Timeless Christmas gifts for kids include five items that have been beloved by children for generations. These gifts will bring joy to today's generation just as they did to their parents and grandparents, in some cases, even the great-grandparents. While today's versions may be a bit more high tech, these children's Christmas gifts are classics that will never go out of style.

Bicycles

A bicycle under the tree on Christmas morning is sure to bring squeal of delight from a child of any age. A gift of a bicycle is special. It allows a child to become more mobile and for older children, it can offer a new level of independence. There are many different bicycles to choose from for kids of all ages. For parents considering this gift, a good starting point would be to visit the American Academy of Pediatrics website for their helpful tips on how to choose the correct size bicycle for a child. This web page also contains valuable safety information as well as guidelines for choosing the correct bicycle helmet.

Whether you are choosing a traditional bike, mountain bike, racer or the child's first tricycle, a new bicycle with a bright, big bow is sure to be a hit gift on Christmas morning.

Dolls

Young girls throughout history have treasured baby dolls, real-hair dolls, porcelain dolls, and rag dolls. Barbie dolls are still a classic doll gift and are even available in special Holiday editions. The range of Barbie dolls is immense. From Veterinarian Barbie to the modern Twilight Bella Barbie, there is a Barbie doll with accessories to match many different girl personalities.

If the young girl does not care for Barbie dolls, the American Girl dolls may be the way to go. American Girl dolls have grown in popularity over the last several years. These dolls are finely crafted and each is designed to represent an era in American history. The American Girl website is the best starting place when considering this purchase. Unsure which doll your girl would like? Order a catalog by clicking on the link. Some dolls do become retired and unavailable. For example, the Kirsten doll will be sent to the American Girl Archives after the Holidays of 2009.

A popular choice of American Girl doll is Kit and her friend Ruthie. Kit is from the 1930's and is a freckled, spunky girl who meets the challenges of life with intelligence and confidence. Each doll has books that tell the story of the doll. Accessories are also available to match each doll. If purchasing a doll like Kit, consider adding the 2008 DVD movie, "Kit Kittredge: An American Girl." A combination package is available on the website, Kit doll plus book for $95.

Easy Bake Ovens

Hasbro introduced the first working toy oven in 1963. It was turquoise and cost $15.95. More than forty years later, the Easy Bake Oven is still thrilling both girls and boys with its Easy Bake Oven and Snack Center. The oven may have undergone a few physical changes over the years but the fun of baking treats without mom's help, is still loved by today's kids. The oven retails for about $25 and is recommended for kids ages eight and older. Several accessories are available as well as a large selection of mixes for creating tasty treats. There is even a recipe section on the Hasbro Easy Bake website.

Electric Trains

The sight and sounds of a real electric train encircling the tree on Christmas morning is a thrill for both kids and adults. Mom and Dad can revel in their childhood memories of their Lionel train while the kids arrange the track and have fun conducting their very own electric train. The first stop for anyone considering purchasing an electric train is the Lionel Trains website. Here, visitors can learn about the different train sizes and styles as well get an idea on what will work best for the child's age and ability.

For younger children, the Thomas the Tank Engine electric train set is a good starter train. This O gauge set includes a Thomas Engine with three interchangeable faces including Annie and Clarabel. It also has moving eyes on Thomas and an electronic whistle. It retails for about $170. Fans of Harry Potter might enjoy the five-piece O gauge Hogwarts Express Train Set by Lionel. It features a die-cast steam locomotive and an oval track that measures 40X60 inches. It retails for about $300 and can be found on the website Broomsticks and Owls.

Sleds

If you are fortunate to live in a climate that allows for winter sledding activities than a sled under the Christmas tree is a great timeless kid's gift. While the wooden sleds of our grandparent's era are still available the selection and variations of sleds has grown enormously. A visit to the website Snowsleds.net is a great starting place for a sled purchase. Not only does this site have many sled options it also provides information regarding sledding safety, sled styles, safety gear, sledding locations and much more.

There are sleds designed specifically for kids under the age of ten as well as for tweens, teens and larger adults. Steerable sleds tend to be a bit more expensive but they can be high tech and might be a good option for the novice sledder. For a more traditional sled, consider the Classic Flyer sled that retails for about $150. This sled looks like it belongs in a classic Christmas special. Round toboggans are another good choice. For a classic toboggan, opt for the Mountain Boggan. This toboggan is handcrafted from flexible basswood with willow crosspieces. It is available in either four foot or six foot lengths and retails for about $150.

Choosing a timeless Christmas gifts for kids does not mean you have to give up modern technology or elements of today's culture. Many gifts that were popular fifty years are still popular today because the basic gift is classic and will never go out of style. Consider what your children likes and naturally gravitate towards and then choose which timeless gift will cause yelps of excitement on Christmas morning.

Learn more about this author, Barb Hopkins.
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