Dear Friends, Welcome to the 2015 Charlene Chronicles Holiday Gift Guide! I’ve Chronicled Lots of finds this past year. Now I’ve complied the best of the best in this Holiday Gift Guide! I hope that you enjoy browsing and find great ideas as you shop for the Season and beyond! You’ll see on the next page the categories in the Holiday Gift Guide and why I chose the products for each category. The products shown in this Guide are only the ones that I (or my kids) have Touched and Studied, and Played With. with the Exception of 1 products (indicated by an Asterisk), the products were complimentary. However, none paid to be in the gift guide. so it is my honest take on my favorites from 2015. I’ve also included the suggested age ranges for each product and the estimated Retail Value, so you can shop for all ages and all budgets! Happy Holidays Everyone! ~Charlene CharleneChronicles.com MetrowestMamas.com CleverLuxe.com Twitter: @CharleneDeLoach Instagram: @CharleneChronicles
Table of Contents Awesomeness for Autism Great games and toys for children on the autism spectrum. Selected for their ease of use, ABA possibilities and potential for growth.
Robotic Raves Whether they roar or roll, these robots have value and opportunities for creative play and programming!
Playroom Presents These are cool concepts and products for the playroom. Whether is is perfect for a playdate or a rainy day, these will keep the kids occupied!
Table of Contents Crafty Creations Perfect products for creative crafters, picked because of the copious creative possibilities for all ages and projects.
Gifts to Go Sometimes you need to play on the plane, in the car or at Grandma’s house. These picks are ready to jet set.
Birthday Benefits Whether a birthday present, or ideas for birthday games, crafts and party favors, these are party takes that will impress your friends and guests!
Grown Up Girly Gifts These are cool concepts and products for the playroom. Whether is is perfect for a playdate or a rainy day, these will keep the kids occupied!
Meet  Charlene  Charlene DeLoach has worked for the White House, the Massachusetts Legislature, and big-name Insurance companies and State Agencies as an attorney. However, Charlene is now enjoying her best job yet as a Mom and Toy Blogger. Charlene blogs about luxury travel, fashion, and beauty at CleverLuxe.com, about health, toys and technology at CharleneChronicles.com, and about activities, baby gear, and local travels at MetrowestMamas.com She has been featured on Fox25 Morning News, the Boston Globe, Boston.com, Boston Herald, and Parents.com. She also writes for ToyInsider.com, is on their Parent Advisory Pane,l and co-hosts the popular HoliDAY of Play, Sweet Suite and Blogger Bash events featuring hundreds of sponsors, press and bloggers every year. Charlene lives outside of Boston with her husband, preschooler son, toddler daughter, and two teeny, tiny dogs.
Awesomeness for Autism LeapFrog LeapTV
$60
Supports academic achievements, but also builds skills in logic, reasoning, sharing, taking turns, following directions and fine motor skills. Ages 6+
Worry Eater by Haywire Group Helps with anxiety. Share your worry and watch it disappear. Fosters support and conversations. Ages 3+
$15
$20
Yeti in My Spaghetti by Patch Products A simple game, but with big potential. Kids learn turn taking, strategy & how to deal with frustration and anger when the game doesn’t go their way. Play independently or with a large group for play and ABA potential. Ages 3+
Awesomeness for Autism
Meet the Moodsters
$30
Part book and part toy, Meet the Moodsters helps identify and understand feelings and emotions in themselves and in others, through clever stories and toys, like the mood meter and feelings flashlight! Ages 3+
Star Wars Mr. Potato Head By Playskool Whether it is a Spudtropper, CSpud-P0 or other Mr. and Mrs. Potato Head characters, children can delve into the Star Wars excitement with a toy that helps fine motor skills, play dressing, and more. Get two or more to practice conversational skills in a potastic way. Ages 2+
$14+
Robotic Raves Miposaur by wowwee
$100
With different game modes & new technology, this dino can follow, track, chase, guard and react based on its mood. Ages 8+
Remote Control Machines: Animals by Thames and Kosmos
Kids learn about animal locomotion & biomechanics as they build each robot model using a guide or their own imaginations. Ages 8+
$50 Vex Robotics 4-n-1 Kit by Hexbug
$150
Construct & program a bugbot. Use a remote or the auto mode and watch the creation come to life. Ages 8+
Robotic Raves Sphero Ollie App Controlled Robot
$130
With its unique shape & speeds up to 14MPH, kids can super charge their imaginations with obstacles, challenges and more. Indoor & outside play potential (and a new robotic friend.) Ages 8+
Spinmaster Paw Patrol Interactive Mission Chase With 24 missions, kids listen and learn while emulating their favorite pup’s actions or creating their own. Ages 3+ $50
Furbacca by Hasbro*
$75
With his Wookie voice and animated eyes, link him up to the app to hatch virtual Starwars Furbys and take care of your furball. Ages 6+
Playroom Presents Doc McStuffins Pet Vet CheckUp Center by Just Play
$90
Role play with Doc McStuffins latest endeavor and let your little ones give a checkup to their little furry friends with lots of interactive features. Ages 3+
Hot Wheels Ultimate Garage By Mattel The biggest hot wheel garage yet with lots of parking spots, twists and turns. Plus, it works with the hot wheel track system making it playroom nirvana for hot wheel fans. Ages 5+
$90
PlaSmart Smart mat
$30
Whether it’s trains or cars, Happyville or Castletown, this mat doubles as colorful floor covering for playroom décor (and play potential.) Ages 0+
Playroom Presents Disney Infinity 3.0 Starter Pack and Characters Whether it’s awakening the force or being inside out, kids relate to their Disney friends and parents can get comfort with the kid $65+ friendly gaming characters; making it a good start to big-kid video games & playdates. Ages 6+ LeapFrog LeapTV If kids aren’t ready for the big gaming consoles, this is a great start with educational content & kid friendly controls to exercise the mind AND body with this interactive system. Ages 6+
$60
B. TeePee Tent by B. Toys
$80
Pull the cord inside for a magical light show and let the imaginations (and forts, sleepovers and playdates) begin! Ages 3+
Crafty Creations Easy Animation Studio By Crayola*
$25
Kids color characters and creations and scan using the app – making their creations come alive with stop motion animation type tech. Ages 6+
HP Social Media Snapshots Sticky photo Paper Use the app & print social media pics for easy scrapbooking & projects. Ages 10+ $10
Epson LabelWorks Printatble Ribbon Kit $70
Create personalized ribbons for gifts, favors, decorations, and crafts. Personalize words, or match a gift theme. Ages 10+
Gifts to Go LeapFrog LeapPad Platinum
$130
With parental controls, 8MB of storage, Wifi, curated and educational content, kids can have fun anywhere while you benefit from their learning potential! Ages 3+
Vtech InnoTV
With its small shape, easy set up, cartridge compatibility, and simple controller, tuck it in a bag to go to grandma’s house for single or multiplayer TV gaming anywhere. Ages 4+
$60 Colorforms by Wicked Cool Toys
$10+
Kids create stories & reuse restickable characters on scenic backgrounds. Many sizes, including a smaller travel version. Ages 3+ .
Grown Up Girly Gifts Karma Kitty by Wowwee
$20
Ask it questions & listen to it purr an answer. Also records a voice and plays it back in kitty tone. Collect all 3 and see a mashup of purrdictions. Ages 6+
Snap Pets Ditch the stick and tuck it in a bag for on the go pictures. Place it anywhere and use bluetooth to capture social worthy snapshots from your little friend! Ages 8+
$25
Play with me Elmo by PlaySkool
$40
With its cuteness and cuddliness, this Elmo plays, sings and loves games. It is one of those toys that toddlers, tweens and teens will love, and one that you’ll want to keep for yourself. Ages 1+
Birthday Benefits Flipsies With fun phrases, outfits, wigs & accessories, mix and match 8 characters to create fun interactions! Great for b-day gifts or party favors. Ages 4+ $10+
Crayola Crayon Carver Kids can carve sayings and signs onto crayons for unique creations. Fun b-day activity and crayons become favors. Ages 8+ $30 HipFits
$8
Tack 1 of 21 charms onto a gift bag for a glamorous take on a bow. Or tuck them into party goody bags. There is even a Hipfits Birthday dress too. Ages 3+
Check out all the Toy Reviews all year long! HAPPY HOLIDAYS!
Website: CharleneChronicles.com YouTube: @CharleneChronicles