Christmas Gift Ideas – Toys That Cost Less Than $100

Christmas is coming! We've been receiving several pieces of information for the upcoming holiday season, including this, which you might find useful. FamilyFun magazine has announced the winners of their 23rd annual Toy of the Year (T.O.Y.) Awards. The great thing about this list is that all of the toys on it cost $100 or less.

The winning toys will be spotlighted in the November issue of FamilyFun. The magazine says that each winning toy was chosen for its "exceptional fun factor, innovation, and durability." In all, the magazine issued an award to 25 toys out of 400 that were considered.

"This was an exciting year for the T.O.Y. Awards, as our tester families' favorite playthings turned out to be some of the most unique and affordable toys available today," said Ann Hallock, Editor-in-chief, FamilyFun. "This year's winners give families new ways to play together, allowing parents and kids to embrace their imaginations both online and off."

It's a great idea for the magazine to put out a list like this. As we all know, Christmas can get expensive ... fast! Check out the Top 10 award-winning toys for 2014. You might find something perfect for a little boy or girl in your family, or maybe even some suggestions for Santa.

Top 10 FamilyFun T.O.Y. Award Winners for 2014:

1. Crayola Virtual Design Pro – Hand-drawn artwork goes high-tech in two fully loaded activity sets. The two collections, Fashion and Car, allow kids to stretch their creativity skills and bring their designs to life in a virtual world. Kids use the free app to scan their creations into a tablet or smartphone, then customize each model or car's look before sending them down the runway or racetrack. Crayola; $29.99 each set; Ages 6 and up; iOS and Android
2. Hot Wheels RC Street Hawk – Two words say it all: flying car. This remote-controlled dragster kisses land good-bye and soars up to 200 feet in the air. Light yet resilient, it goes from doughnuts on the driveway to aerial loops and back again. Mattel; $59.99; Ages 8 and up
3. DigiBirds – These three interactive birds with cheerful songs are a pick worth tweeting about. Controlled by a whistle ring that doubles as a perch, the chirpers come programmed with 20 melodies and can be set to sing solo or as a choir. Spin Master;$29.99; Ages 5 and up
4. Gyrobot – Put a spin on the science of gyroscopes by constructing this kit's seven cool motorized models. Tester favorite: a robot who rolls across a tightrope. Thames & Kosmos; $49.95; Ages 8 and up
5. Paper Style: Hairdos – This quirky craft book introduces 15 characters, including a mermaid, clown, vampire, and pirate, all in need of a haircut. Each comes with a paper sheet of hair that kids can cut, curl, braid, and crimp into mod makeovers. Chronicle Books; $16.99; Ages 8 and up
6. Max Tow Truck – When monster-wheeled bad boy Max exclaims, "Load me up!" he's not kidding. Equipped with a powerful electric motor and sturdy plastic chain, Max hauls up to 200 pounds. Jakks Pacific; $59.99; Ages 6 and up
7. Lego Juniors – You might call this line of new Legos the missing link — or brick — between little-kid Duplos and more advanced sets. Each themed pack, such as Construction, contains regular-size bricks alongside larger preassembled pieces, meaning easier and faster builds. Lego; $9.99 to $49.99; Ages 4 to 8
8. Splish Splash Sink & Stove – After cooking a tasty pretend meal on the stove top, kids wash the included dishes and utensils in the sink with a working pump faucet. Little Tikes; $19.99; Ages 3 to 8
9. Creature Clash! Card Game – This wildly clever card game allows players to take turns creating fantastical animals by picking three cards: a front, middle, and back. Next, they choose a player to attack, who then makes her own critter. The winner is determined by adding up the numerical strengths of the various creature parts. Chronicle Books; $14.99; Ages 6 and up; 2 to 6 players
10. Record & Learn KidiStudio – Aspiring DJs can compose and record their own songs in free-play mode, or choose from 20 melodies and a variety of sound effects – including cheers. A record for scratching, a whammy bar, and a pop-up mic with voice-changer are all included for more music fun. VTech; $39.99; Ages 3 to 10