| Finding that perfect gift for children always seems | | | | introducing colors, alphabets, numbers, animals and |
| easier than finding a great gift for adults. Just head | | | | time. |
| to a toy store, pick something out and be on your | | | | T.M.X. Elmo (Fisher Price) |
| way, right? Wrong. Unfortunately, its not that easy. | | | | This new Elmo, which has been flying off toy shelves |
| Sure, the kids might love the gift right out of the | | | | since its introduction in September, not only laughs, |
| box, but will it get played with months (or heck, | | | | but gets on the floor and giggles until his belly shakes. |
| even weeks) later? | | | | Darla (You & Me a TRU brand) |
| Thats the question you have to ask yourself each | | | | Darla can be woken with a light tap, and will cry for |
| gift buying occasion when shopping for children. | | | | ma ma. Shes a fully interactive doll that also makes |
| Luckily, there are guides and hot lists to help you in | | | | realistic feeding sounds. |
| your search. For Christmas 2006, there are a myriad | | | | For children 2 to 4 years old |
| of hot toys. If you dont wait until the very last | | | | Kid-Tough Digital Camera (Fisher Price) |
| minute to shop, you should have no trouble finding | | | | This hot pick features big buttons for tiny hands and |
| most of them. | | | | a rough exterior that helps it hold up to the tough |
| To help us, Toys R Us has released a list of the top | | | | love preschoolers can dish out. |
| 15 toys and has provided suggestions for toys in | | | | LeapsterTV (LeapFrog) |
| each age range as well. | | | | This console plugs into the family TV for big-screen |
| The top 15 toys, in no particular order, include: | | | | play. Works with all Leapster software programs and |
| Doras Talking Cash Register (Fisher Price) | | | | tracks the play of each player, so they can see their |
| Laugh & Learn Baby Grand Piano (Fisher Price) | | | | progress on the big screen. Good for pre-K to 4th |
| ESPN Fast Action Football (Fisher Price) | | | | grade players. |
| T.M.X Elmo (Fisher Price) | | | | Tap Dancing Mumble (Thinkway) |
| Kid-Tough Digital Camera (Fisher Price) | | | | This is based on the main character from the |
| Sound City Railway (Imaginarium) | | | | fall-release movie Happy Feet. It dances/taps every |
| Tap Dancing Mumble (Thinkway) | | | | time it hears music, or the children talk to it. |
| Wii (Nintendo) | | | | For children 5 to 7 years old |
| Blue Man Group Percussion Tubes (ToyQuest) | | | | Amazing Allysen (Playmates) |
| Speed Stack StackPack (Play Along) | | | | This doll is designed to be your childs best friend |
| Mindstorms NXT (Lego) | | | | when her real life friend isnt around. Allysen responds |
| Designers World (Tiger Games) | | | | to key commands and comments with lifelike |
| My Scene My Bling Bling Styling Head (Mattel) | | | | expressions and emotions. She also knows your childs |
| Power Rangers Deluxe Manticore Megazord (Bandai) | | | | favorites, so she can chat with your child about her |
| Pink Nitro Notebook (Vtech) | | | | favorite things. |
| Now, if you are looking for the best toy buys for | | | | Wherifone GPS Locator Phone from Wherify |
| each age group, heres a sampling of Toys R Us | | | | Wireless |
| recommendations. | | | | This phone will help you keep tabs on your children, |
| For Babys First Christmas | | | | as with its GPS capabilities, it tells you the location of |
| Lets Play Together Peek N Play Discovery Dome | | | | your children at all times (assuming the phone is with |
| (Playskool) | | | | them). |
| This is an interactive toy that lets parents get in on | | | | Pink Nitro Notebook (VTech) |
| the fun, with peek-a-book curtains. Fifteen Activities | | | | Designed for budding readers, this pink laptop |
| are designed to encourage hand-eye coordination | | | | computer reads stories aloud, and has a variety of |
| Laugh & Learn Learning Bunny (Fisher Price) | | | | games designed to help children with literacy and |
| This bunny is plush, but hes no slouch. He can help | | | | other skills. |
| babies learn how to count to 10, learn their colors | | | | For children 8 to 11 years old |
| and textures and other skills. He also plays music. | | | | Blue Man Group Percussion Tubes (ToyQuest) |
| Laugh & Learn Baby Grand Piano (Fisher Price) | | | | Kids can hook their MP3 players up to this toy and |
| This is one of TRUs hot picks listed above. It | | | | manipulate the sounds and play music of their own. |
| teaches colors, numbers and opposites while also | | | | Giga Pets Explorer TV Game System (Tiger Games) |
| teaching about various elements of music. | | | | This game that you hook up to the TV takes kids to |
| For children 13 months to 2 years old | | | | the Giga World, where they can play games, go on |
| Learn & Groove Alphabet Drum (LeapFrog) | | | | mission and solve the Giga mystery. This also includes |
| LeapFrog always offers innovative toys for young | | | | a handheld game |
| children. This toy introduces the alphabet while also | | | | Star Wars Ultimate Collectors AT-ST set (Lego) |
| playing music, encouraging physical activity and | | | | Kids can build their own AT-ST with the more than |
| teaching numbers. Also introduces Spanish! | | | | 1,000 lego pieces included in this set. TRU exclusive |
| SmartVille Alphabet Train Station (Vtech) | | | | set. |
| The train here heads from stop to stop, all while | | | | |