LEGO Quatro Bucket

Review: These are fun and versatile blocks that are 4x the size of regular legos yet easy enough for a 12 month-old to handle. My physics major loved Legos and played with them for years. These blocks stick together easily and come apart with no fuss. The top of the storage chest doubles as a base plate. There are orange, purple and green blocks, great for stimulating brain waves. Forget the pastel ones.

Amazon Price: (as of 11/21/2008)

Big Wheels - 16 inch The Original

Boy or girl, every kids should have a Big Wheel. Period. If your child is 3 or over, this should be a staple for playtime. They can use it indoors or out (although if they use it outdoors, get another one for indoors) and it encourages the use of large muscles and gives them plenty of exercise. If you have more than one child in the 3-10 age group, each one should have his/her own! My kids were still using theirs when they were 12 and 13! Assembly on these toys is somewhat time-consuming so put it together before Christmas morning and save yourself the stress.

Amazon Price: $74.99 (as of 11/21/2008)

Discovery Exclusive Ready Set Learn! Paz's Musical Band Set

Parent Review: They didn't have this exact set when my musician was younger but he always loved anything that made noise. Parents these days don't seem to let their kids make enough noise but you have to allow self-expression if they're going to develop to their full potential. So, here's the review: My 15-month-old daughter received this band set today in the mail for a late Christmas present. What a great gift! It was fun and entertaining! My husband and I had just as much fun with it as my daughter did! All the instruments seem to be very durable and able to survive even the roughest of the little musicians out there! I believe this will be a toy that my daughter will keep interest in and enjoy for a long time to come!

Amazon Price: (as of 11/21/2008)

LeapFrog 100 Hoops Basketball Counting Game

Great for hand-eye coordination when you can get it away from Dad!

Amazon Price: $21.00 (as of 11/21/2008)

Fisher-Price Rock-A-Stack

So simple but wonderful for baby to learn about sizes and colors.

Amazon Price: $6.99 (as of 11/21/2008)

LEGO Fun With Building Tub

More great brain-building fun from Lego. This set is bigger than the Quatro for pre-schoolers but not so small that they are frustrating.

Amazon Price: (as of 11/21/2008)

Melissa and Doug Band in a Box

Studies show that there is a direct correlation between exposure to music and mathematical ability. All 3 of my boys took piano lessons, my physics major for 2 years. Expose those kids to music! See how they sing!!

Amazon Price: $17.86 (as of 11/21/2008)

Farm Puppets

All three of my boys loved helping out in the puppet ministry at our church. When they were old enough, they got to "talk" to the pre-schoolers, who were enthralled! This set of puppets is good for younger children and since the mouths move, their interest is held much longer. My theater star still has his big blue puppet named Fuzzy Grumper.

Amazon Price: $49.29 (as of 11/21/2008)

Alex Floor Standing Wooden Puppet Theater - 59" X 25" X 15"

Adds to the fun of putting on a puppet show. A great way for older kids to entertain the younger ones, too!

Amazon Price: $48.70 (as of 11/21/2008)

LeapFrog® Leapster® Learning Game System - Green

Kids love LeapFrog products because they're like mini-computers that can go from the playroom to the car to the doctor's office and keep little minds churning. This is just an example of all the great LeapFrog toys. Check 'em out!

Amazon Price: $49.97 (as of 11/21/2008)

Caucasian Family Puppet Set

Continuing with the puppet theme, these people-y puppets help kids imagine, plot, dialogue, and solve problems. The moveable mouths make for a more realistic puppet show. There are also Asian and African puppet sets. Mix and match for a more realistic community!

Amazon Price: $30.95 (as of 11/21/2008)

No Stress Chess

Chess is one of the best games to enhance math skills. Chess players make consistently higher scores on standardized tests. This game looks like a great starter set.

Amazon Price: $13.67 (as of 11/21/2008)

Zillions Deluxe ATM Machine

If you haven't started teaching your kids about money, now is the time. This ATM bank gives them a real-life lesson about the power of deposit and withdrawal.

Amazon Price: $38.99 (as of 11/21/2008)

Casio SA75 Keyboard with Headset Microphone

"If I could teach the world to sing.." everyone would be smarter! This keyboard is a fun cross between a real piano and a handheld electronic game! Fun sounds, easy to learn, music builds brain cells.

Amazon Price: Too low to display (as of 11/21/2008)

ThinkFun Gordian¿s Knot

Knots, puzzles, and brain teasers exercising the visual-spatial area of the brain and teach kids to concentrate, persist, and recognize cause-and-effect. That is, if they can get this colorful toy away from their parents!

Amazon Price: $9.99 (as of 11/21/2008)

Hasbro Electronic Catch Phrase Game - Second Edition

Great for 2 or more - Describe what pops up on the readout to get your team to guess the word before the timer runs out.

Amazon Price: $22.99 (as of 11/21/2008)

Taboo

Fast-paced game to get your team to guess the word without using any of the most commonly used words to describe it. For example, your word is "mountain" but you're not allowed to say "high", "hill", "tall", "Kilimenjaro", or "Pikes Peak". What do you do? You can say "The Alps are made of these" or "We hiked to the top of one of these last week". It really makes you think outside the box!

Amazon Price: $25.99 (as of 11/21/2008)

CHH Imports 16 Inch Walnut Folding Case Chess Set

Again with the chess? Yup. This is an excellent game to develop critical thinking and strategy skills. I really can't think of a better "toy" for teenagers, especially the travel set so they can engage their friends during lunch or after school.

Amazon Price: $49.95 (as of 11/21/2008)

DDR Multi-Platform Super Sensors Energy Non-Slip Dance Pad with free PC game DDR Konami (PS, PS2, Xbox, PC, Mac)

True, it's a video game - but with a great benefit! This one gets the kids (and you!) off the couch and moving your groove thing. It's fun and healthy! Gets the blood flowing to those brain cells. Please don't try to get by using a cheaper pad, they will wear out and be useless in a matter of weeks. Invest in one that has at least the 1" pad. This one is good for any of the game consoles (PS, PS2, Xbox, PC, Mac).

Amazon Price: (as of 11/21/2008)

Bocce Ball Game Set

Great outdoor game for the whole family ages 4 - 104! Easy to learn, easy to play, no athletic skills required.

Amazon Price: $29.99 (as of 11/21/2008)

Toes, Ears, & Nose! A Lift-the-Flap Book

by: Marion Dane Bauer, Karen Katz

Ages 0 - 4: My kids squealed every time they found something under a flap in a book. Wonderfully interactive.

Amazon Price: $6.99 (as of 11/21/2008)

Your Favorite Seuss: A Baker's Dozen by the One and Only Dr. Seuss

by: Dr. Seuss

Ages 3 - 10: The rhythm and cadence of Dr. Seuss is so delightful. These books by Suess are great for beginning readers.

Amazon Price: $23.07 (as of 11/21/2008)

Wayside School Boxed Set: Wayside School Gets a Little Stranger, Wayside School is Falling Down, Sideway Stories from Wayside School

by: Louis Sachar

Ages 5 - 12: Wayside school is just a bit wacky! Fun for kids to read about strange teachers and even stranger ways of teaching!

Amazon Price: $12.22 (as of 11/21/2008)

Redwall (Redwall, Book 1)

by: Brian Jacques

Ages 8 - 16: Redwall is the first in a long series of tales of Martin the Warrior and other mice, rats, and numerous sorts of rodents and mammals who have thrilling adventures. Brian Jaques has held the attention of all three of my boys for many years.

Amazon Price: $7.99 (as of 11/21/2008)

The Chronicles of Narnia (Box Set)

by: C. S. Lewis

Ages 8 & Up: This classic series of Good vs. Evil will enchant children and adults alike. A bit more difficult to read because of the English used, but great for brain-stretching. Read out loud to the family on a stormy evening and everyone will be watching the weather channel for the next rainy night!

Amazon Price: $94.08 (as of 11/21/2008)