Kids Holiday Gift Guide 2012 - The Best For Less

There are lots of holiday gift guides out there, but being that I am a frugal gal who loves to save money, I decided to focus on great toys that also were on sale for at least 40% off. If you plan to do some Christmas shopping for kids and are on a limited budget, this guide is a great place to start. It helps that Amazon offers free shipping with a $25 purchase for all the items below. A number of these have been favorites with my kids. I have divided the toys up into age groups so you should be able to find something for all the kids on your list.

Infants-2 years old

Playskool Poppin' Park Pound-N-Pop Carnival 50% off

My kids had a version of this as infants and they all loved it. Brightly colored balls popping and rolling is the funniest thing in the world to a baby. This toy adds 8 different songs to make play even more fun. Babies learn about cause and effect as they roll and pound to music and lights.

Big Bird Stack And Nest  48 % off

The recognizable Big Bird greets your baby as they stack the red, yellow,blue and Big Bird rings. This toy not only keeps baby busy, but works on important fine and gross motor skills. The rings all have different textures which make them perfect for teething babies. 

Lamaze Play & Grow Freddie the Firefly Take Along Toy 47% off

My twins are now 4 and I still have the Freddie the Firefly toy I bought for them as babies. I could not bear to get rid of it as it was such an loved toy. This soft toy has a teether and so many other colorful features that crinkle and crunch and awaken baby's senses.

Alex Jr. Mix 'n Max - Nest 'n Bloom  41% off

This soft baby toy allows baby to nest the cups and build a flower. This helps build hand eye coordination and fine motor skills. The Nest 'n Bloom also contains pieces that rattle and crinkle, keeping baby entertained. Babies will love taking the toy apart and trying to put it back together.

Ages 3-6

My Pillow Pets Miss Lady Bug 18" 47% off

I am a little biased here because this my daughter's exact Pillow Pet. This is a great price! Her fur is so soft and plush that my little one loves to lay her head on her each night and cuddle her each day. It's machine washable so you can just pop it in the washer when it gets a little too "loved."

Alex Little Jumpers Trampoline  43% off

I confess, we never bought this, mostly because I never saw a price this low on it. But a friend of mine had it and when we would go over to visit my kids would jump the whole time. If you're looking for a toy that will wear out your kid, look no further! The legs fold for easy storage and it's good for up to 80 pounds.

Adventure Force Pirate Dress Up  42% off

Being a mom of 3 girls, I wanted to throw in something for little boys (girls would enjoy it too) to dress up in. Dress up play is so important for preschoolers and really allows them to use their imagination to transform themselves and creative unlimited play scenarios. This fits size 4-6x.

VTech Smart Ship Learn and Go - Disney's Jake and the Never Land Pirates  40 % off

Keeping with the pirate theme, this Learn and Go has a full keyboard and 10 learning activities designed to keep little ones challenged. Kids will love it because it features the real voice of Jake and pirate music. Arrrrrrr!

VTech - Tote & Go Laptop with Web Connect - Pink  43% off

This is another favorite in our house. We have had this Laptop for a while and the girls still enjoy it. There are just so many games and activities that it's hard to get bored. You can even connect it your PC for customized downloads. The mouse stores in the cover which makes it great for carrying around. We always take this laptop with us when we travel.

Fisher-Price iXL 6-in-1 Learning System (Blue) 52% off

I love all the options on this thing. You can play with it 6 ways - Digital Reader, Game Player, MP3 Player, Photo Viewer, Art Studio and Notepad. It has a 3.5 inch color screen and the whole thing opens and closes like a book. Great for travel!

Ages 7-10

Simon Flash  53% off

Do you remember playing Simon as a kid? Well, it's back with a high tech twist. They have added different styles of game play here so your kids (and you!) can test your memory, speed and logic skills. I am all for games that promote family togetherness and this fits the bill. Because this is small, it is perfect for road trips and travel.

Family Time Fun Gather Round Dinner Game 60% off

Gather Round Dinner Game is something I will be getting when my kids are a little older. I love the idea of promoting family mealtime. This game will give your family lots to talk about and be challenged by. It includes 132 activities. People have said it encouraged their picky eaters to stay at the  table longer and eat more because they did not want to stop playing.

Educational Insights Laundry Jumble Game  47% off

This fun game will encourage siblings of all ages to play together. The object is to pull clothes out of the dryer using only your sense of touch. Younger kids will benefit from the tactile exploration and the chance to develop their fine motor skills, while older kids can help with the counting and matching.

Razor A Kick Scooter  50% off

This is the original kick scooter made from Razor. I love it because it gets kids outdoors and using their muscles, is a fun form of transport, and lets face it, you can't beat that price. It's only 6 pounds and folds easily for quick storage. Be sure you have a helmet if you get one of these for your child. Recommended for ages 5+.

Knex Value Tub 400 pieces  56% off

I love toys that encourage creativity and Knex certainly does that. This 400 piece tub contains bricks, rods and connectors. As a mom, I appreciate the fact that they come in a handy storage tub which makes clean up a breeze. There are so many things kids can build and then play with. Each time they play with the Knex it's a new experience.

At the time of this writing, all the items were available at the above discounts on Amazon. Prices and availability on Amazon is subject to change. 

This post contains affiliate links, but each of these products were personally chosen by me.

I link up at these great parties.

Want more Mess? Subscribe via Email or follow us on Twitter, Facebook, or Pinterest