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Best Kids Gift Ideas for Christmas and the Holiday Season!

Gift Ideas for Kids of All Ages

By , About.com Guide

Shopping for kids during Christmas and the holiday season can be a lot of fun, but also a real challenge trying to find a unique toy or gift that will leave a lasting impression. These are my top holiday gift lists that include new toys, girls toys, boys toys, and cheap toys. Within each of these lists are some of the best kids gift ideas for Christmas, Hanukkah, and other gift giving holidays.

1. Best Toys for Kids ages 5-8

©Leap Frog

Kids in the ages between 5-8, who are in their early elementary school years, are usually vocal about the toys they would like for the holiday season, because they seem to be very observant of the commercials on television that promote new, fun and exciting toys. These are some of the popular toys they will be asking for this holiday season.

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2. Best Boys Toys

©Thinkway Toys

Boys love all different kinds of toys. Cars, remote controlled vehicles, construction toys, spy themes, collectible toys, movie inspired toys and technology based toys like tablets, are big hits amongst boys of all ages. This list includes some of the best toys for boys this holiday season.

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3. Best Girls Toys

©Mattel

This list includes new, fun toys for girls such as baby dolls, dollhouses, board games, arts and crafts activities, make your own jewelry kits, and imaginative play toys.

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4. Best Infant Toys

©PriceGrabber / Fisher-Price

What's great about buying gifts for babies is that there are many different choices, because so much happens in the first year of an infant's life. Even better, children in this age group are so young, they don't understand cost, so you can spend as little or as much as you want. This list includes some of the best toys for infants that are within a variety of price ranges. Rattles, soft books, plush toys, cause and effect toys, activity tables, pull toys, and ride-on toys are great for babies as they reach their developmental milestones.

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5. Best Toddler Toys

©Playskool

From the ages of 1 to 3 years, the best toddler toys encourage kids to actively explore the world, develop their language for speaking, begin to use their hands to construct with blocks, and promote pretend play. This list has some great holiday gift ideas for toddlers. Great toddler toys for boys include ride-on toys and some great beginner trucks. For little girls there is an adorable baby doll and a pretend play kitchen. The list includes some exciting educational toys as well.

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6. Best Preschool Toys

©Mattel / PriceGrabber

Toys for preschoolers encourage kids ages 3-5 with developing the ability to talk and communicate in more complex ways, while expanding imaginative play skills to learn to play cooperatively with friends. Some of the best toys for preschoolers include more challenging building sets, simple board games, dolls, and educational toys. These are some of the most popular toys for preschoolers this holiday season.

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7. Best Baby Dolls

Photo © Corolle

Many little girls of all ages love to play with baby dolls. This list of my Top 10 Baby Dolls includes a variety of toy dolls that girls will love. Leading baby doll brands are highlighted such as Cabbage Patch Kids, Corolle Dolls, Disney Princess Dolls, Baby Alive, Little Mommy, Bitty Baby and American Girl Dolls. There are classic baby dolls, collectible dolls and many new dolls with interactive technology to enhance their play value and interactions with your child.

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8. Best Doll Houses

©Mattel

Dollhouses are a classic way for young children to build upon their imagination while playing with siblings and friends. This a top list of the best doll houses. It includes large, wooden dollhouses, collectible dollhouses and dollhouses suited for younger children. These toys are a great investment as they are often passed down from sibling to another, or even from one generation to another.

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9. Best Tween Toys for Kids ages 8-12

©Wowee/Pricegrabber

It can be increasingly difficult to find toys and games for kids ages 8-12. Gift cards, hand held gaming devices, and games for both the Nintendo Wii and Xbox Kinect are very popular with this age group, but here are some suggestions for some cool toys for both boys and girls in the pre-teen age.

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10. Best Tween Toys for Boys

©Hasbro

Boys ages 8-12 can be a challenge to find toys for. Many, when asked for gift ideas, would prefer sports equipment, gift cards to purchase music and apps for their iPod, or XBox Kinect, Wii, or Nintendo DS games for their gaming devices. Deep down in the heart of these young boys, there is still a need for some classic fun and these suggestions won't disappoint them.

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