You can see the top toys for Christmas (and other holidays of the winter season) here: Amazon’s Top Picks in Toys 2009.

Hyperdash has been selected in many toy lists each year, and it’s no wonder. We love the game that has kids thinking on their feet–literally. It’s an Edutaining Kids Top Pick as well, as it fits perfectly into our expectations for a quality “edutaining” toy. Hyper Dash puts a new spin on the term “active learning”–it promotes listening, memory, and math skills, as well as giving kids a little workout. Intense fun! For more information about this fun and educational toy, see Wild Planet Hyper Dash.

Zhu Zhu Pets are one of the most wanted toys this Christmas, but their scarcity has led to toy stores upping the prices. There are many other alternatives to be found, thankfully.

Some of the toys that appear on both Amazon’s list and our Edutaining Kids Holiday Gift Guides include Crayola Glow Dome which allow kids to draw on a dome and have their drawings projected onto the ceiling in full glow in the dark glory, LeapFrog My Pal Scout and LeapFrog My Pal Violet (cute little stuffies that actually say your child’s name after they’re programmed, LeapFrog Learn & Groove Musical Table, and more.

Hardly a day goes by when we don’t hear about the problems of obesity–and childhood obesity–in the news. With obesity on the rise, more and more people are aware of the benefits of exercise. But what of video games designed to get kids moving? Is it just hype? Well, some are, no doubt. We tend to get all worked up when a video game gets children out of the typical stupor and onto their feet. But a lot of games inspire only a small amount of movement. Not so with the Nintendo Wii Fit, which completely focuses on working out, without turning the process into a tedious lesson.

Getting enough exercise can be easier said than done. If your children tend to be sedentary and love video games, or if you are not a “going to the gym” type, the Nintendo Wii Fit for the Nintendo Wii gaming system can certainly get you and your family started on the road to fitness, or at the very least, fitness and health awareness. The Wii Fit offers an interactive workout and is designed to make exercise a fun activity that anyone in the family can enjoy, no matter their level of fitness.  It’s also highly interactive and educational: it guides you through designing a workout program, tracking your progress and learning proper technique. Interestingly, the game made our testers aware of the importance of balance.

Using the Nintendo Wii Fit involves stepping  on its balance board, which reads body movements, measures weight and weight distribution, and the game offers feedback about these measures, as well as BMI and Wii “fitness age”. Players learn about their BMI, but do note that kids who are even slightly on the chubby side will find out that they are “at the risk of being obese” or worse. Players set fitness and weight goals, and the Wii Fit records progress as well as total hours and minutes of usage.

The Nintendo Wii Fit is designed to be a fitness and educational tool, but it’s also designed to be pleasurable. Families perform aerobics, strength training, learn yoga moves, play balance games, and more. Weight measurements can be password-protected if desired. Scores in various activities are recorded and lists of top scores are provided. Players jog, play goalie, walk a tightrope, play with hula hoops, go skiing, learn and perform yoga poses, and a whole lot more.

If you are ready to make fun and fitness a permanent part of your life, then getting a Nintendo Wii Fit is one easy way to get started. Work. School. Bills. Housework. With all of the things you have to do each day, it’s easy to forget that you need to make time for exercise in your life.

To find the Wii Fit or other Wii games: Top Selling Wii Games

This holiday season, young dinosaur enthusiasts can experience the closest thing to a real dinosaur they’ll ever entertain in their own homes–the Playskool Kota My Triceratops Dinosaur. Kota My Triceratops Dinosaur is enormous, life-like in its own way, and is fashioned after the Triceratops but with more personable and baby-like features. Children can actually sit on top of the Kota My Triceratops Dinosaur and take a ride!

Standing at three feet tall, Kota My Triceratops Dinosaur comes to life and interacts with children by responding to a child’s voice and touch. Roars are realistic, his body parts move, and kids have a real blast. Kids marvel at the toy’s ability to move its horns, head, legs, and tail. They can also feed their gigantic new “pet”, and listen to four different songs designed to teach kids about dinosaurs and prehistoric times.

It’s important to help advance your child’s learning in any way possible. If you can mix fun with education, it helps your child learn that much faster. That’s exactly what Kota My Triceratops Dinosaur is designed to do. It’s pricey, but is a great match for many young dinosaur lovers. If you’re going to invest in the toy, make sure you have room for it! Keep in mind that children should be under 60 pounds to ride on Kota, and last but not least, make sure you have 6 D batteries and a screwdriver on hand if you want to avoid disappointment on Christmas morning!

The Hasbro U-Dance Game is a plug-and-play unit for the TV featuring an all-in-one
sensor system that detects motion. Donning special foot tags, as kids dance, their steps appear onscreen–no special mat to dance on, and nothing to hold.

Let your feet do all the talking! Kids learn and practice authentic dance moves as they dance solo or in a “dance-off” with a friend. There is an option to add some fitness to the mix via a “treadmill” game. Such fun, and truly innovative!

The U-Dance is a new addition to EdutainingKids’ Holiday Gift Guides: For Kids Ages 9-up. See all top toy selections for tweeners.

[For more information, user reviews, or to buy: U-Dance at Amazon.com]