Just in time for the Holidays, the Canadian Toy Council had announced the 2011 Childrens Choice Toys — or perhaps as they should be known, the Great Big List of Plastic Stuff. OK, perhaps that may be a little too harsh — after all, it is the holiday season, and the last thing we want is to end up on Santa’s naughty list.

That said, if you have kids on your list whom you’d prefer to give gifts with lasting value, or if you’d simply prefer not to see yet more plastic stuff scattered around your living room on Christmas morning, The Pebble team has compiled its own list of recommended toys — all of the fun, none of the plastic. And of course, we carry each and every one of them (at least while supplies last, so you may want to hurry.)

We think St. Nick would be proud.

(1) Wishbone Flip

It’s a rocker that converts to ride-on in mere seconds, thanks to a nifty flipping mechanism. Its simple, beautiful design includes double bolt holes that allow the Flip to grow with your child. Made from 100% reforested birch plywood. Meets current European, US and international toy safety standards. Recommended for ages 1 to 5.

(2) Educo Salad

Create a gourmet salad with fabric lettuce and carrot strips, wooden peppers, cucumbers, onions and tomato slices. Toss with a little imaginary dressing from an exquisite salad dressing bottle, and you’ve got yourself some delicious and healthy lifetime eating habits reinforced by early-age play.

(3) Plan Toys Xylophone

You just can’t go wrong with the classics. The xylophone is simply one of the best ways to introduce toddlers to their inner musician. Especially when it’s a top-quality Plan Toys xylophone, made of chemical free, kiln-dried recycled rubber wood.

(4) Manhattan Toy Puppet Theatre

For those who love to give the gift of originality, it’s hard to top this one. This adorable yet functional puppet theatre will give new life to old puppets — and raise the interest level in new ones — while inspiring kids to create, imagine and perform. And when the show’s over, it also doubles as a couch cushion-saving fort.

(5) Beleduc Puppets

Sometimes, all you need is a stocking stuffer. Beleduc hand puppets fit almost any hand (as well as almost any gift budget) and are almost too adorable to be legal.

(6) Blabla Dolls

A great story makes a great gift even better. Blabla Dolls are more than just irresistibly soft and cuddly pals; designed by Florence Wetterwald and knitted by Peruvian artisans, everything about them is handmade from exceptional quality natural fibers grown in Peru.

The simple, poetic, and vibrant style combined with the ancestral knowledge of the knitters has created products which look contemporary, yet feel like old friends. And that’s something you just don’t get from Fisher-Price.

(7) Educo My Creative Cookery Kitchen

Turns out the Canadian Toy Council agrees with us on this one; this toy has earned the Council’s 3-star award. There are plenty of play kitchens out there, but Educo’s version is easily one of the best. Yet while most other top-of-the-line toy kitchens can be ridiculously expensive, the Educo kitchen offers some of the best value, considering not only its outstanding quality but everything that’s included with it: a refrigerator, a cook top, a sink — even an oven with a see-through door. There are also plenty of ingredients for the perfect meal, including veggies, bread, an egg, cheese, pizza, salt and pepper, pots and pans, and utensils.

(8) Prince Lionheart Wheely

This is the kind of gift that makes adults wish they were still small enough to take it for a spin. The Prince Lionheart Wheely has won a bevy of international toy awards, is constructed from the highest quality materials and is entirely non-toxic and contains no PVC. Oh, and did we mention it’s crazy fun?

(9) Wishing Owls

For those who love giving one-of-a-kind gifts, no two Wishing Owls are alike. And no, that’s not just a bunch of sales hyperbole — each and every one is literally unique. How can this be? Because they’re all hand-made in Vancouver using recycled, re-used and vintage fabrics. (Some new fabrics and fill are used, but all ‘new’ materials are actually made from recycled plastic bottles.) Available in small and large sizes.

(10) Modern-Twist Kidz Placemat & Marker Set

Setting the table is a lot more fun when the placemats look like this, and you even get to color them. Collaborating with independent artists, these placemats features playful yet amazing artwork. Just clean off with a damp cloth or rinse, and color again & again; washable markers are included but any washable or dry-erase markers will work. Made from silky food-grade, hand silk-screened silicone, these mats are a non-porous, germ-free surface, free of BPA, lead, latex & phthalates, and won’t crease or rip. Ideal for traveling.

Sharing

Johnny and Jack are almost two years old. They have weekly play dates while their moms sit on the couch catching up. One day, while Jack is building a tower with some blocks, Johnny sits next to him playing with cars. A couple minutes later, Johnny goes over to Jack, grabs the blocks out of Jack’s hand, knocking down the tower and walks away. Johnny starts to cry inconsolably. The play date is over.

This scenario is likely very familiar to many moms. Sharing is a very complex skill. It requires children to understand how others feel, manage strong emotions, have self-control, and understand time (e.g., waiting their turn). Young children will not have developed these abilities. In fact, children will only start to develop these skills when they are approaching 3 years of age and will still need a lot of help for many years after that. So what can parents do to encourage the development of this important prosocial behavior?

• Play turn taking games with your child, such as rolling a ball back and forth or taking turns placing blacks on a tower. This is a great first introduction to sharing where parents have an opportunity to model the skill.
• Talk about sharing by pointing out examples of sharing that you noticed in real-life and in books.
• With children under 2 or 3 redirection will be a key strategy when difficulties with sharing come up. Distract the upset child with a new exciting option, thereby giving him/her lots of attention.
• Make sure you are noticing positive behaviours including sharing and provide a lot of specific praise, “That is amazing how you guys figured out to share the cars with each other.”
• Around age 3, you can begin to use more concrete strategies to teach sharing. For example, you can say things like, “there is only one police car, I will set the timer and you will each have three minutes to play with it. While you are waiting for your turn, why don’t you play with the firetruck.” This provides external guidance and strategies for sharing that they can later internalize.
• Directly teach children problem solving skills:
  • Explain the situation as simply as possible in a calm voice. “You wanted to play with the car so you took it away from Steve.
  • Explain the consequences of the actions. Point out behaviours and feelings. “After you took it, Steve began to cry. He felt sad and mad.”
  • Brainstorm with your child other strategies that might be better next time. As children approach three and on, they will be able to help generate ideas. “Next time, you can use your words and ask for the toy or ask me for help for a turn.”

Don’t forget learning these behaviours take time.  You will have to provide considerable support and go through these strategies many times before they will be able to do it on their own. Remember your most powerful tool in teaching and reinforcing new behaviours is you! Children want to please. When you respond positively with a lot of attention for pro-social behaviours like sharing, they will feel good about themselves and will want to do it some more.

Dr. Annie Simpson, R. Psych

Dr. Annie Simpson is a registered psychologist at the North Shore Stress and Anxiety Clinic (www.nssac.ca) and specializes in assessment and treatment of emotional and behavioural problems in childhood.

Just a reminder that even Canada Post’s most generous deadlines are fast approaching (or as they refer to them, “Suggested Mailing Dates”). You can check out the entire list over here, but these are the most immediate ones:



Air Parcel to USA - Friday, Dec 4

XPress Post to Europe, Asia, Australia & NZ – Monday, Dec 7

Regular Parcel within Canada – Friday, Dec 11



And of course, if your parcel doesn’t arrive at your loved ones’ door before Christmas, you know it probably won’t show up until about a week after. To some people that matters while to others, meh! Not so much. It’s the thought that counts after all, right?

But if you happen to be one of those people for whom it matters, and you happen to still be searching for that perfect gift, we know a great children’s store that will do everything possible to help you make sure it arrives on time.

Happy 24 Days Until Christmas!