Our Hot Holiday Picks:

Kindle Fire, Full Color 7" Multi-touch Display, Wi-Fi Of all the hot holiday picks this year, our #1 choice has to be the Kindle Fire. This versatile tablet serves as a color eReader with over 1,000 children's & young adult bestselling titles; a game machine which supports your child's favorite apps and games; an awesome entertainment tablet with downloads of over 100.000 movies, TV shows & their favorite music, as well as a sophisticated web browser. Who could ask for more in one gift? Get all the details and see a demo for yourself at the Amazon Kindle Store.

LeapFrog LeapPad Explorer Learning Tablet (Green) Coming in at a close 2nd place is the LeapPad Explorer for kids 4-8.  The LeapPad is a highly educational personalized learning tablet that has a library of 100+ games, apps, digital books, video and flash cards. This sturdy tablet also has a built in camera and video recorder so kids can edit and share video and animation. The great news is that the LeapPad also works with Leapster Explorer games. You can't beat this type of fun, interactive learning that reinforces skills and concepts in reading, math, science, geography, art, music, language and more.  The LeapPad Ultra eBook feature builds reading comprehension and expands vocabulary at 3 different levels. Best of all, LeapPad automatically adjusts app levels to match your child's individual pace and progress. It's a wonderful investment that promotes learning and guarantees fun! Available in green or pink.

Top Toys

Games

Bananagrams  Multiple-award winning, fast paced, educational word game for ages 7-adult. Addicting scrabble-like game that has requires no board and allows for numerous players.

Qwirkle Award winning wooden tiles game develops logic and strategy skills. This challenging family game has simple instructions that require players to match tile shapes and colors to earn points. Ages 8-adult.  

Loopz Game Crazy new musical game of skill & action. Players must correctly repeat the sequence of lights and music by waving their hands through the semi-circular motion sensors. Features 7 different games including solo or group play. Way cool! Ages 5-teens.

Apples to Apples Junior – The Game of Crazy Comparisons! Multiple award winning family & party game! Players pick cards that best describe the judge's card. Humorous comparisons of people, places and things.  Includes over 1000 cards. Ages 12+. Also available 

Cosmic Catch – Talking BallChallenging and incredibly fun game of catch! Talking ball calls the shots as players quickly pass the ball in a choice of 4 tricky games. Includes 1 durable electronic ball and 6 hand tags. Awesome party and family game, Ages 7-adult

ThinkFun Rush Hour Traffic grid lock brain teaser. Players maneuver 16 cars and trucks across grid board in order to get their red car out of grid lock. 4 levels of play with 40 challenge cards including solutions. Ages 8+. Also available in Junior version.

Music & Electronics

Wow Wee Paper Jamz Guitar – Style 4  Play like a rock star right away! This amazing circuit embedded "paper guitar" lets kids play instant guitar with the touch of their hands. Simply choose from the 4 modes of play to jam along with 3 included licensed hit songs. Each guitar style comes with a different pop music selection. In addition, have some fun playing free style, play real chords or make up your own songs. Built in speaker with volume control and guitar jack to plug in headphones (not included.) Open-ended possibilities and endless fun for an affordable price. Ages 8+.

V.Reader Animated E-Book System Multiple Awards Winner! Bring reading to life with the all new V. Reader. It's a perfect choice for pre-readers and early readers ages 3 to 7 years old. Young children can practice important core reading skills while having fun with this incredible and durable touch screen learning machine. Children see the words and illustrations, hear the story recited, and interact with the story by touching the screen to learn and do more. See Little Ones V. Reader toy review.

LeapFrog® Tag Reading System Winner of 2009 Toy of the Year Award. Inspire a love of reading with the amazing touch technology of the Tag pen which make words talk, pictures sing and stories come to life. The Tag Library contains over 30 books and games based on popular characters. Develops reading skills, vocabulary, word recognition, and phonics while parents monitor progress online. Worthwhile investment for ages 4-8.

Science & Discovery

Snap Circuits Electronics Kit Multiple award winning electronics kit makes building simple circuits and devices fun & easy. Over 60 snap on parts can create 300+ exciting projects with lights, sounds, motors and more. Hours of experimentation for ages 8-14. Also available Snap Circuits Jr. SC-100

Live Butterfly Garden Experience the magnificent metamorphosis from caterpillar to butterfly up close in your very own home. This Butterfly Garden is a reusable, collapsible habitat where children can observe 3 weeks worth of nature's "magical" changes which transform butterfly larvae into Painted Lady Butterflies. Simply mail in the enclosed voucher for 5 prepaid butterfly larvae along with special butterfly food. Kit includes clear and complete instructions, and a booklet of butterfly facts. Children will be amazed by this awesome and educational experience. Ages 4-14.

Stomp Rocket Jr. Glow Kit: Multiple awards winner! Incredibly awesome, reasonably priced air-powered rocket kit for ages 3-8. Stomp on blast pad to launch glow in the dark, foam rockets up to 100 feet. No batteries required…just "stomp power." Includes four 9"inch yellow foam rockets. Additional foam rockets available for purchase. Kids absolutely love stomping and watching rockets soar!

Building Toys:

LEGO® Road Construction Set Awesome 300 piece set has everything you need to build several construction vehicles including a truck, front loader, steamroller and more. Set also includes mini figure. Ages 4+

ZOOBMobile Car Designer 76 Make movable creations with this awesome ZOOB building set. Design your own vehicles or follow easy instructions to build 12 different models. Includes 12 wheels which are notched to work like gears. All pieces are compatible with other ZOOB building sets. Endless possibilities and fun! Ages 6-18.

K'Nex Dinosaurs 20 Model Building Set Super 334 piece dinosaur creator set with special building block that makes realistic stomping and roaring sounds. Easy to follow instructions for making over 20 dinosaurs. A real value and a great set for dinosaur fans ages 5-10.

Transparent Marble Run Awesome 61 piece transparent marble run set including 16 marbles. Develops fine motor, and problem solving skills. Loads of excitement and creative play. Ages 4+.

Arts & Crafts

Perler Bonding Bead Blast Gift Box This awesome gift box contains 8000 colorful Perler beads and can make 40+ cool bead designs. Design your own magnets, ornaments, desk accessories and much more by placing beads on pegboard shapes. With an adult's help, iron the beads to make them fuse together. Gift box also includes 4 fun pegboard shapes, ideas booklet, ironing paper and instructions. Ages 5-10.

IlluStory: Make Your Own Storybook Multiple Awards Winner! Imagine the sense of pride & accomplishment when your child creates and professionally publishes his/her very own storybook! This amazing set allows children to write and illustrate their own story on the special pages provided (or completely online using the Storymaker instructions.) Drafts are mailed in prepaid envelope (included) and in a few short weeks, your child will receive a color-copied, professionally hard bound storybook! Books can include About the Author, special dedication and title pages.This set includes 18 book pages, 2 cover pages, 10 washable markers, story web planner, instructions and order form. Encourages reading, writing and illustrating skills! Extra copies can be ordered for family members. A truly unique gift that lasts for years to come! Ages 5-9.

Creations by You My Masterpiece – Turn Your Drawing Into A Work of Art   Multiple Awards Winner!  Professionally preserve your child's artwork for a lifetime with this awesome wall art kit.  Your child's original artwork is enlarged onto your choice of background, and can be either placed into a wooden frame (your choice of colors) or changed into a museum style poster including the artist's name, artwork name and date. Many custom options are available including purchase of additional copies. Artwork can can done by hand or done completely online using Internet Production drawing & photo tools. Your child's masterpiece will be returned in a few short weeks. Makes an incredible and personal gift for any occasion! Also makes charming artwork to hang in your home, office or child's room. Ages 3+.

Dolls

Corolle Classic Baby Doll Bebe Charmeur – 14" Doll This sweet, high quality, soft-bodied 14 inch baby doll resembles a real newborn. Great features such as the ability to sit up, turn her head and her soft vanilla scent make this doll easy to love. Includes outfit, bottle, bib, pacifier, hat & booties. Doll is machine washable. Ages 3-7.

Corolle Les Cheries Doll Chloé Ballerina – 13" Doll  Award winning, absolutely beautiful and durable doll! Moving limbs, eyes and hair that can even be shampooed. Comes dressed in a gorgeous ballet outfit.

Our Generation Alexis Doll Lovely 18" Fashion doll. One of several dolls in the "Our Generation" doll series. A reasonably priced alternative to the more expensive American Girl dolls. Ages 3+

Fisher Price Loving Family Grand Dollhouse Super Set Lovely 8 room dollhouse which folds for convenience. Includes Mom, Dad & twin babies plus a  bonus set including 5 extra rooms of furniture and big sister doll. Hours of dollhouse fun!

Cars & Vehicles

KidKraft Deluxe Garage Set Award winning interactive wooden garage set. Features winding ramp from top floor to ground, working elevator & garage doors, helicopter & helipad, car wash with moving scrubbers, 6 cars & trucks, gas station, ticket booth and more! Loads of fun for ages 3-6.

Kid Galaxy Cobra Radio-Controlled Land/ Water Vehicle  Very unique amphibious remote control vehicle. Comes with 4 wheel drive, padded wheel treads for both land and water operation. Includes working headlights. Ages 5-9.

TYCO R/C Stunt Psycho Vehicle – Red Awesome 10" inch wide stunt vehicle. Performs wild and crazy stunts such as wheelies, tornado spins and flips. All terrain wheels work on a variety of surfaces. Simple to master remote. A thrilling gift choice for ages 8+!

For more holiday information, please see:

The Little Ones Holiday Gift Giving Guide  and

Little Ones "Twelve Weeks Before Christmas"  Holiday Toy Series: This holiday series is designed to help parents and grandparents make smart choices by featuring outstanding/award winning "toys that teach," accompanied by reviews which highlight and explain the educational benefits and specific skills children receive from these types of toys.

Little Ones "Top 25" Award Winning/Outstanding Toy Picks

Visit www.littleones.com for our selection of  Great/Award Winning Children's Books, Little Ones Recommended Toys & Gifts,  Birthday Theme Parties  and Baby Basics, along with teacher tips, parenting articles, family fun and much more!

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  Here's a quick way to find great gift ideas for kids of all ages. Check out the recently released Amazon's 2011 Holiday Toy List. This super organized list of best selling toys at Amazon makes holiday shopping easy. You can shop for toys by age level, toy categories, gender, price, discount percentage and toy brands. The 2011 Holiday Toy List is an excellent starting point for your holiday shopping. Instead of roaming through toy aisles, click away to view this year's top toy picks without even leaving your home. Of course you can also search for specific toys on your child's wish list at Amazon as well.  You'll be amazed by Amazon's competitive pricing and availability of products. As an added bonus, you'll enjoy free shipping on orders over $25 or 2 day free shipping for Amazon Prime members. Apply for an Amazon card and earn points on every purchase you make (see site for details.) So before you head out to the stores, take a cyber trip to Amazon.com and check out Amazon's 2011 Holiday Toy List and much, much more. You'll be glad you did!

For more holiday shopping tips, please see:

The Little Ones Holiday Gift Giving Guide and

Little Ones "Twelve Weeks Before Christmas"  Holiday Toy Series: This holiday series is designed to help parents and grandparents make smart choices by featuring outstanding/award winning "toys that teach," accompanied by reviews which highlight and explain the educational benefits and specific skills children receive from these types of toys.

Visit www.littleones.com for our selection of  Great/Award Winning Children's Books, Little Ones Recommended Toys & Gifts, and Children's Educational DVDs along with teacher tips, parenting articles, family fun and much more.

Overwhelmed by the thought of the upcoming holiday shopping season? Take the stress out of holiday shopping by trying these simple tips and tricks to help you get organized. Organized shoppers are well-prepared, don't waste time, make their shopping trips count, start early and pace themselves. Sound too good to be true? Here's how you too can be an organized (and efficient) shopper this holiday season.

Make a master shopping list: There's something to be said about "making a list and checking it twice." Aimless shopping efforts waste time and money. Start by making a master list of people for who you plan to purchase gifts. Whether on the electronic device of your choice, or on a simple memo pad, having one detailed list is crucial. Many of us already have a Christmas card list including names and address that we reference from year to year. Why not do the same with your shopping list? Saving your master list over the years will help you remember who you purchased gifts for in previous years. Don't forget to include family, friends, teachers, office mates, mailmen, and anyone else you want to remember during the holidays. Next, jot down possible gift ideas for each gift recipient on your list keeping in mind approximately how much you are planning to spend per person. You may also wish to include helpful information such as clothing sizes (which should be updated each year, especially for children.) Find out what people want, and their sizes before you go out shopping. After you go shopping, immediately update your list by writing down items you have actually purchased, their cost and where you've hidden these precious gifts. This way you won't forget what you've already purchased, especially if you shop in advance. Check off gift recipients as soon as you have completed shopping for them. This way it will be easy to see who is still left on your list. You may also want to wrap a few gifts at a time so that you don't have a giant pile of wrapping at the last minute. Just indicate on your master list which gifts you have already wrapped.

Check store fliers: Be an informed and focused shopper. Enter stores with store fliers in hand so you can find items easily, ask for help and check accuracy of prices. Circle in marker on your flier or make a list of those items you wish to look at. Carry all coupons and store promo cards with you in a separate section or envelope in your purse/wallet throughout the holiday season so they will be available when you need them. You never know when you might find yourself shopping, and it is a shame to miss out on discounts because your coupons were left at home.  Here's a time saving trick when shopping early in the season. Call ahead to see if items are in stock and ask them to be put on hold in your name at the front register, if possible. Not all stores will provide this courtesy, but it doesn't hurt to ask. This way you can zip in and out of stores within minutes. You must however be able to make it to the store within their standard hold time. Later in the season it is hard to get through on busy phone lines, so this trick does not work as well.

Know the best time to shop: Words of advice…shop early! Store promos start as early as October. Pace yourself by  doing a little shopping each week rather than all at once. Let's face it, before the season officially starts there are less lines, more parking spaces, better selections, available sales associates, a much calmer atmosphere and many of the same great deals as later in the season. In addition, know which stores open early in the morning. If you are a morning person, you can beat the lines and save precious time. Likewise, take advantage of online stores which are open 24 hours and allow you to shop whenever it is convenient for you. Many online stores also have competitive promotions and offer free shipping. After all, If you complete your holiday shopping early, you will have more time for other holiday preparations such as holiday cards, wrapping, cleaning, cooking and more. See 7 Smart Reasons to Start Holiday Shopping Early.

Be an efficient shopper: Try your best to lump purchases together to reduce the amount of trips you make to any one store or shopping mall. Remember, park once and shop lots! Set aside "shopping time" so you can really take time to look around the entire store while consulting your master list. This way you can purchase as many gifts as possible in one location. Only get on line once you are sure you have considered everyone on  your list.  There is nothing more frustrating than having to go back to the same store and wait on the same long line multiple times. If you are shopping at a mall, make a list of all the stores that you plan on visiting. It is very easy to get overwhelmed and distracted in such large shopping areas.

Organize your purchases: Even if you are exhausted after a long day of shopping, take a few minutes to organize your purchases. You'll thank yourself later on! Staple gift receipts to tags or tape them to gifts before hiding them away, otherwise you will wind up bleary eyed trying to match endless sku numbers on the night before. Once gifts are wrapped, group them in large shopping bags according to gift recipients, families, or locations. This makes it easy to carry gifts on busy holiday mornings/evenings without searching for lost gifts. Once again, if you must hide gifts or shopping bags, keep a note on your master shopping list of their location since it is easy to forget things in all the holiday hustle and bustle.

Make use of gift cards. Last but not least, don't forget your many wonderful gift card options. Gift cards are actually a "gift of choice." People receive exactly what they want, plus gift cards help you get your shopping wrapped up in the blink of an eye. You can order them ahead of time, pick them up at the store, print them out, post them on Facebook or even email them on Christmas Day! They are terrific instant gifts!

Our top holiday gift card choice is Amazon.com Gift Cards.  There's something for everyone big and small at Amazon from electronics, apparel, toys, tools, music & dvds, gifts for the home and more. With Amazon you don't need to worry about finding convenient store locations. The recipient will enjoy free shipping on their orders $25 or more. Best of all, there are no additional gift card fees like some other cards.

So take our advice…  Being an organized and efficient shopper can save time, money and your sanity this holiday season.  You can do it by following these simple, but effective holiday shopping secrets!
Happy Holiday Shopping!

For more holiday shopping tips, please see:

The Little Ones Holiday Gift Giving Guide and

Little Ones "Twelve Weeks Before Christmas"  Holiday Toy Series: This holiday series is designed to help parents and grandparents make smart choices by featuring outstanding/award winning "toys that teach," accompanied by reviews which highlight and explain the educational benefits and specific skills children receive from these types of toys.

Little Ones "Top 25" Award Winning/Outstanding Toy Picks

Visit www.littleones.com for our selection of  Great/Award Winning Children's Books, Little Ones Recommended Toys & Gifts, and Children's Educational DVDs along with teacher tips, parenting articles, family fun and much more!