Looking for some unique and fun ideas for holiday gifts for kids? These great gift ideas are sure to be a hit with your kids, and anyone else who loves toys and games!
1. Crank Flashlights
Kids love cranking these lights to power them up. You’ll love the fact that they don’t need batteries. The best part: They’re reasonably priced -- about $10 to $20 for mini flashlights -- and are perfect for emergency kits. Get a few and keep them right next to the crank radio.
2. LEGO Games
You gotta hand it to the people at LEGO -- they sure know how to tie in their products to cool new LEGO-themed toys and games (the LEGO Star Wars, Batman and Indiana Jones Wii games have been quite a hit in my house).
LEGO now has a series of games that are buildable and changeable -- perfect for anyone who loves LEGO and board games.
3. Zoobles
These adorable characters pop up from a ball when placed on their magnetized “happitat,” just like Bakugan toys (both brands are made by SpinMaster).
SpinMaster is capitalizing on the Bakugan craze and hoping that Zoobles will take off among girls the way their predecessors did among boys. It’s a fairly safe bet. The Zoobles are cute and collectible, and come with accessories and playsets. Brilliant.
4. My Pillow Pets
Whether you have a toddler or a too-cool-for-stuffed-animals grade-schooler, these cuddly pillow-and-pal-in-one lovies are popular with kids of all ages.
5. Sing-A-Ma-Jigs
These little guys are sure to be a hit with your younger children (but older siblings will secretly love them, too). One of the hottest toys of the season, these adorable singing sensations can chatter, sing songs, and harmonize when different models are activated next to each other. So adorable!
6. Magnetic Mosaics Jewels
This decorate-by-number mosaics kit from Orb Factory comes with 400 sparkling magnetic tiles, 10 reusable projects, and an easel with a stand. (For ages 4 and up.)
7. Paper Jamz
Paper Jamz musicial instruments are made out of cardboard but they sound so incredibly real, you'll be amazed. Just touch the stringless guitars, for instance, and you can rock out to an already-programmed song or choose freeplay. There are even drums and an amp, also made out of cardboard. Now your kids will really be able to play air guitar, and even form a pretend-band! (For ages 8 and up.)
8. Automoblox
Boys young and older will love these cool cars from Manhattan Toys. They're stylish, sleek, and best of all, can be built by kids themselves (younger children will need a bit of help from older siblings or parents). Plus, the parts of different car models are interchangeable, so kids can easily mix and change to make their own creations. (For ages 3 and up.)
9. Hex Bugs
They’re creepy and crawly, and give some parents the heebee jeebies. These all-too-lifelike bug robots come in models that can be remotely controlled or ones that are motion- or sound-sensing.
10. Skitterbots
Speaking of creepy-crawly, these lifelike six-legged “bugs” from Desk Pets are designed to zoom around (as fast as 1 foot a second!), just like the real-life versions of the bugs they resemble just a bit too well-- namely, cockroaches. (Shudder.) Their red eyes light up, making them perfect for racing around in the dark. In fact, if you buy a few, you can actually watch them race and crawl around each other. (Double shudder.)
The coolest part: They can be recharged simply by plugging them into the computer (they come with a USB remote controller/charger). A mere 30 minutes of charging gives you 15 minutes of play.
