When it comes to gift buying, there are those who prefer the “it” toys of the season, and there are those who prefer to go the nostalgic route. Then, of course, there are the parents who just want to buy that just right gift that will induce all sorts of giddy squeals come Christmas morning. Lucky for you, we’ve touched all of those bases in our quest to put together our kiddo shopping list. We’ve got some selections from the 2009 popular toy list and a few of the classic, retro toys we also love for good measure.
1. Twilight Barbie Dolls: Isn’t teenage romance grand? If ever there was an angst-ridden vampire love saga that could have teen tongues wagging, Stephanie Meyer’s Twilight series is it. And if you know a Twihard who already has the books and the posters—and who already watched New Moon, um, like, a thousand times—why not spring for these Bella Swan and Edward Cullen dolls from the Pink Label Barbie line? Bella Swan Barbie and Edward Cullen Barbie, Mattel.
2. Nintendo Wii: Sure, the Wii isn’t exactly the newest game system on the block, but it sure is popular. And it still sits atop many a Christmas list for gamers young and old. But you don’t have to take our word for it—just at look at how many times your fellow Extrabux visitors searched for Wii on the site on Cyber Monday. It may not be the latest “it” item to hit the market, but it was your most popular searched product! Wii, Nintendo.
3. Zhu Zhu Pets: Every Christmas season has one—the must-have toy. It’s the toy that causes otherwise sane parents to take on other adults in the aisles of a crowded toy store. And the popular toy of 2009? Well, that would be the Zhu Zhu Pet. What the heck is a Zhu Zhu Pet? To put it shortly, it’s a fluffy hamster with artificial intelligence—one that comes with tons of accessories so the kiddos can build glorious Zhu Zhu hamster cities that these battery-powered fuzzies can scamper through. If your little one is craving a friend of the Zhu Zhu Pet variety, we suggest you stop reading and start surfing immediately. Zhu Zhu Hamster Mr. Squiggles in Brown, Cepia.
4. Fisher-Price Smart Fit Park: If you have a toddler who is a bit too wee for the Wii, this TV-interactive system is your best technological bet. Much like Wii Sports, this active play system encourages kids to hop, skip, jump and run their way through challenges and learning games. The Smart Fit Park is ideal for cold, wintry days when a trip to the park isn’t feasible—oh, and perfect for wearing out, ahem, preparing, toddlers for naptime. Smart Fit Park, Fisher-Price.
5. Kidcraft Savannah Dollhouse: Yes, you could buy her the Twilight Barbie dolls. Or you could get her a dollhouse that would serve as a serious real estate upgrade for her current collection of lovely ladies. As far as dollhouses go, this one, with its southern charm, frills and amazing décor, is the pinnacle of sweetness. Savannah Dollhouse, Kidcraft.
6. Lincoln Logs Bicentennial Edition: Every boy remembers his first set of Lincoln Logs. And if you’d rather see your little man use his imagination to build something—rather than seeing him tune out in front of the telly—these make a very affordable gift. Lincoln Logs Bicentennial Edition, Knex.
7. Lite Brite Cube: Before we became obsessed with the first Nintendo system back in the day, we thought the Lite Brite was the zenith of playroom technology. We would spend hours arranging those plastic pegs into beautiful Technicolor works of art that we begged to stay up late to admire. The new Lite Brite design now offers four canvasses for easy (and virtually mess free!) artistic expression. Lite Brite Cube, Hasbro.
8. Kettler Go Green Folding Frog Trike: Remember the freedom of your first solo bike ride as a kid? Now scale it back a bit to the time when you couldn’t quite run without toppling over and you weren’t too far from the crib life. Yes, it’s the trike—that great vehicle that would allow you to pedal to your heart’s content without the hassle of two-wheeling. Kids will love the awesome bucket on the back for filling and dumping dirt. And parents will love that it’s made of recycled materials and that a portion of each sale goes to an environmental organization. Go Green Folding Frog Trike, Kettler.
