The season's 10 best new toys

Afraid of a nightmare trek down the toy aisle this Christmas? Every year it seems like a gazillion new toys flood the market. To make your life a little easier, we've rounded up 10 of the season's must-have fun-packed toys for each age and stage of your family.

1. Fisher-Price Kid-Tough Digital Camera
The kids are always grabbing for your digital camera, so why not give them their own? Top-of-the-line technology coupled with a kid-proof casing lets your little ones easily indulge their inner shutterbug. Features 8 MB of memory, an SD card slot for increased storage capacity, a built-in flash and 640 x 480 resolution for 4 x 6 prints.
Where to buy it: Toys 'R' Us
Price: $100
Ages: 3 to 10

2. LeapStart Bilingual Learning Table
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Through the sounds of real instruments, Leapfrog's latest engages baby's learning through music. More than 40 songs and 15 activities teach counting, the alphabet, colours, shapes, motor skills, music appreciation and more. Bonus: It switches to French with the flick of a switch.
Where to buy it: Toys 'R' Us
Price: $49.99
Ages: 6 to 36 months

3. Scientific Explorer Spa Science Kit
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Mixing science and the spa never smelled so good! These sweet-scented experiments convert your lavatory to a laboratory. Kids combine natural and organic ingredients into soaps and scrubs, and have fun discovering the power of smell. They'll all be clamouring to be the first in the tub!
Where to buy it: Mastermind Toys
Price: $24.95
Ages: 9 and up

4. Mind Shapes
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Touch-and-feel textures, fun graphics and curiosity-piquing sounds will captivate your infant, stimulating hand-eye coordination and gross motor activity. It's sure to be one of their favourites.
Where to buy it: www.momastore.org
Price: US$24
Ages: 0 to 24 months

5. Zolo Digs
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Tuck doggie Ozlo into bed, or make him fetch one of the six shapes that stick to his mouth and the roof of his doghouse. Kushie, the maker of this easy-to-tote game, has won both awards and celebrity accolades. But most important, this toy is nice and soft and portable, great for babies and toddlers to play with.
Where to buy it: Mastermind Toys
Price: US$86
Ages: 12 to 36 months

6. Battelo
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This memory-based game will remind you of the simple toys you loved as a kid, and is sure to be an instant classic. Draw a tile and move a cute panda through the forest accordingly, aiming to be the first to collect the four different leaves. Seems simple, but the kids will love it!
Where to buy it: Hape
Price: US$25
Ages: 3 to 10

7. Viva Piñata
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All your kids six and older can enjoy this video game for the Xbox 360. It has a simple start for the youngest gamers, advancing to a Sims-like complexity to intrigue the oldest of your brood. Use common sense and creativity to attract and maintain a customized garden paradise for over 60 species of donkey-like piñatas.
Where to buy it: Amazon.ca
Price: $60
Ages: 6 and up

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