Every year holiday toy shopping seems to get more confusing, with new tech toys, retro toys, eco-friendly toys and, of course, new Elmo toys. We decided to provide a few reliable guides and experts to help you navigate toy stores.

This year you may need help because of all the high-tech toys on the market, tablets for toddlers, iPhone cases for babies and even robotic bugs. Over at Early Years, one of the nation’s leading experts on early learning and digital media, Lisa Guernsey, offers her thoughts on tech gifts and screen time for kids.

The Three C's can be helpful here: Look for age-appropriate and high-quality content (I recommend a visit to the ParentsChoice.org website for great books, games, toys and music). Imagine the context in which it will be used and be prepared to set some rules or parameters on how much or when. And think about what the individual child is inspired by and might want to learn more about. – “Kids & Tech: Q &A With Lisa Guernsey. 12/7/11. 

Check out the whole story.

You can also head over to NAEYC’s toy guide. The National Association for the Education of Young Children’s guide breaks down toy options by age range: Birth to six months; seven months to 12 months; one-year-olds; two-year-olds; and three-to-six-year-olds.

Of course, if all of these toy options get too confusing there is always the easy choice: Books. The New York Times has its “Best Illustrated Children’s Books of 2011.”

Happy Shopping.