The Hot New Toy For Christmas is...

[holbear]

I have been buying a bunch from Amazon within the last few days with all the deals they have had with free shipping and have a lot done.

My DS (8) told me he wants B-Deman things. They had buy 2-get 1 with free shipping so I got some. He basically likes ANYTHING Yugioh, Pokemon or like, and I guess BDaman (whatever ) is similar. I also have a couple books for him (Dragonology, The second Narnia book).

My older DD (6) wants all the Bratz stuff that has been on TV. I just don't like those, though, and so I'm afraid she is outta luck. She has several 18 inch dolls and I have a doll size trunk full of clothes for them. I just ordered some leappads BOGO from Amazon and books as well (Fairy Quest for the Egg and some Angelina Ballerina)

Youngest DD (3) - So far I have a Princess doll set (18 inch Jasmine and Aladdin) for her and some Princess dress up shoes.

I'm always on the lookout for more deals.

 

[ttfn3]

Holbear My DS is into those very same things! I went to Toys-r-Us yesterday and picked up a BDaman battle game setup and 2 of the guys with free containers that hold the marbles - buy 2, get 1 free. I also found the Yo Stick for $9.99. And I found the gold master Yu-gi-o set that originally sold for $39.99 - for $19.99! You may want to check this set out. The price is good at Toys-r-us thru 10/29.

I'm heading to Toys-r-us this week for the buy 1, get 1 free games. I like to stock up and us them for birthday parties, in addition to holiday gifts.

 

[100AcreWood]

Just catching up...

We visited TRU today and I bought Don't Wake Daddy and Crocodile Dentist for $16.99 for both. Hopefully they will be a hit. I'm saving the receipt just in case.

DD (3) seems interested in the VSmile and Leapster. The VSmile pocket appeals to me because of the selection of cartridges.

Any thoughts on whether an almost 3 1/2 year old can play the VSmile pocket? The cartridges start at 3 so I assume so.

Thanks!

 

[alacazander]

Just catching up...

We visited TRU today and I bought Don't Wake Daddy and Crocodile Dentist for $16.99 for both. Hopefully they will be a hit. I'm saving the receipt just in case.

DD (3) seems interested in the VSmile and Leapster. The VSmile pocket appeals to me because of the selection of cartridges.

Any thoughts on whether an almost 3 1/2 year old can play the VSmile pocket? The cartridges start at 3 so I assume so.

Thanks!

We don't have either of those games Don't wake Daddy or Crocodile Dentist - I wonder if they are good ones?

We getting my son the V-smile for xmas. I sure hope they have a sale on the smartridges. I'd love to see a buy one get one free thing. Someone said they were on sale this week at k b toys but I went yesterday and they were full price. Also the v-smile is $64.99 at Kb. $49.99 at tru and walmart. Hope to see a sale on that one too. I looked at the pocket v-smile and I think that one is for the older kids 5-7 age. But who knows maybe it could work for the younger crowd too!

I did end up buying the star station. I was going wait but it was soooo cute and I didn't want them to be out for the holidays.

Another thing I bought was the boy version of the doodle bear. The bear that you can draw on and then throw in the washing machine. I got the monster one for my son. Very cute. Oh also those are on sale this week at tru for $11.99!

 

[LynnTH]

I went to Toys R Us with the kids today and we walked around for 2 hours so they could make out their Christmas lists. Of course they wanted everything. I went back later to Toys R Us and Walmart and this is what I got so far.

For DS6 I got Battlship(free when bought Monopoly) Darth Vador Voice Changer

For DD4 I got Disney Monopoly Jr., Barbie Styling Head (then 1 got 3 Wee Friends free with purchase) Barbie Drum Set (I know I'm crazy on that one)

For both I got the Star Studio with 3 extra cartridges. They had this on at Toys R Us and they were both having a blast dancing and seeing themselves on TV - this is going to be great exercise for the kids.

Looking at the Teen Tech DVD Players for both of them. They look great for kids but they don't have a rechargable battery they run off of 6 AAA batteries so not sure how long they would last (anyone have this and know?)

 

[summerrluvv]

I went to Toys R Us with the kids today and we walked around for 2 hours so they could make out their Christmas lists. Of course they wanted everything. I went back later to Toys R Us and Walmart and this is what I got so far.

For DS6 I got Battlship(free when bought Monopoly) Darth Vador Voice Changer

For DD4 I got Disney Monopoly Jr., Barbie Styling Head (then 1 got 3 Wee Friends free with purchase) Barbie Drum Set (I know I'm crazy on that one)

For both I got the Star Studio with 3 extra cartridges. They had this on at Toys R Us and they were both having a blast dancing and seeing themselves on TV - this is going to be great exercise for the kids.

Looking at the Teen Tech DVD Players for both of them. They look great for kids but they don't have a rechargable battery they run off of 6 AAA batteries so not sure how long they would last (anyone have this and know?)

What exactly is the Star Studio? I haven't seen this one yet.

 

[mamalle]

mine plays the Vsmile and the leapster and we got both when he was 3..

 

[Priorityonecb]

Does anyone here happen to know the date of release for the Tinkerbell MP3 player from Best Buy? Thanks!

 

[tikilyn]

Does anyone here happen to know the date of release for the Tinkerbell MP3 player from Best Buy? Thanks!

I don't know, but I went and took a look at it on their website. It's so cute!!! I want one now. It only has 128 mb of internal memory. How many songs will that hold?

 

[3DisneyKids]

It is supposed to be out in mid-October, so I guess that means any day now. It is supposed to retail for $49.99. The 128 mb can hold up to 50 kid songs (I say kid songs b/c they tend to be much shorter than "real songs"...any maybe more, but less than 100). However, you can upgrade this to 1 gig of memory, and that should hold a good amount (not as much as the 40 gig iPod, though...LOL...that sucker holds 10,000 songs!)

 

[klj27]

I am almost finished with our Christmas shopping, but I am not sure that any of my kids are getting the hot toys for Christmas. I try to buy things that are more classic or basic and they hopefully won't get bored with them quickly. I have bought magnetix, leapster games, iquest with cartridges and a new cd player for my son and daughter. My daughter did tell me today that she wants Elizabeth (American Girl) and like a pp mentioned that will probably be popular.

After reading the whole thread I am so surprised at the amount of game systems people have. I know that my kids spend a lot of time in school and then with their activites. We try to spend any leftover time together. I know they would like one, but I can't imagine them spending even an hour a day in front of the tv. It makes me sad to think of my younger kids with mp3 players. I am probably picturing the wrong thing ( I am not very technologically aware), but I am picturing headphones like an ipod. I would rather let the kids listen to their music (radio Disney) in the van and be able to interact with them than have them tuned out.

 

[mamalle]

really it isnt much time at all in our house. my kids do have their leapsters and Vsmile but for the most part are running around playing outside or inside singing and dancing with the karoake machine. yes they both have TVs in their rooms but rarely are they on.. My dd loves to listen to music and we always have on the XFM kids on in the car or on the computer. I have no problem when she is drawing or out on walks with us to use our MP3 player so she can listen to some tunes. she is careful and respectful and most important- she enjoys it..

 

[georgina]

I was also told by the sales guy in Gamestop that you can't preorder the XBOX 360 either - they already have pages of people who have pre-ordered it and most won't get it in time for Christmas - this will be a very hard item to get this year and I'm NOT even going to attempt it until after Christmas.

I just preordered an xbox 360 from ritz camera online on Oct 3. That's all DS wants and he is paying for half himself.

 

[Jenn Lynn]

We getting my son the V-smile for xmas. I sure hope they have a sale on the smartridges. I'd love to see a buy one get one free thing. Someone said they were on sale this week at k b toys but I went yesterday and they were full price. Also the v-smile is $64.99 at Kb. $49.99 at tru and walmart. Hope to see a sale on that one too. I looked at the pocket v-smile and I think that one is for the older kids 5-7 age. But who knows maybe it could work for the younger crowd too!

I called KB Toys yesterday and they said the 9.99 sale was already over. Bummer. I went to Shopko last night and they had their toys buy one get one 1/5 off. So I got 2 of the games. If I find a better deal I will take those back.

TRU online just had the Vsmile system (not pocket) for 45.99 + 20.00 off if you ordered a game. So you got the game for free. I ordered it last night because I knew they had a new sale starting today.

DH and I were thinking about getting the Pocket for DD, but when we went to the store she wanted nothing to do with the Pocket on display. She liked the regular one.

(3) seems interested in the VSmile and Leapster. The VSmile pocket appeals to me because of the selection of cartridges.

Any thoughts on whether an almost 3 1/2 year old can play the VSmile pocket? The cartridges start at 3 so I assume so.

We decided on the VSmile also becaue of the cartidges.
I think your 3.5 year old should be able to play it. My Dd can use the mouse for the computer. She learned at 3 so I am not worried about the game system.

 

[Jenn Lynn]

DD isn't getting anything on the most popular list. I am considering tumble Tigger for DS. We'll see.

So far for DD I have:
VSmile System and 3 games
4 Littlest Pet Shop sets
Triazzles
Games:
Elefun
Perfection
Disney Guess Who
Hingry Hippo
2 LeapPad games

Still need to get her headphones and read along books. And PJ's and a book for Christmas Eve.

 

[alcoromom]

I think Nintendogs may be very hard to find by christmas.Kb is sold out online and TRU is out of the lab one.I have 2 boys begging for these and a coupon for TRu so I will go tomarrow to get then(I was hoping for a sale but now I want to just buy it and save my reciept.

Re: american girl,there is a baby sister called Polly that comes with a cradle,I just got Polly,Felicity and Elizabeth in the mail,they are beautiful(Mil bought Felicity,my mom bought Polly)

 

[3DisneyKids]

I
After reading the whole thread I am so surprised at the amount of game systems people have. I know that my kids spend a lot of time in school and then with their activites. We try to spend any leftover time together. I know they would like one, but I can't imagine them spending even an hour a day in front of the tv. It makes me sad to think of my younger kids with mp3 players. I am probably picturing the wrong thing ( I am not very technologically aware), but I am picturing headphones like an ipod. I would rather let the kids listen to their music (radio Disney) in the van and be able to interact with them than have them tuned out.

YES, my kids have mp3 players...even the little one (3). They all love them.

I completely agree with this poster, though, that kids are busy enough. Our kids--like most--have activities and church and playdates and we do a lot together as a family.

However, we do a lot of long drives/week-end family road trips, etc. and the mp3 players are really for that. Yes, they use haedphones, but they are not zoned out for hours on end...they listen for a while, draw for a while, talk with us for a while, etc. And listening to music while they watch the scenery go by is fine with me...even good for them, IMO. DH and I like to have some adult conversation on these trip...but again, there is a balance.

They also have leapsters for the car, and I don't have a problem with that due to the educational component (and it REAL education...my 3 y.o. learned all of her letters that way...I tried to teach her and she couldn't grasp it from me, but she got it from her Leapster). No video games here.

Most importantly, though, we limit "screen time" a lot (this means Computer as well as TV and DVDs, etc.). Zero screen time during the week until Friday evening.

Ooops...just realized I got off topic for this thread...LOL. Sorry.

Just wanted to say that, IMO, mp3 players are a great gift for kids.

 

[klj27]

YES, my kids have mp3 players...even the little one (3). They all love them.

I completely agree with this poster, though, that kids are busy enough. Our kids--like most--have activities and church and playdates and we do a lot together as a family.

However, we do a lot of long drives/week-end family road trips, etc. and the mp3 players are really for that. Yes, they use haedphones, but they are not zoned out for hours on end...they listen for a while, draw for a while, talk with us for a while, etc. And listening to music while they watch the scenery go by is fine with me...even good for them, IMO. DH and I like to have some adult conversation on these trip...but again, there is a balance.

They also have leapsters for the car, and I don't have a problem with that due to the educational component (and it REAL education...my 3 y.o. learned all of her letters that way...I tried to teach her and she couldn't grasp it from me, but she got it from her Leapster). No video games here.

Most importantly, though, we limit "screen time" a lot (this means Computer as well as TV and DVDs, etc.). Zero screen time during the week until Friday evening.

Ooops...just realized I got off topic for this thread...LOL. Sorry.

Just wanted to say that, IMO, mp3 players are a great gift for kids.

Thanks for answering in an honest and respectful manner. I do not limit all things electronic. We also have a leapster and quite a few games. I guess I don't understand the tv/video game systems. I was surprised at the number of preschoolers with mp3 players, but you hit the nail on the head. It is all about limits and exposure to other things to keep our kids tuned in.

 

[LynnTH]

What exactly is the Star Studio? I haven't seen this one yet.

Summerrluvv- The Star Studio is really cool. It is a small video camera that sits on top of the TV. It comes with 1 cartridge (there are 8 others you can buy) that pop in. Then it comes with cordless microphone. Each cartridge has about 8 songs it plays (I think only 4 songs come with it) and the kids can sing and dance and see themselves on the TV. They also have like 5 different modes (like seeing double or fuzzy - I can't remember the modes). My kids were doing it in the store and they were singing and dancing and just having a blast with this. I got it at Walmart for about $55.00. The extra cartridges were around $9 each.

 

[100AcreWood]

Thanks for all the feedback on VSmile and Leapster. It sounds like most are going with the regular (not pocket version) VSmile for the smaller crowd.