One of the things that has proved to be a favorite from Christmas this year in my house is this toy microphone. The stand is a speaker that amplifies your kid's voice, but the best part about it are the three foot pedals. One provides instant applause, one a hip-hop (more jungle really) beat, and the last has a stand-up comedian's rimshot and cymbal.
Keep in mind that it is a toy, so the overall construction of the thing is pretty flimsy. Consequently if your kid is prone to destroying stuff than you'll need to pay extra attention. But my girls love getting on the mic and singing, making noise and especially introducing one another. And I honestly don't mind a little extra noise around the house - it's when they're being really quiet that I seem to get really scared.
The Electronic Stage Microphone, $27.95 from ImagineToys.com
