Whether you’re shopping for children, teens or fellow grownups this holiday season, there’s plenty of hot Christmas toys and gifts for everyone on your list.  The real challenge, in addition to finding the perfect gift for each person, is to do so while saving your money and energy.  Shopping online is  a wonderful way to do both this holiday season.

There are numerous great electronic learning toys for children to choose from, with the Leapfrog line of toys being one of the best. Leapfrog makes sturdy educational toys and tools for children of various ages.  Of course, Christmas related games are also a tons of fun, as well as this year’s hottest dolls for little girls and action figures for little boys. Video games are also a sure-to-please selection.

While teens may seem somewhat harder to buy Christmas gifts for, you can’t go wrong with an iPod. This amazing marvel from Apple is sleek, comes in fabulous, trendy colors and holds scads of songs so they can listen to their music on the go. There are other MP3 players on the market that are just as good and less expensive as well. If you don’t want to go the electronic route, consider giving a gift card to their favorite stores or for iTunes.  CDs and DVDs are always a big hit.

For adults, there are plenty of Christmas gift ideas to choose from, but it really depends on the lifestyle of the recipient. If you have a traveler in your life, look for travel friendly gifts such as neck pillows, noise reducing headphones, lap desks, or bags that can compress clothing to fit better in suitcases.

For that special  “techie” in your life, try a nice GPS system. Books are also a good choice. For the woman in your life, a foot massager or a day at the spa is a great choice.

There are so many great gift ideas and hot Christmas toys out there, you should have no problem making someone smile this holiday season.

Technorati Tags: action figures, dolls, gift cards, Leapfrog, noise reducing headphones, toys, toys for Christmas, video games

A little girl, about 4, tells an elderly man who inquired about what she wanted for Christmas: “Zhu zhu pets … they’re like hamsters, only you don’t have to clean up their mess.”

That’s the scoop on Zhu Zhu pet hamsters.

What are Zhu Zhu (pronounced Zoo Zoo) pets, you ask. They’re motorized, interactive hamsters. And they’re a huge hit with young children. They’re shaping up to be the must-have toy of Christmas 2009.

Armed with a touch of artificial intelligence, these hamsters squeak and squawk while darting around like their live counterparts, creating a “real” hamster experience without the … mess.

Unfortunately, they’re really hard to find. Most stores are sold out and prices online are soaring.

Already, Walmart and Toys ‘R Us report they’ll get only one more shipment before Christmas, with the majority of those hamsters earmarked for people who pre-ordered. And Target is limiting them to four per customer. Meanwhile, third-party sellers are listing the Zhu Zhu hamsters on Amazon for about $50.

Christmas shopping for toys for kids, other than your own, can be tricky.

It’s not just a matter of buying what your children are clamoring for, or even getting one of the season’s hot Christmas toys. The personal beliefs of the parents are crucial factors to consider when selecting Christmas gifts for someone else’s children.

If the parents of a child on your family’s holiday shopping list are ethically opposed to certain things, you shouldn’t buy toy representations of items that evoke those issues. Even if they’re the hottest toys for Christmas.

Violent video games and toy guns are just a couple of examples of popular Christmas holiday toys and gifts that might offend some parents. In many families, the children are not allowed to play with these types of toys because the parents believe the items promote violence in our society. While you may not share their beliefs, it is important that you respect them, especially when involving the children.

Much less obvious, but just as much an issue in some families is small, stuffed “dolls” – such as a Raggedy Andy – being given to a toddler boy. While giving gender bending toys to infants and toddlers is now common practice, it does remains a point of contention in some families.

If you’re not familiar with the beliefs of a child’s parents, perhaps it would be best not to select one of these popular toys for children on your Christmas shopping list. Even if it’s one of the hot Christmas toys this holiday season.

Technorati Tags: Christmas toys, holiday toys, hot Christmas toys, hot toys, hottest toys, toys for Christmas

Toy Fair 2009 has finished its run. Toy Fair is where the toy industry gathers. Often manufacturers can do an entire year’s worth of business in the four day the trade show operates. With over 20,000 attendees, 350,000 square feet of exhibit space, 100,000 products with over 7,000 never before seen in the world, 1200+ exhibitors, and 1000 global media representatives, you can see that toys are a serious business.

I spent three days at Toy Fair this year. As the consumer cannot attend Toy Fair, I wanted to share with you what I see as the trends in the toy industry. While I can’t say that I saw all 100,000 products, I certainly walked every inch of the exhibit space, all 350,000 square feet of it. I came away with what I see as five trends that we will see reflected on toy shelves and they all have to do with the economy.

1. Less New Toys – There will be less new toys this year. I noticed that many manufacturers have not expanded their line and are focusing on their basics. There appeared to be fewer newer manufacturers, especially in the small entrepreneur category. Although, there are certainly those mompreneur that are committed to getting their product to the market regardless of the economy. They feel that strongly about their product.

2. Games – Games are what is hot this year. Games for very young children, games for children of all ages, family games, electronic games, adult games, games to play by yourself, games to play with a crowd. The industry sees a trend that we are going to be going out less. We will entertain at home and they are betting that we will purchase more games to play while we are hanging out at home.

3. Green – Green and organic toys continue to grow. This was the niche where people did expand their line. Manufactures went out of their way to tell you where their product was made, what it was made with, how it was packaged, and more. If you are interested in green products you will be pleased with what you will see at the toy stores.

4. Repackaging – Manufacturers know that we have less money to spend so they are repackaging or redesigning to lower the price point. For instance, you will be able to purchase 50 blocks in a set instead of 100 blocks. There were also a lot of smaller art kits. Another company took the electronics out of their toy to lower the price. People are also looking for ways to package their toy differently to lower their costs.

5. Special Needs – In this economy, the manufacturers know that they need to find new markets to sell to. The Special Needs community is growing and the toy industry is noticing. Many more people were talking about how their toy could be used for a child with a disability. Parents who are raising children with disabilities are going to benefit from this if the retail toy stores market the products well.

Mara Kaplan is an expert in Play & Children with Special Needs. You can read her reviews on the toys she saw at Toy Fair by visiting her website http://www.letkidsplay.com

Technorati Tags: eco friendly toys, games, green toys, hot kids toys, hot toys, toy fair, toy industry, toy trends

Here’s why I love our U-Dance!

Holiday Fitness
When you think of the things in life that you are committed to, what comes to mind? Perhaps your thoughts turn to your spouse or significant other, your family, your faith, or your job. These are things  that you are dedicated to. Regardless of the day, the month, or the season you make every effort to fulfil your obligations to these important components of your life. What about your health and fitness? The pledge to make healthy long-term lifestyle changes is also a commitment that should not waiver with the season! If you think it’s impossible to enjoy the family holidays and stay loyal to your health and fitness goals, think again!

What does it mean to commit to a fit and healthy lifestyle? In my opinion it indicates that you recognize how important your health and fitness are as they pertain to every aspect of your life. You realize that by making healthy choices for your body you can achieve your fitness goals and improve your quality and quantity of life. It means that no matter what the time of year you are faithful in providing your body with proper exercise and nutrition in order to stay fit, healthy and strong year round!

During your family holiday it can be easy to stray into unhealthy territory. Maybe you skip a workout or overindulge on sweets on a far too regular basis! Maybe you catch yourself making a million excuses why you simply can’t be healthy through the holidays. If you find yourself caught in this common holiday trap there is a simple solution to escape this mindset and get back on track.

First, review your fitness goals and motivators. Take a moment to remember why you made the commitment to your health in the first place. Next you must remember that living fit and healthy does NOT mean deprivation. Practice moderation with your choices and you will not compromise your fitness goals. Go ahead! Enjoy the foods that are your favorites during the holidays; just avoid overindulgence and unnecessary excess. Keep portions small and share with a friend or family member. Eat slowly and drink plenty of water so that you feel full and resist any urges to overdo it. Remember that you possess the power of choice. You can choose to enjoy a wide variety of foods but keep your portions small. You can choose to keep food toppings on the side in order to save on calories.

You can choose to add extra physical activities in throughout your day, or conduct a mini at-home workout if you don’t have the time to make it to the gym. You can choose to listen to your body and stop eating when you are full! You can choose to make your health and fitness a high priority.

Holidays can be hectic, that is a given. Don’t stress if your regular eating and exercise routine gets a bit jumbled in the midst of the hustle and bustle. This time of year your healthy living practice doesn’t have to be perfect, if there are days that you have a major lapse in your normal healthy habits just remember to start fresh on the next day.

Develop a plan of action ahead of time for obstacles that you may face over the next month or so. Visualize the situations that will prove challenging and see yourself gladly making the healthy choices. Envision how wonderful it will be to avoid the guilty feelings associated with overindulgence. Focus on how energized and revitalized you will feel going into the New Year without suffering any major fitness setbacks!

Your dedication to other important commitments in life doesn’t waiver during your holiday so why should your pledge to lead a fit and healthy lifestyle be any different? Commit to be fit whilst you’re on holiday, your body will thank you!

If you think it’s impossible to enjoy the family holidays AND stay loyal to your health and fitness goals, think again!

Article courtesy: articleCRUSH

Technorati Tags: fitness toys, holiday fitness, hot toys for Christmas, top 10 toys for Christmas, top ten toys for Christmas, top toys for Christmas, toys for Christmas, U-Dance

Interactive electronic pets, with realistic noises and movements that mimic live animals, are proving a huge hit of Christmas 2008 despite their price-tags.

Two of these best selling toys this Christmas are from FurReal Friends line of toy pets.

The first is Biscuit My Lovin Pup. This voice-activated toy dog can respond to six commands and like any good canine, he can wag his tail and hold up his paws. This plush, oversized pet is 21-inches high when sitting. Biscuit costs $200, but you can save $51 online and get free shipping, too.

Another of the hot Christmas toys from FurReal Friends this holiday season is the Smores pony. This 3-foot-tall electronic pet seeks to fulfill your little girl’s dream of having her very own pony. Smores won the 2007 Toy of the Year award for Best Girls Toy of the Year.

With Smores, your child is sure to feel like she is playing with a living, breathing pony. Soft to the touch, Smores has a fur coat and mane that feel just like a real pony’s. Her markings and color are based on an actual miniature pony. Smores also has built-in sensors all over her body, allowing her to respond to kids in amazingly lifelike ways.

Smores costs $299.99 but you can save over $100 online now and get free shipping to boot.

An easy-on-the-budget FurReal Friends option this Christmas is Squawkers McCaw the parrot. This electronic toy is one talking, squawking and completely unpredictable play pal. Surprisingly lifelike, this plush animatronics parrot has a vocabulary of over 45 words, phrases and sound effects, not to mention his entertaining signature “Squawk, Squawk, Squawk” song and dance. Squawkers is available online now for $49, a 30 percent discount.

Technorati Tags: Biscuit, electronic toy pets, for real friends, fur real friends, FurReal Friends, Lovin' Pup, Smores pony, Squawkers Mcaw, Squawkers parrot, toy pets, toys for Christmas