Thanks to millions of hit on the video site YouTube, one of the unexpected big hits of Christmas 2011 has been the My Keepon. My Keepon is based on the Keepon® Pro, a research robot created by two scientists. The original Keepon was developed to study social development and autism, but when the video went viral the two scientists teamed up with toy innovators Wow! Stuff. On Ebay, in the US, Keepon has been selling for 3 times the market value. At the moment in the UK it is only available for pre-order in a number of different retailers. The company admits that it has been taken aback by the number of pre-orders and it is going to struggle to meet demand this Christmas.
Have you seen the John Lewis ad for this Christmas? Apparently it has been bringing people to tears… There are also rumours that the song will make it to number 1 this Christmas in the charts. It would certainly be nice to see something beat the X-Factor. Here is the video for you to enjoy.
As a massive chocolate fan I have been looking for the perfect chocolate gift for Top 10 Christmas Gifts this year and I think I might have found it. Hotel Chocolat has become one of my favourite chocolate shops; not only is the chocolate always scrumptious but their presentation is always amazing too. The detail in all of their products makes them so much more appealing. Their advent calendars have to be some of the best on the market this year that will make the countdown to Christmas even more exciting than usual. Their Christmas wreaths are so decorative you might not even want to eat them, but don’t worry I’m sure you will manage! Even though Hotel Chocolat make quite sophisticated chocolates they have a great range for children too. Your child can have Christmas at Santa’s House, with a house full of mini chocolates, or they could visit Twinkle Toes Manor which is every girl’s dream. Now on to the perfect chocolate gift I mentioned, they have made a Christmas selection box that is full of little Christmassy treats. There is an intricately made milk chocolate Christmas tree, a mulled wine treat that really does take like mulled wine and even a gingerbread truffle. Opening the box is like opening a little taste of Christmas. I think that this would make a great gift for any member of your family, especially if they are a chocolate lover like me. If you can’t decide who should be lucky enough to get this present this year then why not buy the double layer box that has 56 chocolates! Then there will be more than enough to share with the whole family. That is the other great thing that I didn’t mention about this chocolate selection; there are 6 different box sizes to choose from ranging from 4 chocolates to 56. For me this Christmas selection has to make it into every household this year in some form or another.
Want to know the Top 10 Toys for Girls this Christmas? Well, according to the Toy Retailers Association (who have been making these lists since the 60s) the must have toys for girls this Christmas are as follows. Old favourites with a new twist such as Barbie make it into the list once more, as well as old favourites like Sylvanian Families. These are joined by brand new innovations such as the adorable Flufflings and Milky the Bunny.
Milky The Bunny is flying off the shelves this Christmas. Milky is an interactive bunny who will wiggle his feet when tickled, chew on carrots and blink his big brown eyes. You will need to be careful as Milky is scared of loud noises and will drift off to sleep after a long day of playing. It is worth noting that Milky needs AA batteries that are not included.
2. Monster High Lagoona’s Hydration Station – £38.27
Monster High Lagoona’s Hydration Station is one of the must have dolls for this Christmas. Lagoona Blue uses her Hydration Station to re-moisturise at night and it doubles as a room décor for girls. The set has 3 different modes of lights and bubbles. It is advised that this gift is for girls over the age of 6.
Barbie had to make it into this years list right? And she has with he latest playset. The Barbie Puppy Water Park. Here Barbie and her puppies can play in the water including a water slide, and ferris wheel for the puppies to ride. As with all Barbies, it should be noted that they cannot stand alone.
Disney Tangled Sing and Glow Rapunzel is another of the must have toys for this Christmas. This really is a magic doll, because when the girl brushes Rapunzels hair then she will sing he lullaby and her hair will really grow! How exciting is that for any girl?
Flufflings are incredibly cute. Mindy is the bright pink fluffling. Flufflings are interactive toys, and Mindy will bounce up and down and make lots of noise when stroked and cuddled. This toy needs 4 AA batteries that are included with the toy.
Fur Real Friends makes it into the must have toys list once again this Christmas with Cookiepie Puppy. Through voice recognition technology, Cookuepie will respond when spoken to my moving her head barking and even blinking! This is the perfect gift for dog loving children who can’t have a real one of their own.
Lalaloopsy Silly Hair Jewel Sparkles Doll is sure to be one the big seller this Christmas. Lalaloopsys hair is wild enough to curl, straighten and twist into any desired style. Laloloopsy is 33cm and comes with her own cat. This is the perfect toy for any little wanna be hairdresser.
8. My First Baby Annabell – Time to Sleep – £28.18
My First Baby Annabell once again makes it into the must have Christmas gift list with Time to Sleep. This toy is recommended for children 1 and over and the baby will make babbling noises until put on her pillow where she falls asleep.
Sylvanian Families are always one of the most wished for gifts at Christmas and they have come out with a real cracker this Christmas. The Sylvanian Families Berry Grove School. This toys is perfect for encouraging imaginative play, as the school comes with 2 floors and rooms for arts and crafts.
10. Zoobles Mama & Zoobling Nursery Playset – £24.99
Last but not least in the list is Zoobles Mama & Zoobling Nursery Playset. This playset is all about letting the child entertain twins by feeding them in highchairs, changing them in the nappy area and letting them play on the swings.
Looking for gift ideas for a pre-schooler? Well we have ten of the best Christmas gifts around this year. Making it into the list includes Fireman Sam, Mickey Mouse and Elmo among others. So if you are looking for something new and different for your toddler this year then you have come to the right place. If you are looking for something for someone a bit younger then checkout our list for babies and if you are looking some something a bit older then be sure to check out our top toys for kids.
Dance Star Mickey is one of the must have gifts for the little ones this Christmas. Mickey sings and dances and is the most anticipated toy from fisher-Price this year. Mickey is full of dance moves and he will get your children singing and dancing along in no time.
The Fireman Sam Pontypandy set is going to be a real hit this year. You child will get to save Naughty Norman when he traps his head in the railings as well as getting a cat down that has gotten stuck up a tree. The set includes Sam figure, Norman figure, cat figure, tree, railings, hose reel, ladder, fire bucket & cones and is going to be one of the top sellers this Christmas.
Like the Dance Star Mickey gift mentioned above, Let’s Rock Elmo is one of the must have Childrens gifts for this year. He sings and dances and even plays musical instruments. The set comes with a drum set and a tambourine and Elmo knows which one you give him to play. You can also buy additional musical instruments to keep the lifetime of this toy going even longer. The musical instruments are the perfect size for pre schoolers little hands.
Elefun Busy Ball Popper is a really fun gift for the little ones this Christmas. Feed the balls into the Hippo and see where he fires them! sometimes the balls are sent flying accross the room which will be great for keeping the child active. This toy is perfect for 6 months and over.
The Kidizoom Twist Camera is sure to be on many a pre-schoolers list this Christmas. This 2 megapixel camera with zoom takes videos as well as pictures and there are 5 games built in. Kids can edit and enhance the photos by adding fun graphics, borders and stickers to the image. You can also hook the camera up to your tv so your child can see the pictures they have taken on a much larger screen.
The Imaginext Batcave is a mush have toy for any little Batman fan. The set comes with 5 activation disks and well as a host of other exciting features. Also included in the set are a Batman figure, a Robin figure, a batcycle, a bat-glider, a computer consol and two small accessories.
If you are looking for one of the must have toys of 2011 then look no further than the Fisher Price Octonauts Octopod Playset. The Octopod rotates 350 degrees and you can press buttons to get fun noises and sounds. This is a great toy for kids to bring Barnacles and Kwazii in their own little world.
The Peppa Pig: Peppa’s World of Playsets is one of the cheaper gift ideas in this years pre-schoolers list. Your child will get to create thir own Peppa Pig’s world with this six in one playset. There is a cafe, toy shop, dolls house and a den.
Follow Me Thomas is a great fun take on the Thomas the Tank Engine series. With this Toy, your child can lead Thomas around the room by shining a light that he will follow. The simple to use controller also has three buttons that allows Thomas to perform preset moves. This gift is sure to be a big hit this year, so it is best to buy it early to avoid dissappointment. Batteries are included and it is suitable for children over the age of 2.
The last gift to make it into our toys list is the Toot Toot Drivers Garage by VTech. This interactive garage is full of fun sound affects and your child can drive the car (included) up ramps, spin on turntables take it up lifts and much more. The Garage is designed to recognise the car and any other Toot-Toot Drivers which are sold seperately.
The Toy Retailers Association have released what they believe to be the Top Toys for Boys this Christmas. The Toy Retailers Association represents 75% of toy retailers and have been making predictions about the best selling toys since 1965. This years Toys for Boys includes current favourites Ben 10, Bakugan and Disney Pixar toys based on the hit films Toy Story 3 and Cars 2. We also have lists for creative toys and construction toys if you are looking for something a bit different.
Bakugan make it into the Top 10 Toys list once again this year with the Bakugan Dragonoid Collossus. You can use your gate card and ability card to enjoy this toy even more.
Once again Ben 10 makes it into the Top 10 Christmas Gifts having been a regular for the last couple of years. Ben 10 uses his Ultimatrix to transform aliens into their stronger forms. If you buy the extra 10cm Ultimate Aliem figures which are sold seperately then you can add the mini disc into the toy to hear the alien sounds.
Cars 2 was one of the top films for boys this year. Now you can get your boy a great gift from the film. Finn McMissile is the secret agent in Cars 2 and the toy is great. Full of firing missiles, sound effects and great transformations.
This is the second year in a row that we feature a Nerf product. This is all about guns that fire soft plastic bullets. This gun features an electronic scope to help with aim as well as a 20 disc magazine aimed at keeping loading times to a minimum. Other magazines can be bought seperately.
5. Doctor Who: Personalise Your Sonic Screwdriver Set – £14.29
The Doctor WhoSonic Screwdriver Set is one of thre cheaper gift options in the Top 10 Toys for Christmas 2011. You can combine sections from the different screwdrivers in different ways to create your own. There are 80 combinations possible and you will beed to get batteries for this gift.
The Star Wars Ultimate FX Lightsaber is a great gift idea for the smaller Star Wars fan. The blade of the saber slowly lights up to create one of the most authentic Star Wars experiences. Experience the Force.
Hot Wheels has become one of the classic toys over the years. This year the must have Hot Wheels is the Wall Tracks set. Some adult assembly may be required, but this just makes the gift even more fun as mum or dad can get involved too! Apparently the gift does not damage the walls so no need to worry there.
Nerf products are going to be so popular this year that we included two in the list! The second is the Nerf N-Strike Barricade RV-10. Put a new “spin” on your battles with this motorized, semi-automatic Barricade RV-10 blaster. The 10-dart revolving barrel keeps the “firepower” coming and the compact design of this sidearm blaster means it’s easy to take along on any “mission”. The tactical rail and stock attachment give you the versatility to hit your mark with precision.
Toy Story 3 was the best childrens film of the year hands down, and possibly the best childrens film ever! (at least in my opinion). So surely the Turbo Glo Buzz Lightyear would make the perfect gift for any Toy Story fan out there!
10. Transformers Movie 3 Ultimate Optimus Prime – £57.98
Transformers is the final gift to make it into our top 10 toys for boys this Christmas. And in particular the Transformers Movie 3 Ultimate Optimus Prime.
The top 10 Christmas Gifts for Children has already been released by the Toy Retailers Association. You can find the list below. This is the Dream list of must have Toys for 2011. Some of the items will be low on stock this year (it already seems that retailers are struggling to get enough of the LeapPad Explorer. Also, make sure you check out the Top Toys of 2010 where you can find some real bargains.
Fijit Friends are meant to be THE must have gift for children this year. If you are planning to get a Fijit Friend this Christmas, then we would advise getting one sooner rather than later. Fijit Friends are interactive friends that recognise over 30 different keywords and responds with 150 different responses. Comes with batteries and is aimed at 6 and overs.
The Kidizoom Twist Camera is sure to be on many a pre-schoolers list this Christmas. This 2 megapixel camera with zoom takes videos as well as pictures and there are 5 games built in. Kids can edit and enhance the photos by adding fun graphics, borders and stickers to the image. You can also hook the camera up to your tv so your child can see the pictures they have taken on a much larger screen.
The Doggy Doo game is probably the most contraversal on the list this year. The aim of the game is to aviod being the one who cleans up the plasticine poop. Every time you roll the dice it determins how many times you squeeze the lead. Get caught holding the lead when the dog does the business, and you are the one that needs to clear it up!
The Fireman Sam Pontypandy set is going to be a real hit this year. You child will get to save Naughty Norman when he traps his head in the railings as well as getting a cat down that has gotten stuck up a tree. The set includes Sam figure, Norman figure, cat figure, tree, railings, hose reel, ladder, fire bucket & cones and is going to be one of the top sellers this Christmas.
The LeapPad Explorer is basically an iPad for children. The tablet is aimed at learning and this is achieved with games, digital reading creativity and personalisation. The LeapPad explorer is compatible with existing Explorer games libararys. This is one of the gifts that retailers seemm to be struggling to get enough stock of, so it is advised to buy early.
Like the Dance Star Mickey gift mentioned above, Let’s Rock Elmo is one of the must have Childrens gifts for this year. He sings and dances and even plays musical instruments. The set comes with a drum set and a tambourine and Elmo knows which one you give him to play. You can also buy additional musical instruments to keep the lifetime of this toy going even longer. The musical instruments are the perfect size for pre schoolers little hands.
Milky The Bunny is flying off the shelves this Christmas. Milky is an interactive bunny who will wiggle his feet when tickled, chew on carrots and blink his big brown eyes. You will need to be careful as Milky is scared of loud noises and will drift off to sleep after a long day of playing. It is worth noting that Milky needs AA batteries that are not included.
LEGO. The classic christmas gift for Children. I was lucky enough to always get a set in my stocking. This years must have LEGO set is the Ninjago Fire Temple. There are other sets in the series to collect and they can be combined to make bigger play areas and adventures.
This is the second year in a row that we feature a Nerf product. This is all about guns that fire soft plastic bullets. This gun features an electronic scope to help with aim as well as a 20 disc magazine aimed at keeping loading times to a minimum. Other magazines can be bought seperately.
Moshi Monsters are huge this year. With over 50 million children playing the game online, the real life toys are sure to be popular. One of the top toys in the Moshi Monsters treehouse, where children get to play with the miniture characters offline in their own treehouse.
11. Monster High Lagoona’s Hydration Station – £38.27
Lagoona Blue– daughter of the Sea Monster–is one of the coolest Ghouls in school with her long blonde and blue hair and pale blue skin. She also has several fins, webbed hands and gills behind her ear. Lagoona is a tomboy and is obsessed with surfing. Lagoona Blue uses her Hydration Station to re-moisturise at night and it doubles as a room décor for girls. Press the shell-shaped button on the front to activate 3 different modes of lights and bubbles. Includes Hydration Station, Lagoona Blue doll with eye mask, her pet Neptuna with eye mask, water bottle and “monsteriser” bottle. For ages 6 years and over.
The all-new Star Wars – The Clone Wars Anakin Skywalker ultimate FX lightsaber provides one of the most authentic Jedi experiences ever for kids! The toy features a progressive light-up blade with vibrant LED lighting and authentic sounds, allowing kids to experience the Force in a whole new way.
RipStiks have been taking the US by storm. They look a bit like a skateboard, but there are two seperate panels (one for each foot) and this is connected with a “torsion bar”. Although they look like a skateboard, they ride alot more like a snowboard or surfboard. The board is recommended for ages 8+ and as with any “extreme sport” it is advised that your child has the correct safety equipment. At the moment they are only available from a very small number of retailers. One of the best places to buy one is through Skate Hut uk. The number 1 online skate shop. Currently priced at £69.95, this would make a great gift for any outdoor loving adventure sports fan. You can currently get them in Blue, Red or Silver and there are premium versions of the product available.
Christmas can be a costly affair and some families may dread the Christmas period for this reason alone. Gifts, food, decorations and drink can cost a lot of money especially if you have a big family and are hosting Christmas. The key is to plan in advance so the financial burden is lessened as December creeps up on us.
Make a list and stick to it
Get organised like never before. Set a budget for each person who you need to buy for and stick to it. It may be worth drawing up a table or using Excel to keep track of what you’ve spent. Every time you buy a gift for someone, add it to your table so you can see how much you’ve spent on each person. If you’ve over spent, spend less on someone else so you stick within your budget.
Start ASAP
There is no time like the present. If you haven’t already started picking things up as you go along, start now. When you’re doing your weekly food shop keep an eye out for BOGOF and 2 for 1 offers, as supermarkets will be launching most Christmas products as special offers before the Christmas rush starts.
DIY gift ideas
Don’t think you have to pay over the odds for Christmas gifts; make your own! How about making your own Christmas cards? Buy some card, glitter pens and assorted coloured paper and get creative. This will not only save you some cash but will get you in the festive spirit.
We always seem to buy several boxes of chocolate around Christmas, so why not make your own truffles? These are great gifts with a really personal touch. What’s even better is that they only consist of a few ingredients and can be really cheap to produce. Buy or make some little truffle boxes and hand those out instead of splashing out at the shops.
Use vouchers NOW
When the Christmas period beckons, retailers aren’t likely to publish printable vouchers or discount codes. This is because this is their busiest time of the year and they make a large chunk of their profits in December. I’d recommend to start looking for Marks and Spencer discount codes, Debenhams vouchers and Argos promotions now, and buy any purchases you’re going to make from the retail giants sooner than later. This way you can still take advantage of their promotional offers and save some cash on your buys.
Keep a sale calendar
Note when your favourite Christmas retailers have sales in the run up to Christmas. For example, Debenhams usually run a Christmas Spectacular for a week/weekend in the run up to Christmas. Other retailers like BHS and various electronic stores so this too, so keep money aside for these events, which could really save you some money on your purchases.
Think of next Christmas, now
As soon as December 25th is over, you may not want to think about next Christmas for a good few months, but it’s smart to start thinking now. The January sales are packed with Christmas bargains. Think Christmas cards, decorations and even gifts. All three items are always heavily discounted, even to as much as 70%. It’s worth stocking up on these items as if you wait until next November and December the prices will be heavily inflated. Keep a box of these items safe for next year and you’ll save yourself some cash.
While you’re thinking of next year’s finances it may be worth considering signing up to a Christmas vouchers saving scheme. Each month an amount is taken from your bank account and is sent to you in high street vouchers in time for next Christmas. This means that your Christmas savings money comes out of your account each month and you won’t have the chance to spend it. This is great for people who aren’t very good at saving as the cash isn’t easily accessible. Another option, for those with more will power, is to set aside some money each month starting from January. Then, when the next festive season begins you won’t notice as much of a financial strain.
Looking to buy the perfect gift for a teenager this year? Well look no further. We have 2 lists that should help you out. We have the top 10 Christmas gifts for Teenage Boys and the top 10 Christmas present ideas for Teenage girls at your service. We hope you find these helpful.
Thanks to millions of hit on the video site YouTube, one of the unexpected big hits of Christmas 2011 has been the My Keepon. My Keepon is based on the Keepon® Pro, a research robot created by two scientists. The original Keepon was developed to study social development and autism, but when the video went viral the two scientists teamed up with toy innovators Wow! Stuff. On Ebay, in the US, Keepon has been selling for 3 times the market value. At the moment in the UK it is only available for pre-order in a number of different retailers. The company admits that it has been taken aback by the number of pre-orders and it is going to struggle to meet demand this Christmas. 
As a massive chocolate fan I have been looking for the perfect chocolate gift for Top 10 Christmas Gifts this year and I think I might have found it. 
RipStiks have been taking the US by storm. They look a bit like a skateboard, but there are two seperate panels (one for each foot) and this is connected with a “torsion bar”. Although they look like a skateboard, they ride alot more like a snowboard or surfboard. The board is recommended for ages 8+ and as with any “extreme sport” it is advised that your child has the correct safety equipment. At the moment they are only available from a very small number of retailers. One of the best places to buy one is through Skate Hut uk. The number 1 online skate shop. Currently priced at £69.95, this would make a great gift for any outdoor loving adventure sports fan. You can currently get them in Blue, Red or Silver and there are premium versions of the product available.
