iPad owners: Don't forget to add these accessories to your holiday list

Forget Barbie dolls and Transformers, the iPad is the apple of everyone's holiday eye.

How much? A Nielsen study in November revealed that 31% of children between the ages of six and 12 wanted Apple's big-screen gizmo for Christmas.

That mass appeal has generated another option for gifts, too: The iPad accessory. The iPad is great by itself, but a plethora of additions improve its functionality, protect its LED screen and make it even more fun.

Here's a look at a few things you can pick up for the iPad-phile on your Christmas list this year:

iHome iA100 docking station - $199.99

The market is flooded with iPod and iTouch clock/radio docks, but finding an option that accommodates the iPad's large size isn't as easy. Enter the iA100, which is perhaps the most versatile of the handful of tabletop clock/radio docks that do play nicely with the iPad.

iHome packs this top-tier offering with a solid Bluetooth calling feature that works with everything from Blackberries to Android phones to iPhones. The iA100 also belts out solid sound for such a tiny unit (it weighs less than four pounds). The bass won't exactly set your walls thumping, but sound fills a room without ever sounding tinny. An FM radio is included as well, and the iHome+iSleep app allows you to program the device wirelessly from your iPad.

We'd have liked to see a slightly better remote that could handle music better (you can't switch albums) during playback), but that's a minor quibble in one of the top docks available for the iPad.

Apple Bluetooth wireless keyboard - $69.99

The iPad's touch screen works well for typing short emails, web surfing and typing notes, but for truly intense data entry, a keyboard is a must. Apple makes a first-party keyboard dock, and a bevy of other companies have also attempted to address this shortcoming.

But the best, most versatile option is Apple's Bluetooth wireless keyboard. While Apple's keyboard dock forces you to operate in portrait mode, the wireless keyboard allows you to work in portrait or landscape, nearly making the iPad a viable alternative to a laptop. It sacrifices a few iPad-specific hotkeys, but the tradeoff of working in landscape is worthwhile.