2009 Holiday Gift Guide: PRESCHOOLERS

PlayDoh Burger Builder ($14.99)- PlayDoh is a classic staple of childhood but is even more fun if you can make pretend burgers, fries, and chips with the Burger Builder. The Burger Builder comes with 5 containers of PlayDoh in all the colors you need to build burgers and create fries. Stamp out burgers, pickles, onions, tomatoes, buns, and lettuce while pressing out fries and cranking out chips. The chip maker is Captain Computer’s favorite part of the entire Burger Builder and elicits tons of laughter each time he uses it! Ages 3+ **Win your very own PlayDoh Burger Builder courtesy of Hasbro. I received a PlayDoh Burger Builder for review purposes.

Scholastic Storybook Treasures: Treasury of 50 Storybook Classics: Animal Antics and More ($49.95)- 50 award-winning and classic children’s stories are faithfully adapted and brought to life for this 7-DVD boxed set, priced for holiday gift giving! And from the beloved stories Harry the Dirty Dog and Make Way for Ducklings, to newer family favorites Click, Clack, Moo: Cows That Type and I Stink!, kids and parents alike are sure to enjoy these storybook treasures, featuring celebrity narration by Meryl Streep, Sarah Jessica Parker, John Lithgow, and others. Run time is 8 hours, 2 minutes. Ages 4+ **Win a copy of Scholastic Storybook Treasures: Treasury of 50 Storybook Classics: Animal Antics and More courtesy of Scholastic Storybook Treasures. I received a copy of this DVD set for review purposes.

Zippity Learning System ($79.99)- This high energy learning system by LeapFrog is specially designed to get preschoolers up and moving while they learn with their favorite Disney characters. Dance, jump, stomp, swing, march, and play to learn preschool curriculum through full body play on the interactive bopper and mat. Zippity comes with 8 built in games with characters from MickeyMouse Clubhouse, My Friends Tigger & Pook, Little Einsteins, and Mandy Manny that come to life on your television screen for hours of interactive fun. Additional Zippity games retail for $24.99/each. Ages 3-5. **Win your very own Zippity Learning System courtesy of LeapFrog. I received a Zippity for review purposes.

Tag Learn to Read Phonics Series ($19.99)- It is no secret that I absolutely love LeapFrog’s Tag. If you are a Tag owner or if it is on your holiday shopping list, consider adding the new Learn to Read Phonics Book Series to the list too. The series helps children deconstruct words so they can sound them out. There are currently 2 six book sets for sale- Short Vowels and Long Vowels, Silent E and Y– which are designed to introduce long and short vowels, phonics skills, word recognition, and reading basics. The Learn to Read Phonics Book Series is a nice addition to a beginning reader’s Tag library because it provides a way for kids to develop decoding skills. When used in conjunction with existing Tag stories that provide more experience with reading words, beginning readers can learn to use a variety of different strategies to learn to read. Ages 4-7. Click here for my full review on the LeapFrog Community site. I received a Tag Reader and both sets of the Tag Learn to Read Phonics Series for review purposes.

Tonka Chuck & Friends Chuck My Talking Truck ($34.99)- Usually being bossed around by his big sister, Captain Computer finally has something that he can order around! Chuck My Talking Truck is a voice activated vehicle featuring sound recognition technology meaning that it rolls to you when called! It is fully interactive and Captain Computer loves loading it up and dumping as much as he enjoys hearing it talk to him. Ages 3+. I received a Chuck the Talking Truck for review purposes.

Clothes from Polarn O. Pyret– Winter is here and there is no better way to keep your kids warm and snuggly than with Polarn O. Pyret’s clothes. This Swedish clothing manufacturer made their U.S. debut earlier this year and their American fans are thrilled to be able to order their high quality clothes directly from their online store. Look for P.O.P.’s signature stripes, thoughtful details on their outerwear that is designed to withstand Sweden’s cold snowy months, and quality construction which allows the clothing to be passed down from child to child. Preschoolers need warm clothes that aren’t bulky for all their active play. I suggest a Windfleece Jacket ($59.50) for outside play and then some Classic Stripe Leggings for inside wear that also feature adjustable waistbands ($35). Use the code VIP23 for 25% off all full priced items at Polarn O. Pyret. I received a selection of clothing samples from Polarn O. Pyret for review and won a Windfleece Jacket via their Facebook contest.

Tickle Me Plant ($5.95)- Budding botanists can enjoy growing their own Tickle Me Plant indoors during the cold winter months. TickleMe kits contain everything you need to grow your own plant- pot, soil pellet, and seeds. Plant the seeds and after about 3 days, the first leaves will appear. Three weeks later, TickleMe leaves will appear and will close when touched. The TickleMe Plant is really a Mimosa plant but is a fun way to engage kids in the science of living things without having to wait too long to experience growth. **Win your own TickleMe Plant. I received a TickleMe Plant Party Favor for review. It is still alive and growing quickly but we aren’t quite to the 3 week mark to see any TickleMe leaves yet.

Learn & Groove Preschool Medley Microphone ($14.99)- This bilingual learning microphone allows toddlers to sing and learn four different songs about animals, counting, manners, etc. while the dual language mode helps children develop their vocabulary in English and Spanish. Connects to the LeapFrog Learning path for additional insight into your child’s learning and play. Ages 2-5

Kota & Pals Stompers Dinosaurs ($24.99)- As Dinosaur Train fans, Captain Computer is loving all things dino these days. I know he will be thrilled to find a Kota & Pals Triceratops under the tree this year because of the way the triceratops stomps, throws its head back, and makes life-like sounds as it moves. Ages 2-4 I received a Kota & Pals Stompers Triceratops for review purposes.

Personalized Storybooks from MJM ($15.95)- Preschoolers on the verge of reading will love having a personalized book that includes their name. Personal books are a great way to increase your young child’s interest in reading. Preview the four different story titles: If I Were Big, A Day at the Park, What Animal Are You?, Ruler of Space. Enter the code techsavvymama when you click on View Shopping Cart to receive free shipping.

Clifford the Champion ($15.99) by Norman Bridwell- The ever popular Clifford enters a contest to become America’s Super Dog, but learns good sportsmanship is the best prize of all in this fabulous new hardback featuring everyone’s favorite big red dog. Ages 0-5. **Scholastic is offering one very lucky Tech Savvy Mama reader a selection of books customized according to their child’s age! I received a set of Scholastic titles for review.

My Little Polar Bear ($16.99) by Claudia Rueda- You aren’t supposed to judge a book by its cover but the glittery pages creates an instant attraction to this graceful winter tale that speaks to the powerful bond between parent and child. Beginning with a child’s growing independence, their first steps, the first school experience, and even to leaving home this is a wonderful story for kids and parents to enjoy together while cuddling up on the couch on a winter day. Ages 0-5. **Scholastic is offering one very lucky Tech Savvy Mama reader a selection of books customized according to their child’s age! I received a set of Scholastic titles for review.

Where the Wild Things Are: Special Collector’s Edition…and other Maurice Sendak Stories DVD ($14.95) by Maurice Sendak- Well before the fantastical movie, there was the original! Join Max, Pierre and Mickey as they travel with their wildest imaginations in this collection of classic award-winning stories by Maurice Sendak, including the classic, Where the Wild Things Are. Ages 2-6. **Win a copy of Where the Wild Things Are: Special Collector’s Edition…and other Maurice Sendak Stories courtesy of Scholastic Storybook Treasures. I received a copy of this DVD for review purposes.

Curious George: A Very Monkey Christmas ($19.98) Premiering on PBS on Wednesday, November 25, this holiday special finds George and The Man with the Yellow Hat having a very merry time counting down the days until Christmas. There’s only one puzzle: neither of them can figure out what to give the other for a present. The Man is having trouble reading George’s wish list and George doesn’t have a clue about what to get for The Man who has everything. Maybe you can help! 58 minutes **Win a copy of Curious George: A Very Monkey Christmas courtesy of PBSKids. I received a copy of this DVD for review purposes.

The Night Before Christmas DVD ($19.95)- I’m a sucker for classic holiday tales and this value-priced 2-disc set features 12 colorfully animated tales that celebrate the winter holiday season, with stories about Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa and other family celebrations. Stories include The Night Before Christmas narrated by Anthony Edwards, In the Month of Kislev, Seven Candles for Kwansaa, Too Many Tamales, The Little Drummer Boy, Rosemary Wells’ classics Max’ Christmas and Morris’ Disappearing Bag. The second DVD, The Twelve Days of Christmas… and More Holiday Stories features a sing along of the Twelve Days, Great Joy, The Clown of God, Merry Christmas Space Case, and Sam and the Lucky Money (a personal favorite about Chinese New Year). Total run time is 2 hours, 4 minutes. Ages 3+ Coming out November 24. **Win a copy of The Night Before Christmas courtesy of Scholastic Video Collection. I received a copy of this DVD for review purposes.

Hippopotamus Money Box from The Pajama Squid ($48)- At some point, every child needs a place keep their money and why not start them out saving by feeding this super cute hippo the spare change that they find at the bottom of your purse and in your pockets. Ages 3+ Pajama Squid is a favorite of Cool Mom Picks! Take 10% OFF your entire online order until 12/31/09 with code: CMP10

Creat-It Flower Jewelry Kit from The Pajama Squid ($6.99)- While winter has the tendency to keep us indoors, your little girl can be productive rather than stir crazy with a little help from an adult and this great craft kit that contains 12 precut felt flowers that can be threaded together to make a headband, necklace, barrettes, pins, or anything else she can think of to add to her dress up accessories. Ages 3-8 Take 10% OFF your entire online order until 12/31/09 with code: CMP10

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Thanks for entering and good luck! Feel free to browse my other gift guides for other holiday suggestions for toddlers, elementary ages, teens & tweens, adults, teachers, CDs & DVDs, and iPhone apps.