PTPA Media: Last Minute Hero Gifts

Have you left your holiday shopping too late? You can still wow the children in your life with affordable, innovative gifts. You can be sure the kids will love them, because these presents come parent-approved.

All year long, PTPA Media (Parent Tested, Parent Approved) uses its North American network of 20,000 parent testers to try out the latest new products and services for children, parents and families. Only those products that best combine quality, innovation and value receive a coveted PTPA Winners’ Seal.

Here are the top 10 children’s products and toys for Christmas 2009, as selected by PTPA’s network of volunteer testers.

Printies Design Studio: This line of innovative craft projects turns your printer into a toy factory. With Printies’ patent-pending fabric sheets, children can bring online designs to life as soft 3-D stuffed toys. For under $20, your kids can make six one-of-a-kind stuffed toys – with no parental help needed!

KidiZoom Plus Digital Camera: These colourful, durable real cameras from VTech let your kids take and edit photos, record digital video movies, and play fun games! Hooks up to a computer or TV. Included software can add additional silly frames, distortions and Funny Face effects for creative fun.

Too Many Monkeys: In this fast-moving, unpredictable card game for ages 6 and up, children learn counting skills and probability – and it’s fun for adults, too.

Silly Socks: Your kids will love trying to match up the socks they pull out of a miniature 3-D dryer in this new game from Pressman. First player to match three pairs wins!

Twilight Sea Turtle: This irresistible amphibian is a cuddly plush toy and a soothing night light, too. The star chart projected from its back bathes a child’s bedroom in warm, tranquil light to ease them off to sleep. “Helping children sleep” is the slogan of manufacturer Cloud B.

Rebelle Friendship Bags: These colourful, quality purses are perfect for tweens aged 7 to 14. Each purse is also two bags in one: unzip it, detach it, and you have a matching purse to share with your best friend.

V.Smile Motion TV Learning System: This breakthrough game console for children 3-7 plugs into your computer or TV to drive home interactive, fun lessons in math, reading, science, spelling and more. As the child develops, the system monitors his or her process and offers rewards of online bonus games.

Makit Make-A-Plate Kit: Children can create their own designs and have them immortalized on a real 10-inch dinner plate! Kids can use their own personal drawings or their favourite Disney characters (Mickey, Winnie, Toy Story, etc.).

EasyBloom Plant Sensor: This “botanist in a pocket” analyzes local environmental conditions such as humidity, temperature, light conditions and soil drainage, and recommends the best flowers, vegetables or herbs to grow in each location. Not a toy, but a serious tool that will turn kids into pro-am gardeners.

My First Lego Fire Station: An affordably priced introductory set (117 pieces) that lets a child build a classic fire station (complete with stairs and slide) and a fire truck. Warning: could prove addictive.

Products like these can make you a hero to all the kids on your Christmas list, says PTPA Media founder Sharon Vinderine. “Our parent testers have declared all these products have been winners in their homes. And since these are all new products, chances are good that the kids in your life don't have them yet.”

For more details on these and other PTPA award-winning products, visit PTPAMedia.com