As the most popular toys vary according to the age group, a number of stand-out items has been selected across the range of ages. These are sure to make your children jump with excitement.

1. Razor E100 Electric Scooter
Great for zipping over to a friend’s house or even to school. This little whiz can reach up to 10 mph which is fast enough to be useful but not enough to cause trouble. The re-chargeable battery is able to keep the rider moving for up to 40 minutes. It is light and easy enough to carry over difficult spots.

2. Ripstik Caster Board
Crosses a skateboard with a snowboard to provide a thrilling experience. It has a pivoting deck and caster trucks which are 360 degrees inclined. Change direction by shifting weight, just as you would with a board on the slopes.

3. Mountain Bike for Boys and Girls by Pacific Evolution.
This is a bike that’s tough enough to handle trails as well as uneven urban streets. It is suitable for beginners. A special front suspension fork helps to make the ride smoother when faced with obstacles. The girls’ version is styled a little differently but still has a steel frame which absorbs rough riding.

4. Apple iPod Touch (3rd Generation).
This is multi-functional and is great as an iPod, a portable game player and as a pocket computer. They can even watch a movie on it, check email, find street directions, surf the web, or listen to favorite music. It is designed to work straight out of the box.

5. SanDisk Sansa Fuze 8 GB Video MP3 Player
For a specialized music player, it’s hard to go past this one – and it looks great, too. It can accommodate up to 2,000 songs. As a break, listen to any of the 40 preset FM stations, take notes with the voice recorder, or listen to recordings of books and lectures. The battery is good for 24 hours of play.

6. Rainforest Melodies & Lights Deluxe Gym – Fisher-Price.
A treat for babies who can crawl, there are lights and melodies in a rainforest setting. It stimulates baby action and helps develop co-ordination and curiosity while entertaining and calming the child.

7. Scientific Explorer’s Spa Science Chemistry Kit.
This is a fun activity that is suitable for both boys and girls. For instance, the bath can be a playground of color and fragrance. Kids are able o make gels, bath fizzers, spa lotions, shampoos, bath balms and more. They’ll delight in mixing fragrances and other potions in the bathtub. It’s also a great way to get girls interested in science.

8. Dora The Explorer Links Doll – Fisher-Price.
Dora the Explorer is not just any doll. She can be linked to a computer which gives her access to an online world that involves her in solving mysteries, cleaning up the community, helping friends, and more. The doll is transformed as the girls engage in the online activities. There are changes to the doll – including speech, eye and jewelry color – that match the changing situations.

9. Underwater 48-Piece Floor Puzzle – Melissa & Doug.
This is a gorgeous jigsaw puzzle with 48 pieces set in a blue-and-green ocean floor background. The marine life is colorful and weirdly shaped. It includes a crab, octopus, fish and coral. Puzzlers will build matching skills and dexterity. The pieces are large and easy to clean.

10. 6 ft Piano Mat
Have an orchestra on your living room floor. The keyboard lies flat in the style of a floor mat and is able to provide the sounds of a piano, xylophone, guitar, saxophone, and more. It also has a demo mode that shows how to use the different features. Players are able to play their own compositions and also record and play them back. Mozart never had it so good!

THanks for your help

If you have a small compact car with no factory racks, you can buy aftermarket hard racks from companies such as Yakima and Thule. They offer racks to fit just about every car. Although they can be a little pricey, if you are an avid surfer then the investment will be worth it.

Another option for those without hard racks—factory or aftermarket—are soft racks. Soft racks are a temporary rack solution made of soft foam that attach to the roof of your car with straps. The boards are then secured to the foam rolls. Soft surf racks are an excellent option if you’re traveling and using rental cars. They’re also great for when you don’t have the money for a more permanent rack solution. Soft racks aren’t the most secure rack system out there, so if you’re driving around with boards a lot you might want to think about getting a more permanent solution.

If you have a car or SUV with factory racks, then you might want to invest in some rack pads. These are soft foam rolls that attach to the rack crossbars and protect your surfboard from dings and contact with the bars. These are fairly inexpensive, but you will also need to get some straps or cords to tie down the board. Some rack pads come with straps already attached, which can make your life a lot easier.

Another option for those with hard racks is to buy a special surf rack attachment. There are a couple different models to choose from.

In my experience, the Inno Boardlocker rack system is the best option for hard rack attachments. The Boardlocker has an easy to use floating strap system, which ratchets down and then locks to keep your surfboards secure from thieves. No more worrying about someone running off with your boards while you’re not by your car. The Boardlocker has plenty of room for several boards stacked on top of each other. It is also compatible with just about every factory and aftermarket rack system out there.

Another hard rack system is the Thule Hang Two. This is a popular rack system that is easy to use and fairly cheap, and is also compatible with factory racks. It is designed for up to two boards, however it doesn’t have a locking mechanism like the Boardlocker.

The Gatekeeper is another locking rack that also has a version for pickup trucks. The Gatekeeper has gotten good reviews, however it can only store one board, so it’s a bit limited.

If you’re in the market to buy a surf rack, think about how many boards you like to take around with you, what your budget is, and what features you’d like. Also consider versatility if you’re into other sports like kayaking and fishing.