. $19.95. amazon.com, www.roundtabletoys.com.

Kids can twist it, shape it, and mold it every which way imaginable. The Playfoam Creativity Kit contains remoldable sculpting material that won’t dry out, crumble, or stick to skin or surfaces. Included in the kit are nine bricks of foam in assorted colors, and over 100 accessories like googly eyes, feathers, and pompoms, to bring their sculptures to life. Ages 3-up. $29.95. Young Explorers, 800-239-7577, youngexplorers.com.

Your aspiring physician can set up his or her own medical office with The Doctor’s Office, a 70-piece kit that features everything from a working stethoscope to a doctor’s bag, bandages, diploma, eye chart, x-ray, clipboard, and more. Everything is contained in a cardboard medical cabinet. Ages 4-10. $49.95. Toys to Grow On, 800-987-4454, www.ttgo.com.

Abrakadabra! Your youngster becomes a wizard with the Magic Science Kit. He or she can cast spells and mix potions, conjuring up real smoke, color-changing liquids, and even a magic wand. The kit includes a deck of magic tricks, instruction book of activities, and supplies. Ages 6-up. $21.95. Young Explorers, 800-239-7577, youngexplorers.com.

Perfect for even the littlest tea party guests, this soft tea set in pink gingham will encourage lots of imaginative play. The set includes a lidded teapot, covered sugar bowl, creamer, slice of cake, cupcake, and two each of plates, cups, saucers, teaspoons, and tea bags. All are made from 100 percent cotton and are machine washable. All ages. $19.98. Lilly’s Kids, 800-545-5426, www.lillyskids.com.

Getting Crafty
This box has everything to keep your youngster entertained for hours. Alex Toys Little Hands: My Giant Busy Box contains 16 fun activities, including dough animals, a farm collage, sticker art, puppets, and more. Ages 2-up. $34.99. Toys R Us, toysrus.com.

When they’re asking what to draw, the Wooden Stencils Kit will provide your children with endless ideas. The kit contains 20 brightly colored stencil squares featuring such designs as buildings, animals, and vehicles. They just trace and color. The kit comes in a take-along wooden storage box. Ages 3-up. $16.98. Hearth Song Catalog, 800-325-2502, hearthsong.com.

No muss, no fuss painting makes creativity easy for your youngster with Roll-On Painters. These dispensers feature smooth-gliding roller tips that produce just the right amount of paint without splashes or spills. The set includes 10 rollers in an array of colors. Ages 3-up. $19.95. Toys to Grow On, 800-987-4454, www.ttgo.com.

A variation on the paint-by-numbers that you enjoyed as a kid, Magnetic Mosaics Kids features 600 colorful magnetic foam tiles and 20 reusable templates for kids to create a numbered artwork. Or they can choose to strike out on their own creating a masterpiece of their own design. Ages 4-up. $24.95. Young Explorers, 800-239-7577, youngexplorers.com.

Your young soccer player will have a great time with the Design-Your-Own Soccer Ball Kit. In addition to the 8-inch soccer ball, pump, and needle, the kit includes paints and brushes for creating unique designs right on the ball. Ages 4-up. $19.95. Toys to Grow On, 800-987-4454, www.ttgo.com.

Your little princess will be charmed by The Metropolitan Museum of Art Store’s Mosaic Princess Palace. After she assembles this castle (perhaps with your help) from precut pieces, she is free to decorate it with over 1,000 sticky foam and jewel-like embellishments. Four stand-up play figures and instructions are included in the kit. Ages 6-up. $25. The Metropolitan Museum of Art Store, 800-468-7386, store.metmuseum.org.

There’s nothing cozier than a pair of fuzzy slippers. Check out The Metropolitan Museum of Art Store’s Slip ‘Em On Slippers, a fun kit that contains a pair of colorful slippers and 50 felt flowers and butterflies for trimming. Your little girl can simply button the decorations on and off, wearing a new style each day if she wishes. Ages 6-10. $15. The Metropolitan Museum of Art Store, 800-468-7386, store.metmuseum.org.

She’ll have a purse like none other with the Color & Carry Messenger Bag.
A roomy 14-inch x 11-inch x 4-inch bag, it features a pre-printed, funky pattern and six permanent markers for her to color and customize the outside to her liking. Ages 7-up. $29.95. Young Explorers, 800-239-7577, youngexplorers.com.

Outdoor Fun
The old favorite game you may have played as a child has been updated. Animal Croquet is a wooden croquet set that features brightly colored, oversized wickets in the shapes of a parrot, an alligator, a puppy, a dinosaur, a cow, and a frog. The set also includes four mallets, four balls, and 12 wicket stands. Can be played indoors, too. Ages 3-up. $32.99. Back to Basics Toys, 800-356-5360, www.backtobasicstoys.com.

Your youngster will be rockin’ and rollin’ in Back to Basics Toys’ Fun Roller, a 36-inch, heavy-duty, inflatable polyvinyl wheel. As he plays, colored balls roll around inside the tube, adding sights and sounds to the fun. Ages 4-up. $39.99. 800-356-5360, www.backtobasicstoys.com.

Get in the Game
Introduce your youngest gamers to the Goodnight Moon Game, a matching game based on their favorite bedtime story. They’ll be learning to take turns, follow rules, and share with this delightful game that requires no reading and no math. Ages 2 1/2-up. $24.95. Young Explorers, 800-239-7577, youngexplorers.com.

Not just a video game, Fisher-Price’s new 3-in-1 Smart Sports will have your youngster literally “in the game” as he or she elects to play baseball, tennis, or golf in this interactive video game system. On-screen character friends lead kids through the multiple levels of learning-based play. They’ll enjoy outdoor-style physical activity indoors. Ages 3-7. $60. Fisher-Price, 800-747-8697, www.fisher-pricestore.com.

The folks at Hasbro are celebrating the 60th anniversary of Candy Land by introducing the Candy Land Sweet Celebration Game. The game features new characters and a unique game set-up. Players create their own path to King Kandy’s Castle by linking game board pieces in any formation they choose, collecting treats all along the way, and being careful to stay away from Lord Licorice who may block their progress. This is the game you remember as a child, only better! Ages 4-8. $24.99. Toys R Us, amazon.com.

Bananagrams anagram game is guaranteed to drive players bananas. Great for family fun, players arrange their allotment of letter tiles into words independently in an effort to be the first one to exhaust the supply and win the round. The game is contained in a soft banana-shaped pouch. Ages 7-up. $14.95. Target, Barnes & Noble, www.bananagrams-itl.com. Also available: APPLETTERS (in a soft apple-shaped pouch), a domino-like game in which players connect letters instead of dots; and PAIRSinPEARS (in a soft pear-shaped pouch), a word construction game in which players make pairs of connecting words in matching patterns. Ages 6-up. $16.95 each. www.bananagrams-itl.com.

A game of logic and strategy, Qwirkle requires players to match colors and shapes to create columns and rows according to easy-to-learn rules. The game includes 108 solid wood tiles in a drawstring pouch. Ages 6-up. $24.95. MindWare catalog. 800-999-0398, www.mindware.com.

Hasbro has created the perfect version of Cranium for children: Kid Cranium: Spongebob Squarepants Edition. Kids can join their favorite underwater friend and his pals in eight kid-friendly activities as they travel around the game board looking for a win. Ages 7-up. $24.99. Target, WalMart, target.com, walmart.com, amazon.com.

You’ve got to put your thinking cap on for this one! Jishaku, Japanese for “magnet,” is a strategy game like no other. Playing pieces are magnetic hematite stones. Players must place them on the game board without causing all other pieces on the board to hop, skip, and jump. If this happens, the pieces that move are all yours. The first player with no pieces left is the winner. Ages 8-up. $19.99. Target Stores, www.target.com.

Hasbro’s Pictureka is fun for the whole family as players race to find wacky images hidden in the game tiles and collect mission cards to declare a victory. Ages 8-up. $19.99. Target, WalMart, target.com, walmart.com, amazon.com.

Learning Fun
This interactive video game system will get your preschooler off the couch and on the move. Fisher-Price has partnered learning fun with physical activity in their new Smart Fit Park. Kids will hop, skip, and jump, playing games that introduce letters, numbers, counting, shapes, colors, even addition and subtraction. Games such as Puddle Splash, Hopscotch Math, and Marching Band will keep them entertained, and the timed challenges will encourage them to step up their performances as they learn. Ages 3-6. $45. Fisher-Price, 800-747-8697, www.fisher-pricestore.com.

Your child will be telling time before you know it with Telly the Teaching Time Clock. Telly’s bright, happy face features a working clock with both analog and digital displays. Telly has two modes: kids can move his hands and he will tell them the time or he can ask them to practice setting the hands to a certain time. Telly’s features include a nightlight, a carry handle, and a bonus wristwatch. Batteries included. Ages 3-up. $29.95. Young Explorers, 800-239-7577, youngexplorers.com.

Enjoy the sound of the piano in your living room as your youngster begins piano instruction with Playtime Piano Lessons. Lessons are taught in your home and tailored to your child’s personality, learning style, and interests. The program is offering free registration, free beginning lesson books, and a free first lesson – a $100 value – if you register before January 1, 2010. A great gift for grandparents to give. Ages 4-up. 410-654-9042, Baltimore County; 301-362-0073, Howard County; www.playtimepiano.com.

The folks at Scholastic have some good times ahead for your young scientist. Kids can join Ms. Frizzle and her students with The Magic School Bus Diving into Slim, Gel, and Goop Science Kit, experimenting with making “snow,” producing glue from milk, creating slime, and much more. Or with The Magic School Bus Going Green Science Kit, kids participate in experiments and activities that can help save the earth, including recreating the water cycle, building a compost tube, and creating new paper. Ages 6-up. $19.95 each. store.scholastic.com.

Kids in the Kitchen
Pucker up! Sour treats are in store with the Sour Candy Factory Kit. Kids can make their own tart treats, such as hard candy, gummies, and lollipops, learning some kitchen science along the way. The kit includes molds, flavorings, ingredients, an activity guide packed with recipes and fun facts, and more. Ages 8-up. $21.95. Young Explorers, 800-239-7577, youngexplorers.com.

All your pizza lovers will love the Pizza Activity Kit that includes everything to make a pie from scratch – ingredients, pan, cutter and more. They’ll learn about the science behind the pie and experience the power of centrifugal force as they learn to throw dough like the pros. The kit also contains an activity guide filled with fun facts and science experiments. Ages 8-up. $21.95. Young Explorers, 800-239-7577, youngexplorers.com.

They’ll never run out of cool experiments to try with the 120 Kitchen Chemistry Activities Kit from Young Explorers. The kit is a hands-on lab that encourages kids to experiment safely in the kitchen using everyday items. Who wouldn’t be intrigued by chocolate lava, monster dough, and secret writing, just to name a few. Ages 10-up. $42.95. 800-239-7577, www.youngexplorers.com.

It’s Electric! Electronics for All Ages
Remote control cars aren’t just for big kids anymore. The I Can Drive! First Racer is a colorful, plastic remote control car with a simple, wireless remote. The grill features a smiling face, and when your child pushes down on the driver, he or she will hear a cool racing tune. Ages 18 mos.-6 yrs. $24.95. Toys to Grow On, 800-987-4454, www.ttgo.com.

Your youngster is one of the stars in “Dora, Diego and Me,” a video featuring Dora the Explorer, her friend Diego and, using digital technology, your child, presented by Kideo and Nickelodeon/Viacom Consumer Products. The trio goes on an animal excursion, zip-lining through the rain forest and water skiing up the river to save Baby Jaguar who is stuck at the waterfall. Just provide a photo of your child and his or her name. Ages 2-7. $29.95. www.kideo.com.

Your child can experience a burst of mess-free creativity right on the screen with Fisher-Price’s Splatster, a video art “studio.” Kids can grab the wireless “brush” and “splat” their way through eight themed studios, each with crazy art brushes, stencils, stampers, fun backgrounds, and more. Or they can choose to play Splat arcade games, or make 10-color spin art. Best of all, they can print and save what they create. Ages 3-8. $55. Target, Toys R Us, WalMart, www.fisher-price.com.

Kids take a virtual trip to the zoo, feeding, training, and playing with the animals in Sabi Games ItzaZoo video game. The game features Living Ink drawing recognition technology that will animate your child’s drawings and make them a part of the zoo environment right before their eyes. Your youngster will be fascinated as the animals interact with the drawings. Best of all, ItzaZoo helps kids still learning to read interpret the instructions. As they move the cursor over an unfamiliar word, a child’s voice reads the word for them. Ages 4-up. $19.99. www.ItzaZoo.com, amazon.com.

Everyone will enjoy exploring the jungles of South America playing Up, one of THQ’s latest video games. Trek through the treacherous jungle terrain in search of Paradise Falls with explorers Carl Fredricksen and the young wilderness explorer Russell. Meet Dug, a loveable dog, and Kevin, a prehistoric bird, along the way. Ages 10-up. $19.99-$39.99 depending on game system. Best Buy, amazon.com.

The keys to the zoo are handed to your youngster with World of Zoo, another THQ video game. There are more than 90 different species of some of the world’s most amazing animals for youngsters to care for and learn about as they set up zoo exhibits and gain the animals’ trust. All ages. $29.99-$39.99 depending of game system. Best Buy, amazon.com.

If they’re begging for a pet, your kids may settle for one of five Discovery Kids video games: Parrot Pals, Dolphin Discovery, Pony Paradise, Puppy Playtime, or Kitten Corner. In these games, players raise, pamper, and train their favorite animals for fun, missions, and awards. $19.99 each. Toys R Us, Target, WalMart, Best Buy, www.discoverykidsgames.com.

Stocking Stuffers
Who would have thought that Cinderella, Tinker Bell, and Ariel would be in the fragrance business? Well, they are! Disney has introduced three eau de toilette sprays based on the characters. Cinderella holds a strawberry fragrance, Tinker Bell, a pineapple fragrance, and Ariel, a grape fragrance. The 1.7-ounce plastic bottles are topped by each character and become collectables for your youngster’s shelf or dresser. Ages 3-up. $8.95 each. The Lakeside Collection. 847-444-3150, www.lakeside.com.

For little girls living in and around “Charm City,” what could be a more appropriate gift than a CHARM IT! bracelet tucked away in her stocking. A host of interchangeable, colorful charms can be attached to the bracelet links. Your young lady will want to collect them, trade them with friends, and customize her bracelet with tokens of her favorite pastimes, places, and friends. One hundred sixteen charms to choose from! All ages. Gift sets: bracelet with three charms, $28; bracelet with five charms, $36. Individual charms: $6. Gap Kids stores nationwide, www.shophighintencity.com.

A Gift that Gives Back
Your child can learn about the wonders of the wild and contribute to wildlife conservation when you symbolically adopt a wild animal baby at the Wild Animal Baby Adoption Center of the National Wildlife Federation. Adoptions are available for 16 different baby animals. A $20 adoption package includes a certificate of adoption and a Wild Animal Baby story card. A $30 adoption package adds an adorable small plush animal. A $50 adoption package includes a medium plush animal, a certificate of adoption, a Wild Animal Baby story card, and a Stuck on Nature Sticker Book. Additional adoption packages available. Ages 3-up. 800-756-3752, www.shopnwf.org.

It’s never too soon to show our children that we can help those less fortunate than ourselves all over the world. This holiday season, consider giving a gift to Heifer International in the name of your family. For as little as $10 you can share in providing a hungry family with a goat, a pig, a sheep, a trio of rabbits, chicks, honeybees, a llama, a water buffalo, tree seedlings, and yes, a heifer. Before receiving your gift, the family is trained to prepare for and care for the animal, and after nurturing it and breeding it, they are encouraged to pass offspring on to other needy families in their community. Heifer has helped more than 10.5 million families in more than 125 countries improve their quality of life. What greater gift can we give our fellow man. And what greater lesson can we teach our children. Heifer International, 800-422-0755, www.heifer.org/gift.

If you’re looking for cute and colorful felt backpacks, change purses, and small purses for your favorite little girl, check out madebysurvivors.com. An initiative of The Emancipation Network, the sale of these products helps fight inhumane treatment around the world by empowering rescued women and children with a source of income. Children’s accessory items range from $4 to $50. While you’re on the website, take a look at the jewelry for Mom or Grandmom, with dozens of selections ranging from $5 to $160. All items are purchased from the artisans up-front at full market value, so every one of your dollars benefits the women and children.
store.madebysurvivors.com/Catalog. BC

Every Child is Special
Shopping for a Child with Special Needs
Kennedy Krieger Institute, the Baltimore institution dedicated to improving the lives of children and adolescents with developmental disabilities, is collaborating with Parents’ Choice Foundation, one of the nation’s oldest and most respected authorities on children’s media and toys, to establish a national resource for uniform testing, certification, and labeling of toys for children of all ability levels.
If you’re shopping this holiday season for a child with special needs, you’re probably wondering how to choose an appropriate gift. Kennedy Krieger and Parents’ Choice have developed guidelines to help. Keep their suggestions in mind as you browse the stores or websites.
“1. Choose toys based on a child’s interest. An engaging toy is a motivating toy. Whenever possible, ask the child what he/she likes. If the child can’t express his preference, ask the caregiver.
2. Choose toys that help build skills. Finger paints, blocks, and Play-Do can help build fine motor skills; board games and reading aloud can help build cognitive and social skills; balls, bikes and games for the Wii help build coordination and gross motor skills.
3. Choose toys that balance the child’s developmental age with his/her chronological age. For example, give a 13-year-old whose developmental skills are those of an infant a rain stick rather than a rattle. If you don’t know the child’s developmental level, don’t be afraid to ask the caregiver.
4. Choose toys that awaken the child’s abilities to reach his/her potential. Toys that encourage a child to improve her skills will be successful and fun. Toys that frustrate the child’s abilities will not. Too many pieces or too many directions may be overwhelming and diminish the desire to play and learn.
5. Avoid toys that put the child in a ‘win or lose’ situation. Choose toys that help build the child’s confidence. Work on accomplishment first, playful competition later.
Above all, choose toys and games that adhere to U.S. toy industry safety standards.”

YellowBrickRoadShop.com
Begin your search for a gift for a child with special needs at www.yellowbrickroadshop.com. This website, launched by FlagHouse, Inc., offers products for exercise and recreation, learning, movement and balance, home and travel, assistance with basic skills, sensory integration, and more. The beloved characters from the “Wizard of Oz” are incorporated into the website, leading buyers through the purchase of products appropriate for each child’s needs. Indeed, the website tagline is: Special Products to Help Every Child’s Journey Over the Rainbow.

The Toys R Us Toy Guide for Differently-Abled Kids
Toys R Us has published the 15th edition of their Toy Guide for Differently-Abled Kids. The guide is packed with toys that help build skills as well as show kids a good time. Toys are identified by the skills they help foster. Stop into your local Toys R Us or Babies R Us for a copy, or check it out online at toysrus.com/differentlyabled.

NAPPA Looks Out for the Best Buys for Kids
If you haven’t seen just the right gift in our 2009 Gift Guide, check out the National Parenting Publications Awards’ (NAPPA) “2009 NAPPA Winner’s Guide” online. NAPPA is one of the oldest and most comprehensive awards programs for children’s products, helping parents make the best play choices for their children. You’ll find the best age-appropriate toys, books, DVDs, CDs, software, and video games to help round out your holiday shopping list. Visit www.parenthood.com/nappa/childrens_products_2009.php.

Ways to Save
Bargain Hunter’s Websites
You’ll find coupons, great deals and savings on clothing for the whole family, toys, electronics, sporting goods, and much more, from scores of companies, including Barnes and Noble, The Gap, JC Penney, Nordstrom, Old Navy, Toys R Us, Dick’s Sporting Goods, Home Depot, Babies R Us, amazon.com, and hundreds more. Carve out a half hour or more, and sit down to browse these comprehensive websites loaded with bargains.
DealHunting.com
CurrentCodes.com
DealCoupon.com
GottaDeal.com

Savings on Video Games and More
If you’re shopping for a gift for a video game fan, or you are one yourself, don’t miss all that www.sayswap.com has to offer. Here you can buy or trade games at greatly reduced prices. Post your list of games to sell or trade and the list of new-to-you games you’re looking for. Sit back and await an offer.
Visit swaptree.com, list those video games, books, music, and DVDs that are gathering dust on your shelves, and wait for the website to offer a list of all that is available to you FREE in a direct swap with another swaptree user. You pay only the cost of shipping, unless you’re lucky enough to find someone nearby your home to trade with in person.

Smart Holiday Spending
Having looked over this vast array of gifts, is your head spinning? Are you wondering where to begin?
The folks at Consolidated Credit Counseling Services, Inc., a nonprofit educational credit counseling and debt management organization, have some practical advice in their “Holiday Survival Guide.” You can download a free copy of the guide online at www.ConsolidatedCredit.org. Here is just a brief summary with a few tips, hints, and warnings from CCCS to keep in mind.
·Begin your shopping by making a holiday giving budget, and do your best to stick to it. You may want to ask adult family members to set spending limits on gifts or to consider drawing names for giving. Let your youngsters know that there is a budget for their gifts, and ask them to prioritize their wish list. You might want to give them gift cards for some of the items on their lists and hit the mall after the holiday for great bargains.
·Before setting out to shop, make a list of those you are buying for, with possible gift purchases, each marked with a dollar limit. Check newspapers, catalogs, and ads to determine where you need to go to buy and which stores have the best prices on the items on your list. Start your shopping early enough so that there is plenty of time to comparison shop.
·Keep track of how much you’ve spent. And remember, things like taxes, gift wrap, postage, and shipping all add up – budget for them also.
·Consider using cash in lieu of credit. Decide how much you want to spend and take just that amount of money with you shopping. Or use debit cards or your checkbook.
·If you decide to use plastic, use no more than two credit cards – one with a low rate for any purchases that you may need to pay for over a period of time. CCCS recommends that you keep in mind “…you are the best judge of what you can comfortably manage. Just because you have a certain amount of credit available, doesn’t mean you should use all of it between Thanksgiving and New Years. REMEMBER: Never borrow more than you can reasonably pay off. Giving gifts should be a gesture, not a sacrifice.”
·If you are shopping online, use credit cards. If you’re scammed, you generally are not responsible for any more than $50. Shop at companies you’re familiar with. And most importantly when you enter the shopping cart or the e-commerce area of a site, remember that secure servers show “shttp” instead of “http” at the beginning of their website’s address or URL. Don’t include credit card information or personal information like social security numbers in an email - legitimate shopping websites use special forms. Stay away from unsolicited email offers as they are often scams.
With a lot of planning and a little common sense, your holiday shopping can be a pleasurable prelude to the delight of the season.