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