The smell of sweet pumpkin pie floats in the air, the fireplace crackles, and we wait for the doobell to ring.  As family and friends arrive, a beautifully set table and elaborate meal become a backdrop to hugs, conversation, and children's playful laughter.  Holidays bring family and friends of all ages together.  They are among my favorite times for toys and games that can help create special memories to last for years.  Every year during the holidays, I still recall dear memories of baking and playing games with my grandmother.  

For grandmothers and granddaughters, aunts, uncles, and cousins, the special edition Gingerbread House Decorating Kit at Mahar Drygoods packs all the fun and sweetness of traditional gingerbread art without the traditional mess to clean up afterward.  (http://www.mahardrygoods.com/item.php?item_id=816)  "Operating on the same principles as vintage flannelgraphs this version of Twinkle Kids Gingerbread House is exclusive to Mahar Drygoods and arrives with a muslin drawstring bag full of wool felt candies, scalloped edges, ice cream cones, popsicles and polka dots."  It is cute and kid-oriented, but even adults can have fun adding or rearranging the whimsical felt pieces.  It is also portable, so taking it with you to wherever holiday parties are being hosted can become a fun family tradition.

If guests include some who are not so young at heart, games with large pieces and simple rules can be an excellent choice for diverse tastes.  Games like Jenga allow everyone from first-graders to great-grandfathers to get in on the action.  Players with a steady hand and a keen eye for strategy are more likely to win, but the rules (basically removing one piece at a time until the tower falls) are simple enough for young children to understand.  Serious players can enjoy the challenge of making the most of the science behind the game, and little ones can enjoy being part of the fun.  For extra fun at large gatherings, guests can play in teams or multiple sets can be used for tournament play with winners advancing to a grand-champion round.  (*Bonus: Jenga is quite affordable -- around $12.00.)

Physical challenge toys that involve skills like balance, coordination, and manual dexterity can be both fun and entertaining.  The Weplay Tai-Chi Ball is a clear, hard plastic ball with a curved track inside.  The challenge is to roll a smaller ball inside along the track without letting it fall off the track.  It is challenging, amusing, and fun to watch.

Whatever toys and games you choose, be sure to keep safety in mind.  Small game pieces, small balls and marbles, button batteries, and magnets can be especially dangerous to small children.  Writing the type and number of pieces that should be present in games on the bottoms of boxes can help keep track of pieces, so they do not find their way into little hands and mouths.  Special care should be taken to ensure that older children and adults unfamiliar with current child safety standards do not accidentally allow young children access to these dangerous items.