Top 9 2005 Hot Holiday Toys for Twins and Multiples

1. Black Belts Karate Home Studio

A thirty minute DVD or video teaches kids the basics of karate which they can practice with the included training mat and inflatable target. Parents of multiples will appreciate a toy that is educational and encourages activity, however, they may not be so happy when their multiples decide to try out their martial arts moves on each other.

2. Dora's Talking Kitchen

I'm a big fan of play kitchens for twins and multiples, since it provides plenty of opportunity for them to pay simultaneously. This new product from Fisher Price takes play cooking to a new level with bilingual talking recipe cards that walk kids through the preparation of five different dishes. Fans of the Dora television show may appreciate the theme, but there are plenty of other play kitchens on the market with more features.

3. V.Smile Pocket

A portable version of last year's hot interactive learning system is now available. While the TV version is definitely "share-able" among multiples, you won't get off so easy with the Pocket model. It still connects to the television to play educational "smartridges," but it can also play anywhere using batteries or a rechargable power pack.

4. I-Dog

Electronic pets have been a hot commodity for several years now, but I-Dog is unique for it's musical talent. Capitalizing on the iPod craze, I-Dog "feeds" on music and sounds fed to it through a portable music player and responds with movement and light effects. It requires a music source, such as a boom box or stereo with speakers, or plugs diretly into a portable music player with the included cable.

5.

From the team that created the Furby comes another musical toy for the iPod generation. It's more expensive than the I-Dog and offers more features, however many of them may be lost on younger users. Like the I-Dog it works with a music source and interacts with the sounds by lighting up and moving around. In addition, it allows users to create and playback their own musical compositions.

6. Leapster L-Max Learning System

The Leapster product line introducts another interactive educational game system to the market. The L-Max is portable, like the V-Tech V.Smile Pocket, and also works in conjunction with a television set. It has some additional nifty features, like a stylus that helps children practice handwriting. V.Smile Pocket is a little bit cheaper, but many children will prefer the familiar television characters, like Spongebob and Dora the Explorer, featured in L-Max's games.

7. Magnetix Magnaworld City

Building sets like this are great options for multiples, because they can easily share the multiple pieces and they'll have more fun playing with it together. Magnetix play sets use magnet pieces; this particular set is composed of 100 different components along with blueprints for assembling a city.

8. Pixel Chix

Pixel Chix is a combination of a simulation role-playing game like "The Sims" and electronic pet like Tamagotchi Connection. Designed for tween girls, the house-shaped game provides a virtual buddy that they can control with five action buttons. Program the Pixel Chix to eat, sleep, try on fashion outfits or go out on the town. In three permutations: Beverly Hills House, Miami Loft and Cottage House, so your twin or triplet girls can each have their own variation.

9. Shell Shocker

The Shell Shocker is a rough-and-tumble remote control vehicle that can tackle any terrain. A unique design allows it to climb over obstacles. Family Fun magazine identified as one of the Top Toys of 2005. Be aware that the charger and battery pack sold separately push the cost well over $100.