Like many Americans, we are on a tighter budget this year, so we are looking for great gifts at reasonable prices.  We are thinking long and hard about our choices.  Will they truly be interested in this item, enough to make the price worth paying?  Can we see them using it for more than a few months?  Is it age appropriate?

With these concerns in mind, we have made a top 10 list for Christmas gift ideas for children between the ages of 4 and 8 years old.  Of course, use your own judgement with regards to how your own kids will understand and be able to use these suggestions.

1. Mouse Trap Game is a great gift to help enhance a child’s coordination and thinking skills.  Our boys LOVE this game.
2. Why Don’t Eyelashes Grow Book…I don’t know about your kids, but my kids never stop asking questions.  A large percentage of the time I cannot even answer the questions, so what better way to find the explanations than this great book.  It is both educational and fun!
3. Monopoly Junior is another great board game that teaches more than just FUN!  It’s simplistic design is great for kids just learning to count, add and subtract.  My kids actually learned about money as well. 
4. Marble Mania Genius is really cool and one of our favorite picks for this Christmas.  This is a great way to bring the little architect out of your child. 
5. Ultimate LEGO Building Set is yet another way to encourage strategy; and the whole family can build together.  The designs are endless!
6. ScienceWiz Chemistry Experiments Kit is a winner!  My 5-yr old is constantly begging for his own science kit, so after much research, this kit is the perfect addition to his desire to learn about science.
7. Leapfrog Leapster Learning Game System gets very high ratings in my book.  I know my son would be thrilled with this game, and it is a learning hand-held game system to boot!  The best of both worlds.
8. IlluStory Make Your Own Story has to be one of the coolest things I’ve seen in a long time.  Your child actually writes and illustrates their own story, including the cover and biography, then sends it back to the company to be made into a hardcover book for keepsake.  What a fantastic idea!
9. Melissa & Doug Underwater Floor Puzzle will be a GREAT addition to my 4-yr old son’s collection.  He is obsessed with Melissa & Doug puzzles.  We have collected 6 versions so far.  They range from easy to very difficult and he loves them all…some are educational as well, such as his favorite, The Human Anatomy.
10. Planet Heroes Action Figure Gift Set is sure to please my 4-yr old as well.  He LOVES Planet Heroes and Ace is his favorite.  It’s nice to find action heroes that are not depicted as violent and don’t come with dangerous weapons attached.

I hope you’ve found this to be helpful in your Christmas shopping quest.  For more shopping ideas, visit Amazon.com Toys & Games…they carry almost everything!  Be sure to take advantage of their super saver shipping. 

And, if you haven’t heard of this yet, Amazon.com now offers Frustration Free Shopping!  I am certain that you can related to the hour long struggle trying to get those little metal twisties undone, as if you were trying to get into Fort Knox.  Well, now they offer frustration-free packaging for your convenience!  Great news.

Take care!

raelynn @ Kidz Comfort