2011's Top 25 Kids' Gifts

2011's Top 25 Kids' Gifts

by Meredith L. Phillips

For babies to teens, we tested hundreds of new toys, games and gadgets in 2011 and listed our favorites here for you, along with the best deals available from the most popular retailers for your shopping convenience this holiday season.

Baby Zoo Sleep Trainer Alarm Clock is an adorable monkey alarm clock made for your early morning visitor who cannot yet tell time.  To keep him in bed until it is time to rise and shine, the Sleep Trainer Alarm Clock features a monkey named MOMO whose eyes stay closed during sleepy time and open when it is time to be up.  Just set the alarm clock function, and MOMO's eyes close.  When it is time to wake up, his eyes open, soft jungle sounds play, and the clock lights up.  The sound can be turned down or off for anytime you do not need an alarm.  Your child will still be able to see if MOMO is asleep or awake.  Available in pink and blue or green and blue, this cute clock has both digital and analog faces for helping your child learn to tell time.  The Sleep Trainer requires three AAA batteries and has a back plate to deter little fingers from changing your settings.

 $41 at Amazon

Baby Zoo Gus Nightlight is a glowing turtle, ready to calm your little ones' nighttime fears.  Push his shell for a glow that lasts a preset time so that your child can fall back to sleep peacefully.  The lights are LED, so they do not get hot, and they can be set to high or low based on your preference.  A timer keeps the light on as long as you prefer, too, from 10, 20 or 30 minutes.  Gus the Nightlight not only puts your child in control of his situation but also helps to break other nighttime habits.  Our daughter always wanted us to leave a light on at night, but we did not always remember to get back up to turn it off later.  The automatic off function on Gus is perfect.  Our son has a habit of waking in the night and turning on the TV for comfort.  Tapping Gus's cute shell instead of the remote keeps him safely in bed, less stimulated and more comforted while using less energy.  Baby Zoo has created this nightlight to be small, lightweight and portable for home or travel.  Gus is recommended for ages10 months and up, and he requires two AA batteries, not included.  $21 at Amazon

Laugh & Learn Dance & Wiggle Puppy stands about 14" high and provides plenty of fun for your nine to 36 month old child.  He dances and sings.  He claps and wiggles his ears.  He says silly phrases.  And most of all, he teaches your child to do the same!  Okay, maybe not to wiggle their ears, but definitely to have fun while learning.  Six AA batteries (included) get you a variety of baby games.  Push the Dance & Wiggle Puppy's hands, feet, ears and belly for familiar songs, phrases, blowing kisses, ABC's, numbers, greetings, manners, body parts, and more.  With two modes, one for learning and one for play, the Dance & Wiggle Puppy gets your child moving along with the fun.  The best part for parents is a volume control, of course, so our children sharpen their minds without us losing ours.  $33 at Walmart, Kmart, Amazon

Learn Through Music Touch Pad from Fisher Price teaches two to six year olds many important skills using music and rhythm.  This interactive tablet-style learning system has a microphone for singing along and features a touch screen, lights, and a headphone jack for quieter play.  Familiar characters teach letters, phonics, numbers, counting, logic, memory, grouping, and more.  A cartridge featuring Leo and Friends is included. Sold separately, other available cartridges with even more games and musical fun feature Dora the Explorer, Team Umizoomi, Little People, and Thomas & Friends.  Four AA batteries are required and are included.  The Learn Through Music TouchPad is easy to carry, and being an all-in-one unit makes it quite portable.  $44 at Amazon

Bizu Beads Style Studio allows kids six and up to make charms, bracelets and characters.  The Studio comes with 40 beads to make four characters.  Select what you need from the Studio.  Refill kits are available and usually have a few leftover beads, as children personalize their creations.  Any extra supplies are easily stored in the Studio.  Bizu Beads are targeted toward girls, but we found that boys have fun creating the little characters, too.  Stringing beads and following directions are the skills learned, but to the kids it is all about wearing and showing off their creations.  $15 at Target, Amazon

Monster High Plush Toys are the soft version of the scary but popular fashion doll series.  These squeezable dolls are decorated with button-like eyes, yarn hair, and fancy stitching to create a lovingly handmade and yet Frankenstein-like look.  Paired with their pets, you can find Monster High favorites such as Lagoona Blue and her fish Neptune, even Cleo de Nile and her snake Hissette.  Still creepy but cool, just like the hard version, these softies are great for bedtime buddies and offer fewer small pieces for safety.  $15 to $17 at Walmart, Target

Anamalz wooden animal figures come in a variety of series, including prehistoric dinosaurs, farm animals, zoo characters, and wild animals.   These sustainable and handmade figures are poseable, long lasting and hand painted with water-based paint for safety.  Play mats are also available and sold separately.  Great for small hands, these toys not only provide hours of imaginative play, but a percentage of each purchase supports wildlife and children's organizations.  The simple and yet beautiful design of these wooden Anamalz brings us back to a more traditional time, when batteries and LED screens did not exist, and yet Anamalz are as popular with children as any item we have tested.  $5 to $20 Amazon

Smokey the Fire Truck talks and jokes with your child.  He even exercizes.  Smoky comes with blue balls to insert into his cannon so you r child can shoot "water."  He even lets you know when he is empty.  Raise him up on his legs for a character, and lower him to his wheels for a truck.  Well built for rough play, Smokey is quite detailed.  He requires four C batteries to dance and sing and interact with your child.  He also comes with a remote.  If your kiddo loved Stinky the Garbage Truck, they will probably love Smokey, too.  $50 at Target, Kmart, Amazon, Walmart

AirHogs HyperActive vehicles are remote controlled and ready for action.  They reach incredible speeds and can be raced in groups of up to ten, due to the multi-band frequencies they use.  For ages 12 and up, these vehicles have awesome traction and control.  AirHogs HyperActives can be used indoors and out with the switchable foam and rubber tire sets that are included.  They even right themselves if they flip.  These are perfect for R/C hobbyists but great for just about anyone.  $40 at Target, Amazon, Kmart

John Deere Monster Treads Shake and Sound Tractor for ages three and up has bouncy tires and a vibrating body.  With its oscillating suspension, it has the look of a real tractor, climbing and rumbling along the roadway or an open field.  Push a button for realistic sound effects and for forward and reverse motion.  This John Deere created by the model car and tractor specialist, ERTL, is great for encouraging outdoor imaginative play.  Three AAA batteries are included.  $20 from Walmart, Amazon

Trio Hot Wheels Super Stunt Builder for ages three to eight includes 93 pieces for building ramps and Hot Wheels cars for use on a 21" high track!  The Super Stunt Builder even includes orange barrels, just like the ones on roads and racetracks, for knocking down while racing and ramping.  Trio's blocks click easily together for smaller hands and stay together quite well.  The building stirs the creativity of older children who want to perform mad stunts like jumping ramps and crashing into barriers.  $35 at Kmart

ABCMouse.com is a website with educational games for younger children and specifically designed for internet safety.  A subscription-based system provides no advertising and no outside links to create a safe online environment for children from preschool to Kindergarten levels.  Basics such as math, reading, art, music, science and social studies are taught through "step-by-step," "guided," or "independent" learning choices.  Puzzles, color-by-number, stories, and other interactive fun keep children involved and learning.  We have no problems with our preschooler using this site alone, as it has a simple layout with easy to follow instructions.  The progress he has made with reading and math skills has been tremendous, and he asks to play the game often, showing that he truly enjoys the program.  $7.95 for 1 month, $79 for 1 year, $99 for 2 years

Moon Dough Snack Shop features the familiar never-dries-out sculpting dough we have known for a few years, but the all new formula is much improved!  For ages three and up, Moon Dough is still wheat-free and hypoallergenic.  We had little mess from flaking dough, and cleaning out the molds was easier than in past trials, too.  Kids even prefer the feel of the newer Moon Dough.  The Snack Shop provides plenty of entertainment as dough is placed in the top to make "popcorn."  Kids get very excited at the popping action as they crank the handle.  Dispensing "ice cream" and making "pretzels" was a hit.  The included popcorn boxes and cones were just the right size for small hands, too.  We are so happy that Moon Dough has taken the time to hear parents' feedback and improve on their already safer, healthier version of play sculpting dough.  The Snack Shop comes with 1three bags of Moon Dough, in yellow, white, and brown.  $13 at Target

Doctor Dreadful Zombie Lab is as disgusting and gross to parents as it is cool and delicious to kids.  Science buffs will enjoy the laboratory theme as they mix up some silly concoctions for use in the various molds on Doctor Dreadful's skull.  Kids delight in watching the foamy brains rise from his head.  Zombie skin and jiggly gummy spiders are fun to eat, too.  Watch the kids dare each other to drink the zombie barf.  Yes, it is thoroughly awful to parents, but rather intriguing to your budding little scientist.  Doctor Dreadful is designed for ages seven and up.  $20 at Walmart, Kmart, Target

Angry Birds: Knock on Wood the board game is the hands-on version of the popular app for ipods and smartphones.  Flipping birds with a slingshot to take out pigs is not an educational concept, but the physical game requires a bit more from your motor skills to launch the bird at your target than the app does.  Though this game is recommended for ages 5 and up, we recommend it more for tweens 8 and up.  Two to four players can build their structure and take turns taking aim at selecting their mission and destroying the pigs.  $15 at Walmart

Pizza Mania is an early math game for preschoolers ages four and up.  Children learn addition and subtraction as the chef says to add or remove toppings from the "pizza."  Build a perfect pizza and win!  Pizza Mania is an early skills game for two to four children that emphasizes thinking, listening, counting, following directions, and cooperation.  Three AA batteries are not included, but do not let that deter you.  All this game can teach in a simple, fun way is a great value in itself.  $25 at Walmart, Amazon

Double Duel is a sound-alike word game for ages seven and up and accommodates two to four players.  The 200 cards have one side for easy questions and the other side for a harder level of play.  Four colorful buzzers are included, each making a different sound to help identify the player who buzzes first.  Double Duel is a game of homophones that focuses on vocabulary and listening skills.  Each requires two AA batteries.  $22 at Amazon

Logo board game for ages 12 and up is a great game for teens and parents to share their knowledge.  The game is based on popular brand names and items.  Four hundred question cards ask you to identify a brand, describe an item, tell what an abbreviation stands for, and more.  If you know the answer, you can even "steal" another player's question.  The objective is to answer the most questions to move into the "winning zone."  Logo is made for two to six players.  $20 at Walmart, Target, Amazon, Kmart

Growums garden kits are great for the kid who has to see how everything works.  In addition, studies have shown that kids who help grow their vegetables are more likely to eat them.  For those who do not have access to an outdoor garden or who want to try some off-season growing, Growums are the perfect choice.  Place the pellets in a shallow dish, water them, and when they expand, add three seeds each.  When they sprout, transfer them to a container and add sun and water.  Within weeks, kids have their very own vegetable patch.  Garden kits are available in themes such as Herb, Ratatouille, Pizza, Stir Fry and Salad.  Kids can register their garden online and get weekly tips on successful growing, though these are relatively foolproof kits and recommended for ages five to 12.  $10 from Amazon

Peaceable Kingdom Sticker Kits are wonderful for stocking stuffers and also keep children occupied during long holiday road trips, so you may want to have a few on hand, even before the gifts are exchanged.  Quick Sticker kits include a mini project such as a robot or a set of doghouses to put together then decorate with dozens of included stickers.  Reusable Sticker Totes have backgrounds to decorate with vinyl clings stickers that can be changed and reused many times for a longer lasting effect.  We also prefer the vinyl clings for kids that are not quite sure where it is okay to put a sticker (such as the wall!).  Available sticker kits range from purses and puppies to dinosaurs and robots, so there is bound to be a theme to fit the child on your list.  Or keep a few on hand to entertain the children of your holiday guests.  $3 to $10 at Amazon

Wee Believers Nativity 2-in-1 Floor Puzzle is 2' by 3' and is two-sided for double the fun.  The 54-piece puzzle has large pieces for small hands and features a nativity scene on one side and snowy Christmas scene with quaint animals and angels on the other to remind us of the reason for the season.  This puzzle is perfect for preschool aged children.  It is not too tough but provides just enough challenge on each side.  The pieces are coated and sturdy, so they last a long time.  Wee Believers is a company that creates toys and games for quiet play with faith-based messages.  $15 at WeeBelievers.com

Benz Bench is a unique bench and storage chest that is made of recycled materials and is 100% recyclable.  This shiny white cardboard bench arrives in two flat components and has a simple two-minute assembly time to create an incredibly sturdy bench that holds up to 300 pounds!  Yes, you read that correctly.  You and your child can sit on this bench together and have no fear.  It is much stronger than you would imagine and yet light enough for a child to drag around by the built-in handle.  Benz Bench is created from a softer, safer material that is more suited for children's use in a bedroom or playroom.  We love this bench because we can move it easily and it holds dozens of stray action figures, blocks or whatever our son likes to move from room to room to sit and play while being near Mom and Dad.  A slick finish provides for quick wipe-down for clean-up, too.  This is one of the most innovative and appreciated kid's items I have come across in a long time.  $50 from Amazon

Hershey's always has delicious gifts for just about everyone on your list.  Some of the highlights of this season include kiss-shaped Santa Hats and candy canes filled with mint Hershey's Kisses, perfect for stocking stuffers or party favors.  Hershey's Cookies 'n Cream Santas and Reese's Peanut Butter Snowmen are wonderful treats that can be hung from the tree, added to a package as a decoration or just given as a gift by themselves. And receiving their very own one-pound solid milk chocolate Hershey bar puts even the biggest little Scrooge in the holiday spirit.  Of course, Hershey's always has an affordable selection for everyone and is available in-store and online just about anywhere candy is sold.

The Christmas Cats by Nancy K. Wallace is a story of eight ornery cats locked upstairs during two sisters' annual Christmas tea.  Wanting everything to go perfectly, the sisters discover that maybe the cats are actually the best treat of all for their party guests.  Featuring beautiful illustrations by Cathren Housley, The Christmas Cats is a charming, 32-page holiday hardcover book.  $13 at Amazon and Target

Dinosaur's Night Before Christmas by Jim Harris is a hilarious tale of Dad being awakened by a noisy bunch of dinosaurs pulling a sleigh, an encounter with the real-life Santa, after being swallowed up by a prehistoric imposter, and their plan to get Christmas back on track.  Harris's illustrations are as quirky and fun as his take on the on the classic night before Christmas poem.  Dinosaur's Night Before Christmas is a 39-page hardcover storybook.  $15 at Amazon