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Okay, that was pretty obvious. However, those of you who have left it to the last minute are riding in a spot you may not like. Those toys that you wanted to get for your kids may not be available any longer. Ah but then some of them will be still in stores and online right where you left them. So, what IS available and what is not? Here’s a list of things that are hot items and still available:

1) Elmo Live- new for 2008 season. He acts just like the real guy on Sesame Street. He is available most places though out of stock online in one place.

2) Kid-Tough Waterproof Digital Camera–From Fisher Price. Kid tough. Preschool approved. Available in most places although out of stock in one place online.

3) Webkinz–works with the website. Is not available in two nationally known stores but is available online.

4) Kota The Triceratops–interactive riding toy for preschool. Available in stores and most online stores. Out of stock in one online auction.

5) Ready for School Learning Center–by Fisher Price. Out of stock most stores and some online stores. Very hot item.

6) KidKraft Large Play Kitchen–hot item this year. Out of stock most places.

7) Air Hogs Zero Gravity Micro RC Car–little car that defies gravity. In stock in some places though limited. Hot item.

8 ) Air Hogs Havoc Heli Radio-Controlled Helicopters–small helicopters. In stock in all places.

9) Nerf N’ Strike Vulcan–Hasbro. Even though there was a recall on this item, it still remains strong. Out of stock in many stores. In stock online.

10) Nintendo Wii–out of stock in most locations both in stores and online. If you find this one, grab it!

I do realize that sometimes the money is not available until a certain time. We are all going through that right now. However, if you are diligent and determined, you can find those toys that you are looking for. Just remember to allow for shipping time if you purchase anything online. It does take time during this season for the mail to get through. If you have a choice, by all means use UPS, FexEx or whatever other delivery service is available. But get to that shopping now. You really do not have much time left.

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I wanted to take a moment, step away from the toy hunt for a second, and tell you about something I recently noticed online. Nurses, are you interested in more schooling? Did you want to go higher than you already are but were too bogged down with work or unable to go to the school? Well, I think I can help there. ST. Xavier’s Masters in Nursing program might just fit the bill for you. Now, you must already have a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university in order to take part in this wonderful opportunity. The best part of this is that they are offering this all online. You will have to take a weekend and go to the campus but after that, you can sit in the comfort of your home and get your degree in Master of Science in nursing.

This is a fully accredited university ready and waiting for you to apply so that you can better your education in your chosen field. Professional teaching staff will help assist you in advancing your education. Make no mistake, if you are tired of skipping your advancement due to problems getting to college, this is the deal for you. Too often, nurses cannot get their advanced education because of how busy they are or they cannot leave home. And while there are plenty of nursing jobs, not all work for you. If your employer is now wanting more education for his/her employees, this is your chance to get ahead. This online MS nursing opportunity is surely hard to pass up. Why not take the time right now to go and check out this awesome opportunity to advance your education.

Now, if you are looking for toys for your child, this is the right one. It’s the Chemistry Kit CHEM C1000, perfect for a child of a nurse, don’t you think? This kit has 75 experiments just waiting for your child to get into them. The box has 41 different types of items to work with. I will not name them all here but you can see for yourself at this site, Discover This. Happy toy shopping!

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Have you noticed that interactive pets are quite popular this year. They are so popular that they are out of stock in several locations around the country. If you are interested in any of them, you must think about getting yours very soon. Today, I wanted to focus on D-REX the Interactive Dinosaur. This is considered a very hot toy this year. He moves, he roars, he can be trained and he responds to your child’s voice. This little guy is going to make someone very happy indeed.

The bone shaped controller helps to train D-Rex to be a guard or attack animal. Of course, people do not get hurt with this interactive pet. And though he is scary looking, he is particularly happy with your child. His skin is soft, slightly strange, reptile type. If you scratch his head, he loves it. And he has a sense of humor. That would be most different from most T-rex animals. This crazy little guy will roar, fart, belch, eats, uses his noise sensor to find you, turns his head and blinks his eyes. One of the fun things he does is to guard. The child can put him in charge of kid’s room. He will roar if he detects movement. You get the dino and the controller in the box.

Recommended for ages 8 to 18 years. (These sound like a great deal of fun. Wouldn’t mind having one myself) Requires 5 C batteries and 2 AAA batteries.

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We are heading into the times when toys and games, game consoles and other goodies will be out of stock in the stores and online. I took a good look at my toy list and found that most of the hottest toys are already out of stock in many places. That does not bode well if you intend to wait until next month or if you are one of those last minute shoppers. Last minute shoppers often lose out on the best deals and the greatest toys because they put this all off until one too many minutes have past them by. Folks, this is like trying to find a hotel in las vegas when the convention is in town. You can’t do it! Isn’t it about time to wake up and smell the coffee? Do the research, get online, take a look what is out there and go for it now while there are some options available.

I have told you about some really awesome toys and games, consoles and others. For instance, the Wii console is out of stock in several locations. That was to be expected. The Wii Fit is also out of stock. Some of the toddler riding toys are gone because they are a hot item this year. Elmo Live is still available. If the names Fisher Price or Playskool are on the toy, they are getting depleted quickly. Fisher-Price Ready for School Learning Center is almost gone for now. U Command Wall-E and Hasbro Nerf N’ Strike Vulcan are both out of stock in most places right now. If the toy is interactive with the child, it is likely to be very popular and out of stock.

The Christmas buying season has begun. It’s getting earlier and earlier every year. I remember a time when no one set up Christmas decorations until two or three weeks before Christmas. Then it went to right after Thanksgiving, then right before. It has gone back to before the October day that I do not celebrate and soon it will be backed up to September. So, toys are getting sold quickly now. If you think that the last minute will work now, it is likely to be a madhouse and worse this year. Take a deep breath, make out your list and check the listings in the paper and online…and then GRAB IT because if it’s a hot toy, you will not see it in a couple of weeks. Happy Shopping.

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Twas the night before Christmas and all through the…….Perhaps, I should start with the fact that this is a story. I think it’s just fine to write a story on a toy blog, don’t you? A change of pace is called for today. So, in the spirit of good will and loads of Christmas shopping, this is the story of Daddy and the Robot with a narration by Becca.

Daddy was determined to build Rusty’s robot before morning though he was hitting what he called one snag after another. I don’t know what a snag is but it’s really, really bad. For one thing, there were over a thousand pieces in the box, some he had never seen before and he didn’t know what they did neither. When Daddy decides something, he means it so he’s going to finish by daybreak, a time when my brother and sisters always woke up and ran to the tree. Daddy set about assembling the robot for Rusty. Mommy told him that he bit off more than he could chew, whatever that means. I’m Rebecca but you can call me Becca like everyone else does. And I am 6 years old. Rusty is 10 years old and he wanted a robot ever since he saw it at the toy store.

Rusty was going to be really disappointed if he didn’t get his robot. Mommy and Daddy don’t mind giving us what we want sometimes. But Rusty has talked about the robot for lots of time, ever since I can remember, I think. That’s what Mommy says about me too. “She has been a good girl ever since I can remember. Of course I only remember about an hour back!” Then she laughs really hard. I don’t know what that means.

When Daddy opened the box, there were about a million pieces that poured out. Oh, I’m not supposed to zadurate. There was a thousand though. Boy, that looks really hard. It’s a good thing Rusty is over at Carl’s house tonight to play but gets to come back in a little while. I figured this is going to be boring so I decided to play with my dolls for a while and make up stories about them. They really have a lot of fun too. Oh oh, Daddy just screamed something about ball lock pins and children’s toys, whatever those pin things are. Sounds like he needs them though because it’s stuff in the box. Maybe I should go upstairs. Daddy screams a lot when he makes stuff.

The next day—Hey, I want to see too! Rusty! Stop it! Stop pushing me. I guess Rusty likes being a big brother because he can push me so much. But he’s really good at school. He helps me with bullies. Oh oh, Daddy got the robot fixed for Rusty! That’s beautiful. Hey, Rusty stop it! Daddy, make Rusty stop getting the robot to chase me. I want to see my presents too! Daddy!

And Becca grew up to be a wonderful wife and mother. Rusty, her brother, still has the robot and it still chases people. He makes it chase Becca’s children now. Isn’t life wonderful.

For information on buying robots with slightly less parts than in the story, please click on Discover This, Educational Science Kits and Toys.

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From time to time, I see the notice on children’s toys that have been recalled. This is the list from the government site at this time:

1) My Little Train Classics by JA-RU recalled due to choking hazard
2) CORAL Swim ‘N Score Pool Stix by Modell’s Sporting Goods recalled due to impalement risk
3) Cobra Electronics recalls children’s two way radios with rechargeable batteries due to chemical burn hazard (sold exclusively at ToyRUs)

All of these items are on the government list for recall. For more information, please visit the U.S. Production Consumer Safety Commission page. You can also receive more information by going to Recalls.gov.

A few tips to make sure your gift giving time is happy:

Pay attention to the package directions concerning batteries and chargers. Some chargers don’t stop and can overcharge.
Toys that are more appropriate for older children should be kept away from the younger children due to hazards.
Get rid of the plastic wrappings that go around most toys. They can be play things for younger kids.

Above all, safety first. Actually, that should not have to be said but some people simply don’t think of it at times like that. Most of the time, the fun and happiness are there. But there are those occasions when something dreadful happens because some person let their guard down. Don’t let it happen to your family!!!

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A six time award winning toy, this musical table from LeapFrog is perfect for your youngster who is just learning his or her way around. You can start a child with this toy just after they learn to sit up on their own. It teaches them about hand/eye coordination, motor skills, learn about colors, counting, up and down, shapes, exercise their memory skills, problem solving and so much more. 15 different musical activities that are in English and Spanish help your child to learn music appreciation.

The brightly colored, plastic molded table has legs that are removable so that your child can sit to play. It does accommodate a child who wishes to stand to play as well. Sparkling lights and 40+ songs help to entertain and teach your child as they play. While some toys will grow old to kids, this one grows with the child in the activities available through levels. Fun individual musical sounds bring joy to the face of a child.

Recommended for ages 6 months to 3 years. Requires some assembly and 3 AA batteries which are not included.

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Something that I have a passion for is teaching children to be more than the school systems offer them, get them started earlier than most school systems choose to do and, in general, give them a shot at doing more for themselves. Our school system has the policy of “dumbing down America” and I want that to stop. It can but it will take one step at a time. It will take the individual parents saying NO to that by teaching them at home to supplement what is taught in school. Learning toys help to accomplish that, in my opinion.

V Motion Active Learning System from V Tech offers more than just a game. Not only does the child get exercise, they can learn many things that will help in school. Spelling, math, reading, science, spelling, solving puzzles, hand/eye coordination and much more are portrayed in such a way that the child is learning and having fun at the same time. Using the wireless controller, they can choose the option they like: using the joystick or use the motion of the controller itself that will control the characters on the screen. Imagine going down a bobsled course on screen and directing that race by just tilting or moving the controller.

This console system won the National Parenting Center’s Seal of Approval and the Creative Child Seal of Excellence award. With the games included, teaching numbers, letters, and shapes for younger crowd and older children can work on skills like counting, vocabulary, and matching, it’s no wonder they won the award. Their favorites from the big screen and little one; Dora the Explorer, Spiderman, Kung Fu Panda, and Scooby Doo help teach them through the Smartridge system. With puzzles, races and sing-a-longs, children are able to see things differently and learn from it. Six different types of games are there for your child to start with right away. This console is capable of playing two at once. The second controller is sold separately and also requires 4 AA batteries. There is one downside. It has no capability to be plugged in. Totally battery powered.

Recommended for ages 3-7 years. Included in the box are: console with Action Mania software, 1 controller, 4 AA batteries, 3 AAA batteries, Smartridge, V-link, wrist strap and user’s manual.

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Sometimes we take our computers for granted. I know I do. So knowing a little about them helps me to decide whether they make a good present or not. It also helps me to decide whether I need a new one or not. I needed to learn about respecting the machine I had in my hand. I suspect it would work that way with the kids too. They only know games, school lessons and their friends in chat rooms or email, whatever way they communicate now. What they do not know is how they started.

Computers actually started out in 1936 which is amazing to me, the Z1 Computer. From there, it grew and grew so fast that it was amazing that by 1951, computers could reliably predict the outcome of elections. Just in time for Eisenhower to win the election and take office in 1952. President Eisenhower for those of you who have no idea. The original internet came along in about 1969 and, no, Al Gore did not have anything to do with that despite rumors to the contrary.

The IBM home computer showed up in 1981 but I suspect they were totally unaffordable to those of us who might have wanted one. Those were for the rich guys. Also in the 80s, my husband was going to school to learn more about computers. They had these enormous computers with tape drives the size of a washing machine. The hard drive was the size of an apartment freezer.
I don’t believe we really understand where the machines we currently use came from or we would respect them a good deal more. Some of that, I had no idea about. I look at my laptop and think how grateful I am that I do have it since it looked like I was never going to have one a little earlier this year.

And now, we come to the area of the post where I say this to you. If you plan to buy a PC computer, a laptop or anything related to it, do your homework. If you plan to buy it for a child, really do your homework. Some computers are simply not good for young children, some are better than others for older ones. If your teenager is headed off to college next year or at the beginning of the year, they will have different needs than a young child learning their first things on one.

For instance, it would be much better for a college bound person to have a laptop. There are loads of them out there. My personal favorite is an Acer but people have very good experiences with most of the others as well. But since there are so many differences, it is imperative that you get an idea of what the person needs and work within those parameters. It would not be a great idea for a small child have free reign on a laptop. Better to start out with some good learning tools like the LeapFrog learning toys. Those are very close to computers and have a lot going for them. Other learning games and tools are out there. Just look for them depending on the needs of the individual. After all, this is not like going to the store, finding a toy or game and bringing it home. These machines are much more personal than that. Many things are stored on it including many personal items. It is hard to share a computer because of that.

So, do the research on your computer purchases. If you have no clue much like me when it comes to things like this, ask someone who does know, check online for specs and have it all explained to you in a way you understand. Sometimes that is not easy but go to your local computer sales and bug them, ask everything you need. They are there to help you pick out the computer you need or want. And the reason I can’t just sit here and name a few computers that are hot or reliable is because I can only go by what my experience is. There are many out there that I have no idea. Yet, there are reviews on all sorts of computers, PCs and laptops. I ran into several when I was shopping for one myself. The information is there.

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Unless you are the parents of the baby, people have no clue what to buy for that new or growing baby. So, they run out and get whatever looks good right then, right there. If you are cautious about this, you want to buy items that are not going to hurt your child. Trust this. Others do not think of this. At the top of this page, I have put up a warning concerning toys made in China. People who do not have babies will not read the labels so there will be toys like that given as gifts. So here are a few tips for buying for baby:

1) If you aren’t the parents, ask. Make sure you know what they want for their new baby. There is no sense in buying something they will return the next day just so you can claim that you cared. If you do, you will ask what they need or want.

2) If you are the parents, for goodness sake, tell your friends and family what you need. Don’t just assume they know. They don’t. Unless the one person buying for your baby is a mother who has raised a dozen, they do not know or remember. Also, times and toys have changed so much that it is possible that they might think they know something they don’t. Just talk and exchange information. It isl well worth it. Maybe you could put up a wish list online either on a blog, your website or on shopping sites like Amazon. These can be made public.

3) Learn how to buy for baby. These little ones change so quickly that a toy that worked last month no longer does because they learned that one and are focused on something else. Some babies progress faster than others. You need to know where the child is in his or her development in order to buy for them.

4) Do not buy something today for their age now and give it for Christmas. It simply does not work that way. At the time of this writing, it is early November. A baby will have grown for six weeks at Christmas time. That is huge in terms of child growth in babies. Buy for the suitable age at the time. Again, if you are not the parents, check with them. They know their child.

5) Find good learning toys for little babies and toddlers. During the first year of life, they are learning to sit up, use their hands, taste things, learning to stand and move around. Using shapes and learning what they are is great. Toys that have music are very popular with this crowd. But do not assume they are genius and buy a football or Barbie. Not quite yet.

6) It is much better to buy a toy that the baby will grown into instead of buying something they just passed by. Little ones get bored if the thing is too easy or too hard.

7) Little babies like things that move. They can be fascinated with that for hours. And if it has music, all the better.

8 ) Don’t buy the most expensive toy just to impress your spouse or the kid. They don’t impress that easily. In fact, during the first year, they will likely want to play with the box or the wrapping instead of that totally too expensive toy. Oh, and that expensive toy will be outgrown before you pay the bills on it.

Honestly, this list is really quite basic but people tend to forget that babies are people too. They grow, they become self aware and they outgrow things so fast that it is likely not worth the time to even hunt for the expensive stuff. Save that for the terrible twos. By then, you will get the idea that they can destroy almost anything. No one wants to buy expensive toys for kids that will do that either. Although, sometimes adding a bit of money to the pot on that will get you a better toy that will last a good deal longer. Triple T requires that or broken toys will be the only thing you have in your house. Just use some common sense and get the best toys for the price, age and attitude of the child. That works every time.

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