ring the bells, light the candles — the

Your little onescan hop in the carwith Mickey andexplore all aroundtown with Go!Go! SmartWheels MickeyMagicalWonderland.Ride on the Ferriswheel, slide down the ramp, spin the gears anddiscover what surprises are hiding in the peek-a-boo windows. Activate the SmartPointlocations to hear messages fromMickey! Promotes motor skills andimproves hand-eye coordination,balance and dexterity while promotingimaginative play. For ages 1 and up. Available for $49.99.For more information, visit www.vtech.com.

The Creative Café BaristaBar lets kids practice their fancybarista skills! Create endless“lattes” with just milk. Makeyummy chocolate or strawberrydrinks with real foamy froth ontop. Add a dazzling decoration ofcocoa, cinnamon or powderedsugar. No heat makes it safe for

kids. Includes frothing unit,frothing pitcher, 3 stencils, 2shaker bottles, 2 spoons, 4paper cups, 1 strawberry

flavor mix, 1 chocolate flavor mixand 4 recipe cards. For ages 6and up. Available for $29.99. For more information, visitwww.roseart.com/creative-cafe.

Speed throughGotham City to thescene of the crime withthe motorized LEGO®

DC Super HeroesApp-ControlledBatmobile. Simplydownload the app tocontrol the vehicle fromyour smartphone ortablet. Features twomotors powered by aBluetooth-controlledbattery hub, openingcockpit, four-wheel drive and two dual-stud shooters.Batman minifigure also included. For ages 8 and up.Available for $99.99. For more information visitshop.lego.com.

Thrill your young fanswith tickets to see theImagination Movers liveat the Wall StreetTheater in Norwalkon Sunday, January 13at 5 p.m. The Boys inBlue will be playingsongs from their mostrecent release 10-4 aswell as everyone’s oldfavorites. Plus, there willbe plenty of flying toiletpaper, vortex smoke rings and other surprises.The Wall Street Theater is located at 71 Wall Street.

Tickets are $25-$40. Call 203-831-5004 or visitwww.wallstreettheater.com for information.

Ring the bells, light the candles — theholidays are right around the corner.You might think this is time for baking,decorating and being with family, butin reality this is the season of lists! Ofcourse the most famous list of all is the one in Santa’s hands that tells himwho is being naughty and who is beingnice. But if truth be told, you probablyhave an even longer stack of lists readyand waiting — lists of menus, groceriesto buy, decorations to find, things to do, and shopping, lots and lots ofshopping lists. But the best part of list making,

besides the organizational component,is the satisfaction of crossing things off — done and done! While you might have lots of sticky

notes around the house, your kids have

their own lists, and their lists are veryimportant, too. Without being able towander the aisles of Toys R Us this yearto get their input as to what’s hot for2018, you might be left in the dark. Ofcourse there are all of the ads on TVand Amazon is the current go-to, butwhere should you begin? You wanttoys that they will love for more thanjust day one and this Holiday GiftGuide is filled with pages ofsuggestions that are proven winners.There is something for everyone —boys, girls, newborn to teens. No matterwhat your child’s interest you will havesome terrific choices. Check out the gifts from The Toy

Insider. They have Top Tech toys,STEM choices and this year’s hottrends. If you have a Harry Potter fan in

your midst, a programmable wand willbe magical with just the flick of a wrist.Your child’s face will light up when hesees his own Pikachu glow and speak,and future veterinarians can learn whatit takes to care for animals. There arechemistry labs, building toys for allages, drones and even your very ownarcade game. You can even give the giftthat keeps on giving with a giftcertificate for horseback riding lessons,or become a museum member, for all-year-round family fun. Just think of all the things you can

just check off your list. Gift shoppingfor your children has never been soeasy! Now you can sit back, relax andenjoy just being with your familyduring this wonderful holiday season. Happy Holidays.

♥ Connecticut Parent Magazine ♥ December 2018 www.ctparent.com

Encourage kids’ naturalcuriosity about bodies andpromote nurturing-basedimaginative play withbeautifully crafted,anatomically correct BabyBijoux dolls! The deluxeEuropean craftsmanshipdelivers realistic baby detailsand just-like-me skin tones and hair types so kids can easilyconnect and empathize. A light, vanilla scent adds to theadorable appeal, and movable arms and legs make thesebeautiful babies even more realistic! 15-3/4" tall, vinyl dollsare easy to clean and carry, so little ones can take themwherever they go. Celebrate multicultural diversity andencourage kindness and care with Baby Bijoux! For ages 3and up. Available for $64.99 in both boy and girl inAfrican American, Asian, Caucasian and Hispanic. Visitwww.educationalinsights.com for more information.

From aneruptingvolcano to glowworms andslime, theCrayola®

ColorChemistryLab Set letskids canembark on

experiments using core Crayola products and householditems, stretching their imaginations while enhancing STEMskills. Conduct more than 50 colorful experiments designedby real Crayola scientists to teach kids the magic ofscience, math and art through color. For ages 7 and up.Available for $24.99. For more information, visitwww.crayola.com.

Keep digging and getting rewards. Treasure X takes theclassic “you dig” play to the extreme with 10 levels ofdiscovery. Every pack includes a treasure map, X-Markscoin, X-Cavator digging tool, a buildable figure embeddedin stone and a treasure chest. Will your kit have a real gold-plated treasure? For ages 4 and up. Available for $9.99.

Pomsies are loveable,fashionable, interactive,plush pom-pom petsthat you can take orwear anywhere! EachPomsies pet has a soft,cuddly fur face and afurry tail you can wraparound your wrist, inyour hair, on yourbackpack and more.The interactive friends have two modes of play: Virtual Petand Freeze Dance. They’ll let you know when they arehappy, sleepy or hungry with adorable sounds and eyesthat light up in different colors. Wanna dance? YourPomsie will sing for you while you boogie! Up to 50different reactions and sounds. For ages 4 and up.Available for $14.99. Visit www.pomsies.com.

For the budding equestrianin the family, trot on over toThe Guilford RidingSchool to purchase a giftcertificate and make yourchild’s dream come true!The traditional English-styleriding stable has a modernphilosophy — anyone canlearn to ride the qualityschool horses and enjoy allof the activities offered without hidden additional costs.Group lessons for adults, young adults, children and aspecial program for kids age 5-8 are available. Ride inindoor and outdoor arenas. Located at 575 ClapboardHill Road in Guilford. Call 203-453-8768 or visitwww.grsriding.com.

Kids build their owncontenders with theVEX BattlingBoxing Robotsmotorized STEMconstruction kit.Includes one MockRocker Bot withmore than 380snap-togetherpieces. Once built,your boxer is readyfor a match. Uses asmart-tech self-stabilizing feature with a gyroscope andaccelerometer. Control your bot using the free VEX Pilotmobile app that lets you decide when to double jab, leftpunch, right punch and more. For age 8 and up. Singlerobot is available for $89.99; a double-pack is availablefor $149.99. Visit www.hexbug.com for more information.

www.ctparent.com December 2018 ♥ Connecticut Parent Magazine ♥

If your child lovesanimals, theScientific ExplorerVeterinaryScience kit is the perfect gift!What does it take to become aveterinary physician? Simulate x-rays and sonograms with redand blue lenses that reveal theinsides of animals on fourdifferent posters. Practice closingwounds with suture training skin, plasticsurgical tweezers, needle and thread.Create a cat anatomy poster with paperparts, and mold a plaster pup. Discoverhow to make casts for broken bones. Learnthe four common types of ticks, and whichones can cause illness. For ages 6 and up. Available for$19.99. For more information, visit www.alexbrands.com.

Power Action Pikachureacts to motion, lights up,speaks and has soundeffects and a light up tail.Engage with Pikachu bysqueezing his hands to seehis tail or cheeks light upand hear him speak.Innovative sensortechnology gives Pikachuunique interactivity — themore you play with him themore varied and dynamichis responses become. Forages 4 and up. Availablefor $29.99. Visitwww.wickedcooltoys.comfor more information.

From sitting tocrawling to standing,the SafariLearning Stationgrows with yourchild while keepinghim learning andentertained. Giraffe,lion and zebracharacters introducethe ABCs and 123swhile playing catchy safari-themed music. Press the light-uppiano keys to make music, and discover shapes andcolors. The three-in-one arch adjusts from floor play tostanding play and includes three different modes. Spinelephant’s bead spinner for fine-motor fun and twistchameleon’s tail to learn about colors. Drop the ballsthrough monkey’s tail — out the ramp they roll! For ages 6months and up. Available exclusively at Target for $49.99.

What’s more magicalthan a unicornhooded blanket? Aunicorn hoodedblanket that girls cancreate themselves!The Make It Real™Unicorn HoodieBlanket teachescrafters how to knotand sew this cozy

fleece accessory with the kit’s precut materials. Your tweenwill love crafting and then lounging in this beautiful fleeceknotted blanket with a unicorn hood. Who knew learningto sew could be so much fun? Includes precut fleece,metallic thread, sewing needle, polyester filling,instructions and more. For ages 8 and up. Available for$39.99 at www.amazon.com.

The Harry Potter KanoCoding Kit is the first everWizarding World STEMproduct. Kids build thewand themselves andthen learn how tocode with more than70 step-by-stepchallenges inspired byJ.K. Rowling’s magical world.Kids write code that plays withgesture control as the wand responds tomovements. Easy enough for beginnersto understand. Those who know howto code will appreciate the ability tocreate art, music and more with a twist, flick and wave ofthe wand. For ages 6 and up. Available for $99.99. Formore information, visit www.kano.me.

Join hundreds ofothers in the area andstart a family traditionof an enchantingtrolley ride during theholiday season. TheConnecticutTrolley Museum inEast Windsor willtake you on a journey to thrill all ages. Sip cocoa whileexploring the Winter Wonderland at the Visitors Center,take photos with Santa (who will have a gift for eachchild), sing traditional Christmas carols and more.Admission: $15 for adults; $14 for seniors; $10 forchildren ages 4-12; and $3 for children 3 and under.Give the gift of museum membership this year. Visitwww.ct-trolley.org for more information.


Sonic Forces is a fast-paced action platformerfrom the team that broughtyou Sonic Colors andSonic Generations. InSonic Forces, playersspeed through rollingruined landscapes asModern Sonic, catapultpast perilous platforms asClassic Sonic, and usepowerful new gadgets astheir own Custom HeroCharacter. Sonic Forcescan be purchased forNintendo Switch,PlayStation 4, Xbox One and PC for $39.99. For moreinformation, visit www.sonicthehedgehog.com.

Find them scruffy,make them fluffy!Who will you rescue?Each pink or blueScruff-a-Luv comesas a matted ball offur, so each reveal isa mystery. Wash yourmatted friend inwater, towel dry,

fluff with a hair dryer and discoveryour furry friend. Includes collar,brush, name tag, adoption certificateand hair clips. Is she a dog or a cat? Maybe he’s a rabbit! Availablefor $19.99. For ages 4 and up. Visit www.scruff-a-luvs.com for more information.

Kids can battle just likeTony Stark with theMarvel Avengers:Infinity War HeroVision Iron ManAR Experience! Themovie-inspired maskfeatures a newexperience thatcombines role playwith augmented reality(AR) technology.Download the HeroVision app, put on the goggles and players see imagesfrom the Marvel Universe. Includes AR mask, AR goggles,a gauntlet, three AR markers and one Infinity Stone. Forages 8 and up. Available for $49.99. Visitwww.hasbro.com for more information.

Luciana Vega, the 2018 Girl of the Year,is a creative, confident 11-year-old andaspiring astronaut who dreams of beingthe first person to go to Mars. The 18"Luciana American Girl Doll hasmedium skin, warm brown eyes anddark brown hair with a distinctivepurple streak to show off her creativeside. She arrives in a cosmic print dresswith attached vibrant red purse thatshe wears to Space Camp, a shinyholographic choker, special red charmnecklace and a pair of holographic

lace-up boots. Also includes thepaperback book Luciana by Erin Teagan.

For ages 8 and up. Available for $115. Visit www.americangirl.com formore information.

Kids can be incharge of theirownconstructionzone with theTonkaMightyBuildersDeluxeConstruction Tire Case Setfrom Amloid. The rugged tire carrycase doubles as a foundation tobuild using rolling track ramps anda colorful collection of medium-sizedKids@Work bricks. When playtime is over, all the piecesfit back in the case with a handle for easy on-the-goportability. For ages 2 and up. Available for $29.99. Visitwww.amloid.com for more information.

Is your preschooler ready to rock? Rock away with theThink & Learn Rocktopus™. Three ways to play helpkids explore a variety of musical styles while learningabout different instruments, rhythmic patterns and more.Includes 15 musical instruments across five genres ofmusic, for little ones to mix (and remix) their own musicalcreations. For ages 3 and up. Available for $59.99. Visitwww.fisher-price.mattel.com for more information.


Boxy Girls loveshopping online foranything fashion —shoes, clothes,bags, makeup,jewelry and more! Unboxfour packages to uncover12 surprises. Plus the BoxyGirls Fashion Pack, soldseparately, lets theunboxing fun continue!Each package looks just like a real shipping boxand includes delicately wrapped surprises,packing material, stickers and a thank you note.Dolls are 8" tall and come in Riley, Willa, Nomiand Brooklyn styles. For ages 6 and up.Available exclusively at Walmart for $14.99.Visit www.boxygirls.com for more information.

Step into the futurewith Air HogsSupernova. Kidscan control theSupernova with thepower of theirhands! Master morethan 30 moves andnine Super Trickswith a few waves ofyour hand.Equipped with anintelligent on-boardsystem, this dronehas five motionsensitive sensors and an interactive LED light core thatresponds to movements. Available for $39.99. For ages 8and up. For more information, visit www.airhogs.com.

Who will reignsupreme in the ultimatesnack eatingcompetition? Thehilarious ChowCrown turns eatingchallenges into afamily game. To play,load the six hangingforks with food of yourchoice (soldseparately), place thespinning crown onyour head and try toeat as many snacks as you can before the music stops.Plastic forks are detachable and dishwasher safe. For ages8 and up. Available for $19.99. For more information,visit www.hasbro.com.

The newestaddition to CalicoVillage, theCalico CrittersGrandDepartmentStore Gift Setfeatures elegant,sophisticatedstyling and unifieddesign for morefreedom with the layout. Finely sculpted areas andexquisite attention to detail draw children in and enhanceimaginative play. The revolving door and manual lift reallywork! This special gift set includes store building, furniture,accessories and a Stella Hopscotch Rabbit figurine.Available for $129.95. For ages 6 and up. For moreinformation, visit www.calicocritters.com.

Meet Zoey, theadorable plushpuppy inspired bya courageous 4-year-old patientwith acutelymphoblasticleukemia at St.Jude’s Children’sResearch Hospital.This 10"-high,surface washablelovey is just thesnuggle buddy foryour child. Eachpuppy purchased raises money for childhood cancerresearch in the hopes of finding a cure. For ages 1 andup. Available for $18 at https://giftshop.stjude.org.

Conduct more than20 fun experimentsand simplechemical reactionsfor a fun, hands-on, interactivelearning experience with theDiscovery ExtremeChemistry Lab. From fizzingand foaming eruptions toglowing worms and galacticspheres, kids will love theopportunity to experiment and make theirown crazy concoctions. Easy-to-follow instruction bookletoffers children additional insight into the science behindtheir creations. Includes lab with 6 test tubes, glitter paint,pipette, mixing sticks, plastic spoon, baking soda, sodiumalginate, calcium chloride, litmus powder and tartaric acid.For ages 12 and up. Available for $19.99. For moreinformation, visit www.horizongroupusa.com/steam/.


The 3Doodler Start Make YourOwn HEXBUG® Creature 3DPrinting Pen Set lets kids make theirown eccentric-looking insects that behavelike real bugs. Doodle your bug’s body

and legs using the insect-themed molds to create

your very owninsectoid, thenlet it crawl

around toexplore its

environment, conquerobstacles or race your friends’ HEXBUG creations. Part ofthe 3Doodler Start STEM Series, that fosters STEM learningby allowing kids to design and experiment with differentrobotic structures. For ages 6 and up. Available for$59.99. Visit www.the3doodler.com for more information.

Our brave heroes areblasting off on an awesomeadventure to the moon withthe PJ Masks SuperMoon Adventure HQRocket. Features a specialdesign inspired by theshow, as well as excitinglights and sounds. Push abutton to release the rampand watch Gekko launchout on his space rover. Thecockpit can fit up to threePJ Masks figures (soldseparately) for more

imaginative play. Includes Gekko figure with poseablearms and legs, dressed in an exclusive Super Moon SpaceSuit. For ages 3 and up. Available for $39.99.

Sonic ManiaPlus continuesthe thrillingjourney of thecritically-acclaimedplatformer,Sonic Mania.Jump back intothe game withtwo iconic newplayable characters, Mighty the Armadillo and Ray theFlying Squirrel, and a new Encore mode that provides afresh look to familiar zones with new challenges andlayouts. Fans can purchase the all-new physical edition onPlayStation 4, Xbox One and Nintendo Switch atparticipating retailers for $29.99. For more information,visit www.sonicthehedgehog.com.

The K’NEXThrill Rides:Bionic BlastRoller CoasterBuilding Setworks with theK’NEX Ride It!app to bridge thegap betweenphysical anddigital play. Withmore than 800 parts, this set includes made-in-the-USArods and connectors, roller coaster track, coaster car,chain lift, cardboard VR viewer and graphic panels. TheBionic Blast Roller Coaster is fully integrated with theK’NEX Ride It! app that lets kids ride the coaster in VR or2-D. For ages 9 and up. Available for $99.99. For moreinformation, visit www.knex.com.

The award-winningconstruction set you cankick, spin and throw!For the kids who enjoyactive and constructiveplay, the OgoBILDPOD is a kit that willinspire creativebuilding for hours. Withits connective tubes andinterchangeable rubber

balls, POD allows kids to design all sorts of flexible,moveable and innovative structures. From creatinggeometric shapes and 3D objects that can bounce, tobuilding forts to camp out in, kids will expand on theirSTEM skills with POD — and have a blast doing it! Add abed sheet and make a fort. For ages 6 and up (althoughlittle ones over 3 can play, too). Available for $40. Visitwww.ogosport.com for more information.

Noah and her squad ofHairdorables have“Big Hair Don’t Care”attitudes and love toshare their passion withthe world via theirHairdorables channelon YouTube. Eachsurprise doll combinesfun, fashion and lots ofgorgeous, colorful hair.Just pull, peel and reveal11 surprise accessoriesand fashions thatunwrap the uniquepersonality, style and talent ofthe Hairdorables girl hiddeninside. For ages 3 and up. Available for $12.99.Visit www.hairdorables.com for more information.



Little builders can get busywith the Design & DrillMy First Workbenchdesigned just for them.Hammer, nail and drill boltsdirectly into the bench tocreate colorful patterns forhours of unplugged play.Develops find motor skills,practices patterning,encourages creativity,supports STEM by introducing toolsand promotes an interest inengineering. Includes workbenchwith storage drawer, motorizeddrill, child-friendly hammer, 120 colorfulbolts and nails and a guide with 10 patterns. For ages 3and up. Available for $49.99. For more information, visitwww.educationalinsights.com.

Share the love withFingerlings Hugs.These giant softiesare super silly. Swingthem, tickle them,rock them and turnthem upside down formore than 40reactions. Press itsmouth to your cheekand get a kiss — thelonger you hold itthere the longer thesmooch! Record amessage and hearthem repeat it back in

funny ways. For ages 2 and up. Available for $29.99.Visit www.fingerlings.com for more information.

Open a pod ofPlayfoam®

Pals™ and finda surpriseinside! Hiddenin each pod ofPlayfoam, amysterycollectible (andtotally adorable) Pal awaits. Playfoam is EducationalInsights’ best selling squishy squashy molding compoundthat never dries out. Collect all 12 Playfoam Pals in each series to find RARE Pals, and use the Playfoam tosculpt nests, beds, perches, and other play props. Ages 5and up. Available for $3.99 (1-pack), $7.99 (2-pack),$21.99 (6-pack) and $47.99 (12-pack. Available atAmazon.com. Get to know Playfoam Pals:www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pxa7WGL2lRE.

No quarters required!Arcade1Up gamecabinets with 17"screens look, feel andplay just like theclassic arcade games.3:4 scale cabinets letyou play seated orstanding, and haveauthentic arcadecontrols and gameplay, such astrackballs, joysticks,buttons and sounds.Each cabinet playsmultiple games. For

ages 7 and up. Available for $399. For more informationand games available, visit www.arcade1up.com.

The Sky Viper Journey ProScout Video Dronedelivers hobby-gradeperformance with easy-to-fly features. NewSurface Scan technologydramatically increasesdrone stability,allowing it to stay inone spot, even whenusers let go of controls.Works up to 100 feet andradically improves flightexperience by providing superior control. Positionalawareness enables Return to Home with the touch of abutton. Features auto launch and land, one-touch stunts,extended flight time and the ability to stream and recordHD video. For ages 12 and up. Available for $89.99. Visitwww.skyviper.com for more information.

The BeakerCreatures LiquidReactor Super Labcombines the thrill ofcollecting with hands-onscience experiments.Inside each Reactor Podis one of 30 collectiblecharacters. Add waterinto the chamber throughtubes connected to twohydroplungers to createa colorful fizzingreaction, then extract your creature! Includestwo Reactor Pods for creature extraction. Forages 5 and up. Available for $24.99. ExtraReactor Pods sold separately. Visitwww.beakercreatures.com for more information.

ring the bells, light the candles — the

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