by kellie abrahamson
Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus, but in this economy even he is feeling some serious seasonal strain. We all want to give our kids the world but between layoffs and increased food costs that may not be possible this year. Cutting back is just a fact of life but that doesn’t mean your family’s Christmas has to suck. Take advantage of the insane sales retailers are rolling out and get the kiddies one big thing they can share (hello, Guitar Hero: World Tour!). With the rest of your holiday budget look into these inexpensive but awesome gifts for kids.

retro toys
Remember your old buddy the Sock Monkey? Well he’s back and so are Slinkys, Rubik’s Cubes and Lite Brites. Toys from our youth have been making big a comeback over the past few years and their popularity proves that sometimes it really is best to go back to basics. In addition to being fun for kids, almost all of the nostalgic playthings do their thing without needing batteries or expensive extras and they force kids to use their creativity instead of simply staring at a screen for hours on end. You know you’re dying to shake a Magic 8 Ball again or balance a gyroscope on a string, so pick one up for Junior this Christmas and play together! One good thing, you won’t need instructions.

hot toys
Every year toy companies try to win over kids and parents with what they hope will be the talk of the playground. These inexpensive picks are sure to do just that:
Webkinz These stuffed animals have topped wish lists since they hit shelves a couple years back. Kids can snuggle with cuddly critters and use the unique code on their tag to log onto the internet and play games with the virtual version of their pet.
Radica Electronic Password Journal Snoopy siblings wont get their hands on your kid’s secrets with this nifty diary. The book will only open at the sound of its owner’s voice, making this the perfect gift for tweens who want to keep their love of Zac Effron to themselves.
My Meebas This new toy mixes virtual pets like Tamagotchis with Beanie Babies. Kids keep and care for a digital creature until it’s fully grown. Then and only then does the game tube pop open to reveal a stuffed rendition of their pet.
Crayola Color Explosion Glow Board Creative kids will be thrilled to get their hands on this electronic easel. Little artists can use the board’s special markers to create bright, vibrant works of art which magically appear and disappear with the touch of a button.
Bakugan Starter Pack Like Pokemon and Yu-Gi-Oh! before it, Bakugan is a game based on a hit anime show. Players roll their Bakugan sphere onto magnetic cards where the balls burst open to reveal the warrior inside.
IlluStory Make Your Own Story Kit This kit allows future authors to write and illustrate their own book. Once complete, the pages can be dropped in the mail and in a few short weeks the budding writer receives a color-copied, professionally type set hardbound book of their work.

go-to toys
There are some toys you just can’t go wrong with. Here are a few your kids (and your wallet) will probably enjoy:
Boys Hot Wheels cars, Tonka Trucks, Nerf balls, Star Wars toys and action figures and Ben 10 toys.
Girls Littlest Pet Shop toys, Barbies, Disney Princess toy and dolls, Hannah Montana toys and Bratz dolls.
Gender Neutral Mega Bloks, LeapFrog educational toys, K’NEX building sets, Doodle Pro drawing boards and Play Doh.

games
Board games are a great way to get the whole family together. Check out these kid-favorites:
Cranium Hullabaloo If you’re looking for a game to get everyone moving, this is it. Kids as young as two will enjoy this high-energy game which blends music and learning in fun and unexpected ways.
Wild Planet Hyper Dash Designed to improve listening, coordination and math skills, this exciting game is an ideal way to help kids practice addition and subtraction while exercising and having fun.
Pictureka This fun game is like Where’s Waldo? only trickier. Players compete to see who can spot cleverly hidden items on the game board.
Beat the Parents It’s a generational battle each time you play this addictive game. Parents team up against the kids in this trivia game with a twist.
Board games not high-tech enough for the kids on your list? Disney’s got you covered. They’ve recently released Hannah Montana and High School Musical DVD games. Just pop one into your DVD player and you can keep one kid or a whole Girl Scout troop entertained for hours on end. The discs have 11 activities including trivia games, dance offs and sing-a-longs. Perfect for a slumber party or a rainy day, these DVD games will keep the kiddies busy and the parents happy.

dvds
Probably the easiest way to win over a kid is to pick up their favorite movie or TV show on DVD. This year there are plenty of terrific titles to choose from. Here are some of our favorites:
Wall-E (Rated G)
Hannah Montana: The Complete First Season (Not Rated)
Kung Fu Panda (Rated PG)
Tinker Bell (Rated G)
Sleeping Beauty (Rated G)
The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian (Rated PG; Release Date: December 2)
Horton Hears a Who (Rated G; Release Date: December 9)