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