Holiday Gift Guide 2014 for Toddlers and Little Kids

It's almost Christmas time—as my 7-year-old daughter has pointed out at least as many times as you can say "Rudolph" in five hours—and you know what that means!

As the mom of a second-grade girl and a 2-year-old boy (pictured), I am all about the big box toy aisles, as well as the smaller online gift shops.

And with gift-giving season in full swing, I wanted to offer up some of the most engaging, clever, and—most of all—fun toys and gadgets for toddlers and little kids this year.

Oh yeah, and there are a few things in the mix for moms (*cough* me *cough*), too. Get that, Honey?!

MORE: Don't forget to check out all our editor's gift guides! Maura (pregnancy/newborn), Esther (baby, toddler), Andie (baby, big kid), Olivia (teens), Cerentha (tween girl and boy), April (big kid boy and girl), Madeline (big kid, tween and teen), Angelica (mom), Anne Marie (big kids), and Jen (dad)

Toddlers are all about the cute, colorful and curious, and these toys should have little fingers and hands ready to explore and cuddle.

My son is beyond crazy for Elmo, so a talking version that teaches him the ABCs is perfect (and should relieve him of having to endure my Elmo impressions—at least for now).

Julius Jr. toys are big now, what with the new show on the air, and anything with a character named Worry Bear who's catching smooshberries has my attention immediately.

My Little Scoot! wooden toys, a new line launched by PBS Kids and Whole Foods, gets back to earth-friendly basics. And what toddler doesn't love pushing rolly cars around the living room while making "vroom vroom" noises?

To buy: 1. Sesame Street Talking ABC Elmo, $20; 2. Julius Jr. Sortin' Sagebrush Farm, $13; 3. My Little Scoot!, $7 each

OK, so maybe I just wanted my iPad back. No judging.

Actually, the Sprout Channel Cubby is the perfect tablet for early learners. Not only is the device pre-loaded with educational content from the adorable Sprout channel (hello, preschool-friendly songs and videos), it's also easy for toddlers to hold without shattering it and offers a parental dashboard to limit time and content for kids. The 7-inch high-resolution screen is also a plus.

And at less than $100, it's competitively priced, too!

To buy: Walmart, $99

We are a family that loves books. With parents who are English and history majors, this 2-year-old had no chance but to wear literary clothing.

Luckily for him, Out of Print offers kids' tees that are colorful, cute and can show off their favorite books, bypassing nerdy and going straight for hip.

For chilly California nights—and trips east to visit family—the insulated trapper hat is great for keeping little ears warm. The water-repellant finish works well in rain, and the velcro closure is easily adjustable for growing kiddos.

And boots that fit over shoes, comfortably? Sold!

To buy: 1. Out of Print, $20; 2. Nordstrom, $50; 3. Polarn O. Pyret, $39

While a bevy of books is always nice for a full, albeit pint-sized, bookshelf, getting stories in the mail is gold for a little boy or girl.

With Babybug, little brother to the famous Cricket magazine, children ages 6 months to 3 years can enjoy pictures and stories in a magazine that sports rounded corners, nontoxic ink and no staples.

To buy: Babybug, $34 for one-year subscription

In addition to Elmo, my son is obsessed—obsessed!—with Thomas the Tank Engine. He loves pushing the little trains around hallways and floors while shouting "choo-choo train" or "puddy" (aka "Percy," Thomas' fellow train friend).

He would go absolutely wild for an actual activity table, complete with a train set and storage bin. Hours of fun for sure! (OK, minutes. He is a toddler, after all.)

To buy: Walmart, $60

As we all know, building kits are big draws for boys and girls. And whether it's a subscription craft box with a new project that arrives every month or a kit that screams #GirlPower to the tops of all those glass ceilings, I'm all for it.

Kiwi Crate features projects that spotlight the holidays (hello, adorable gingerbread house!), science, art and animals, just to name a few.

You might know Goldieblox sets from their provocative ads, which call girl-centric stereotypes into question. With GoldieBlox and the Movie Machine, kids can build their own zoetrope, promoting both engineering skills and creativity.

To buy: 1. Kiwi Crate, $17; 2. GoldieBlox and the Movie Machine, $30

My 7-year-old daughter is all about animals and adventure, almost always at the same time.

One of her favorite TV shows is "Wild Kratts" on PBS Kids, so I was thrilled when the show launched a toy line that inspires kids to re-enact creature-powered play.

While she would also love to bring home a real arctic fox, sadly that's not in our domestic animal plans. However, the World Wildlife Fund lets visitors "adopt" animals online, and kids receive a plush animal and adoption certificate in the process.

Second grade wouldn't be the same without the "Magic Tree House" series by author Mary Pope Osbourne. Whether her kid heroes are time-traveling to dino times or ancient Egypt, young readers will love these history-based adventures.

To buy: 1. Wild Kratts Creature Power Pack, $13; 2. World Wildlife Fund, $55; 3. "Magic Tree House" books, various

What better way to spend quality time with your child than in the kitchen getting messy and licking chocolate off of a wooden spoon?

With this mod-looking macaron baking kit, you can make your own French-inspired dessert without having to travel all the way to Paris' Ladureé for a taste. (Although we're not opposed to trips to Paris for Christmas. See slide 12.)

To buy: Target, $12 (in store only)

With Pharrell Williams' "Happy" all the rage this year, it's no surprise that a sweater bearing that joyous sentiment would be on our radar. The pops of color against the gray make the letters that much more, well, happy.

And speaking of gray with seriously fun pops of color, who could resist this adorable cardigan from Mini Boden? My daughter added this to her Christmas list the moment she saw it. It had her at the hedgehog peeking out of the pocket.

To buy: 1. Gap Kids, $40; 2. Mini Boden, $54

Ice cream, ice cream! We all scream for … kids playing in their room quietly while pretending to eat fudge pops and snow cones that don't drip or melt!

Just being honest here, folks!

But seriously, this ice cream truck play tent would be a dream for my 7-year-old, who loves to pretend to sell things—anything—while also having a space to call her own. (Shhh, don't tell her little brother!)

To buy: 1. Ice Cream Truck Play Tent, $249; 2. Freezy Dream Treats, $29

To Whomever Would Like to Buy Me Presents:

I love all of these items. From the clever T-shirt that apologizes for me when my blood sugar (or doughnut intake) has dropped perilously low, to the stylish charger that backs me up when I've left my iPhone to die, to the colorfully sweet 9 by Novogratz throw pillow I'd love to toss on my couch (and my children would love to toss at each other), to the gorgeous Orla Kiely roller suitcase that would look so great on a trip to, say … I don't know … Paris.

To buy: 1. Thug Life, $27; 2. ban.do, $30; 3. Walmart, $15; 4. Target, $180