Christmas Gifts 2011: The Ultimate Guide for Gifts for Christmas

Welcome to the best Christmas gifts of 2011! Are you browsing around the internet trying to think of gift ideas for your friends, family, and loved ones? This page is dedicated to bringing you a variety of ideas for people of all ages! Have you ever stood in line during the busy Christmas season and just hated the long checkout lines? Well, you do have an alternative! Have you ever considered doing all of your shopping online? It's what I've been doing for the past few years, and I'll never go back. There are no lines with online shopping, and you don't even have to leave your chair.

Also, check out the pages Gifts for Her and Gifts for Him if you are looking for more specific types of gifts. If you need even more ideas, check out the Christmas Gift Ideas page!

Quick Jump: Entire Family, Video Games, Babies, Boys, Girls, Teen Boys, Teen Girls, Gifts for Everyone, Stocking Stuffers, Wrapping Paper, Gifts for Adult Men, Gifts for Adult Women

Before we get into each individual age group, let's start by looking at the best gifts for the entire family. This is usually a time as well as money saver, especially if you're looking to make several people happy with a single gift!

Nintendo Wii

The first thing on our list, and it's a great addition to any home, is the Nintendo Wii. You're thinking, why a video game system? The Wii has a large variety of games on it that will suit the needs of all age groups, and it's pretty cheap itself. On top of that the Wii system uses motion controllers to play the majority of the games, so the potential to burn some unwanted calories while having a good time is always a plus.

Apple iPad

The perfect gift for the technical enthusiast! This is a very slim and powerful device, capable of performing a large variety of functions, such as using software, watching movies, listening to music, surfing the internet, and much more. If you are looking for a gift for a person who loves technology, this is a perfect choice.

Personal Computer

This is always a great addition to your household. Aside from all the fun and enjoyment of staying connected with friends and family online, it's also a useful tool to become computer literate, as well as a great way for children to do school research. On top of that, it's also also a great way to play video games. Think of a personal computer as a all-in-one present.

Household Movie Projector

Have you ever considered turning a blank wall in your home into a theater? This is a new craze these days due to the low cost of the projectors. I do recommend getting some type of sound system for your theater too!

Board Games

This is a low costing solution to those on a budget, yet still want to purchase a gift that involves the entire family! Two games come to mind, and they are both some of the bestselling games out there. They are Settlers of Catan and Apples to Apples. The Settlers of Catan game is a good one, my brother picked it up and we've played several times with my dad and other brother (4 players). Apples to Apples is game about making comparisons between different things, it's highly entertaining for a group of people.

Video games are a popular item among people of all ages, and these would make great gifts for just about anyone, both men and women, and boys and girls. There is plenty of action for everyone! I wasn't going to make this it's own section, but due to the amount of information I had create it. Enjoy!

Gaming Console

I bet you already knew, huh? Boys and girls just love their video games, that is certainly nothing new! It's basically a toss-up between the Xbox 360, the Playstation 3 (PS3), and the Nintendo Wii. At this point you're at a crossroads since you may have no idea which system to buy, so I'll try to be a bit helpful with your decision. Out of the three, the PS3 is the most powerful system as well as includes a built-in Blu-Ray player which may save you in the long run. The Xbox 360 is another powerful system, and it features a normal DVD player. The Nintendo Wii is the most affordable system, but the system itself isn't that powerful, it's just fun and friendly, especially when entire families are playing it.

• Xbox 360 - If you don't feel like spending a lot of money for the PS3, yet want to get a gift that is both popular as well as powerful, get the Xbox 360. This can play regular movie DVD's as well. You need to pay for Xbox Live membership if you want to play online games, it's not too expensive though. Also the online gameplay is pretty smooth and clear.
• Playstation 3 (PS3) - Get this if you don't mind spending extra money. You may end up saving in the long run since your child may sooner or later want a Blu-Ray player, and this comes with one. The PS3 let's you play online for free, if you have broadband internet already.
• Wii - If you know the boy wants a gaming system and you don't have one yet, and at the same time you don't have the money to burn for the more powerful and expensive systems, this is the best that you're going to get.

I'm a pretty hardcore video gamer as well, and I may be a bit bias when I say that it's more likely that your boy will enjoy the Xbox 360 or the PS3 the most. The Wii is a fun system, but it's processors are not the most powerful and it makes the graphics not as good. I suppose the best rule of thumb would be this, just ask "What type of gaming system does your friends have?" and most likely they'll answer it, and at the same time it's not directly telling them that you're getting him one. *** The game consoles I listed are bundles, which means they come with games. I did this on purpose just in case you forgot to get your boy a game and only the system, which at that point is pretty pointless! Just looking out for you!

We're going to start with babies, and then work our way up from there. There are lots of baby gift ideas out there, the only problem is, is which is right for the baby that you are buying for? Let's have a look at what's on the bestseller lists, perhaps something will tickle your fancy.

Baby Nurse Call Monitor

You're probably a bit confused by this, but don't worry! This is a great gift for those who are expecting, or perhaps a couple with a recent newborn who is trying to gather the much-needed baby supplies. This makes a useful gift, and one that the baby would appreciate!

Vulli Sophie the Giraffe Teether

This item which is made from 100% rubber and food paint is the perfect gift for a baby who is just beginning to teethe, after all it's part toy and part child development all rolled into one.

Baby Einstein Take Along Tunes

What better way to promote auditory development than letting your baby sing-along with 7 high quality classical melodies! From reading the reviews, this item has proven to be quite popular among new parents!

Cloud b Twilight Constellation Night Light

This has over 860 responses on Amazon, it's quite popular! Think of this as a stuffed animal that has another use, it's also a nightlight! The shell glows in 3 soothing colors, and five endangered sea animals illuminate one at a time.

LeapFrog Learn & Groove

Inspire your baby with learning over 40 songs and 15 activities, such as tap, slide, roll, or spin. It introduces shapes, numbers, and counting, as well as features legs that attach to the table as the baby grows.

Stuffed Animals with Soothing Sounds

This is an excellent gift for those wishing to help their babies sleep better, which allows helps the parents sleep better as well! There are many different types of stuffed animals that play soothing songs, but we're only going to show a few on this list (the bestsellers) to give you some ideas.

Kiddopotamus SwaddleMe

To go along with the stuffed animals with soothing songs, a good gift would be a blanket that is both snug and fitting, so that it can keep your baby warm at night while he/she listens to soothing songs. As your baby grows the wings can adjust for size and comfort. There are many, many more of these types of blankets, we're only going to show you the one on the top of the list.

Little Super Star Classical Stacker

Have you ever noticed just how many of these stackers you see in houses with babies? This is almost a necessity these days, isn't it? I wasn't surprised seeing this high up on the list, wasn't surprised at all. If your baby doesn't have one of these yet, this would make a great gift!

This is when it starts getting tough, since you're asking yourself "What does my boy want this Christmas?" and your mental wheel is just spinning. You don't know, do you? Hopefully this list will give you some ideas for what to get for Christmas! You should be able to find something, since this is only the bestselling items and that itself should say something.

Nerf

There are so many Nerf toys out there that it's hard to pick what exactly your boy would want. So, with that I just picked the top two of the bestselling Nerf toys to hopefully point you in the right direction.

Lego

This has always been a very popular toy over the years, and still remains very popular even today. Due to the shear amount of Lego toys out there, as I'm pretty sure you know, I'm only going to list the top few, otherwise you'll be spending the next twenty four hours just browsing Lego toys!

Handheld Gaming System

There are two handheld gaming systems that are quite popular, the first is the new and popular Nintendo 3DS, which is a new 3D handheld gaming system. The next is the PSP, which stands for the Playstation Portable. To be honest, it's hard to pick between the two, but on the bright side I have no doubt whichever one you buy your son will be quite happy!

Remote Control Vehicles

I remember growing up and having a remote control monster truck called Big Bubba. It was one of the most memorable experiences growing up, the only downside was when I drove it into a lake, that was no fun. I guess we all learn the hard way! I'm only going to show the top two bestsellers since there are so many to choose from. The number one bestseller is a remote control helicopter which I remember seeing an add for, it has plenty of good reviews of it too and it's also cheap.

Scooters

A scooter is always a good gift. Why? Because it gets the boy outside for exercise and fresh air! I had one of these two while growing up, and I remember always having a tough time choosing between this and my bike. This would make an excellent gift that is both fun and healthy!

Finding the right gifts for pre-teen girls isn't easy, since their now starting to blossom into young ladies their needs are a bit complex. With the help and input of my friends (notably the female friends) as well as going through the internet and searching bestsellers lists, I've compiled a list of what pre-teen girls would like for gifts. Also, don't forget that girls like video games too!

Scooters

Since we left off with Scooters for boys, we'll start that with girls (We're already on the page). This is the number one pick for scooters for girls, and it's reasonably priced so that helps a lot too. This is both fun as well as keeps your girls healthy and fit!

Bracelet Making Kits

You can't go wrong with this one! Friends get together and enjoy some fun arts and crafts with a bracelet making kit. There are several kits out there, but this one is the first on the bestsellers list, as well as had high rankings.

Stamp Sets

This would make a wonderful addition to the bracelet making kit, you could even have an arts and crafts theme for the holidays. It comes with it's own storage box, so clean-up should be a breeze.

Easy Bake

You knew this one was going to be listed, didn't you? I bet you did! I remember seeing commercials for this as I was growing up, and I even remember trying some Easy Bake cookies at a friends, which to my surprise were quite good!

Barbie

Did you know that Barbie has Twilight movie dolls? I didn't, until I looked up the bestselling barbies and noticed that Bella, Jacob, and Edward dolls were on the top of the list. I suppose it makes sense due to the movie's popularity. If she likes Twilight, I have no doubt she'll appreciate these gifts!

Stickers

If there is one thing that I've noticed while growing up, is that girls love their stickers. They put them on everything, such as their folders, their notebooks, their diaries, and more. I think this would make a great low costing gift.

Coloring Books

This would greatly compliment the stickers up above, don't you agree? They color their pictures and then after put stickers on them! Coloring books are always great for those who wish to express themselves in the form of art.

Apple Ipod

Does she have a love of music? One of the best gifts you can get is a portable music device, such as Apple's Ipod. They are pretty affordable these days and are great for when she is on the go.

When boys start getting into their teens, it starts to become quite easy and also very difficult to get them the right gifts. Usually video games are a huge hit still, and quite possibly stay a hit all the way up until their an adult. But, aside from that there are quite a few things that are must-haves for teenage boys! Just remember, teenage boys want to be cool, so only buy things that will go with that image (their definition of cool, not yours).

Electric Guitar

Playing the electric guitar is often considered the hip and cool thing to do when you're a teenager, especially a young teen. If someone asks you "Do you play the guitar?" you can respond with "Oh.. yeaa..." which could potentially add some popularity points for you. Aside from that, it's a healthy expression of the soul and quite enjoyable too. This would make a good gift for anyone who is interested in music.

Ipod

I did feature this already for the girls category, but this is the time period in a young man's life that it's considered "cool" to have an Ipod. Besides, if they go out running for track, or biking for fun, an Ipod could be very useful!

Hit Video Games

You may want to check around for the latest video games that are considered smash hits. Often, you can just call up a local store and ask them "What is the latest and most popular game title for [insert your console system here]?" and they will respond with three to four titles for you to choose from. Remember, teenage boys love their action and bloodshed, so the more the merrier!

Laptop

This is the period in a teenager's life where it's important to have their own personal computers. In today's world, a laptop would suit them while they are constantly on the go. Also, at the same time whenever they go off to college they will already have a laptop so you won't have to buy them another one! I do recommend getting one that is capable of playing video games quite well, otherwise you may hear them complain about it.

Sports Gear

A lot of teenage boys are very active, but I'm pretty sure you know that already. They are always into some type of sports activity, and what better way to contribute is to get them some sports gear! The great thing about this is that it's usually pretty affordable too. Please note, be sure they are into sports to begin with, otherwise whatever you buy them may sit on the shelf for the next ten years.

Movies

This has always been a very successful and low costing method of getting gifts for people. Usually you can spend under $20 to get someone a movie they may like. A good rule of thumb is to keep track of the blockbuster hits, and you can by just going to an online movie retailer and sorting it by most rented or most viewed and that should give you an idea of which movie to buy (the most popular). Remember, you want to get him a cool movie.

Board & Card Games

Both board and card games both are very enjoyable as well as usually come with a cheap price tag. Since there are so many board and card games, I'm going to show you only one of each to give you some ideas. These are great gift ideas to beef up your gift giving selection!

Just like teen boys, teen girls are equally as difficult to buy for. This is where having several trustworthy friends (girls) come in handy, as well as doing a bit of research on the bestselling lists in regards to what teenage girls buy. Oh, and yes, teenage girls do play plenty of video games as well!

Magazines

A lot of teenage girls read magazines, and there are plenty out there to pick from. Due to the competition of the internet and paper magazines, it's driven the printed magazine's price way down, and I mean, really far down. You can get a year subscription for next to nothing these days, and it's worth checking out.

Cell Phone Accessories

You may not consider getting a cell phone through an online website, but you may consider getting some cell phone accessories that you know she'll love!

Movies

Usually teenage girls love movies about relationships and love, and getting them a couple for Christmas would be a great idea!

Diary

Girls love to talk, but they also love to write notes to each other, doodle, and write down secret crushes in their diaries. This is a great gift that I have no doubt will get some use.

Posters

You can't go wrong with posters, although if you get movie star posters I would suggest that you find out who her favorite crushes are concerning movie stars, you wouldn't want to get the wrong one!

Gift Cards

You know that females love their shopping, and getting them gift cards will make them dance around in glee as they consider what their going to spend their gift cards on. This is also great for those that just don't know what to get their kids, what a loophole!

Webcam

Teenagers love staying in touch, posting their newest images on their Facebook, and much more. A webcam can can do both of those, they can talk live with their friends, as well as take screenshots (images) and upload them to Facebook.

Makeup & Lotion

You know that being a woman you need to look pretty, ever thought of giving some gifts such as makeup or skin lotion? There is a lot of different products to choose from, so I listed the top two in regards to makeup and skin lotion. But, you get the idea.

These are gift ideas for adult men, hopefully you'll find something that your friend or loved one will want to have. If you have noticed, a lot of guys like electronics and tools, you can't go wrong there!

HD TV

Men love their toys, especially their television sets. The vast majority of men love big televisions, it's just the way it is. It's the male instinct to have the biggest and the best out there.

Blu-Ray Player

If you're going to get them a television (or not), then be sure to get them a blu-ray player. If you haven't noticed, major retail stores online as well as offline are selling blu-ray discs. I think the guy you buy this for will really appreciate the kind gesture!

Home Theater Speakers

If you're going to get the television, the blu-ray player, you might as well as pick up the speakers to go with it. With all of these combined, your man will have the ultimate power in the universe!

Tools

Every man loves tools! Get your man to actually do work around the house with a tool set. Maybe. Either way it's a nice gesture!

Computer

If you're considering getting a guy a computer, you better find out if he likes PC or Apple more. I wouldn't just buy him one without knowing! A computer is always a great gift for a guy, they love them. It's like candy to them.

Movies

Guys like movies, it's our nature to watch them. But, usually a typical guy likes action movies of some sort, so you're pretty safe just as long as it has action and it's not boring!

Grill

Just imagine, you're sitting there watching a blu-ray movie on your new big television, and at the same time you're eating some BBQ. Guy's love grilling!

Recliner

You know, this would go well with just about everything on this list. It's true! You saw this coming, didn't you?

There are a lot of items out there that a woman would want, so with that I'll just post a few that seem to be common trends, as well as on bestsellers lists.

Lotion

If you haven't noticed yet, women seem to love lotion of all kinds. Just as long as it smells nice and it smooths the skin, you'll make her a happy camper!

Candles

Aroma candles have always been a hit, after all you're making your entire room, if not your whole house smell really nice!

Coffee Maker

I haven't met a woman yet that doesn't like some sort of coffee in the morning. There are plenty of flavors to go with this, my special favorite is Irish Creme.

Kindle

Just imagine this, she is having her aroma therapy bubble bath while sipping her coffee, and at the same time reading her favorite book that she downloaded on her Kindle!

Soothing Bubble Bath

Speaking of bubble baths, this has always scored a lot of points with the women that I've known, they seem to really love feeling all relaxed after a long day's work, and this certainly will help do that!

Jewelry

Women love to adorn themselves in beautiful jewelry, and it's worth it to get her something every once and a while, isn't it? You know, to show your appreciation?

Nintendo Wii, and Wii Fit with Balance Board

You've probably already heard of this, but it seems to be rather popular with people who like yoga and aerobics and such!

Movies

People like movies. Women like movies. It's just the way it is! I've always had the feeling that women like movies that have more of a plot to them, perhaps Memoirs of a Geisha? That's a good one!

You may want to consider getting some universal gifts, just in case you forget someone you can quickly wrap something up and give it to them. All the items here are gender and age neutral, so go wild!

Gift Cards

This is about as gender neutral as you can get! They decide what they want to buy, if it's a male they can go buy their share of gory movies, and if it's a gal they can go buy their favorite perfumes. You're not restricted to what you can buy!

Candy Gift Sets

Usually person loves candy, and there are plenty of candy gift sets out there to fill anyone's tummy full of sweet goodness!

Video Players

These are gender neutral as well, since it's what goes on the inside is what determines who is watching it (the DVD). People always like new gadgets, and this is no different!

Kindle

This is new fad on the internet which is quite popular amongst readers. The Kindle lets you load a lot of digital books, and I emphasize a lot, onto a single reader. You could literally have your entire library at the palm of your hand. This is great for people who want something to read while on the go.

Digital Camera

This is a gift that anyone would love! It's a great idea for anyone wishing to take memories with them, or it even makes a great gift for those looking to be amateur photographers!

Gaming System

There are games that would interest both men and women, boys and girls, so this would be a safe bet if you're trying to get something that is gender neutral!

Magazines

There are plenty of magazines out there that don't cater to a particular gender, such as the National Geographic. That has been a hit magazine for a very long time.

Stockings have been a traditional Christmas idea for a very long time, and it's always a great way to warm up right before the main gift giving event happens! The following list is to give you some ideas of what particular items would go great in a stocking. Also, if you're feeling slightly evil, you may want to consider tossing in some gag gifts into the stocking as well.

Candy Bars

These are almost a necessity when your filling the stockings full of gifts! You can't go wrong with the sweets, people of all ages love them. The best method is to get it in bulk, so your not nickle and diming yourself to death buying them at a store. There are many places online that sell candy in packs, so do yourself a favor and save a little.

Plush Toys

These little stuffed animals would make great stocking stuffers, especially for the kids!

Swiss Army Knife

This is always a useful tool, especially when your trying to cut something and your in the need of something sharp to cut it with, or if you're trying to open a beer even. Just be sure to only give this one to adults, after all it is sharp!

Gift Cards

Since a gift card is so small, it's always a great stocking stuffer! Both kids and adults love getting these, after all they can use them to get whatever they want!

Mints

This has always been a tradition with my family, and it's to be expected when opening your stocking. There is always a tin of some sort of mints in there!

Card Games

These fit really well into a stocking, and there are many types of card games to get. I do highly recommend trying out the Munchkin card game, a lot of people seem to like it.

Jewelry

Depending on who you are getting this for, this may prove to be a very valuable investment!

Movies

These also fit rather well due to their thin nature, you can fit a couple of these into a stocking and still have plenty of room for more!

If you're buying your gifts online, you might want to consider getting some wrapping paper and ribbons online as well in a single swoop. Technically, you could do all of your gifts and wrapping paper without even leaving your chair. Just a thought!

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