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The holiday season is all about the spirit of giving, and there’s no greater joy than presenting a child with a gift and observing the excitement spread across his or her face. Indeed, watching a kid’s eyes to light up while unwrapping a present is a gift unto itself. Here are some cool gift ideas to ensure a young recipient will be equally delighted once the item, itself, is revealed.

Courtesy of Intel

Intel-powered Microsoft Surface Pro 4 (www.Microsoft.com/Surface) – $899
Microsoft has outdone itself with the reinvented Surface Pro 4, which easily transitions from a tablet to a laptop among many of its notable features. With 6th Generation Intel Core processor, it is not only more powerful—it’s also quieter and runs cooler than ever before thanks to the fanless design. In lieu of a mouse, this device comes with the Microsoft Surface Pen stylus for handwriting and precise movements. Forget your password? Not a problem! The Surface Pro 4 comes packed with Windows 10 features like Cortana and Windows Hello. The device will know when you’re using it while keeping your information more secure. At less than two pounds and with nine hours of battery life, the Surface Pro 4 is also easy to throw in a bag and go. The striking PixelSense display at 12.3-inches is not only bigger, but also sharper. It gives the user the ability to video conference in HD with the 5MP front-facing camera or take stunning pictures and video with the 8MP autofocus rear-facing camera. The Microsoft Surface Pro 4 makes a great holiday gift, and is especially perfect for the on-the-go student or working professional.

Skechers Twinkle Wishes and Game Kicks Sneakers (www.Skechers.com) – $57 – $65
Perfect for the little princess in your life, the Twinkle Wishes shoes from Skechers will dazzle the most discerning little girl. These magical, musical light-up sneakers are sure to put some sparkle in her step. Make a wish, then touch the toes together to hear a musical response. Lights flash with every step she takes. With a metallic mesh and glitter finish, the slip-on light and sound sneaker creates a fun ‘toe touch’ sound and star-shaped light show. This style also comes with a pretty, enchanted wand for hours of playtime fun! Also from Sketchers is the Game Kicks sneaker design. If you are old enough to remember the game Simon you will love these shoes! It is a shoe that doubles as an interactive, electronic game for kids, serving as instant source of entertainment for your kids when you go places like shopping or out to eat.   At the push of a button, the game turns on and challenges kids to a quick memory game for endless entertainment. For the Girl’s style, four colorful flowers light up and make sounds in a classic “match the pattern” game. The Boy’s style features color blocks that light up. Both styles have a sound on/off switch for silent play.

Trunki Ride-On Suitcase for Kids (www.Trunki.com) – $49.99 – $54.99
Here’s a fun and functional carry-on luggage option for kids. The Trunki ride on suitcase is the ultimate traveling companion for globe-trotting tots since it allows kiddos to ride their luggage through the airport or train station. Designed to be used as hand luggage, kids can pack Trunki with all their favorite belongings while parents keep them in tow. Trunki has a spacious four gallon capacity that’s well-suited for bringing an extra pair of clothes and a few toys on any trip. Trunki’s secure latches are easy for little fingers and ensure a child’s treasures stay safe on the way to their destination. The detachable strap allows kids to pull their case along, or can be attached to both ends in case parents need to easily carry Trunki in a mad dash for the gate! At home, Trunki is a kid-friendly storage bin. With twelve adorable characters, you’re sure to find a Trunki any child will love.

Please and Carrots Children’s Toys/Books Subscription Box Service (www.PleaseandCarrots.com) – $349
Shopping for a baby can be stressful. You buy all sorts of toys but, before you know it, baby starts to grow and you find yourself wondering which toys are right for different developmental milestones. Shopping at stores full of brightly colored toys can also be overwhelming for busy people who have little time to research and shop for the “right” products. Luckily, Please and Carrots will do the work for you by delivering the most developmentally appropriate toys and books from trusted brands right to anyone’s doorstep. It’s a one-of-a-kind children’s subscription box service that delivers expertly curated toys and books with professional advice (from a panel of child psychologists, pediatricians, educators, etc.) on enhancing the learning and development of kids from birth to three years old. Please and Carrots also benefits parents and caregivers by providing them with exclusive content and a subscriber-only portal for more developmental guidance from all their experts. Subscribers receive engaging games and activities designed by a teacher and that grow with the child as well as bi-weekly newsletters with tips from the panel of experts.

TeenyMates NFL Locker Room Playsets (www.DicksSportingGoods.com) – $9.99
TeenyMates NFL Locker Room Playsets are the newest addition to the TeenyMates brand. A must for younger NFL fans, this sporty playset—officially licensed by the NFL—brings an enhanced level of creativity and playability thanks to the snap ‘n stack lockers. With them, Children can build unique and elaborate locker rooms by stacking and snapping the lockers together. Each set comes with 3 TeenyMate action figures approximately 1-inch tall that are decorated in team-inspired designs, 3 Stack N’ Snap Lockers, 3 NFL Team Locker Stickers and a Locker Room Bench and Cooler. With over 6 million units sold, TeenyMates are reportedly the #1 best-selling sports mini-figures on the market today! They’re a great gift that’s sure to provide hours of playtime fun for that budding NFL fan!

KidCash Parenting Tool (www.KidCash.com) – $25
Arm your children with the tools to become productive members of society in the future with KidCash, an innovative paper-based parenting tool that uses a framework of incentives and proven game mechanics to naturally motivate children. It’s a great way to teach kids about personal finance, self-discipline and patience while also offering a reward system that is educational and fun. KidCash provides children with a condensed version of the “real world,” complete with currencies, tickets and bonuses that their parents define and control. Each kit comes with play money in five fun currencies relevant to toddler life: candy, savings, device, activity and gift cash. During the week, your children earn dollars, avoid violations, go for extra bonuses and keep their money safe in the bank. Also in the kit are resources like Bonus Bounty sheets; Violations Tickets; Bank Books and more. With this system, kids benefit from valuable first-hand experience on practical matters like how to budget, plan, and set achievable goals for themselves.

***Some or all of the accommodations(s), experience(s), item(s) and/or service(s) detailed above may have been provided at no cost and/or arranged to accommodate this review, but all opinions expressed are entirely those of Merilee Kern and have not been influenced in any way as per the disclosure policy on our “Legal” page***