2011 Children's Gift Guide

Compiled by Janice Hands

If you’re looking for children’s gift suggestions beyond the lists your kids have provided, you’ve come to the right place. A host of the latest in children’s toys, books, and electronics is described here. Take a few moments to look through everything, and select something totally new and unexpected for the lucky youngsters in your life.

Also, be sure to check out the helpful shopping articles at the end of this guide, including “Ways to Save” for the word on websites that will help save you bucks, and “Smart Holiday Spending,” full of practical shopping advice from Consolidated Credit Counseling Services, Inc.

Suggested ages were not available for all products; when provided, they have been included. Prices listed are manufacturers’ suggested retail prices, provided several months prior to the publication of this guide. Baltimore's Child cannot be responsible for price or availability changes.

Looking Forward to the Holidays

Nothing gets youngsters in the mood for the holidays better than reading the Clement Moore holiday classic “A Visit from St. Nicholas.” Your child will enjoy the story more as he interacts with the musical Little People “Twas the Night Before Christmas” story set from Fisher-Price. Santa and his elf are in the sleigh pulled by eight reindeer and, of course, Rudolf. The storybook is included. Ages 1-up. $25. Catalog exclusive, 800-747-8697, fisher-pricestore.com.

Kids of all ages can enjoy the anticipation of Christmas Day with the Christmas Countdown Calendar from Fisher-Price. This colorful, soft-fabric banner features a musical Christmas tree and 25 soft ornaments to hang on the tree daily from December 1 to the big day. Ages 18 mos.-up. $30. 800-747-8697, fisher-pricestore.com.

For Baby & Toddler

Help your little one learn about friends in the community with Soft & Safe Community Helpers. The set of five includes a police officer, firefighter, letter carrier, doctor, and chef, all made of super-squeezable plastic that’s easy for little hands to grab, hold, and enjoy lots of pretend play. Ages 6 mos.-5 yrs. $29.95. Lakeshore Learning Store, Towson; lakeshorelearning.com.

No dinosaur could be more fun for your tot than Go Baby Go! Poppity-Pop Musical Dino. Six colorful balls pop up or roll down the dino’s tail and out of his mouth. There are eight silly tunes and fun sounds to keep your baby bouncing in delight. Ages 6-36 mos. $27. 800-747-8697, fisher-pricestore.com.

The Roll ‘N Pop Express chugs along on baby-power. This bright train from Playskool plays music and pops out three balls as your tot pushes it along. He’ll have fun scooting after the balls and dropping them back into the engine to start the excitement all over again. Ages 9 mos.-up. $14.99. Toys R Us, Target, hasbrotoyshop.com.

Cuddly Friends

These adorable Patty Cake stacking cups are unlike any you’ve ever seen. The soft plush parts squeak, rattle, crinkle, and stack up to look like a colorful, tasty cupcake. Just right to help little hands develop motor skills. Ages 6 mos.-up. $14.98. Hearth Song Catalog, 800-325-2502, hearthsong.com.

Buckley Panda from BuckleyBoo will cuddle with your toddler and help with his cognitive development as he grows. A series of colorful buckling straps across Buckley’s tummy helps your child learn to match patterns, and buckle and unbuckle. Buckley has a host of similar friends, including a lion, monkey, dog, bunny, bear, and more. Ages 18 mos.-4 yrs. 12-inch bear, $19.99. 17-inch bear, $29.99. www.buckleyboo.com.

Tip-toe by these sleeping friends and they will come alive! Motion-Activated Critters are sure to have your youngster giggling and wiggling right along with them. Choose among the gator, monkey, dog, or cow, all with soft plush bodies and charming little faces. Ages 3-up. $19.98 each. Solutions Catalog, 800-342-9988, www.solutions.com.

You never know what might crawl out of the Plush Animal Tree House. This soft tree stump is home to five snuggly friends, including a monkey, gorilla, tiger, panda, and ring-tailed lemur. Soft cords keep these critters from wandering too far from home. Ages 5-up. $30. Smithsonian Catalog, 800-322-0344, www.smithsoniancatalog.org.

More than just cuddly friends, Comfy Critters provide comfort and warmth as well. These snuggly guys are actually full-size, hooded, fleece blankets, folded into huggable animal friends. Your child can cuddle with them, play with them, and even wear them. Choose from Ulani the Unicorn, Milo the Monkey, Petunia the Pig, Percy the Penguin, Lilly the Ladybug, and Dexter the Dog. All ages. $19.99-$24.99. Target, www.mycomfycritters.com.

Bedtime prayers will be special when your child hugs his Speaking Good-Night Prayer Lamb. This soft, chenille plush lamb plays the familiar “Now I lay me down to sleep…” prayer as his body is squeezed by your little one. He’s the perfect friend to teach your youngster his first prayer and keep him company through the night. All ages. $29. Orvis Catalog. 800-541-3541, www.orvis.com.

As you tuck your little one in, she can tuck her little Slumber Silly in as well. These plush critters come with their own little plush beds, perfect for snuggling ‘til morning. Choose from Monkey, Dog, Cat, or Bunny. All ages. $16.98. Hearth Song Catalog, 800-325-2502, hearthsong.com.

Here’s a new friend that is just perfect for any child, but especially created for children with special needs. Borris the Prince of Whales, by Soft Clothing, is a cute, chew-safe, plush little whale, made of non-toxic materials and constructed with reinforced seaming and a double layer of organic canvas and bonded plush—just right for children with behaviors unique to sensory processing disorder and autism. $25. www.softclothing.net.

Oh, You Beautiful Doll!

Your child can create an enchanted forest with these Woodland Fairy Homes and Fairy Dolls. Three soft-sculpture fairy homes are available—mushroom, acorn, or tree trunk. Each feature charming details including a door that opens and closes, and two colorful fairy dolls, dressed in nature-inspired finery. Extra fairies are available to populate the imaginary forest. Ages 3-up. Fairy Homes $24.98 each. Fairy dolls $10.98 set of 2. Hearth Song Catalog, 800-325-2502, hearthsong.com.

This pair of dolls…uh, mice…couldn’t be cuter. The boy and girl, four-inch Posable Mice with Clothes are made of wood and come with a 26-piece, colorful wardrobe in a sturdy storage box. Your child can mix and match the outfits for endless dress-up doll play. Ages 3-up. $29.98. Magic Cabin Catalog, 888-623-6557, magiccabin.com.

The Stylin’ Strawberry Shortcake Doll is just waiting for a makeover! Your child will have a great time stylin’ and re-stylin’ Strawberry’s locks with the comb, barrettes, hair extensions, and clips included with her new friend. Strawberry is 14 inches tall and smells just as sweet as ever. Also available, Stylin’ Lemon Meringue Doll. Ages 3-up. $19.99. Target, Toys R Us, hasbrotoyshop.com.

All Booked Up!

Here’s an electronic reader for kids. The Me Reader set includes eight 20-page hardcover books and a push-button tablet that holds each book’s narration. Your child needs only to choose a story button, find the storybook he has selected, push the “Read Story” button, and settle in for the reading of one of his favorites. The set comes with either eight Disney Classics or eight Disney Pixar stories. Ages 3-up. $24.95. www.storyreaderbooks.com.

Help your youngster bone up on the wildlife in your backyard with Curious Critters by David FitzSimmons, a unique book of photography. In its pages you will find photos against plain white backgrounds of common animals, such as the bullfrog, goldfish, snake, and screech owl. This type of photography has the effect of making the animals’ colors, textures, shapes, and personalities pop off the page. Each of the 21 featured animals tells its own story in kid-friendly language. Additional natural history information on the animals also is included. Ages 4-8. $19.95. www.curious-critters.com.

Music & Movie Magic

The perfect addition to your child’s bedtime routine, Songs from the Baobob: African Lullabies and Nursery Rhymes is a book and CD set that includes 29 lullabies and soothing rhymes. Mothers and their children sing in 11 languages of the rich cultures on the African continent. The book features colorful illustrations, the full lyrics translated into English, and a map for you and your child to explore. Ages 5-7. $16.95. www.thesecretmountain.com.

If your family hasn’t discovered Shaun the Sheep on cable, you’ll see what you’ve been missing when you purchase Shaun’s Christmas DVD, We Wish Ewe a Merry Christmas. There are seven episodes featuring Shaun’s unique brand of humor that combines slapstick with silent comedy for lots of wooly mayhem. See Shaun and the flock decorate the farmer’s house for Christmas, frolic in a snowball battle, and enjoy lots more wooly fun. All ages. $10.99. amazon.com.

Ignite the Imagination

Your little Wheelies collector will have a great time chatting with Fisher-Price’s Wheelies Zig the Big Rig talking truck. All he needs to do is touch Zig’s bumper, roof, side gate, or wheels to enjoy his different animated expressions. Zig’s eyes, mouth, and brow all move, his headlights flash, and his mouth lights up. Best of all, he has more than 50 different phrases and sounds to share as he rolls along. An added bonus—he stores up to 12 Wheelies vehicles. Ages 18 mos.-5 yrs. $30. 800-747-8697, fisher-pricestore.com.

These unique blocks will have your little builder creating skyscrapers and entire villages in no time. The Little Builder Rattle Blocs 22-piece set contains colorful squares with windows and doors, sets of steps and even roofs, all designed with little hands in mind. Best of all, there is a wooden marble inside each block adding to the fun. Ages 2-up. $35. Toys R Us, www.citiblocs.com.

Your youngster can construct all kinds of colorful structures with Crystal Climbers, see-through plastic pieces in four shapes and colors. The set includes 170 pieces featuring a slotted design that makes them easy to slide together for “climbing” in all directions. Ages 3-7. $19.99. Lakeshore Learning Store, Towson; www.lakeshorelearning.com.

The Discovery Kids Color Me Play House or Play Castle is sure to appeal to your child’s artistic talents as well as her imagination. The house stands 5 feet tall and 3 feet wide with windows, doors, mailbox, and chimney; the castle is 6 feet tall and sports a drawbridge and customizable flag. Both are ready to be colored by your youngster before pretend playtime begins. Ages 3-up. $19.99 each. Bed Bath & Beyond, JC Penney, and Kohl’s.

Month after month your child will await the arrival of the letter carrier with her new Kiwi Crate package. The themed crate includes art projects, science experiments, and materials for all kinds of imaginative play. Just go to the Kiwi Crate website, subscribe, and await a treasure trove of activity for your youngster. Subscriptions are available for 3, 6, or 12 months, and shipping is free. Ages 3-6. $19.95/month. www.kiwicrate.com.

The building is easy with Magnetic Geo Builders. These foam building pieces have magnetic edges, are easy to hold and connect, and come in six shapes and six textures. The set includes 48 pieces and a metal tray for a sturdy building base. Ages 3-6. $24.95. Lakeshore Learning Store, Towson; www.lakeshorelearning.com.

Two items from Animal Planet are sure to make bath time more fun. The Color Me Bath Art Scenes Activity Set includes washable bath soap crayons with two large coloring scenes that cling to tub, tile, or glass. Happily, the scenes are erasable for play another day. The Mold Me Bath Activity Set includes a floating work station, molds to fill with foam soap or colored bath salt to create animal shapes that can be decorated with colorful bath paint pens. The bath water will cool long before your little one is ready to get out of the tub! Ages 3-up. $10 each. Walmart.

A host of unusual critters will be visiting your house as soon as your child reaches into the Lakeshore Creature Builder set. This huge set has enough snap-together pieces, including bodies, legs, tails, and even silly hairdos, to create eight fascinating critters. The set of 70 colorful plastic pieces comes in a handy storage tub. Ages 3-6. $49.95. Lakeshore Learning Store, Towson; www.lakeshorelearning.com.

What could be more fun than a toy spaceman that actually flies?! Check out the Remote Control Flying Spaceman with twin rotors and infrared 2-channel controller. This astronaut knows no bounds, particularly in the great outdoors. Ages 8-up. $24.95. discoverystore.com.

Your young astronaut will have hours of space play with the Lunar Explorer 15-Piece Playset from The Smithsonian. The set includes a space shuttle, 747 transport, lunar module, lunar rover, Apollo rocket, space station, a rock, and three astronauts, all made of die-cast metal and plastic. (Set has small parts, and is not intended for children under age 3.) $34. Smithsonian Catalog, 800-322-0344, www.smithsoniancatalog.org.

Getting Crafty

Your young artist can create colorful pictures without crayons, chalk, or paint, using Rainbow Scratch Paper. At the touch of the special stick, a rainbow of colors appears. The set includes 30 sheets of paper and six wooden scratching sticks. Ages 3-11. $9.99. Lakeshore Learning Store, Towson; www.lakeshorelearning.com.

Discovery Kids Trace N’ Draw makes drawing easy for even your youngest artist. She chooses a disc from any category—including animals, food, transportation, and more—inserts it in the device, and traces a perfect outline for coloring or painting. Ages 3-up. $19.99. JC Penney, Kohl’s.

A truly unique craft idea, Color A Glambrella invites your youngster to decorate a big, bold umbrella with waterproof markers. The pre-printed outlines are striking, featuring high-fashion shoes, shades, bags, and flowers just begging for splashes of color. Your child will be wishing, hoping, and praying for rain! Ages 4-up. $18.95. Metropolitan Museum of Art Catalog, 800-468-7386, store.metmuseum.org.

Your little girl will want to add these Color-My-Heart Pendants to her wardrobe and share them with friends. The kit includes six transparent polyresin hearts ready to decorate with special paints in six colors. Fine-tipped brush, craft stick, permanent marker, and six yards of ribbon are included. Ages 5-up. $14.98. Hearth Song Catalog, 800-325-2502, hearthsong.com.

Now your youngster can preserve happy memories using My Scrapbook Kit. All he needs to bring to the table are the photos. The kit includes a 48-page, spiral-bound scrapbook, 10 sheets of design paper, 28 die-cut frames and accents, more than 350 stickers, and more. All materials are acid-free. Ages 5-11. $19.95. Lakeshore Learning Store, Towson, www.lakeshorelearning.com.

Your young fashionista will be delighted with her gift certificate to FashionPlaytes, an online clothing design studio. Here, she can create her own wardrobe from tops, dresses, and pjs, to accessories and even doll clothes, complete with labels of her own design. Clothing will be fashioned and shipped directly to her. Ages 5-12. Gift certificates start at $20. www.fashionplaytes.com.

All in the Game

The gang from Disney/Pixar’s Cars 2 gets together to create mayhem in Trouble with Mater, the latest version of the Trouble board game. Players pop the pop-o-matic Mater bubble and race around the track. Watch out for your opponent—if he lands on your spot, you’ll be towed back to the garage! Ages 5-up. $14.99. Toys R Us, amazon.com.

It’s a word-building race when your family gets together for Scrabble Alphabet Scoop, a game even early spellers can enjoy. Reach into the “soup” bowl to grab letters that spell the words on your card. Watch out for “flies” in the soup—they will make you return your letters to the bowl and start all over again. Ages 6-up. $19.99. Target, Toys R Us.

The colorful tiles of Qwirkle make this game of strategy easy for even preschoolers to play. In a game similar to dominos, players draw patterned tiles and see how many matches they can arrange by color or pattern, building a kaleidoscope all along the way. Ages 6-up. $24.98. Hearth Song Catalog, 800-325-2502, hearthsong.com.

Your family won’t just be looking in the night sky anymore for the stars, moon, and all things celestial. The Starry Night Find It Game will keep everyone happily occupied, looking for various nighttime objects among the brightly colored pellets contained in the star-shaped, clear plastic container. Keep an eye out for the moon and planets (of course!) and also a sleeping bag, a satellite, an alien, a telescope, and more, as you shake the container to reveal more and more “lost” objects. Turn the lights off and find the hidden treasures that glow in the dark. Ages 8-up. $22. www.finditgames.com.

It’s a game…it’s a puzzle…turns out, it’s both! Scruble Cube is a unique 3D word game that’s billed as “Rubik’s Cube meets Scrabble.” One to four players rotate and twist the rows and columns of the cube to create new words at each turn. Each of the 96 letter pegs is assigned points that players tally up to find a winner. We’re told there are 7,401 septillion possible configurations—mind boggling! Ages 8-up. $24.95. Barnes & Noble, Toys R Us, www.scrublecube.com.

Monopoly moves into the 21st century! Swipe your debit card in the electronic banking unit and start building your real estate empire with Monopoly: Electronic Banking Edition. Played just like the Monopoly you grew up with, this modernized version still warns “Do Not Pass Go, Do Not Collect $200” as you make your way to jail! Ages 8-up. $24.99. Target, Toys R Us.

Fun for the whole family, Trivial Pursuit: Disney for All Edition poses questions related to all your favorite Disney movies. Even your youngest players will be able to pipe up with some of the answers. Ages 8-up. $24.99. Toys R Us, amazon.com.

Your Harry Potter fan will love this version of the classic game Clue—Clue: World of Harry Potter Edition. A fellow Hogwarts student has disappeared, and it’s the players’ job to find out who did it, how, and where. Your youngster will be delighted with the familiar spells and locations from the movies. Ages 9-up. $24.99. Toys R Us, amazon.com.

Learning Fun

The Dinosaur Floor Puzzle will have your youngster mixing and matching heads, tails, and even wings as he assembles and names these prehistoric friends. The puzzle contains 48 jumbo-sized pieces and measures 4 feet long when completed. Pieces are durable cardboard that are easy to wipe clean. Ages 3-up. $19.98. Hearth Song Catalog, 800-325-2502, hearthsong.com.

The whole family will settle in to watch and learn about the creatures featured on the Really Wild Animals four-DVD set from National Geographic. Titles include Swinging Safari, Dinosaurs and Other Creature Features, Totally Tropical Rain Forest, and Deep Sea Dive. Take a look at these animals and their habitats around the world. Ages 4-10. $49.95 set of four DVDs. National Geographic Catalog, 888-225-5647, www.shopng.org.

Worx Toys vehicles are sure to give your youngster hours of imaginative play, but they feature so much more. The Speedster Racecar, Apex Helicopter, and Torch Fire Truck are each interactive vehicle and storybook systems that show curious youngsters how things work with shape-code commands that identify each of the vehicles’ parts with light and sound. Corresponding storybooks featuring kid reporter, Howie Works, explains how everything works. Ages 6-9. $30-$65. Barnes & Noble, www.worxtoys.com.

Your young scientist will have months of fun and discovery with The Magic School Bus Young Science Club subscription. Each month, a hands-on science kit will arrive at your door, filled with activities and experiments on topics such as the human body, weather, fossils, and more. Ms. Frizzle herself will lead your child through each session with colorful manuals and easy-to-understand explanations. There’s even an online clubhouse that kids can visit for more info and details on the experiments. $19.99/month, includes shipping and handling. www.theyoungscientistsclub.com/themagicschoolbus.

Your child will have a great time turning his room into a planetarium with Discovery Kids 3D Star Theater. When he dons the 3D glasses, he’ll take an extraterrestrial journey through the stars, constellations, and planets, all displayed on the ceiling and walls above and around him. Ages 6-up. $39.95. discoverystore.com.

Kids in the Kitchen

For a quick, fun dessert, check out these Make Your Own Ice Cream Mugs. Just place ice cubes and salt in the lower part of the mug, and fresh ingredients in the single-serving size container. Kids will enjoy shake-shake-shaking for just three minutes to prepare a delicious treat. Mugs come in Penguin, St. Bernard, Polar Bear, and Seal shapes. A recipe booklet is included. Ages 4-up. $11.98. Hearth Song Catalog, 800-325-2502, hearthsong.com.

Your kids will create delicious meals and learn about other countries in the bargain when they crack open the One World Kids Cookbook: Easy, Healthy and Affordable Family Meals by Sean Mendez. In its pages, they’ll find a wealth of international recipes with easy-to-follow directions. They’ll learn about the world through food, as each country represented features a recipe, full-color step-by-step photos of children of the region preparing the dish, a map, and fun facts and photos. $20. www.barnesandnoble.com, www.amazon.com.

It’s Electric! Electronics for All Ages

If the youngster in your life is into the TV shows Glee, American Idol, or any of the other singing-competition TV shows, she is sure to be thrilled with the Voice Rockrz Mic. This wireless microphone features “tap” technology. Your young singer just taps one of the included accessories—a stylish ring and bracelet—to the mic’s target zone to activate the voice effects, including “Hi-Note,” “Echo-Tastic,” and “Robot-Riffic” sounds. Drum rolls and applause also are included. Best of all, the mic is MP3-compatible, so your youngster can rock out to the favorites on her MP3 player. Ages 4-up. $24.99. Target, Toys R Us, Walmart, amazon.com.

When he must be awakened by an alarm clock, your child will not mind hearing from this Nature Calls Alarm Clock. These charming, battery-operated clocks feature cute animal faces and the animal’s sound as the wake-up call. Choose from Raccoon, Frog, or Owl. $19.99. National Wildlife Foundation Catalog, 800-756-3752, www.shopnwf.org.

Stocking Stuffers

Even your toddler will have a great time playing with Wooden Jungle Buggies, cute little pull-back cars with wild and wooly drivers. Look out! There are elephants, tigers, hippos, and rhinos at the wheel! Ages 18 mos.-up. $12.98 set of four. Magic Cabin Catalog, 888-623-6557, magiccabin.com.

Now your child’s Sesame Street friends come in a size that’s easy for little hands to handle and tote about with them. The Sesame Street Figure 2-Pack Assortment character pairs include Elmo & Oscar, Bert & Ernie, Cookie Monster & Telly, Abby & Zoey, Big Bird & Snuffy, and Super Grover & Murray. These colorful, chunky versions of the Sesame Street gang are just perfect for the tot set. Ages 18 mos.-up. $5.99 a pair. Toys R Us, hasbrotoyshop.com.

Fingermajigs Push Puppets are sized just right for little hands. These six colorful little wooden friends dance a jig when their bases are pushed. Choose from the Jungle theme, featuring an elephant, monkey, lion, zebra, giraffe, and hippo, or the Pirate theme, featuring six friendly pirates. Ages 3-up. Magic Cabin Catalog, 888-623-6557, magiccabin.com.

Your youngster will have time on his hands with this cool version of the slap band, the Slap Watch. Made of soft, comfortable silicone, the faces and wrist straps can be mixed and matched to create several different looks. The set of two includes two brightly colored analog watches. Choose black and orange or purple and pink. Ages 4-up. $19.98 set of two. Hearth Song Catalog, 800-325-2502, hearthsong.com.

Your child’s feet will be tapping with these cool Light-Up Shoelaces. Each set of two laces has three settings (constant glow, blink, or slow flash) and is available in blue, green, pink, or red. Replaceable batteries that last a whopping 70 hours are included. Ages 6-up. $12.98. Hearth Song Catalog, 800-325-2502, hearthsong.com.

Gifts that Give Back

Your child can have endless hours of imaginary play with Anamalz characters from the present and prehistoric animal kingdoms. These charming creatures are environmentally friendly, made of sustainable maple wood and textile products, and hand-painted with child-friendly paints. Your dinosaur lover will love the prehistoric collection that includes a brontosaurus, stegosaurus, tyrannosaurus rex, triceratops, and more. A portion of all proceeds go to the Anamalz Saving Animals Foundation, which contributes funds to various wildlife and children’s organizations around the world. Ages 3-up. $8.95-$12.95. Boxed sets $24.95-$34.95. www.anamalzna.com.

When you purchase a Hearts for Hearts Girls doll you’ll be helping children around the world. This is a charitable doll collection from Playmates Toys that includes six 14-inch dolls representing real girls from real places all over the world. Choose Consuelo from Mexico City; Lillian from Belarus; Dell from Kentucky’s Appalachian Mountains; Rahel from Ethiopia; Tipi from Laos: or Nahji from India. Each girl has a story to tell about how she is helping to change her community for the better. A storybook and friendship bracelet are included. A portion of your purchase price is donated to children’s causes in that doll’s country. These charming dolls show youngsters how they can make a difference at any age. Ages 6-up. $29.99. www.playmatestoys.com.

Ways to Save

Bargain Hunter’s Websites

You’ll find coupons, great deals, and savings on clothing for the whole family, toys, electronics, sporting goods, and much more, from scores of companies, including Barnes and Noble, The Gap, JC Penney, Nordstrom, Old Navy, Toys R Us, Dick’s Sporting Goods, Kohl’s, Walmart, Bed Bath & Beyond, Babies R Us, amazon.com, and hundreds more. Carve out a half-hour or more, and sit down to browse these comprehensive websites loaded with bargains: CurrentCodes.com, DealCoupon.com, DealHunting.com, and GottaDeal.com. And don’t overlook Facebook, where businesses often offer special deals to members on their pages, and Twitter, where you’ll find coupons from popular retailers.

Save on Toys, Video Games, & More

The online children’s clothing exchange website, thredUP, introduces its books and toys swapping program in which parents can trade boxes of used toys online. Log onto www.thredup.com, browse the box selections under “Toy Boxes,” choose your favorite, pay only $5 plus shipping, and your box of treasures will be delivered right to your door. If you have perfectly good toys that your children have outgrown, visit thredUp to list your box of toys, and you will be notified when another member has selected it. Best of all, thredUp provides the shipping label and schedules pick-up at your home.

Visit Swap.com, list those video games, books, music, and DVDs that are gathering dust on your shelves, and wait for the website to offer a list of all that is available to you FREE in a direct swap with another Swap user. You pay only the cost of shipping, unless you’re lucky enough to find someone nearby your home to trade with in person.

Smart Holiday Spending

Having looked over this vast array of gifts, is your head spinning? Are you wondering where to begin?

The folks at Consolidated Credit Counseling Services, Inc., a nonprofit educational credit counseling and debt management organization, have some practical advice in their Holiday Survival Guide. You can download a free copy of the guide online, at www.ConsolidatedCredit.org/booklets/holidaysurvivalguide.pdf.

Here is just a brief summary, with a few tips, hints, and warnings from CCCS to keep in mind.

• Begin your shopping by making a holiday giving budget, and do your best to stick to it. You may want to ask adult family members to set spending limits on gifts, or to consider drawing names for giving. Let your youngsters know that there is a budget for their gifts, and ask them to prioritize their wish list. You might want to give them gift cards for some of the items on their lists and hit the mall after the holiday for great bargains.

• Before setting out to shop, make a list of those you are buying for, with possible gift purchases, each marked with a dollar limit. Check newspapers, catalogs, and ads to determine where you need to go to buy and which stores have the best prices on the items on your list. Start your shopping early enough so that there is plenty of time to comparison shop.

• Keep track of how much you’ve spent. And, remember, things such as taxes, gift wrap, postage, and shipping all add up. Budget for them as well.

• Consider using cash in lieu of credit. Decide how much you want to spend and bring with you just that amount of money for shopping. Or, use debit cards or your checkbook.

• If you decide to use plastic, use no more than two credit cards—one with a low rate for any purchases that you may need to pay for over a period of time. CCCS recommends that you keep in mind “…you are the best judge of what you can comfortably manage. Just because you have a certain amount of credit available, doesn’t mean you should use all of it between Thanksgiving and New Year’s. REMEMBER: Never borrow more than you can reasonably pay off. Giving gifts should be a gesture, not a sacrifice.”

• If you are shopping online, use credit cards. If you’re scammed, you generally are not responsible for any more than $50. Shop at companies you’re familiar with. And, most importantly, when you enter the shopping cart or the e-commerce area of a site, remember that secure servers show “https” instead of simply “http” at the beginning of their website’s address or URL. Don’t include credit card information or personal information such as social security numbers in an email. (Legitimate shopping websites use special forms.) Stay away from unsolicited email offers as they are often scams.

With a lot of planning and a little common sense, your holiday shopping can be a pleasurable prelude to the delight of the season.