Kids’ Christmas lists change on a whim, so buying the right gift is a constant battle. We’ve put together a few of our favourite options to keep the children, and probably the parents, entertained throughout the Christmas season. With ideas for tots right through to teens, you should find something to spark inspiration.
12 Months+
My 1st Years Wooden Toys Collection
£27 (range from £5)
There’s been a resurgence of wooden toys hitting the shelves in recent years, which is a delightful change from the hoards of plastic that had become the norm. My 1st Years
has added a modern twist to its collection of wooden toys, which range from puzzles to push-along toys, and musical instruments to magical dolly’s houses. Not only can you select the perfect gift from the extensive range, but each wooden toy can also be personalised, making every gift just that little bit more special.
The first thing we noticed was that not only are the toys made from environmentally friendly materials, but there is no plastic in the packaging either. There was not a plastic wrapper to be seen, which is incredibly pleasing.
The next observation was the quality of all of the toys; they have been beautifully constructed, with no sharp or rough edges, making them safe for little hands. The Wooden Activity Cube has turnable cogs on the side, and even those are perfectly spaced so that if tiny fingers get between them, there’s enough gap for them not to be nipped.
Every element of each toy is a learning opportunity, whether it be shape identification, understanding patterns or processes, or letters and numbers. Everything has an educational purpose without children really even noticing they are learning.
These delightful toys are a great Christmas gift idea and will give their recipients hours of pleasure this festive season and beyond. Without any cheap or brittle plastic components, you can be sure they will outlast the interest of even the most patient of children.
Magicube 13 Piece Set by Geomag
£35
Magicube is a new addition to the Geomag catalogue, so even the smallest hands can get in on the construction fun. Made from 100% recycled plastics, these colourful cubes are magnetic on all sides for easy attachment, helping with motor skills development and imagination.
Each pack contains something different, from the coloured blocks to wheels and axles, so builds don’t have to be stationary. A leaflet in the box gives a handful of basic construction ideas to get their imaginations working, and inspires them to create their own models. The pieces are chunky and tough, and can take plenty of tumbles without fear of damage.
Our only criticism is that the magnetic connection between the blocks is a little weak and can be knocked apart pretty easily, which could lead to a bit of frustration when creations are being played with. It gives plenty of opportunities for re-building, of course, but hopefully patience won’t run out too quickly.
3 Years+
Hey Doodle
£15
If you’re looking for a fun and compact stocking filler, then Hey Doodle Mini Mats could be a perfect Christmas gift. The mats were the idea of an Australian mum-of-two looking for a reusable, creative outlet for her children’s imagination that could also be easily used on the go.
Hey Doodle Mini Mats are A4 silicone drawing mats available in a range of different themed designs for kids to colour and draw on. Each cardboard carry tube contains an A4 Mini Mat and three washable, non-toxic, coloured marker pens, which are smudge-proof once they have dried but can be easily erased with a damp cloth.
Ideally suited for ages three and over, the mats help keep kids occupied at home or out and about, as they are perfectly sized to fit in a handbag or kid’s backpack.
The mats are also available in A3 size and come with a pack of nine marker pens, giving even more scope for a colourful imagination.
Connetix Magnetic Tiles
£115
Kids love to express themselves and their imagination through building. Connetix Magnetic Tiles 120-piece set will give them the opportunity to develop that building skill and imagination differently, with a variety of shapes that they can use to create anything from castles with towers to rockets, and plenty in between.
Whether they are playing alone or with friends, Connetix Magnetic Tiles will keep them absorbed for hours, creating, destroying and creating again. Each pack includes a booklet crammed full of ideas to get them started, but there are enough pieces to start making your own creations — my 40-something husband spent many hours attempting to recreate a historic European market square.
There are plenty of different packs and tile colour combinations to choose from, and collections can be added to again and again.
From a parental perspective, the magnetic tiles are quick and easy to pack away, joining together nicely and easily and creating neat stacks that simply drop back into the box for storage. The pieces aren’t too small either, so they won’t constantly end up in the vacuum cleaner or embedded in your bare foot after dark!
Geomag Glow 25-Piece Set
£20
Geomag Glow is designed for kids from 3 years and up and, as the name suggests, glows in the dark. Each set consists of magnetic rods and metal balls, which can be used to create inventive and ambitious constructions. There’s also a base plate that can be used to stabilise the build, which will be very helpful in bigger projects.
All of the parts can be stored in a 100% recycled plastic case, ensuring they don’t get spread out and lost.
Younger builders might need some help to get started, as it can be a little tricky to get the magnetism under control, but once you help them out, you’ll find yourself getting hooked.
It’s a great Christmas gift, and the four different-sized packs available will give endless options for hours of fun.
4 Years+
Casio SA-50 Mini Keyboard
£60
If you want to see those little faces light up on Christmas day, a Casio SA-50 Mini Keyboard should be on your shopping list. It’s an undeniable fact that kids love to harness their inner Elton and tinker on a keyboard – whether the sound is a melodic delight or an assault on the eardrums is a very different matter.
Luckily, though, the SA-50 has a headphone socket, so they can hone their craft in private before demonstrating their newly developed musical “skills”. With 10 pre-programmed songs, 50 rhythms and 100 different tones onboard the mini keyboard, there’s plenty to keep them entertained. They can also change the sounds from the traditional piano to trumpet or drums or even add some reverb to create unique musical masterpieces.
There are two different power options for the SA-50 — you can either pop in six AA batteries and you’re off and running, or you can opt for a mains power adapter, but this isn’t included with the keyboard, so remember to add it to your order.
It’s lightweight, easy to use, and a lot of fun without breaking the bank — a perfect Christmas gift for youngsters.
8 Years+
Geomag Mechanics Gravity Loops & Turns
£39
Mechanics Gravity Loops & Turns is more than just a standard Geomag construction kit. This kit is ideal for budding engineers, allowing them to combine mechanical elements and harness the power of gravity and magnetism.
Following the step-by-step instructions, young constructors can create a ball trail with parts that rotate and trigger chain reactions from magnetic attraction and repulsion.
As well as problem-solving and logic, Mechanics Gravity Loops & Turns is full of science-related lessons that will keep young minds engaged and interested as they work to keep the momentum going for as long as they possibly can. It’s strangely hypnotic for adults watching, too; after the kids are in bed on Christmas day and a few tipples have been poured, you’ll undoubtedly get hands-on with it!
14 Years+
Gel Blaster Surge
£60
When they’re a little too old for Nerf Guns but paintballs sting just a little too much, Gel Blaster Surge is a great alternative and a fabulous Christmas gift. The hand-held blasters propel water-based ‘gellet’ ammunition from the hopper, which disintegrates on contact, leaving very little, if any, mess to clean up. The hopper can hold 800 pellets, so there’s less time spent reloading and more time spent stalking the opponent, keeping engagement high rather than losing momentum.
Each blaster comes complete with safety glasses (a must, in our opinion), an interchangeable reduced velocity barrel that removes some of the punch from the ammo, and a pack of 10,000 dehydrated pellets. The blaster is powered by a rechargeable battery, which, when full, will give around four hours of playtime.
Don’t be fooled by the idea of it being a toy; at relatively close range, the gellets can sting a bit and may leave a mark on the skin. There’s a decent range from the high-velocity barrel, with gellets being propelled more than 35 metres during our testing, although at that point, they were bouncing on impact rather than exploding and disintegrating.
All in all, though, the Gel Blaster Surge is great fun, but you’ll need two of them…
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