For Kids

Your lil boy is quickly outgrowing the "lil" moniker. He is likely looking to spend some more time on his own, playing and learning independently. Take a cue from him and consider some gifts that will encourage him to explore on his own.

Among our choices for tots this age are:

• Recently named one of the best illustrated books for children this year, A River of Words: The Story of William Carlos Williams is a biography of a poet who honed his craft while working as a doctor in order to pay his bills. The beautiful book is sure to become a family treasure.
• Your child can never claim to be bored if he has the Deluxe 6-in-1 Game Table. The set includes easily interchangeable tabletops featuring Foosball, Table Tennis, Chess, Checkers, Backgammon, and Air Hockey.
• If your tot would rather be writing, than reading, check out IlluStory, a create-your-own book kit that guides young authors through the book writing and illustrating process. Once the kit is completed, the pages are sent to the manufacturer. A few weeks later, your child will be holding her printed and bound copy of her creation.
• Help teach your lil one about the dangers facing the environment with the Discovery Paper Recycling Studio, a kit that helps you recycle your own used paper into fresh pieces that can be used for artwork and more.
• Encourage your budding musician with Wii Music, the music game that presents players with more than 60 instruments from which they can strum and pluck as they jam to existing melodies or create their own.
• If your lil fashionista is gunning for Anna Wintour's job, consider buying her the Be A Magazine Editor Kit. The kit comes with four backgrounds to set the scene, a digital camera with a tripod for shooting them. and computer software to layout and then print the spread. You never know, you may have the next editrix on your hands!

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Don't be surprised if the six-year-old in your life is a lil chatterbox. Kids this age like to express themselves and tend to be social butterflies. With that in mind, we sought out several gift ideas that will encourage group play, while helping the child learn new skills and create items.

Among our picks for the grade school child are:

• A child-sized pool table with real cues, balls and pockets. Pool helps fine-tune hand-eye coordination and can provide countless hours of indoor fun during winter months.
• Keep your lil one active while increasing his math and listening skills with Hyper Dash, an electronic game that sends them dashing around the room tagging targets based on the questions asked by the main console.
• Think bubbles are just for babies? The How to Make Monstrous, Huge, Unbelievably Big Bubbles book and wand will teach you otherwise. Following the books instructions, and using a little dish soap, your tot will entertain the neighborhood with her bubble master skills.
• Encourage your child's creative side this Winter with the Knot A Hat 'N Scarf kit from Alex. The kit includes plenty of accessories and fabric choices to help your lil one create four scarves and two hats without sewing, knitting or crocheting a thing.
• If you spent hours on the playground playing cat's cradle with a piece of string, you will love the Klutz Book Cat's Cradle set. The book features foolproof, image-laden instructions for playing the classic game and is sure to keep your tot occupied for a while.
• For some families, there is no escaping the abyss that is Hannah Montana. If you want to look like a rock star yourself this holiday, consider getting your lil girl the Hannah Montana Dance Mat Signature Collection, complete with a microphone, wig and pretend headset. The set will keep her on her feet and moving as she perfects her on-stage dance moves.

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The kindergartner on your list may be a bit precocious at times, but he is still a baby in your eyes. Help him continue to explore the world around him with some gifts that are sure to get him asking questions.

Among our favorites for the five-year-old this year are:

• A Make My Own Monster Kit from FAO Schwarz. The kit includes colored pencils, paper, and a detailed questionnaire from which you actually design your monster. The design is then turned into a plush monster, complete with a tag that explains the scary guy's back story.
• Even though you cringe at the sight of a bug, your tot may love the creepy, crawly things. With the Talking Bug Identifier your little entomologist can ID the critter by answering a few simple yes and no questions.
• The Clementine Printmaking Kit comes with six all-natural paints, brushes, rollers, recycled paper and textured painting tools to help your budding artist create beautiful masterpieces.
• Create an indoor garden filled with beautiful butterflies with the Discovery Butterfly Canopy. The kit comes with a voucher used to order five painted lady caterpillars and the necessary food needed for the larvae to become flying beauties.
• The 170 pieces and 20 marbles included in the Deluxe Marble Run should keep your tot busy for hours. With ramps, bridges, a swivel track, spinners and a motorized conveyer, no two marble runs will be the same.
• Up your cool factor with your kids by introducing them to the Crayola Glow Station. Equipped with a light wand, a light-sensitive canvas, and cool stencils, they can design glow-in-the-dark creations like they've never seen before.

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Preschoolers are quite an ambitious group. They spend their days at school being the line leader or napkin passer, and then come home to demonstrate their ability to complete tasks with less oversight. At this age, they are often rewarded in knowing that they finished a project on their own, rather than with applause or treats. Encourage this independence with gifts that allow them to work by themselves with minimal parental involvement.

Among our choice gifts for preschoolers are:

• Big Wheels were big when I was this age and they are back! Kids spent most afternoons tearing through the neighborhood on their sets of Big Wheels, and I can't wait for my children to do so, too.
• Designed for children ages 4 to 8, the LeapFrog TAG Reading System features a stylus with a camera in its tip that “reads” the letter, words, and symbols on the pages of the 16 books in its library, including favorites like Chicka Chicka Boom Boom, The Little Engine that Could, and Olivia.
• If your lil one insists on dressing herself, she will love the eeBoo Paper Dolls. Each set comes with two multicultural dolls, background scenes, and magnetic clothing that can be mixed and matched to ensure that the doll is properly dressed for each occasion.
• Help your budding A-Rod perfect his swing with the Fisher Price ESPN Better Batter Baseball. The t-ball-like toy plays ESPN music each time a ball is loaded into it.
• Another childhood classic that has been updated for today's preschooler, Lite Brite allows kids to experiment with color and light to create masterpieces on four sides at one time.
• A fun and fast-paced take on Bingo, Zingo will have your tot begging for family game night to begin.

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Three-year-olds tend to be a bit fickle as they express their independence. One moment they are telling you they can do it all by themselves, then the next they insist on holding your hand. When shopping for a gift for a preschooler, look for items that showcase their new found abilities.

Among our favorite selections for this age group:

• The ballerina in your life will be begging to put on a recital with the Acting Out Dress Up Musical Skirts that either play music from the Nutcracker or Swan Lake with the flip of a switch.
• The little John Bonham or Tommy Lee in your family will love the Plan Toy Musical Band drum set. Featuring drums and cymbals, this environmentally-friendly set, is not too loud and is made from replenishable wood.
• One of the coolest new toys on the market, Automoblox, are more than just wooden vehicles. Each car can be taken apart and reassembled, and, once additional cars are purchased, the interchangeable parts can be used to create new, unique, creations.
• Sprig Toys use kid-power, rather than batteries, to move their environmentally-friendly, paint-free vehicles. Unlike other vehicles on the market, the trucks and all terrain vehicles in the line use kinetic energy to move, make sounds and light up.
• Get your tot up and moving with Animal Scramble a new game of hide and seek that encourages listening and following instructions.
• What preschooler doesn't like ice cream? With the Melissa and Doug Ice Cream Set your lil one can dream up the quadruple scoop cones while practicing her colors and numbers.

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Since scoping the trailer for the upcoming Hotel for Dogs film, I couldn't wait to learn the names of all the four-legged cast members we spotted (refresh your memory here). A couple of the film's human stars – Jake T. Austin and Emma Roberts – made a special stop earlier this week to promote the movie and show a whole line of special-edition stuffed animals at FAO Schwarz.

In addition to ones depicting Friday, Romeo and Juliet seen here, check out the cute toys to treat kids this Holiday season – let them get all their cuddles in while waiting for the film to open in January.

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"Dreidel, Dreidel, Dreidel" and Adam Sandler's "Hanukkah Song," often come to mind when many people think of Hanukkah songs. While the selection of tunes and books is nowhere near as vast as it is for Christmas, there are some great items out there...if you search. But, we've done the hard work for you so find our top bookstore picks for the Festival of Lights below. They include David Carter's Chanukah Bugs, an adorable pop-up book about eight bugs celebrating, a few holiday themed books featuring your favorite children's characters and a collection of songs by folk legend Woody Guthrie that he wrote in honor of his mother-in-law. Now your Hanukkah party can get rocking!

Holiday dressing does not necessarily mean tartan plaids and tree-appliquéd sweaters. Though Hanukkah clothing tends to focus on blue and white clothing, Jewish humor comes through in a wide selection of t-shirts and baby accessories designed for the Festival of Lights. This The Maccabees: Hanukkah Rocks ($20 on sale) long-sleeve shirt is more than just a unisex novelty tee. Packed in a record album cover, the shirt makes a great gift to give, or even to receive from your favorite Bubbe.

To see more Hanukkah clothing ideas, read more

Two isn't terrible! The key to entertaining a rambunctious two-year-old is patience and a steady stream of back-up ideas to prevent meltdowns. Look for toys that keep children active as well as items that let them explore their creative sides.

Among our choices for lil two-year-olds are:

• Kitchen play items like grocery carts, play food, and cash registers allow toddlers to imitate adult behavior, while increasing vocabulary and introducing numbers.
• Easels, like the Melissa and Doug Deluxe Standing Easel promote independent play, while allowing children to draw, paint and play with chalk.
• Radio Flyer's Little Miss Scooter, which also comes in red, will be a hit on the playground while teaching lil ones about balance and stability. Just don't forget to purchase a helmet to go with this gift!
• The PlasmaCar is one of the coolest products on the market. Unlike other toddler ride-ons, it does not have pedals. It uses natural forces of centrifugal force and gravity to zoom around the playground.
• Unlike an easel, Aquadoodle's Draw N' Doodle Mat will not make a mess of your home. Using nothing but a water-filled marker, tots can draw on this mat as often as they like, without ever having to replace their canvas.
• If green markets are more your thing than grocery stores, check out the Market Stand complete with bins and baskets ready for imaginary play.

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