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.

Nintendo pioneered hand-held entertainment in the 1980’s with the Game Boy video game system. There have been very successful incarnations (or iterations) over the years, and now Nintendo is releasing the Nintendo DSi handheld system. Priced at a manufacturers’ suggested retail price of $169.99, this new handheld features a sleek and slim design, the largest screen Nintendo handhelds have seen yet, a set of two cameras (external and internal, pointed at the user), an interactive voice recorder, and music player. Both the new sights and sounds features can be manipulated–photos can be taken using interactive lenses, and music or voice can be altered. The system will be released in black and matte blue versions.

Similar to the Nintendo Wii’s Wiiware, the DSi platform will allow downloadable games and applications using Nintendo DSi Points. Of course, there will be the usual retail games designed specially for the system.

Is it backwards compatible? In other words, will kids be able to play their current Nintendo DS games on the new DSi? The answer is “for the most part”. It will be able to play most DS games, according to Nintendo.

The system will be launched along with the game, Rhythm Heaven, a unique musical game that has been quite popular in Japan since its release.

For more information and/or to preorder: Nintendo DSi

The Caring Corners Mrs. GoodBee Interactive Dollhouse is a real little gem. It reminds kids that refrigerator doors should be closed, teeth have to be brushed, and so forth. Ringing the doorbell brings this clever fold-out dollhouse to life. There are 12 rooms in the Caring Corners dollhouse–six on each side–each with interesting details that inspire a young girl’s imagination.

Parents will love the fact that the dollhouse is big enough for more than one child to play with, yet it also folds up neatly for easier storage and clean up. The dollhouse comes with an access code that kids can use to unlock a “good deeds garden” online–an activity that offers further playful lessons about responsibility.

The toy requires batteries, and most families will want to purchase some of the additional accessory sets for it, so factor that into the total cost of the playset. Also, small parts make the dollhouse appropriate for children over 3.

For more information, user reviews, or to buy: Caring Corners – Mrs. Goodbee Interactive Dollhouse

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]

The list of most wanted, wished for, and hottest toy ideas is categorized into children’s age groups and interests. This year’s list is a little more Web 2.0 with its video component and sliders–great fun!

You can see the top toys for Christmas (and other holidays of the winter season) here: Amazon’s Holiday Toy List 2008.

Hyperdash is selected as the number one holiday toy for 2008, 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.

More toys that appear on both Amazon’s list and our Edutaining Kids Holiday Gift Guides include Fisher-Price Smart Cycle, EyeClops Night Vision Infrared Stealth Goggles,LeapFrog Learn & Groove Musical Table, and more.

GelaSkins are artist-designed skins designed to protect and spiff up laptops, iPhones, iPods, PSPs, Nintendo DS Lite, select cell phones, and Touch. They truly are delightful to look at, and extremely functional at the same time. They peel off and stick on, so that you can reuse them; and, if you have more than one GelaSkin, you can change the look of your device whenever you’re in the mood.

The designs are a must-see–truly creative and inspiring. GelaSkins Inc. has recently added a line of gorgeous wallpapers for the iPhone, Touch, and PSP that you can use on the screens of these devices, downloadable for free at the GelaSkins website. There is a selection of GelaScreens designed to match each GelaSkin.

GelaSkins include a wide variety of styles and artwork. While some are straightforward (such as Golfer), most are alternative. Teens are sure to find something they like. In fact, they’re sure to find many skins they love! You’ll have to take a look at the GelaSkins gallery in order to get an idea of the sheer quantity and impressive quality of skins available. Skins can be purchased offline, but the best selection can be found at the GelaSkins site.

Because we’re talking art–and a lot of it–it’s probably best to let your teens decide which ones they like best, so if you’re planning on giving GelaSkins as a gift, your best bet is to buy a gift card, also available at the site.

Kids are rookie chefs in a fun and engaging new game for the Wii, Order Up!. Rookie chefs need to start at the bottom, and in Order Up!, they begin their cooking adventure at a greasy spoon, Burger Face. As kids progress, their goal is to eventually become world-class chefs.

What’s special about this game is that it not only allows kids to work with ingredients and recipes, it is also a restaurant management game. Children prepare and present food, and the focus is not only on mixing the right ingredients, but also adding the special finishing touches that make a meal a masterpiece. New recipes and equipment are unlocked along the way.

In comparison to Cooking Mama for the Wii, Order Up is richer in gameplay, offering definite goals and a management angle that older kids will enjoy more. Its controls are a little trickier, however.

This game is missing a multi-player mode, which would have boosted our ratings of the game considerably.

For more information, user reviews, or to buy: Order Up!

The FlyTech DragonFly by WowWee is sure to delight kids ages 7 and up. It’s a radio-controlled flying “robot” that flaps its wings quite realistically. Kids use a remote to control the robotic insect, and it’s really quite a wonder to see–the Dragonfly is actually very dainty as it glides smoothly in the air and lands with finesse as well. Although kids can fly the insect outside, the weather has to be just right for it–forget about doing it on a windy day. It’s better to play with the Dragonfly indoors. The charge doesn’t last long–approximately 5 to 8 minutes total–which actually keeps kids from overdosing on the toy and anxious for it to charge again.

Here’s a video of the toy in action:

Kids can easily see when the dragonfly is running out of steam, simply by checking its status through the LED-lit eyes.

There is also a butterfly version of the toy, the Wow Wee Butterfly Indoor Outdoor Flyer: Pink, which is likely to appeal to girls as well. This one is also quite dainty, quiet, and fun to watch in action.

See our Edutaining Kids review of the toys here: Edutaining Kids Gift Guides for Kids Ages 5-8.

Elmo

Elmo Live – Available November 1, 2008, Pre-Order Now.

Elmo Live is a plush toy of Elmo, who, from his sitting
position, crosses his legs, bobbles his head from side to side,
tells jokes as his mouth flaps right on cue, sings songs, and even
plays games. Kids activate this extraordinarily true-to-life plushie
by squeezing his hands, nose, or feet.

Elmo Live is, of course, expected to be at least as popular as
its predecessors (such as Elmo TMX and Tickle Me Elmo). This one is
the most advanced interactive Elmo we have seen yet.

Here’s Elmo Live in action:

Elmo Live can be pre-ordered now (and will be
released on November 1, 2008). Many families are getting a jump on
this in case there is a shortage later:

Preorder at Amazon: Fisher-Price Elmo Live

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