5 Hottest Toys for Christmas

This year, there's no must-have Cabbage-Patch-Doll type toy; worse, the Chinese toy recalls have led to a lot of trepidation among parents, grandparents, and other frequent toy buyers. But there are five excellent toys you can get your little one this year that will be safe for them and that will make their faces light up.

Toy 1: The Wii

Sure, it's been out for a year. But it's still hard to get, and there is no competing hot game system this year for the Wii's supreme position. Besides, you can be certain that the Wii is safe. Other than the tennis elbow some kids have gotten from hours of sustained play, and the possibility of addiction, there are no dangers associated with this gift.

The best game to get for the system starting out? Mario Galaxy is the safest bet for the Wii -- lots of small games, an engrossing storyline, and characters everyone remembers from all the earlier games in the Mario series. But there are plenty of games for all your gamers, from Pokemon fans to first-person shooters

Toy 2: Terrainiac

An R/C (remote control) toy with teeth, this fantasy-look car has only three wheels -- but what wheels! The front two are primarily there for balance, while the single gigantic back wheel turns, tilts, and rotates to allow the Terrainiac to function on all kinds of terrain that bog down almost every other R/C toy. Your R/C maniac will love this one.

Toy 3: Vbot

The Vbot is just darn cool, even to a chick like me. It's an R/C car, sort of, that is built based on Segway technology, and it can shapeshift smoothly -- remotely - into a robot. If that's not cool enough for you, it will dance to your MP3 player while it plays the music out loud. The Vbot isn't for everyone, but your technophile kids will enjoy it, and it has a number of surprisingly cool features that will hold interest for quite some time. If you can't find it in stores, Amazon.com sells it.

Toy 4: Webkinz

This is the Beanie Baby of the new millenium! Webkinz sell relatively cheaply, and dozens are out on the market right now, with some of them already retired from service. They're cute little stuffed critters that look great lined up on a little girl's shelf. But they have an alter-ego: on the label, special codes allow their owners to login to the Webkinz website and "adopt" virtual versions of the Webkinz too. This virtual world has been growing in popularity lately, and though parents should keep an eye on the kids when it's in use, it seems to be somewhat safer than many other virtual spaces available today due to several safeguards.

Toy 5: Mattel Barbie 3-Story Dreamhouse Playset

Barbie still rules, and this revamped version of the dollhouse most moms remember from their childhood is excellent. The gourmet kitchen, stove and sink with sound effects, and all the amenities you remember from the spiral staircase to spacious rooms. There's a music player that really works, a doorbell, and unlike real houses all the furnishings you want. This toy does have small pieces, so it's not for very small children, and it is designed to pop apart fairly easily, so it's not for your roughhousing little girls. Otherwise, this is a great Christmas gift.