Finding the perfect Christmas gifts for kids, from tots to teens, can be challenging. Whether you’re looking for stocking fillers or present inspiration, we have a few ideas to help you get started.
Mini U Bath Products
From £5.75
Add a bit more colour and fun to bath time with something from the range of stocking filler gifts from Mini U. The award-winning range, first conceived in 2010, includes not only shampoos, conditioners and body washes but also colourful bath bombs and even bath crayons to little people entertained.
May Mini U products are suitable from birth, bath bombs from 3 months old, and make-your-own bath bomb kits from 6 months, so even the tiniest Mini Joes can be included.
The products are made with natural ingredients that are allergen-free, cruelty-free, suitable for vegans, and delicate on young skin. Once your Mini Joes and Janes have some fun, Mini U products are easy to clean, leaving no residue after a quick rinse.
Ecologic Puzzle
£11
Combining learning and fun in a puzzle is always a winner, and this Ecologic Puzzle from Adventerra Games is no exception. Little hands can pair the pieces, matching the cute sea creatures and seeing how they can reduce water waste in everyday activities, such as brushing their teeth and watering the garden.
The colourful illustrations make a subtle point while engaging children’s imagination, and testing visual memory and logical thinking.
Smartrike Xtend Ride-on
£112.50
We spend hundreds of pounds on everything from parent-pushed contraptions to stand-up scooters over the years, but Smartrike has developed the Xtend Ride-on, which grows with children from 12 months to 12 years.
The price tag might still sound a little high, but the Xtend Ride-on, with its light-up front wheels, is made to last. It is made of tough materials that can take a beating, so lasting the full lifecycle shouldn’t be a bother.
It comes in kit form, but it is quick and easy to put together, with complete instructions and an Allen key included.
The first iteration has a rear-mounted pole for the parent to push, but it doesn’t have a safety harness to hold the child in place, which could be problematic for younger, less balanced toddlers. Once the pole is removed, it becomes a three-wheeled balance bike of sorts, with a small storage space under the flip-up seat. The chunky wheels make it all feel stable and smooth as they scooch along.
The final stage is a stand-up scooter with a three-stage adjustable footplate that is easy to enlarge as children’s feet grow. The foldable handle (in scooter form only) makes it easy to store or pop into the car boot for days out.
Custom Neon Wall Signs
From £96
A neon wall sign from Custom Neon would make a fabulous Christmas gift, whether it’s a night light in a toddler’s room or a decorative statement in a teenager’s bedroom.
We love this dimmable rocket ship wall sign with a remote control to switch it on and off. The LED neon signs are mounted onto a clear acrylic backboard to make them strong and shatterproof. The backboards have pre-drilled holes to make wall mounting easy straight out of the box.
To ensure the sign is mounted correctly, add a wall mounting or ceiling hanging kit for £12. This will give the neon a nice finish, with it slightly offset from the wall.
Whether you opt for a pre-made option like the rocket ship or design a unique, personalised sign, it will make a wonderful gift that will light the space for years to come.
Top Trumps
From £5
Since the late 1970s, Top Trumps have been an excellent addition to kids’ Christmas stockings. With so many different topics and themes, there is something to suit everyone.
This collection is perfect for car lovers, no matter what their age. There’s no limit on the number of people playing, whether it’s two or twenty, there is a lot of fun to be had. Clear away the Christmas dinner and crack out the cards, and the game will continue until bedtime.
Football Cards
From £9
Collecting and trading football cards is a pastime that has spanned generations. The exhilaration of finding the rarest card or completing a set is almost addictive.
Match Attax from Topps continues that tradition with cards available in reduced-packaging eco packs and special edition tins to fam sets focusing on specific clubs.
If football isn’t the sport of choice, Topps still has you covered, with F1 and baseball collections also available.
Retro Instant Camera
£52.50
We are all so used to carrying a camera in our pockets, but this Retro Instant Camera will be a fun first step for young aspiring photographers. Once they have snapped the perfect picture, they can instantly print it, thanks to the built-in thermal printer.
While it only prints in black and white, kids will have a great time customising the pictures with the stickers and coloured pens included in the set. Four rolls of thermal printing photo paper, one of which is a sticker roll, are included with the set, giving enough for around 250 photo prints, which should at least get them through Boxing Day!
With plenty of effects to explore, it will keep them entertained for hours. Pop a memory card (not included in the set) into the slot, and they can shoot video, too.
Juice Poolside Speaker
£33
The Juice Poolside Speaker is portable fun for teens and adults alike. With Bluetooth connectivity, it links to your phone and provides around eight hours of playtime from a single charge, whether at home, out with friends or chilling by the pool or at the beach on holiday. It’s even waterproof, rated IPX7, so a few splashes or light rain will do no harm.
The front of the speaker has a row of coloured lights which change to the beat of the music, adding a little disco vibe to the proceedings. The sound quality isn’t bad for the price point, but it does lack a little bass, although, for most, that won’t be too much of a problem.
The Juice Poolside is an excellent compact speaker, which is the perfect stepping stone for young music fans or an inexpensive travel speaker to throw into hand luggage.
Cambridge M100 Earbuds
£119
Wireless Bluetooth headphones are pretty much a staple for most teenagers, but they can be expensive. The M100 from Cambridge Audio, with Active Noise Cancellation (ANC), balances quality with price rather nicely, making them a great Christmas gift that doesn’t break the bank.
The most ardent audiophile might find that the sound quality doesn’t entirely pass muster, but it is clear and balanced and will suit most users very well. The ANC works well, dulling the harshest noises nicely. If you are considering these for teenagers or cyclists, be aware that transparency mode — designed to allow enough sound through to keep you aware of your surroundings while using the earbuds — isn’t as effective as some more pricey rivals.
The earbuds have a good battery life, with around 10 hours of playtime from a single charge with ANC on or up to 16 hours with it off. They can be easily controlled via the earbuds with taps and presses to adjust volume, skip tracks, or answer phone calls.
These sleek earbuds, in black with silver highlights, are stylish and comfortable to wear. Using the associated app, they can be matched to the wearer’s particular musical preferences.
