Best Christmas 2010 Gifts for LEGO Lovers

I don't know who loves the LEGO brand more-kids or their parents. In my house, evidence of LEGO-mania is everywhere (ouch, I just stepped on another tiny LEGO brick!). For the third year in a row, LEGO products top my 8-year-old son's (and my husband's) Christmas wish list. Here I have compiled a list of great birthday presents and 2010 Christmas gifts for LEGO lovers of all ages.

Most links in this article lead to Lego.com. Please note that many of these LEGO products are also available in stores or online at Toys 'R' Us, Target, Walmart, and Amazon.com-shop around to find the best prices. Keep your eyes peeled for "buy one, get one 50% off" deals on select LEGO sets at Toys 'R' Us (that sale is going on as I write this!). It's best to buy high-demand items before Thanksgiving. Just so you know, LEGO did not pay me to write this article. I really do love LEGO stuff this much! All prices quoted in this article are subject to change.

LEGO Gifts Under $20

Small, classic LEGO sets, like this Cars Building Set (item #5898) or House Building Set (item #5899), are perfect for young children, ages 4 and up, who are just beginning to play with LEGO blocks. Each of these sets includes wheels-very important!-and at least one minifigure (little LEGO person) and retails for $9.99.

When you need a gift for a child who loves LEGOs but you're not sure which LEGO set to buy, you can't ever go wrong with a basic green LEGO baseplate (or two). It's not the flashiest gift, but it will be used and appreciated.

The adult LEGO lover who has everything probably does not have this 2011 LEGO wall calendar. Or these salt and pepper shakers that look like LEGO bricks, or this LEGO minifigure ice cube tray.

LEGO fans will light up (ha!) when they unwrap this LEGO LED Brick Light. My kids would also love this LEGO LED flashlight-it's a posable LEGO minifigure with feet that light up!

For unique, inexpensive stocking-stuffers, consider these LEGO key chains or these LEGO minifigure magnet sets, perfect for displaying on any LEGO fan's fridge.

These cute LEGO Christmas ornaments are $19.99.

Most LEGO Bionicle sets, which include roughly 20 pieces with which to build cool, robot-gladiator-alien-like figures, and LEGO Hero Factory figures (which look just like Bionicle figures to me) cost less than $15. LEGO Bionicle books, movies, and posters are available at Amazon.com, most for less than $20.

LEGO Star Wars: The Visual Dictionary, LEGO Minifigure Ultimate Sticker Collection and other LEGO books make wonderful, inexpensive birthday or Christmas gifts for LEGO lovers. Young LEGO fans who wish they could bring their LEGO bricks wherever they go will happily spend hours reading and studying the pictures (or sticking stickers) in these books. My 8-year-old son highly recommends both books I've mentioned here.

LEGO Gifts Under $50

2010 LEGO Advent Calendars are the perfect early Christmas gift for young LEGO builders. Children will love counting down the days till Christmas with this year's LEGO City Advent Calendar (item #2824) or LEGO Kingdoms Advent Calendar (item #7952). Every day, from December 1st to December 24th, they will have a new, small LEGO surprise to open and build. The LEGO City Advent Calendar contains 271 pieces; the Kingdoms Advent Calendar has 167 pieces. Both cost $34.99 at Lego.com. These tend to sell out quickly.

LEGO wristwatches are fun and functional. Adults can assemble and wear this LEGO Classic Brick Watchor choose from an assortment of LEGO Star Wars watches. This kids' LEGO Space Police watch comes with a minifigure.

Need more LEGO décor for the home? I know at least two proud LEGO Star Wars geeks who would love this clock, which comes with two Star Wars minifigures. Other LEGO alarm clock radios and boomboxes in assorted bright colors, designed to look like large LEGO bricks, are available at Toys 'R' Us.

Sets of assorted pieces that come with a storage container, such as the LEGO Large Brick Box (item #6166), are perfect for kids who are still building up a supply of basic LEGO bricks. This set includes a baseplate, one minifigure, special house pieces (windows and doors), and an "idea book" of building directions, and costs $29.99 at Lego.com.

The Best of LEGO Brickmaster 2010 includes six exclusive LEGO sets, a book filled with LEGO Brickmaster magazine content from the last year, two Lego.com coupons, and a coupon for free admission to LEGOLAND California or LEGOLAND Discovery Chicago Center with paid adult admission. It costs $39.99 at Lego.com.

The geniuses at LEGO read my son's mind and have designed a line of LEGO board games perfect for the whole family. Check out these 14 game titles,which range in price from $9.99 to $34.99. I was most excited to discover the LEGO Creationary board game (item #3844). Imagine Pictionary, but with LEGO bricks instead of pencils and paper. I wanna play! Creationary is designed for 3-8 players, ages 7 and up.

LEGO video games are popular with gamers of all ages, and many of these games cost less than new LEGO building sets. LEGO Harry Potter: Years 1-4 is now available (prices vary, depending on your gaming console). The older LEGO Star Wars and LEGO Indiana Jones video games can be found at Amazon.com for less than $20. Kids, teens, and adults adore these games because they're clever, funny, and challenging without being too difficult. LEGO Rock Band is also a lot of fun (for fans of the regular Rock Band and Guitar Hero games).

More LEGO Birthday and Christmas Gift Ideas, Ranging from FREE to "Expensive, But Soooo Cool!"

First off, make sure your little LEGO lover is subscribed to LEGO Club Magazine-it's FREE! Sign up here.

LEGO Universe, a family-friendly MMO (massively multiplayer online game) recommended for ages 10 and up, will be available on October 26, 2010, just in time for Christmas. Go here to watch a preview of LEGO Universe, which is being hailed as the best kids' MMO ever. Read more about it or pre-order your copy of LEGO Universe for $39.99 here. Important note: You'll get one month of free game play with your initial game purchase, but to continue playing after that, you'll have to pay a monthly subscription fee (a 12-month subscription will cost $89.99).

Shopping for preschool-age children or kids who might not be ready for all the small parts in LEGO sets? Check out LEGO's sturdy, adorable Duplo products.

Shopping for older teens or adults? These sets caught my eye at Lego.com:

LEGO Shuttle Adventure (item #10213), $99.99

LEGO Tower Bridge (item #10214), $239.99

LEGO Mindstorms NXT 2.0 (item #8547), a buildable, programmable robot, $279.99

This LEGO Winter Village Bakery set (item #10216) and Winter Toy Shop set (item #10199) are just right for Christmastime and would make nice holiday decorations in any LEGO lover's home.

Children who already have tons and tons of LEGO bricks probably need some help organizing and storing their LEGO stuff. Toys 'R' Us sells a LEGO modular box for $9.99 that comes with a LEGO base plate, and this LEGO Work Station that holds six individual storage cases for $49.99. (I'm sure you could construct a similar work-and-storage station out of Rubbermaid units for less money.)

This Imaginarium LEGO activity table and chairs would make a great addition to a child's playroom. The tabletop is reversible-one side is a giant baseplate for building with LEGO bricks, and the other side is smooth. It's sold exclusively at Toys 'R' Us for $149.99.

Hot Christmas 2010 LEGO sets

This Christmas, Star Wars, Harry Potter, and Toy Story fans might have trouble picking their favorite new LEGO sets. Here are my (and my 8-year-old son's) most-wanted LEGO sets and their prices on Lego.com:

LEGO Harry Potter Hogwarts Castle (item #4842), $129.99

LEGO Harry Potter Hogwarts Express (item #4841), $79.99

LEGO Toy Story 3 Western Train Chase (item #7597), $79.99

LEGO Toy Story 3 Trash Compactor Escape (item #7596), $49.99

LEGO Star Wars Battle of Endor (item #8038), $99.99

LEGO Star Wars AT-AT Walker (item #8129), $109.99

To browse all the LEGO products available at Lego.com-there are so many!-go here. Find LEGO backpacks, shoes, books, watches, and more at lego.zappos.com. Amazon.com is also a great place to look for LEGO clothes and other goodies.

It's easy to find affordable Christmas gifts and lots of not-so-affordable gifts for all the LEGO lovers, young and old, on your list. Just don't go overboard (says the woman who nearly bought the LEGO Hogwarts Castle on a whim today).

Happy shopping and Merry Christmas!

Related article by this author:
Inexpensive Christmas Gift Ideas for Children

Sources:
8-year-old Zach (the Lego Maniac)
Personal experience
www.lego.com
www.toysrus.com
www.amazon.com