(Creativity for Kids $15.99) Our testers thought this was a really great kit with lots of things to make and use. Comes with a see through belt bag with purple trim and stickers for decorating. There are also 3 headbands and 4 hair clips that are ready for embellishment. And picking up on a major fashion trend, there are beads and a clip for making your own bag charm and bracelets. Would make a great birthday or holiday gift for the 6 & up crowd. For a smaller kit, look at

(Mattel $31.99) If you have a Barbie and ballet fan in your house, you'll want to check out this very special Barbie in the Nutcracker. She comes in a fun display box where you can make her tutu spin. Barbie's feet are adjustable so she can go en pointe. Her arms are also posable. Her legs lift but do not bend -- so no pliés possible. The company's video shows an African-American Version but we are not finding it online. Ages: Early School Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Platinum

(Creativity for Kids $24.99 each) Here's a fun and novel activity kit with a big payoff at the end. The set comes with a fully assembled Unicorn (or Dragon) that is see through. The kit comes with stickers, gems and accessories to add to each. Now here's the payoff -- you plug it and now you have a beautiful night light . Each use a USB Cord for power. Adding the accessories calls for fine motor skills -- that may require some adult assitance depending on your child's age. Sc

(Thames & Kosmos $19.99) Here's a fun and challenging word game from Thames & Kosmos. Each player picks their "drink" colored dice (ice coffee, lemonade, grape soda or fruit punch), their plastic tumbler and drinking straw boards (where you build your words). For each round, a player takes a turn rolling the four dice that go into the ice cube tray. The goal is to create words that include the letters in the tray. You get points for matching the letters and for the length of

(SimplyFun $25) Here's a wonderful new math game from SimplyFun that's a great way to work on building confidence -- without feeling like a drill. The game play is easy to learn. You roll the die and then from the cards in your hand, you add cards to reach the "elevator number. The player that completes the number, gets to take all the cards. The player with the most cards at the end -- wins the game. We wish the elevator had dimension -- to feel more like an elevator - but

(eeBoo $23.99) eeBoo newest Giant 36 piece puzzle features images from the farm. Great for knowing and naming. The puzzle is satisfying big - 24.4 inches by 20 inches. Our testers loved the images they recognized like the horse, cow, eggs and were interested in the S for Silo and O for Orchard. eeBoo also makes a more traditional ABC puzzle in this size as well. Last year's dinosaur theme was a hit with our dino lovers! 4 & up. Ages: Preschool Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Platin

(eeBoo $18.99) You'll find a bit of magic being used in many of the rooms of this school setting. For example, the art room has students painting a dragon (happily posing), a science lesson with small planets floating in the air and a dining room with a ocean setting in the ceiling. Lots to talk about as you put this one together. Marked 5 & up but will require adult assistance . A great parent-child project. Also fun for garden-minded kids, Love of Pollinators that features

(eeBoo $18.99) A perfect holiday puzzle to work on together. Our tester loved that it came in a box that looked like a house. The puzzle features a house with Santa, Mrs. Claus, elves, reindeer and tons of presents! The joyful illustration by Kaly Quarles are a treat. While the box has a pointed top (like a roof), the puzzle itself is rectangular (14" x 10"). which makes it easier to put together. Ages: Early School Years Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Platinum Award 2026

(eeBoo $13.99 each) Our toy testers love beautifully crafted puzzles with lovely illustrations. Among our favorites this year, Little Farm - that features a Red Barn that's surrounded by the animals you'd find at the farm -- a perfect opportunity for knowing and naming. Once the puzzle is put together, you can make some of the noises that each of the aninmals make. There's also Petite Pets that features fish, a parrot, a turtle, a guinea pig among others. For the holidays, we

(Simplay3 $109) A water table in summer is the toy to have if you have older toddlers and preschoolers. It will keep them engaged like no other toy. We especially hove this larger water table from Simply3 because it will accommodate several kids. There are two indented areas which are wonderful for toddlers. Our preschoolers enjoyed the two little bridges, the pump and the waterway that goes around the perimeter of the table. The set comes with boats, trucks and buckets -- e