The 10 Best Bubble Guns

If there's one thing kindergartners love, it's giant prehistoric creatures. The Toysery Dinosaur (about $11) has a fun shape and doesn't require a pumping action, making it easy to use. The clear plastic lets curious youngsters see how the mechanism works.

The Fun Central Wolf (around $11) will get an immediate response from your dogs and cats, who won't stop until every last bubble is successfully popped. Since you'll get two of them, you can join in and show the kids how to expertly work the trigger.

Parents will appreciate how quiet the ArtCreativity Medium (about $18) is, especially when you get the three-pack and all your progeny are racing around the house, engaged in an all-out war. The multiple LED lights make this a fun activity even in the dark.

Aside from their standard use, the Fstop Labs Blaster (around $11) have enough power to be employed as a small fan on those hot summer car trips, allowing the kiddies to play with them even when they're cooped up in the sedan for the long drive to grandma's house.

If you live in a warm climate, it can sometimes be tough to get into the holiday spirit, but the Cooltoys Santa (around $17) is here to help. The fun sound effects add to the experience, perfect for passing the hours as you wait for Christmas dinner to be served.

You may experience flashbacks when setting up the Bnext Dip&Press (appx. $15), which involves placing the wand in a tray, just like you used to back in the day. The spinning heads produce up to 100 shiny orbs per second, so it's capable of entertaining a crowd.

The Pretex Puppy's (around $15) come in a set of five, making them great as birthday party favors or for a family gathering. They light up without the use of batteries, so there's no added expense beyond some detergent from time to time.

The LilPals Amazing Unicorn (appx. $15) is offered in several colors, which is important if you're giving these to multiple children. They'll appreciate being able to tell them apart, and it will also aid in teaching responsibility should they swing it around too much and damage it.

Some kids go nuts any time they see a cool car, and the WonderPlay Police (around $12) comes in bright blue for those who love to pretend to chase bad guys. There's also a fire truck version that will let them imagine they're helping put out a blaze.

For younger children, it may be better if an adult mans the machine while they chase after the output in a race to see who can pop the most, and the Kid Galaxy Mr. Bubble (about $9) is ideal for that use. It quickly produces a steady stream and has a large trigger.