As we head into the hectic last days before Christmas, shopping for the kids becomes even more urgent. This is an up-to-the-minute guide to 5 toys that have been named the best toys for Christmas this year. We will also provide a brief description of each along with our recommendation.

Starting with number five, we have the Micro Chargers Light Racers. These little beauties are different than most racing car games because the cars light up, hence the Light Racers in the name. Another feature is the glow in the dark track. This is a toy that can be used day or night, with or without the lights on.

When set up correctly, this can be a fun racing car game. The qualifier is because there were numerous blog comments that the track may fall apart if not installed on a solid, level surface. If you can accept that, we believe that your children will really enjoy this toy.

Number four on the list is the Nerf N-Strike Elite Rapidstrike CS-18 Blaster. Say it three times fast! The Rapidstrike is part of a growing Elite family of toys that fire safe foam darts up to 75 feet. Between the Blaster itself and the ammo clip, you get a capacity of 18 shots.

What sets this Elite apart from the rest of the family is the 18 shots. Others in this line hold 6 or 12 darts. In our opinion, this is the best in the family for precisely that. They’re all fun, but Rapidstrike keeps the fun going a little more each time.

The third is the Air Hogs RC Helix X-4 Stunt Quadcopter. This is another bite. It is one of the newer remote control Air Hog helicopters. The main difference with this one again is in the name. The Quad has four ducted and shielded fans with onboard gyro stabilization. What this means is that the helicopter has great control, but in the event of a crash, it is protected from damage.

After looking at the rest of the Air Hogs helicopter, we chose this one for its durability and control. Other Air Hogs seem to crash and get damaged. The prices are all very similar too.

Second on our top 5 toys list is the Polar Express Train Set-G Gauge. This was an easy choice. The train is an authentic replica of the one that takes passengers to the North Pole. The movie and the book that preceded it have become Christmas staples for generations. The film broke new cinematic ground with its special effects.

The train set allows children to imagine themselves as part of the story. The remote control allows them to go back, forward and use the bell and whistle. This toy is always a safe bet.

Our number one pick is extremely low tech. With all the computer games and remote control toys, the winner is the lowest priced toy on the list. The place! The games have been around for almost 10 years. They were designed to provide hours of educational fun and seem to have caught on as they are perennial bestsellers.

The original Spot It! game has joined a whole family of spin-offs ranging from sports and travel to games specifically for very young children. Our number one toy is one that will last for years and be a favorite.