| Christmas gift ideas for kids, when parents are on a | | | | of wisdom on thisone is don't get caught up in it. If |
| budget. | | | | you buy something early |
| We all know what the kids want for Christmas this | | | | November that you're child wanted because of a |
| year, everything! | | | | commercial, guaranteedthey will move on to |
| It's every parents dilemma, what to get your kid(s) | | | | something else long before Christmas hits us. |
| whichwill make them happy, and won't break the | | | | Think longer term. |
| bank for mom anddad. Of course this goes for aunts, | | | | Some toys just never go out of style...for Christmas. |
| uncles and grandparentstoo. Do you need to spend | | | | When I was a seven year old kid (some 35 years |
| hundreds of dollars to make yourkids happy this | | | | ago) one of my favouritetoys were my matchbox |
| christmas season, I think not. | | | | cars. I probably had 20 of them. |
| What are the things kids think they want for | | | | I had a case to carry around them and I would |
| Christmas? | | | | spend countlesshours driving the little die cast cars |
| Is it a Playstation 3, an XBox 360 or Nintendo Wii? | | | | around in the dirt, making rampsand having a blast |
| Thesewill run you $600, $400 and $250 respectively. | | | | with my buddies. Some things neverchange. In fact, I |
| They'd makegreat Christmas gifts, except for one | | | | know two kids who just can't get enough ofthese. |
| thing. They cost asmall fortune, not to mention the | | | | Their current favourites are the ones from the movie |
| cost of games and accessories. | | | | "Cars". Now, these go for about $4 a piece if you |
| So, what's the alternative to video game consoles? | | | | can findthem. Other matchbox style cars can be had |
| My nephew has been playing games (computer and | | | | in packs for a lotless. These are great stocking |
| console) since he was 2. | | | | stuffers that kids willabsolutely adore for Christmas. |
| He has a ton of games, but suddently he is not | | | | It's an inexpensive christmasgift idea that you can |
| playing thegamecube so much any more, why? He's | | | | also give to relatives. |
| discovered the onlinemini-game phenomenon. A lot of | | | | These are just a couple of ideas to get you thinking |
| sites have these gamesavailable to play for free and | | | | alongthe right lines. Don't think flash, think fun,and if |
| he just loves them. Do agoogle search for these, or | | | | you absolutely need to get your kids a new video |
| if you'd like to just go to my christmasgames | | | | game systemthis year...then you're probably just like |
| section, see the author tag at the bottom of the | | | | me, I can't say no either :-) |
| article. | | | | Johnny is a software engineer with 30 years |
| Toys toys toys, all I want for Christmas is every toy | | | | experience. He has seen the landscape of computing |
| I see. | | | | change from the days of no personal computers and |
| True enough, there will be hundreds of things kids will | | | | mainframes which took up entire rooms to the ipod |
| see ads for (ontv) between now and Christmas, and | | | | shuffle (the clip on one)...amazing stuff. He's spent the |
| they're going to want them all. | | | | last 10 years working on the Java platform and is a |
| They will mention it every single day. | | | | strong advocate of Java technologies. |
| "Mommy,mommy, you've gotta see this"... My words | | | | |