Top 5 Christmas Gifts for Girls in 2011

The Sing-a-Ma-Jigs

You’ve probably seen these toys in Target or Walgreens, and wondered what in the world they were. These odd-looking (but undeniably cute) puppets have a secret: when you squeeze their bellies, they let out a musical note, and if you squeeze two of them at the same time, they harmonize! These toys have been practically flying off the shelves this year, so be sure to pick up a few for Christmas Day; at just $12 on Amazon.com, you can probably afford to buy the whole chorus.

Lalaloopsy Dolls

Pretty much anything you get from the Lalaloopsy World will put a smile on your little girl’s face. The Lalaloopsies are the Coraline-esque rag dolls with buttons for eyes that leaped onto the market over a year ago and have been dominating it ever since. Lalaloopsy dolls come in mini-sizes and regular sizes, but the mini dolls come with accessories like a Ferris wheel, a school bus, a tree house, and so on. Be sure to figure out which size your little darling would prefer before picking any up for Christmas.

Cabbage Patch Kids

Cabbage Patch dolls are back! These iconic dolls have been re-released, and if the squeals of girls in local toy stores are any indication, they might just create a frenzy similar to the one they started 20 years ago. These chubby-faced dolls are unique in that every single doll is different from the next. Your little girl will “adopt” the doll, which comes complete with its own unique first and middle names (like “Ava Taylor”) and adoption papers.

LeapFrog LeapPad Explorer Learning Tablet

There’s a reason that this is one of the most wished-for toys on Amazon. Your little girl will feel like she’s using a real tablet computer as she immerses herself for hours in the over 100 books, games, apps and videos. She’ll be ready for school long before it starts thanks to math and reading games (that don’t seem like math and reading games). And there’s a built-in camera that shoots video, so she can channel her inner Sophia Coppola or Annie Leibowitz. She can drop her creations in the Story Studio or Art Studio apps. For $99, that’s a lot of bang for your buck.

Fisher-Price Laugh and Learn Say Please Tea Set

This super-popular talking tea set sings, meets and greets your little girl with fun phrases and popular songs, all while teaching early social skills. This sturdy tea set has fitted slots for cakes and cups that fit perfectly into plates, which can help develop your daughter’s spatial relation skills. The Fisher-Price Laugh and Learn Say Please Tea Set retails on Amazon for $16.