I’ve started my Christmas shopping — well, I’ve started my list, which is pretty much the same thing. Starting the list also marks the beginning of two months of complaining about how wondering why so many toys marketed for elementary school-aged boys involve shooting or blowing things up or sitting in front of a video game console. Or all three.

I want smart toys for my kids, toys that challenge them to be creative and to think, toys that leave them feeling like they’ve accomplished something (other than blowing up the bad guy). I know those toys are out there, but until recently I wasn’t sure where to find them.

You can thank me for this: those smart toys? They’re at the Discovery Channel Store. For example, the Techno Gears Marble Mania Extreme 2.0 set. Which is awesome. I promise.

Charlie spent most of this weekend assembling this; he’s not quite finished, but what’s he has built is pretty impressive. The set is your basic marble maze crossed with some Lego-like building blocks — plus a motor to make the whole thing run. It required quite a bit of concentration and thought on Charlie’s part to get it all put together, but there’s nothing wrong with toys that make kids think. And he’s super proud of himself for doing it all on his own.

Best of all? It doesn’t shoot or blow up, and it doesn’t involve a television screen of any sort. Yay!

If you’re in the market for smart, creative toys for boys — and girls — this holiday season, then I have a deal for you: the Discovery Channel Store is giving away a year’s worth of toys — twelve toys, designed to make your kids think while they have fun. The prize package (valued at over $520) includes the marble set Charlie built, an interactive smart globe, a remote control helicopter, and a rock tumbler.

Wade is totally excited about the rock tumbler. Which goes to prove that you’re never too old for smart toys.

Three lucky winners will take home the entire prize package (twelve toys, including the rock tumbler). Contest runs through November 20 — go to the Discovery Channel Store to enter, and to shop for all the kids, big and small, on your holiday shopping list.

I hear rock tumblers are hot this year.

Disclaimer: The Discovery Channel Store has sent me all twelve toys in this prize package. Over the next two weeks, I’ll be reviewing some of them here — that is, if I can pry them out of my kids’ hands long enough to see how they work.