It’s never too early to start shopping for Christmas.  Especially when the hottest toys sell out quickly. One of this year’s best is Zhu Zhu Pets and is predicted to be the top seller of 2009.

This interactive hamster toy follows on the heels of the popularity of Littlest Pet Shop, which has been wildly successful for years, but these little guys will have you believing they’re real.

Zhu Zhu Pets are battery operated and have various mode settings, which allow them to squeak, bump and roll through their hamster house or play in the many different play sets available. One that I like is the Zhu Zhu Pets Giant Hamster City, which comes with everything your child needs to get started.

This set includes two hamsters, funhouse, exercise wheel, garage, sleep dome and adventure ball.  Kids can set the mode to whatever activity they want.  Time to play (watch them race around!) or time to snuggle (they’ll coo and purr when you hold them.) They’ll love watching  these silly hamsters explore their habitat and because this particular set comes with two pets, a sibling or friend can join the in the fun!

Though I’m not usually a fan of electronic toys, this one is great for boys and girls who really enjoy “things that go”. when the battery runs out, don’t replace it. They’ll get hours more fun  making the hamster run around using “kid power”.

Zhu Zhu Pets are also sold separately if you want to start out small (Zhu Zhu Pets Hamster “Pipsqueak” With Orange Pet Bed And Carrier) for a younger child.  But don’t hesitate; these little guys are flying off the shelves!

For many years I have spent my holidays overseas, in another state or even at the beach.  Nowadays, like most people I am much busier and I don’t want the expense of traveling on a whim anymore. I am searching for ways to host a traditional Thanksgiving meal at my house this year and I have a few ideas for inexpensive ways to make any dinner a success.

1.) Let the kids get involved.  Start with Scene Setters Poster Wall Decorations. This giant turkey will look festive on your wall and for under three dollar’s; it’s a great way to announce the holiday to your guests. Have the kids add some of their own artwork to add to the ambiance.

2.) For the powder room, Thanksgiving Theme Guest Towels are disposable and impressive.

3.) Place Settings: Soooo important and equally fun for your kids to color while you are trying not to burn anything. They might even help you set the table! ( The kids, I mean!)

Of course you’ll probably be  cooking a turkey, but add some inexpensive side dishes such as fresh vegetables from your local farmers market, some juicy cranberries in a bowl (which also makes a pretty decoration) and some homemade bread to complete your meal.  It’s all about being with family and friends, anyway.

Just don’t skimp on dessert. It’s the best part of the day!

I’m a big fan of space saving devices, so I really like this Little Tikes Fold Away Climber. Though it drives my significant other nuts, I have always thought that children should have a variety of toys in various spots in the house; I should rephrase that to…all over the house.

I’ve never been one to claim that we don’t have room for this or that. So we’ve had easels on the balcony and toys all over the living room. We have toys in the kitchen and in the bathrooms too!

But I also understand the need for adult space, which is why I like things that can be packed away. This climber with a slide, basketball hoop and climbing wall is great for use indoors or out and can be set up in a minute. As we lived in a rather small apartment when my son was a toddler, this is exactly the sort of thing that worked well for us since it could be hauled outside to a grassy spot or patio and then carried back indoors. On rainy or cold days it can be set up inside without taking too much space and then packed away again.

You can’t beat unit blocks for a bargain! Though the upfront cost may be a bit higher than you want to spend, investing in a large set of unit blocks will pay off over the years. The perfect toy for increasing cognitive skills, unit blocks have an added bonus – your child will use them for years and years.

Unlike alphabet blocks or simple building blocks, unit blocks are carefully calibrated to help children learn (without realizing they are doing it) fractions and basic geometry. Fitting the blocks together teaches how triangles relate to circles and parts to a whole.

Rather than invest in an entire set, you may choose to start by buying a small set like this one from Melissa and Doug for your 1-3 year old, then adding to it as he or she gets older. You can expect a child to continue to use blocks in various ways through most of the elementary school years.

This set comes with 60 wooden blocks that are hand sanded. Younger children will enjoy stacking them and watching them topple. Older children will bring them into their pretend play using them as food for the kitchen and incorporating them into the elaborate scenes that they make with dolls and action figures.

Hi there,

I’m MC Milker and I’m excited to kick off the new FamilyTime Blog on PriceGrabber.com. Like most moms, I’m somewhat bemused by the sheer number of children’s products available these days and often confused by their claims.

Natural!   Educational!    Healthy!   Fun!

And it gets worse once I start reading magazines and watching the news. It seems every day we get a new scare. This toy is toxic. That bottle is bad. We need to go green and get kids back into nature, but we need to ensure they stay home and study…with the latest educational gizmo of course.

I’m sure I have some of the same questions that you do, but since I spent many years working in corporate marketing…selling stuff to children and their parents, I have perhaps an edge in trying to sort out the truth from the hype. I hope to do that in this blog.

I’ll be reviewing and recommending a few products each week as I go about my daily life, struggling to provide the best for my child. Just like you.