Are you freaking out yet? It's already November and Christmas is only six weeks away! I'm not stressed, though. I'm just in the festive mood. And I'm okay with listening to holiday music already. Yup, I'm even ready to put up the Christmas tree and start wrapping presents. Oh, but first, I guess I have to go shopping.
One of the things I love best about Christmas is shopping for my children—and for other children, too. Every year, I get excited to see what my boys will be asking for, and I also like to challenge myself a little to see if I can find something my boys don't have, but will absolutely love! I like getting my children thoughtful Christmas gifts that are perfect for them—they always receive books and games that we can play as a family, and I also love giving them educational gifts that will last.
Here are my picks for this Christmas's hottest toys for both boys and girls:
The LeapPad2 Explorer is probably one of the most requested toys for Santa this year. I'm all for anything that helps children expand their minds and creativity. The LeapPad2 comes with five apps, including Art Studio, LeapFrog Learning Songs, and Cartoon Director. The LeapPad2 works with LeapFrog Explorer cartridges and apps, which are sold separately. Children will be lost in play and will be learning at the same time with this toy. I give it two thumbs up!
If your children are a little older (my boys are four- and seven-years old), another electronic option for under the Christmas tree this year is the iPad mini. We recently purchased one for the family, and I find it much more convenient to use than the original iPad. It's lighter and easier for smaller hands to hold, and, again, with the many apps out there, your children can be learning while being entertained at the same time! One app my boys love? Elements! They can even sing the song (and they know way more about the elements than I did when I was their age). Of course, the iPod is also a very hot item for boys and girls this year, and is less expensive.
This Playmobil castle is for children between the ages of four and ten, but I know that even this thirty-something mom would enjoy playing with it for hours on end. With a huge outdoor staircase, lots of rooms, and even a secret chamber for keeping your jewels safe in the great tower, this is sure to be a squee-worthy toy for any little Princess (or Prince!) this Christmas season.
I don't know about your children, but my boys are LEGO obsessed! In fact, not a day goes by that I don't step on a piece of LEGO, and we all know how painful that can be. My boys will play with any type of LEGO, and build and create their own things, but my four-year-old is drawn to the LEGO Batman sets, since he loves Batman almost as much as Santa! This LEGO Batcave is the perfect Christmas present for Batman fans, and comes with five mini-figures: Bruce Wayne, Batman, Robin, Poison Ivy, and Bane.
For the first time, all five books in this bestselling series are available together in a collectible box set. Books are one of my favourite things to give to my boys as Christmas gifts, and both my boys are huge Diary of a Wimpy Kid fans. This is a great addition to any home library.
I know my seven-year-old will love this chemistry kit! He loves doing experiments, and he loves science. This kit has seventy-five different experiments that kids can do, and comes with instructions in a forty-page, full-colour manual, with safety advice, too. It's aimed for children ten-years old and older, but with adult supervision, children younger than ten can have fun with this science kit, too!
This microscope set is perfect for the little scientist in your family! The 98-piece kit has professionally prepared slides and everything your little one will need to make their own specimen slides. There's even a camera mount so you can photograph your findings, and a projection/drawing device to display images for tracing or group viewing. The GeoVision MicroProElite is a great Christmas gift for children of all ages.
This easel from IKEA is great for both boys and girls, and makes a terrific gift for the Christmas holiday. It's one of the most affordable gifts, too, at just under $20. Children can use one side to colour with markers or paints, and they can use the other side as a chalkboard. It can be stored easily, as well.
We bought this LEGO Sort and Store container for our oldest son last Christmas, because, my goodness, he has a lot of LEGO and pieces were everywhere! This helps organize all the pieces by size, and it stores everything in a nice, neat, and very cool looking LEGO head. This is a must-have for any child who is a LEGO collector!
Last week when we were in Chapters-Indigo (pretty much a weekly thing for us), my boys saw this Pirate Ship Play Set for the first time and they started playing with it right away. I love toys that are well made, and this is no exception. Expect countless hours of pirate fun with this set! The set comes with twenty-one play accessories, including five pirate crew members, play furniture, and cannons. Ahoy, Matey!
Fisher-Price is a name I trust when it comes to buying things for my children, and Fisher-Price has been a staple in my house since I was a baby. I'm happy to report that even though my boys are older now, they still enjoy playing with Fisher-Price's Imaginext line. My four-year-old, especially, gets lost in play for hours with all the Imaginext DC Super Friends toys.
I don't have any girls, but I do have an adorable two-year-old niece, so I still get to shop for adorable girly things whenever I am in the mood to do so. I love Corolle dolls, they're so well made, and they have a huge selection to choose from. I love the Camille Ballerina Doll, and I plan on buying one this Christmas for my niece. What little girl wouldn't want a doll this cute?
What have your boys and girls been asking Santa for this Christmas?
Note: I have shopped around at IKEA, Apple, Tag Along Toys, Mrs. Tiggy Winkle's, Chapters Indigo, and Toys R Us while putting together my Christmas list of hottest toys for you this season.
Earlier this month, I also found this retro-cool doll at Holt Renfrew that is supposed to be one of the hottest holiday gifts for 2012! Did you have one of these when you were a kid?
The closets have been re-organized, the flip flops have been put away, and the baskets of winter gear have been brought up and placed in our hallway closet.
Yes, the transition from warm summer days to cold winter days has taken place. There is nothing I can do but put on my most stylish hat and grin and bear it. Winter is not my favourite season, but living in Canada, we have to learn to enjoy it. However, skating, skiing, and crisp walks in the freshly fallen snow can only be enjoyed if we're dressed for it.
One company I've always loved and trusted to keep me warm (and looking good!) is Patagonia. They were one of the first major retailers to use only organic cotton, too. The company has a sold mission statement, too: "Build the best product, cause no unnecessary harm, use business to inspire and implement solutions to the environmental crisis."
Patagonia was generous enough to send me two coats for my children, which they've already worn since the temperatures have dropped over the last few days. Not only are the coats super adorable, but they have kept my boys toasty warm, too. We've already received tons of compliments on the jackets, the fit, and how nice they are. The best part? My boys love them. And you know how hard it can be to get kids into jackets and winter attire, right? We had no battles with these coats!
My four-year-old received the Patagonia Boys Down Sweater, which retails for $125. This coat is ultralight (you can roll it up and put it in your purse, it's so light!) windproof and very toasty warm. It also has a water-resistant polyester shell that is insulated with highly compressible, 600-fill power premium European goose down. The blue colour is so nice on my little boy, and it just happens to be his favourite colour. We love it!
My seven year old received the Boys 3-in-1-Jacket. This jacket retails for $239. My son loves the jacket, and I love it, too. Since he's in grade two, he spends a lot of time outside during the day during recess and his lunch break. I like knowing the jacket he's wearing all day will be keeping him very warm. The jacket is waterproof/breathable H2No Performance Standard 2-layer polyester shell with a durable 2.5 layer nylon contrast trim, and has fully-taped seams for storm-level protection. It also includes a polyester plain weave shell lining and insulation, and the outer shell has a three-panel hood with extended brim and internal elasticized gusset for a stay-put fit. The shell also has a mini-powder skirt to seal out snow and even attaches to Patagonia Boys Go-Snow Pants. My boys love rolling around in the snow, so this is an awesome feature!
Patagonia Toronto, located at 500 King Street West, has just launched a month long contest in their store, too. If you come in with you favourite piece of Patagonia gear between November 5-27, tell them why you love it, and have your photo taken, you are entered to win a $500 gift card. Everyone who participates will be invited to a special Customer Appreciation event taking place on November 27th, where the winner will be chosen. Pretty sweet deal, no?
When you're out shopping this season for new winter coats for yourself and for your children, make sure to check out the new line of jackets by Patagonia. I promise you—you'll stay warm, and you'll look great, too!
Happy shopping!
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