Remember Christmas morning when you were a child? Santa Claus was the most fantastical person, honored with cookies and milk (and veggies for his reindeer) and then awoke to a living room full of brightly colored packages. That one morning of bliss is preceded and followed by weeklong celebrations that tend to encompass more of a cultural focus. Hannukah — commemorating the re-dedication of the Holy Temple — begins the evening of Dec. 11 this year and lasts for eight days. Kwanzaa, a celebration to honor African culture and heritage, begins on Dec. 26 and runs through Jan. 1. For whichever celebration occurs in your house, children will show a twinkle in their eyes as they partake in a magical, spiritual or familial time that may contain a parcel or monetary gift. As the holidays loom, why not pop into a few toy stores with your children to see what really captures their eyes — and hands. Here are a couple of places in La Jolla worth checking out: Little Rocks Toy Store and Salon 5655 La Jolla Blvd., Mon.-Sat. 9 a.m.-6 p.m.; Sun. 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Children seem to enjoy the rhythm of a wooden push toy with three alligators that snap their jaws as you push (Chomp and Clack Alligator push toy, $50). The teeny-weeny Smart Gear balance bike in the window aims to help the child learn to ride a bike earlier without the interim crutch of training wheels ($90). Little Rocks sells wooden toys by Melissa and Doug for parents who wish to get away from all the plastic, including a wooden pizza party set to accompany a play kitchen. More educational toys in the store include the Eco Dome science kit — showing how the earth, light, plants and animals coexist — for ages 6 and older ($40). The neighboring boxes on the shelf are Uberstix kits to build sailboats and catapult devices using recycled bottles that are also capable of linking to Lego pieces for a bigger build. Apparently, girls ages 6 to 9 are thrilled by the Paw Parazzi characters, whose lives are glamorous —the stuffed animal comes with a career, a purse and a celebrity magazine ($20). For the creative child, there’s the Little Picasso Art Kit ($22) — a tool belt of art tools — to delve into. For the baby, the mosquito stuffed animal is charming with loops and pulleys to keep a baby intrigued and calm ($28). Little Rocks also has a salon in the back with salon chairs that are rockets and trucks for children to “ride” in while having their hair cut. The lion-head rabbit and giant Chinese water dragon who live in store enchant children if the toy store isn’t enough. Haircuts cost $15 to $20. Elizabeth Allen Atelier 5717 La Jolla Blvd. (858) 200-7982 A former fashion editor, designer and artist, Elizabeth Allen aims to sell baby toys with some soul. She seeks out small, fair trade manufacturers like the Under the Nile brand from Egypt or the Scandinavian company En Gry e Sif’s. “I sell a potpourri of unique gifts and home accessories,” Allen said. Elizabeth Allen sells plush stuffed animals that are so colorful, cute and snuggly in their corduroy clothes they may entice adults to buy for themselves. The hippo costs $29 and the daddy and baby bear are $50. There are also round, soft, wool and felt purses for girls by En Gry e Sif’s for $26. Under the Nile makes organic cotton pajamas with footies for $24. For a stocking gift, animal pen covers made from felt cost $7, while felt Christmas ornaments are $6.50. Birch Aquarium 2300 Exhibition Way, open 9 a.m.-5 p.m. daily, (858) 534-3474 Birch Aquarium is the place to take your children for an educational, awe-inspiring experience for the holidays with admission fare that costs less than going to the cinema. “There’s Something About Seahorses” showcases more than a dozen species of seahorses and is one of seven exhibits currently on display. If you’re looking for a present, check out the aquarium’s bookstore — you may also find yourself browsing for your own gift. The aquarium sells T-shirts depicting the wild-looking creatures of the deep — some that glow in the dark — for $15. A visit to the aquarium is intellectually stimulating and so may be a good time to buy a scientific kit to learn how to build your own diving bell or bottle catamaran ($14) or peruse the book “Build Your Own Underwater Robot” ($20). Little trinkets include wooden sailboats for $4 or sea-animal flash cards for another learning experience. The “Kingdom of the Seahorse” DVD ($24) is a nice way to capitalize on the visit and keep the kids occupied. For a bedtime story, check out the book “What Color Would You Be In the Sea” ($19). The adorable baby bibs feature a crab and the words “crabby when hungry.” Geppetto’s Toy Store 7850 Girard Ave. open Mon.-Sat. 9 a.m.-7 p.m., Sun. 10 a.m.-6 p.m., (858) 456-4441 Geppetto’s is the quintessential toy store, selling a range of well-known brands. You’ll find a classic plastic dartboard ($28) or a chemistry kit ($35) or a few shelves of stimulating games (ever tried Settlers of Catan?) The popular Groovy Girl dolls ($16) sit a few shelves down from a wide selection of Barbie dolls. Then there are the educational brands that have also shunned plastic for wood, such as Plan Toys and P’kolino. The latter sells a stacking game tailored to develop motor and spatial skills, as well as color recognition in young children ($40). And finally, it’s not a toy but it’s the proverbial gift that keeps on giving and so worth a mention: Tap Fever Studios offers a variety of dance classes for children, including ballet/tap, ballet/jazz/hip-hop, tumble/tap and a kids-and-parents class, plus a variety of lessons for adults. Tap Fever Studios is located at 5628 La Jolla Blvd. Call (858) 456-7301 or visit www.tapfever.com. Artsy Smartsy is a creative learning center for children that offers 10 weeks of classes for $200, including supplies. Artsy Smartsy is located at 5709 La Jolla Blvd. Call (858) 459-9292.