The holidays can be such an expensive time of year with all the gift giving and entertaining.  Every year I come up with a list of gifts for children that won’t deplete hip pocket national bank.  Here is the list for 2009.  Some new items and some good ole classics.

The 2009 Top 10 Children’s Christmas Gifts Under $15

Color Me Gem – Little girls can color their own gems and create their own designs. Go Paint Mini Canvas – The penlike brushes work only on this special paper so there is no mess!  Your child can paint anywhere. Webkinz – Each animal comes with a secret code that gives your child access to Webkinz online world where they can care for this virtual pet. Personalized <a onClick=”javascript:pageTracker._trackPageview(‘/outgoing/article_exit_link’);” href=”http://www.originalsantamail.com” target=”_new”>Santa Mail</a> – I ordered a personalized letter from Santa Claus for my daughter and she didn’t set it down for days. $10 Classic board games like Monopoly, Candy Land and Clue are always a hit and range from $10-$15 Baby Einstein Count and Compose Piano – This is an award winning toy and runs just under $15. Where the Wild Things Are – The book or the movie would run you under $15 and what a great lesson for children about families and imagination.  The DVD should be out in time for Christmas. Play-doh is one of my all time favorite gifts for kids.  Adults seem to enjoy it so it’s a great way to have some quality time with your children. Hexbug -  A clairvoyant crustacean stops or changes direction when it senses something is in its path or hears a noise. Hotwheels – Another classic that any boy would love to own.  The variety of styles is endless.

Remember…some of the best gifts you can buy a child only cost a few dollars.  Maybe this is a good year to help our kids understand that Christmas is about friendship, sharing and time spent with the ones we love.  Happy Holidays to you and yours!

• New with Unactivated TAG
• great kid’s gift
• Stuffed Animal with code for Website Games & Activities..VERY SAFE
• perfect gift for kids, teens, tweens, and adults…collect them all
• Large size webkin

Product Description
This is a Webkinz Dalmation Adopt a Pet Plush Toy. This Webkinz Dalmation Adopt a Pet Plush Toy is a loveable plush pet that comes with a unique secret code revealed after purchase that lets you enter the Webkinz World and play with a virtual version of your pet. Watch as your plush toy virtually comes to life by adopting it, naming it and creating a home for it to play in. After you attend the adoption center, you will receive information about your pet such as its… More >>

Dalmation Webkinz Dog Dalmatian Virtual Plush Pet

• Webkinz Reindeer Special Edition Virtual Pet
• The virtual version of the plush animal comes alive online in Webkinz World when activated with the special code that comes with the plush animal

Product Description
Webkinz features the exciting online experience where your plush pet comes to life! It all begins when you bring your Webkinz plush toy home, and you pick the name and determine whether it’s a boy or a girl. After adoption, you are shown your pet’s room, and can use your 2,000 in KinzCash to decorate, buy furniture, clothes and food from the W Shop. Your pet relies on you to take care of it by monitoring the Happy, Health and Hunger meters. Webkinz received the 2006… More >>

WEBKINZ – Reindeer

When I was younger I remember there were a couple of toys that were extremely popular. People used to rush and buy the latest edition of the toy. One of these toys was a beanie baby. Maybe the beanie baby is still a popular toy. However, I remember when it first debuted and people collected them by the dozen. Then, they would anxiously wait for the next beanie baby to be released. The other toy I remember having some fascination with was pogs. Do you remember pogs? It was a toy you used to play games with during recess with your friends. If you ran out of pogs, you had to go buy more. For a while, it seemed like everyone was buying pogs. Today, all you seem to hear about it Webkinz.

What are they? And, why are they so popular? A Webkinz animal is somewhat like a beanie baby. However, when you buy it, you receive a code that gives you access to a virtual world. In this virtual world, your Webkinz pet comes alive. A kid can adopt the pet, name it, give it a place to live, etc.

Additionally, they can play games with their friends in this virtual world and win prizes. It is no wonder that this plush little animal has created such a fad.

Related posts:

1. New Webkinz Animals Mean More Great Options
2. Webkinz Beagle
3. Parents, You Aren’t Excluded From The Webkinz World