Holiday Gift Guide 2009: Kid 'N' Play
Over-stimulate the little (and big) ones in your life with these gifts, chosen by Delta Sky Magazine editors.
—Liz Doyle, Amanda Hoffstrom, Jason Oliver Nixon and Mackenzie Waddick
New Blu-ray releases
Grab your favorite blanket and a cup of hot chocolate, and cuddle up to watch a few of the best movies coming out just in time for the holidays.
New Blu-ray releases:
Up (Blu-ray + DVD + Digital Copy), $45.99. Pixar’s most recent animated whirlwind comedy about an elderly balloon salesman who goes on the adventure of his life when he ties thousands of balloons to his house and floats away—with a little boy who unknowingly tags along for the ride.
Gone with the Wind, 70th Anniversary Ultimate Collector's Edition (Blu-ray), $84.99. The epic love story of Scarlett and Rhett set around the fall of the Old South turns 70 this year. To celebrate, the film is available for the first time in High Definition Blu-ray. Winner of 10 Academy Awards, the Hollywood epic is paired with eight hours of extra content.
Julie & Julia (Blu-ray), $39.95. Hollywood heavyweights Meryl Streep and Amy Adams star in a dramedy that intertwines the tale of Julia Child’s early cooking career and blogger Julie Powell’s quest to cook all 524 recipes in Child’s first cookbook, Mastering the Art of French Cooking.
LOST: The Complete Fifth Season (Blu-ray), $79.99 (Available December 8). Before the final season of Lost starts in early 2010, catch up on the time-shifting fifth season. Follow the Oceanic 6’s mysterious journey back to the island, and learn the fate of those they originally left behind.
The Hangover (Blu-ray + Digital Copy), $35.99. (Available December 15). What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas . . . that is if you can remember what went down? Bradley Cooper, Ed Helms and Zach Galifianakis star as three groomsmen who lose the groom after a bachelor party in Las Vegas. Chaos and comedy ensue as they retrace their steps to find him.
(500) Days of Summer (Blu-ray + Digital Copy), $39.99. (Available December 22). In one of the most charming “romcoms” of the year, Joseph Gordon-Levitt stars as the hopeless romantic and Zooey Deschanel as his commitment-phobe paramour in a tale that weaves its way back and forth through out their tumultuous 500-day relationship.
Photo courtesy of © Disney. All Rights Reserved.
Rink-In-A-Box by NiceRink
Let your little Gordie Howe own the rink . . . literally. Rink-In-A-Box comes complete with patented brackets (for setup on uneven ground) and a liner to create a 20-by-40-foot backyard rink, allowing you to host a neighborhood hockey tournament at your own home. Wooden sideboards are not included. A word of warning: Make sure temperatures will remain below 32 degrees Fahrenheit for an extended period of time, unless you want the rink to turn into a backyard pond.
Rink-In-A-Box by NiceRink, $335.
Photo courtesy of NiceRink
Get Outdoors With L.L.Bean
Get out and enjoy the beauty of winter with the whole family. Whether racing down the local sledding hill on the Slope Slider or trekking across freshly fallen snow with Trailblazer Snowshoes, L.L. Bean has all the outdoor gear you and your snow bunnies will ever need. Hot Chocolate not included.
Slope Slider by L.L.Bean, $19.95.
Trailblazer Step-In Snowshoe Package by L.L.Bean, $229.
Photos Courtesy of L.L.Bean
The Beatles Trivial Pursuit by USAopoly
You claim to be the ultimate Beatles fan? Prove it by challenging your friends to trivia about the Fab Four with questions such as, “What was the initial name of John's Lennon's first band?” Flaunt your knowledge about the history, music, movies, album releases, rise to fame in America and the post-Beatles pursuits of our favorite Mop Tops.
The Beatles Trivial Pursuit by USAopoly, $39.95.
Photo Courtesy of USAopoly
Monopoly City by Hasbro
The classic game gets a twist as players compete to build the best 3-D city. Develop skyscrapers, stadiums and parks on your quest to become the next Donald Trump. Real estate tycoons beware: Opponents can block your rise to the top by building obstacles—by doing such things as placing a stinky sewage plant next to your property, thus lowering the value of your land.
Monopoly City by Hasbro, 34.99.
Photo courtesy of Hasbro
DJ Hero by Activision
“Last night a DJ saved my life.” Spin, mix and sample from more than 100 songs from artists such as JAY-Z, Bowie, Gwen Stefani and Grandmaster Flash. The game (from the makers of Guitar Hero) features a turntable controller to master DJ techniques such as blending, cross fading and beat matching. Available for Xbox 360, PS3, Wii and PS2.
DJ Hero by Activision, $119.99.
Photo courtesy of Activision
PSPgo by Sony
Weighing a mere 5.6 ounces with a screen spanning just 3.8 inches long, it’s the lightest, smallest and sleekest portable digital entertainment system yet. The PSPgo is disc-free and 43-percent smaller than the original PSP, holding a 16GB hard drive and built-in Bluetooth. Without a flinch, it can download any game, movie, song or photo.
PSPgo by Sony, $249.99
Photo courtesy of Sony
iCarly Digital Camcorder by Memorex
Inspired by the hit TV series iCarly, this digital camcorder has everything your ‘tween needs to capture her most unforgettable moments and be the star of her own show! The iCarly Digital Camcorder captures 100 minutes of memories and features digital editing software. Plus, the digital diary software lets her document her thoughts, dreams and ‘tween angst on her own digital diary pages. She can even enhance her diary pages by adding in photos, video and music.
iCarly Digital Camcorder by Memorex, $79.99
Photo courtesy of Toys"R"Us
Meet Rebecca Doll & Book by American Girl
Let Rebecca Rubin warm your hearts and homes this holiday as she shares her uplifting story! As the latest historical character from the celebrated American Girl Company, Meet Rebecca gives young readers a peek in to the lives of a Russian-Jewish family living in 1914 New York City. Inspiring us all, Rebecca demonstrates enduring heart and character as she remains true to herself while going after her dreams in the big city.
Meet Rebecca Doll & Book by American Girl, $95
Photo courtesy of American Girl
Eco Town by PlanToys
By facilitating clean-energy play, Eco Town encourages your child to pave the way for a more environmentally-friendly future. Made from non-toxic, natural materials, the sustainable Eco Town consists of eco street accessories, an eco home, train station, charging station and play mat. Citizens of Eco Town realize the importance of protecting the environment, and your child will, too, as he or she learns ways to use green energy such as trading in the “monster truck” and commuting around town in their electric vehicle instead.
Eco Town by PlanToys, $150
Photo courtesy of PlanToys
Wii Sports Resort by Nintendo
Want an action-packed island getaway without all the prep and at a fraction of the price? Escape to Wii Sports Resort, a virtual island resort where you can engage in a dozen fun activities from canoeing and cycling to archery and golf. The included ultra-sensitive motion accessory recognizes your every twist and turn. So grab your buddies and hit the water for some wild wakeboarding—without getting wet!
Wii Sports Resort by Nintendo, $49.99
Photo courtesy of Nintendo
Road Hog Tricycle by Airflow Collectibles
That’s right: He’s bad. Well, at least he will look it riding up on this road hog—a road hog tricycle that is. He will have all the girls screaming as he cruises down the block in this all-steel 1936 replica of the old Sky King with leather tassels and chrome wheels. But unfortunately, he’ll break their hearts when he rides off into the sunset, as there is room for only one on this trike.
Road Hog Tricycle by Airflow Collectibles, $300
Photo courtesy of VIVRE
Deluxe Pottery Wheel by ALEX
You’ll have your kids all “fired up” this holiday with their very own real pottery wheel. The kit comes with multiple carving attachments, shaping tools, paint colors, brushes and more so your little potters will have all the tools at their fingertips to turn terra cotta into a tour de force!
Deluxe Pottery Wheel by ALEX, $64.99
Photo courtesy of ALEX
Text & Learn by LeapFrog
Now your toddlers can obsessively text just like you! With this pint-sized PDA, your budding mogul can play in a sophisticated way. Through checking a weekly planner and exchanging text messages using a real keyboard, the Text & Learn will teach your up-and-coming tycoons basic communication, spelling and computer skills. Get them started with their own PDA at an early age—or at least deter them from calling Tokyo on yours.
Text & Learn by LeapFrog, $22
Photo courtesy of LeapFrog