For Girls:

1. Barbie – let’s face it, you can’t go wrong with Barbie. At 50 years old, she’s still hot and fashionable and with the new I Can Be a Computer Engineer Barbie, she’s putting forth a great message that girls can be anything they want.

2. Bizu Style Studio – With Bizu Studio, girls can make their own jewelry and accessories. Comes complete with beads, Beading Tool, 4 Character Templates and 2 Key-Chain/Backpack Attachments.

3. Fur Real Friends Electronic Pets - Nothing beats a puppy for Christmas. And with the realistic fur and interactive nature of the Fur Real Friends, kids can have that special friend without parents worrying over potty training! When you talk to her, she responds with a puppy babble. Give her a bone, she makes crunching sounds like she’s chewing it. And pet her back and she barks and wags her tail.

4. WowWee Paper Jamz Pro Mic Series – with Paper Jamz Pro Mic series, kids can live the rock star fantasy of their favorite stars. Features 2 built-in songs, auto mode that adjusts effects on the fly, Perfect pitch to keep you in tune, auto harmony sound, and a Chorus Multiply mode

5. Gift cards – When in doubt, the all purpose gift is a gift card. And if you give an iTunes gift card, you’re turning your coolness factor up to 11.

For Boys –

1. NERF – It’s NERF, or Nothin’. That’s the slogan and it’s true. Boys love the Nerf NStrike toys and the new disc shaped Vortex line is a must have for the holidays. Greater range, cooler designs, and disc shaped darts. But if you don’t want to risk getting something they already have, you can always just get accessories like more ammo or the cool bandoliers (you can’t have enough clips), or don’t worry about it, you can always use a second gun!

2. Hot Wheels Video Racers – With a video camera built into it, the Hot Wheels Video Racer gives a driver’s eye view of all the action. And every kid has the fantasy of racing on a Hot Wheels track. So this is a must. Just make sure you bring a track if your Nephew doesn’t have one. Or if he does, more track is always welcome.

3. LEGO – There’s no way you can go wrong with a LEGO building set. Because one, kids can always use more bricks and b) with sites like Rebrickable, the more sets you have, the more sets you can build you don’t have! And if you’re kid is into a certain line – like Ninjago, Star Wars, or especially the new DC Super Heroes line, they’ll certainly think you’re the coolest Uncle or Aunt on the planet with a new set under the tree!

4. Video games – What kid doesn’t like video games? And with new titles like SkyRim, Portal 2, and Little Big Planet 2, there’s a great game for all ages.

5. Gift Cards – Why a gift card? Well, kids love to choose their own toys and they’re likely to get more cards from other family members. Adding to the talley means they can get larger gifts or multiples. And if you’re the Uncle who gives the card that gets them over the top on a huge gift, he’ll remember you for it!

In 1920, nearly 50 years before I was born, the top toys for Christmas were the Teddy Bear, Erector Set, and Lionel Trains. Noteworthy facts about each, the Teddy Bear was named after former President Teddy Roosevelt – who refused to shoot a black bear while on a hunt. and Lionel Trains is now owned by musician Neil Young.

Then, in my era, the hot toys were Rock’em Sock’em Robots, Barbie, GI Joe, and the introduction of a little juggernaut known as Star Wars action figures. It also marked the beginning of what would soon come to dominate the toy world, as video games like PONG were the obsession of every kid willing to forsake outdoor play for watching a little white dot bounce back and forth across the screen.

By the 1990s and 00s, video games were well entrenched as kids have wanted Game Boys, Playstations, Nintendos and XBoxes. Yeah sure, kids have wanted action figures like Power Rangers and Buzz Lightyear, LEGOs and Transformer Dolls (and remember POGs?), but it’s clear that kids trends have gone from imaginative play and building things, to virtually blowing stuff up while networked with other kids all around the world. For a peak into the evolution, check out the timeline here.

The Marines have been collecting Toys for Tots since 1947. Semper Fi!

And it’s grown far beyond and extra curricular activity for off duty Marines. In 1995, the Secretary of Defense approved making the annual Toys for Tots drive an official mission of the Marine Corps Reserve. Over the last 62 years, the US Marine Corps Reserve have distributed over 400 million toys to more than 188 million needy children and the Marine Corps Toys for Tots Foundation has added to the toy collections by purchasing nearly a half billion dollars in toys to insure that no child gets left behind at Christmas.

And this year, as with any year, the campaign needs your help. You know the mission – pick up an unwrapped toy for a boy or girl and look for one of those dashing jarheads sitting next to a collection box near the entrance to the store. Or, you can Swing by http://www.toysfortots.org/ to make a cash donation to the Marine Corps Toys for Tots Foundation. While at the site, you can find more information on a toy collecting center in your area.

Semper Fi and Merry Christmas!

The new toy line is aimed at the preschool set and includes classic wooden toy blocks, puzzles and musical instruments. Eventually, PBS hopes to add toys based on their popular PBS Kids characters and will add other items, including customizable backpacks, water bottles, apparel and birthday party supplies.

Currently, the toys available are:

* PBS KIDS Sounds of the World Rhythm Set, musical toys designed to build hand-eye coordination and sound recognition.

* PBS KIDS Puzzle Playset Safari, a themed playset that explores words and vocabulary and will have beach and playground themes.

* PBS KIDS Exploration Blocks City, building and construction toys

* PBS KIDS 3-Layer Puzzles with Barn and camping themes.

At launch, the toys will be exclusively available online, with retailers getting their shot at offering them in the fall – just in time for the holidays. The price of the toys will range from $10-40, to keep them affordable.

Hat Tip – About Toys

All Lego construction sets and games are also going for Buy 1 get one at 50% off. Nerf toys, 25% off. BOGO50 deals on all baseball equipment and trading cards. Nintendo DS games 2 for $50. $25 off Microsoft Kinect and 2 Video games. BOGO50 on Thomas the Tank Engine Toys, $20 off bikes, BOGO50 on dolls. You’d be hard pressed to NOT find a deal on the toys you’re looking for as just about everything is on sale.

So hitch a ride on the Jeffrey Soul Train and shop early for Christmas! Sale ends Sunday.

Celestial Buddies teaches kids about our solar system

A really great way to teach kids about the planets in our solar system (and I don’t care what anyone says, that INCLUDES Pluto), is with Celestian Buddies. These cute plushie planets are cuddly, personable, and educational to boot.l

Debuting at Toy Fair 2011 this weekend, Celestial buddies will be starting off locally with the Sun, Mars, Earth and the Moon. They are plushies to be sure, but with them, kids can learn how planets orbit one another and the differences in size (although sadly, they’re not to scale).

Celestial Buddies was created Jessie Silbert who saw a documentary series on the Solar System and didn’t see any toys that could teach the very young about the universe we live in.

Look for them later this year for between $18-30

Hat Tip – Plastic and Plush

Vinci is a special tablet computer designed to foster a child's cognitive development.

It’s no secret that kids are hard on anything with a glass screen. With the added dimension of babies and toddlers, the danger rises faster than the interest rating on your credit card. That’s why this Rullingnet Vinci tablet is so great. It gives babies the tactile joy of playing with the tablet PC, and parents the piece of mind it’ll remain in one piece.

Encased in a sturdy., rubber casing, Vinci can take what a baby dishes out.

Based on the outdated Android Froyo OS, Vinci is bundled with educational 3D games designed to stimulate a child’s cognitive and coordinated development. It’s based on a Samsung Galaxy Tab design, but only prototype form, with a case that has handles 360 degrees around the tablet. Rullingnet says that they are working with Samsung to finalize a completely original tablet design, which will have a Cortex A8 processor, 3MP camera and microSD slot. It’ll all be encased in a spill proof casing. In addition, many other features have been stripped down because of undue “radiation exposure.”

It doesn’t have any internet or wireless access, but it will enable add ons and apps installed by microUSB.

Look for it in toddler’s hands by Summer.

Hat Tip – Engadget

This Zoom Buggy Car is one of 8300 being recalled by the CPSC

It wouldn’t be the year 2010 if we didn’t end it with a toy recall by the Consumer Product Safety Commission. And as usual, the recall is due to a potential choking hazard. Geez. You’d think the designers of these toys in China would learn what is and isn’t a good design when it comes to choking.

Here are the two toys being recalled …

The Zoom Buggy Car. There are 7,000 of these I the US and about 1,300 in Canada. The Zoom Buggy Car has small pieces that can be pulled off or broken and swallowed by little one’s. If you bought one of these, look for a date code of 201005 and a batch ID of APO18829 on the bottom and return it immediately.

The Dream Pillow Star has plastic beads which can choke little ones if detached.

The recall of the Dream Pillow Star affects about 400 units in both the US and Canada is due to plastic attachments of stars and beads which can easily be removed and swallowed as well. Look for a date code of 201005 and a batch ID of APO18829 on the bottom of the product as well.

Both were sold through Kindermusik Educators At Home Materials from July 2010 through October 2010.

Parents are advised to remove from your child’s toy box immediately and contact Kindermusik International at (800) 628-5687 between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. ET Monday through Friday for refund or replacement information.

Hat Tip – About Toy Blog

High concentrations of lead in paint are just one of several hazards with cheap toys...

More and more toy recalls are being issued as the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) tightens the screws on overseas toy manufacturers looking to save a buck by cutting corners. And here is a list of the toys most likely to be recalled and posing the most dangers …

Here’s what to look for if you want to avoid the potential dangers associated with a toy product recall …

Cheap Toys

– if you have a one dollar store or participate in birthday parties with gift bags, chances are the toys inside are made with high concentrations of lead in the paint or chemicals in the plastic which can make your child ill or even worse. So it’s wise to avoid saving a few pennies and keep your child safe.

Child Jewelry

– Many manufacturers of cheap plastic jewelry toys tend to use plastic that has high concentrations of lead and cadmium. And very young children tend to put these toys in their mouths, which not only points to a potential choking hazard, but also lead poisoning due to exposure to these dangerous elements.

Batteries from rechargeable toys

– There’s been a widespread epidemic of counterfeit and cheaply made rechargeable batteries which can cause overheating when charging and even explosions which can spread battery acid and cause severe burns.

There are other dangerous toys including projectile weapons, tiny parts of baby toys which can cause choking hazards, and even second hand toys. Parents would be wise to check with the CPSC for any potential product recall before investing in toys in these danger categories.

Hat Tip – About.com

http://toys.about.com/od/healthandsafety/tp/The-Most-Dangerous-Toys.htm

Photo credit – PC World

Discovery Channel Store is having an all toy clearance of up to 70% off.

With deals up to 70% off, there’s a spankin’ sale going on over at the Discovery Channel Store. And all toy orders are guaranteed to ship via ground for $5.95 no matter how large your order. And there’s some great educational toy deals to be had …

From a prehistoric globe which shows broken up continents before continental drift brought them together and showing what dinosaurs were indigenous to what area to digital wireless musical instruments to walkie talkies, paper recycling studios, adorable animal plushies, hurricane, tornado and volcano labs, and more. All on sale for $12.97. But there are more expensive toys on sale as well including a cool radio controlled shark for around $30.

Quantities are limited and customers need only type in TOYS at check out to get the proper discount.

Hat Tip – I4U News