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Hottest Holiday Toys for Kids 2014: Ages 6 to 8

plushcraft hedgehogFor our Holiday guide to the hottest toys this season, the toy experts at Five Little Monkeys, a great local independent toy store with locations in Novato, Albany, Walnut Creek, and Burlingame, put together this list, based on what kids seem most excited about, what is showing up at birthday parties, what parents are asking for, and staff favorites!

We've also reviewed the top picks for babies and toddlers and kids ages 3 to 5.

Ages 6 to 8 Indoor Fun

Plushcraft Hedgehog
A plush, personal pillow? Perfect! Especially when kids can say, “I made it myself!” Here’s a sweet little fabric-by-number craft project with no sewing required. Over 320 brightly colored fabric pieces are ready to be punched into the pillow with an easy-to-master stylus wand. Kids can rest on their accomplishment! $17.99

Glow & Grow Terrarium

Make a neat habitat for daytime viewing that will glow by your bed at night! Everything included–plastic mason-like jar, seeds, growing medium, figures and glow stickers. $15.99

terrarium pompom pets

Mini Pom-Pom Pets
How can you make a mini-menagerie of soft, fluffy little pets? It?s as easy as twirling a dinner fork. Follow step-by-step, illustrated instructions and color-coded charts as you wrap, tie, and snip the colorful yarn into petite pom-poms. Then add eyes, a nose, ears, a tail, even rosy cheeks (with our special blush marker), to create little critters with big personalities. $19.99

Sands Alive!
Introducing the most amazing and unique learning and play material to enter the market in years: Sands Alive! Consisting of sand and other natural materials, the only way to describe the feeling of this material is sublime! The sensation is somewhat similar to cookie dough, yet totally dry to the touch. Mold it into hard durable shapes, and with a soft touch, it will break apart and appear to move… Almost if it were alive! 100% non-toxic and anti-bacterial, Sands Alive! won't stain and easily removes from your hands. $24.99

sands alive magic tricks

Box of 125 Magic Tricks
Presto, change-o! Turn kids from TV watchers into laughing, hands-on, interactive magicians. This perfect little starter kit makes it happen, with a great selection of 125 easy-to-learn tricks for beginners. Kids can spend a little time with the how-to illustrated booklet–then let the show begin. Gasp! The audience is sure to be mystified with every performance. $24.99

Ages 6 to 8 Active Play

Lacrosse Set
Includes 2 game sticks and 1 foam ball. 2 kid sized sticks that are perfect for beach or backyard fun! $19.99

lacrosse set Lazer ball

Lazer Pitch Baseball
Lazer Pitch Baseball is the ultimate in backyard fun. It is the only pitching machine that allows you to control the timing of each pitch. Just press the button on the handle of the bat to activate the pitch. Lazer Pitch Baseball includes the pitching machine, a radio control 26-inch bat, and 5 balls. Lazer Pitch Baseball features adjustable pitching angles that range from normal fast balls to softball lobs to 90 degree pop-ups for beginners. $49.99

Grom Pogo Stick
This is not your father’s pogo stick—not by a long shot! Technology has sprung the classic action stick into a new dimension, with a hydro-formed steel shell, industrial strength steel springs and a replaceable tip. Concealed low-friction spring technology gives a quieter, smoother, higher bounce—and there’s way more stability and control from the heavy-duty pressed steel foot-plates. $59.99

grom pogo stick neon ball

Neon Vibe Balls
Vibrantly colored sport ball collection in an 8.5-inch playground ball size. Rotation molded (non-latex) construction. $9.99

scooterMaxi Micro Scooter
Why walk when you can sidewalk surf? High-performance Maxi Kick Scooter gives you 3 wheels for durability, stability and surf-ability. Swiss engineered to be easy to learn and lightweight with unique lean-and-steer design and rear “spoon” brakes. $134.99

Five Little Monkeys is the premier Bay Area children’s store that carries toys, books, games, music, science, and everything in between for ages 0–12. Their well-trained staff can help you find the perfect gift or help you create a birthday or holiday wish list, and they always offer free gift wrapping. Five Little Monkeys hopes to create good people by putting quality toys in the hands of children. Owner Stephanie Sala opened the first Five Little Monkeys location in Albany in 2001. Five Little Monkeys now has four convenient locations in the San Francisco Bay Area: Albany, Burlingame, Novato and Walnut Creek and online at www.5littlemonkeys.com.