
1. Guidecraft 42pc Roadway System
The Guidecraft Community Buildings
To learn more about either these wooden toys, visit www.guidecraft.com.
2. Lite Brix Building Toys
3. Your Santa Story Personalized DVD ($29.95) - This is a DVD of a personalized message recorded to your child or children from Santa Claus. It is meant for the DVD to be discovered and watched on Christmas morning. The personalization includes your children's names, their hometown, names of their pets, special messages or recognition of achievements, a thank you if your child had left goodies for Santa and his reindeer, and where to find an extra surprise gift Santa left somewhere in your house. Although this is the first year Your Santa Story is available to the public, I had the pleasure of testing it out on my 3 children last year. I tied a red ribbon through the DVD and hung it on our Christmas tree for our children to discover on their own on Christmas morning. You should have seen their mouths hanging wide open when they realized Santa was talking directly to them on the DVD. There were huge smiles all around, especially when Santa got to the end of the message and told the children that they each had one more present hidden inside our shoe bench. If you are looking for a new way to help keep the magic of Santa Claus alive, visit www.yoursantastory.com to learn more about this personalized DVD. Since this is the first year Your Santa Story DVDs are available, please know that there are only limited quantities available for 2012.
4. Micro Chargers Loop Track
5. World Vision Plush Farm Animals ($25.00) - World Vision sells gifts that give to benefit children and families around the world. One of the ways World Vision helps families is by providing them with farm animals that produce eggs or dairy products. These adorable and cuddly plush animals measure approximately 5" tall and are safe for children as young as newborns. Currently we have Pallu the Pig, Chuma the Chick, and Gertie the Goat. Each plush animal is sold separately. You also have the option of purchasing Chuma the Plush Chick plus 2 chickens to donate for $50 or a Gertie the Plush Goat plus a goat to donate for $100. Such gifts mean so much more and would be a wonderful way to teach a child about helping those who are less fortunate. To learn more, visit the World Vision Gift Catalog.
6. Chipmunks Christmas CD
7. The Trash Pack Collectible Trashies ($6.99 - $11.99) - Whether your child is a long time Trash Pack toys collector or wants to start a new collection, The 5-pack and 12-pack sets of Trashies would be a great way to add to or begin a collection. Most of the Trashies in each multi-pack are hidden, so it is always a fun surprise to open each trash can to see what is inside. Series 3 in the blue trash cans were only recently introduced and my children are so excited to see what new Trashies Moose Toys has dreamed up. Leave it to them to turn trash into something adorable and collectible. These Trash Pack multi-packs would make an affordable gift, plus you can always open the packages to use the individual trash cans as stocking stuffers for multiple children. To learn more about the current series of Trash Pack toys, visit www.trashpack.com.
8. RoseArt Art Supplies ($1.29 and up) - For any child that considers himself or herself an artist like our daughter does, a basket full of art supplies would make a delightful gift. RoseArt does make all the basic supplies a child may need to create a masterpiece, such as crayons, markers, colored pencils, and watercolor paints, but they also offer so much more. RoseArt makes fun and unique products, like Color Blanks, Swirl Pencils, Neon Metallic Crayons, Glitter Magic Markers, and more. If you remember to include a sketch pad in your child's RoseArt gift basket, it will surely keep him or her busy for many hours on Christmas day and during Christmas vacation. Visit www.RoseArt.com to view their full selection of art supplies and craft kits. You can find RoseArt products at most major craft and office supply retailers.
9. The Amazing Spider-Man Hero FX Glove ($14.99) - If your little Spider-Man fan likes to play pretend, then this realistic glove will provide many hours of fun. It would make a great addition (or alternative) to a Spider-Man costume for playing dress-up. The various sound effects can be activated by motion or by pushing the button. Our 8 year old son has so much fun with this glove, mimicking Spider-Man's movements, and pretending to be fighting evil villains. This glove requires 2 AAA batteries, which are included and is recommended for ages 4 and up. You can purchase the FX glove from most major toy retailers. To learn more, visit the Hasbro Toy Shop.
3.75" Marvel Avengers Figures and Spider-Man Figures ($9.99) - Also from Hasbro, are a wide assortment of 3.75" super hero figures from the Avengers series and the Spider-Man series. My children want to collect them all, so I know first-hand that gifting one of these figures to a child who wants to complete a collection would be a much-appreciated gift. Each figure comes with a fun weapon or accessory to make it unique from other versions of the same super hero. These would make affordable gifts for children 4 years old or older and would also make very nice stocking stuffers. You can find these figures at most major toy retailers nationwide.
Although complimentary product samples were sent to facilitate this gift guide, with the exception of one company who paid small fee instead, all opinions expressed are my own.