Getting started on your Christmas shopping early can equal better selection and less stress as you get closer to Christmas. While it is true that you may miss the “once in a lifetime lowest price ever” sale the day before Christmas (or the day after Thanksgiving), you will be able to enjoy the holidays knowing that you have fulfilled your gift buying obligations.

In some ways, our sons are the easiest people to shop for, but in other ways they present quite a challenge. Many boys would be happy with more of the same of what they already have. Legos, anyone? Other boys never really seem to like anything they are given. Still others are so busy with school and extra-curricular activities that sometimes it seems like a smartphone with a great scheduling system would be the only sensible gift.

One thing is sure, the earlier you start thinking about Christmas presents, and the better your chances of actually finding something your son will love. Whether your budget is $25 or $250, there are great gifts out there for boys of all ages.

For the preschool set, there is a great range of toys available, ranging from the retro to the now. Few moms won’t remember the Fisher Price Record Player. While MP3 players are wonderful, and they definitely have their place, there is something wonderfully tactile and liberating for a two year-old that can play and change his own records. This is one toy that will never get old!

There is definitely a place for new technology in the preschool group, though, and VTech has been leading that technology for years. Their newest offering is the LeapFrog LeapPad Explorer Learning Tablet (Pink)
, available in both pink and blue. Think of this as a smartphone for kids – only without the phone and with the larger screen and controls young children need in order to read books, play games, and learn!

Legos never go out of style for boys, but, often, the same Legos don’t work for different aged boys. Such is not the case with the Lego figure flashlight. LEGO Hand Crank Dynamo Flash Light Torch Giant Lego Man Stands 7.5" Tall (Colors May Vary)
This cool flashlight looks like a Lego minifigure (and if you have boys, you know Lego minifigures!), but is a functional flashlight. Presto: the perfect combination of boy favorites!

Finally, if you look for the Dr. Toy seal of approval, look no further than this simple, but sure to be loved, flatbed truck and car set. Green Toys Flatbed with Race Car
Sometimes the best things are the simplest things, and this is surely the case with this wonderful boy toy.

There are unlimited choices for you to buy your son for Christmas, but starting early can help to ensure that you find something he will really love. There is nothing worse than buying a gift because you need to buy a gift, rather than because you know the recipient will love it. Shop early and allow yourself to enjoy the holiday season!