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Friday, July 03, 2009
Imagination is quickly being replaced in this digital age. These Christmas toys for girls try to have the best of all worlds: creative, imaginative and hi-tech.
Here's our Top Ten list of Christmas Toys for Girls for 2007.
Webkinz
For parents that may have been living in a cave this past year, Webkinz are huge. Just about every news source, from the New York Daily News to ABC News and MSNBC, has written articles about them.
Webkinz are cute and cuddly stuffed animals by Ganz, and they are similar to thousands of other cute and cuddly stuffed toys. The difference between these other stuffed toys and Webkinz, though, is the secret code attached to each pet that allows the new pet owner access to "Webkinz World," Ganz's website where owners "adopt" a virtual version of the pet for virtual play and interaction.
Kids play games and answer trivia questions to earn "Kinzcash," the currency to purchase clothing and food to keep their virtual pet healthy and happy. The toys retail for around $13 and are appropriate for all ages.
Hannah Montana Singing Doll
It's hard to be a parent to a Hannah Montana fan right now. Concert tickets to her alter-ego, Miley Cyrus, have been selling out in as little as five minutes at some venues, and ticket scalpers have been re-selling the tickets for exorbitant prices.
While nothing can quite replace the excitement of attending Hannah's concert live, your little girl will still love the Hannah Montana singing doll. The doll, dressed just like the pop star, comes with a backstage pass for your daughter to wear while grooming the doll with the included brush.
The toy also comes with a poster and a microphone. The microphone is most important since, when positioned to the doll's mouth, causes the doll to sing either "Best of Both Worlds" or "The Other Side of Me," depending upon the version purchased.
At only $18, it's a heck of a lot cheaper than tickets to a show -- and your 6-12 year old wouldn't be able to comb the real Hannah's hair!
Fisher-Price Musical Tea Set
Tea for two anyone? This adorable musical tea set comes complete with four cups, saucers and spoons, creamer, sugar bowl with lid, plus everything fits on tray for serving. The teapot plays "I'm A Little Teapot" plus magic pouring sounds. Perfect for your little princess and her doll-friends, this will keep your 2 to 5 year old daughter playing house for hours. Plus, at only $20, it's a steal!
Barbie Girls
For your tweeners who think Webkinz are for babies, there's Barbie Girls. "B Stylin, B In Tune, B Connected, with Barbie Girls!"
Barbie Girls are MP3 devices that connect to a computer to create a "virtual" Barbie world where your daughter can design her own online room, complete with special fashions, furniture, pets, accessories and "Club Beauty."
It's a fashion doll and 512 MB MP3 player all in one.
The doll comes with two hairstyles, two faces, two tops, two skirts and a pair of shoes (as any parent of a tweenage girl knows, accessories are key!), along with adjustable earbuds and a belt clip to take the doll everywhere.
Retailing for around $50, the manufacturer recommended age range is 6-10 years.
Fisher-Price Digital Arts and Crafts
The next toy will keep your budding artist creatively entertained for a long time. The Fisher-Price Digital Arts and Crafts Studio plugs into your PC's USB port, accessing a creative world filled with 85 art-filled projects, like coloring pages, connect the dots, greeting cards and more.
When your child is finished designing, she has the option to print her creation out. There are password protectors that allow parents to put controls on how many pages kids can print out and block access to your hard drive.
Reasonably priced at $45, it is recommended for ages 4-9.
Mattel Pixel Chix Roomies
This toy's technology is similar to Tamagotchi pets in that it's an interactive "chix" that needs to be cared for, talked to and played with to be kept happy.
A 2D LCD screen built into something that represents a house, this set contains Sporty and Pixel as the Roomies your daughter controls using the flip screen and controller to win the race to the penthouse suite.
Of course, you can purchase additional Roomies and Pixel Chix products, since the expansion sets seem to be the name of the game. It will keep your 8-11 year old entertained for around $45.
Digi Makeover
I'm not sure at what age girls are supposed to become interested in hair and makeup, but it was Hello Kitty makeup and hair glitter that helped me potty train my three year old daughter.
This toy will satisfy your daughter's interest without having lipstick and eye shadow smeared from one end of your bathroom to the other.
It's the Radica Digi Makeover and frankly, I think I'd like it too. The toy allows your daughter to digitally dress their image (taken with the included camera) with over 50 hairstyles and colors along with makeup and accessories.
It retails for around $48 and is appropriate for ages 8 to 127 (yes, 127) according to the manufacturer. ;-)
Amazing Allysen Doll
Amazing Allysen is not a doll - she's an "Interactive Playmate." The $80 price tag is the first clue there's a difference.
While Allysen has long beautiful hair to be styled like your average doll, she can also recognize voices, as well as ask your daughter questions (and remember the answers!)
Her face can show happiness, sadness and other emotions. She can chat on her cell phone, play games like Truth or Dare with your daughter, and even remind your little girl when it's snack time. Appropriate for ages 5-9.
Playskool Rose Petal Cottage
For little girls who love to play house, this soft and adorable Rose Petal Cottage will give her a house of her very own to decorate and live in.
And at only 42 by 37 by 18 inches (HxWxD) when closed, it won't take up too much space in the playroom.
With the cottage comes the Rose Petal stove, but you can purchase additional items separately (a crib, a sink, washer/dryer, a pretty pink chair) for your daughter to complete her decor.
The cottage retails for around $80 and is appropriate for ages 3 and up.
FurReal Friends
Most little girls love horses. As a parent to an almost five-year-old girl, I dread the day that my daughter starts begging for a pony.
Now, with FurReal Friends, that prospect isn't quite so scary. Hasbro offers not one, but two animatronic ponies to fit the bill.
The horses, Butterscotch and Smores, interact in a realistic way by moving their heads, swishing their tails, blinking and responding to voice and touch.
According to their manufacturer, they love to be groomed and fed, and each comes with their own brush and carrot. And since they can support up to 80 lbs and are recommended for ages 4 through 11, this can satisfy your little girl's dream for quite a while.
And while expensive at around $250, it is still considerably cheaper than the real deal.
For parents interested in a slightly less expensive pet, there are also puppy, piglet, kitten and lamb versions available for around $20.
A lot of Santa's elves seem to have gotten computer engineering degrees over the warm summer months! Start shopping now to get these fun Christmas toys for your little girl.
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