It's definitely time to drop heavy hints about holiday gift preferences, as well as time to shop for anyone on your list. Popular electronic items include the Wii U from Nintendo, which has a wireless GamePad touchscreen to control each game. Players can use just that small screen or a TV connected to the console. "That's better because you can keep the game going while your mom and dad are watching football," notes Stuart MacKenzie of North Liberty, Ind. This new version of Wii costs $300 to $350.

For outdoor play, Hasbro's updated Lazer Tag battle system has a free app that turns the iPhone into a view screen when it's secured in the rugged blaster. Players can train in single-player mode, then switch to the multiplayer mode and take on their friends. A single blaster costs $40 and a two-pack is $75. In the action figures category, Web-Shooting Spider-Man ($29) has double web-blasting capacity from two shooters. Angry Birds Star Wars AT-AT Attack Battle Game ($40) combines Star Wars and Angry Birds in a game of launching rebels to take out Storm Troopers and destroy a fearsome AT-AT walker.

Tablet computer upgrades include two second-generation models for kids under age 10 – the LeapFrog LeapPad 2 and VTech InnoTab 2 (prices of each vary). Amazon this month released a Wi-Fi enabled version of its new Kindle Fire HD tablet with a nearly nine-inch screen. Another newcomer is the Crayola Digital Light Designer (about $40), which lets youngsters draw with a stylus, bring illustrations them to life through animation and then start over with a clean slate.

Shopper says: "Finding presents that are made here makes them special. It's usually more unique. So if I find stuff this holiday that's made in the U.S., that's a big bonus." -- Jodi Dirk, 31, of Los Angeles

Newspaper toy tester says: "By far the most popular toy of the day was the Air Hogs Battle Tracker, a remote- control helicopter and missile turret combo that can do battle with one another or, more likely, shoot their soft missiles and discs at family members or other toys. The buzzing helicopter was simple for the kids to master." – Chip Chandler, who watched six kids aged 5-13 try new toys for the Amarillo Globe News in Texas

Expert says: "I'm not aware of any new breakout toy that all the kids want this year." – David Walsh, University of Minnesota psychologist and child-raising specialist