Gender Neutral Gifts

Winters Tale-Nintendo DS

Based on the bestselling book from the New York Times Bestselling Authors of Owen & Mzee. This game will tell the real life story of Winter the dolphin through a variety of ways.   Included in this game is  an interactive adaptation of the book, story telling, discover fun fish facts, and coloring mode.  This is a game for dolphin and animal lovers of all ages.  I just happen to be one of those people!

Purchase: At Amazon and Best Buy, Rated E

Gotta Catch Santa Claus DVD

A CGI animated film starring William Shatner as the voice of Santa. Trevor is a true believer in the holiday spirit, so his skeptical best friend, Veronica, challenges him to show the world actual proof that Santa is real! Trevor and his friends embark on the adventure of a lifetime to catch Santa in action and reveal the true magic of Christmas.  In this movie they have also introduced a new villian, LeFreeze.  And the kids have to find Santa before LeFreeze does and puts a stop to Christmas.  A cute new Christmas movie, with new fun songs, its sure to be hit with families this season.

Purchase: At Amazon, or other DVD retailers.

Bananagrams

Bananagrams was named Toy Fair’s 2009 Game of the Year.  Similar to Scrabble, players arrange tiles in intersecting words but with no board or points.  Everyone plays simultaneously and the first person to use all their tiles wins.   Bananagrams comes in a small banana shaped pouched filled with plastic tiles.   This is the perfect game for word game lovers everywhere.  Its a great gift for under $20 for anyone in your life ages 7 and up.

Purchase: At Target and most specialty toy shops.

YooHoo and Friends

Aurora’s best selling plush category YooHoo & Friends come in 30 styles and have a corresponding interactive website that’s free and needs no activation codes. On the site you can play games, adopt and raise YooHoo & Friends and learn about each endangered animal.   It makes learning fun while teaching kids about endangered species and their natural habitats.  Some of the plushes even have sound in them and when you press their tummy’s they make cute little noises.  They also come in different sizes as well.  The YooHoo & Friends are aimed at children ages 5 to 12.

Purchase: At Aurora online.  Prices range from $6.99 to $14.00

Audiovox EarBudeez

EarBudeez are super-affordable and compatible with virtually every media device including Apple’s iPod and iPhone.  They come in a variety of fun colors and packaging perfect for any tween’s listening style.  And perfect for the holidays they created a limited-edition package shaped to look like Santa and his elves.  For slightly older listeners,  HeadShox earbuds offers a contoured design and changeable ear tips.  The packaging for those are shaped like a tube and sort of mimic energy drinks.  These would make great stocking stuffers.

Purchase: At Toys R Us

Play-Doh Burger Builder

2009 Family Fun Toy of the Year Award Winner. Get your appetites ready because  with this play-doh set kids can mold pretend burger patties, lettuce, onions, pickles, and more.  But the fun doesn’t stop there.  They can also press out fries, and then use the twist-a-chip tool to crank out pretend potato chips.  Kids will have fun creating all types of burgers and serving them to friends and family.  This is a great gender neutral gift for kids who love to play with play-doh and is for ages 3 & up.

Purchase: At most major toy retailers.

Funky Kidz Music- Gifts for Boys & Girls

This 12 track musical compilation is meant to bridge the gap between adults and children, providing listeners of all ages with fun-filled, singable, and danceable tunes. This album features New Orleans’ finest musicians singing their own funky rendition of kids favorites such as “Yellow Submarine,” “You’ve Got a Friend in Me,” and “This Land is Your Land.” Trust me, the versions of these songs are so catchy, its hard not to sing along. This album was voted 2009 Album of the Year by Creative Child Magazine and you can listen to samples of each song on the album at Funky Kidz Music and hear for yourself why.

Purchase: Get this great gift for $13.99 online and a portion of the proceeds go to fostering music education for children in New Orleans and nationwide.

Fairy Tale Wishes Spray- Gifts for Boys & Girls

A line of 4 sprays designed to help your child overcome some common anxieties such as monsters, sleeplessness, separation issues, etc.  Each 4oz bottle comes with a personalized letter from Freddy the Frog explaining why and how each particular spray works.  The sprays are made of a natural aromatherapy, and each with their own scent.  Why this makes a great gift:  It helps empower your child to overcome their fears…and of course, no more sleepless nights.  You can read my full review here.

Purchase: Online at Fairy Tale Wishes for $10.00 each.