Toys are arguably the most fun gifts to give.  Who doesn't want to give the gift that is met with a child's joyful exclamations as it is unwrapped?  Keeping the following tips in mind will help you find those great toy gifts: 

Tip 1: Know how hot lists work.  Getting toys on each year's lists of top toys reported by television news, magazines, and web sites is an ongoing competitive public relations process.  Don't be afraid to venture off the well-publicized path to find fabulous toys on your own. 

Tip 2: Make it personal.  Does your niece love singing, dancing, and the color pink?  Maybe a pink tutu and pink microphone nestled inside a swath of pink tulle would be just the thing for her. 

Tip 3: Details make a difference.  Does your niece love butterflies too?  Add a silk butterfly as a package topper for a finishing touch to make her smile.

Tip 4: Quality counts.  Learning where and how toys are made offers insight into how safe and durable they may or may not be.   

Tip 5: Read the packaging.  Product warnings might be surprising.  I will never forget finding "1st Birthday Princess" crowns with a warning on the back saying they were not for children under three.

Tip 6: Trust common sense instincts.  If a toy seems dangerous, there is a good chance that it may be so -- even if it bears no warning! 

Tip 7: Heed safety warnings.  Take stated precautions and age ranges for toys seriously.  Age appropriateness is important. 

Tip 8: Consider the play environment.  If the gift being considered is messy or involves water, will it be limited to outdoor play?  Who will be responsible, and will anyone want to clean up afterward?

Tip 9: Respect parents' preferences.  With so many toys to choose from, finding one to please both parent and children should be far from impossible.

Tip 10: Check for recalls.  Visit the US Consumer Product Safety Commission's page at http://www.cpsc.gov/ to stay updated on what companies and toys are involved in recalls.

Like Cinderella's slipper, a great gift fits.  Not every tween girl loves Hannah Montana and not every six-year-old boy likes Transformers.  Wish lists, letters to Santa, and current favorite toys offer excellent insight into what will delight them.  If there are not enough clues, gift cards are an excellent one-size-fits-all option.  While they may not be as well received as the oh-its's-just-what-I-wanted hits, they are far better than something that is really irrelevant to the recipient.