Gift Guide: For Kids
Keeping kids happy at Christmas isn’t as easy as you’d think. With a plethora of present options, which will guarantee a grin on Christmas morning? Belle runs down the big hitters this season.
1 Frozen 2 Charades – Frozen 2 fever has hit hard and is loved by boys and girls alike so why not infect the whole family and introduce a session of charades after Christmas dinner? Work your way around the game board to reach the Frozen finish, putting everyone’s acting skills to the test with picture icons for younger players. £19.99 from all good toy shops.
2. Dobble – A game of speed, observation and reflexes, race to find the one matching image between one card and another. And now the smash-hit game gets a magical twist perfect for fans of the famous boy wizard. Harry Potter Dobble features chibi-style drawings of Harry, Hermione and Ron, magical wands and creatures, the houses of Hogwarts and more. RRP £9.99.
3. Axel Scheffler Cat Calendar – Renowned Gruffalo artist Scheffler has teamed up with cat-sitting community Cat in a Flat to produce a beautiful cat-themed calendar for 2020 – with all the profits going to support endangered wild cats in the care of Born Free. The calendar features 12, full colour, beautiful images created by Axel Scheffler and friends. Each image was drawn specifically for the calendar – making it the perfect Christmas gift for any cat loving-kid. £12.99 from the Cat In A Flat website.
4. Grow Your Own Garden – This Plantalicious Kids Edible Garden Kit is a great way to encourage kids to sow and grow their own. The kit comes with beautifully illustrated child friendly instructions and introduces three gnome helpers, Herbie, Digwell and Blossom, who guide children through the growing process in a fun and educational way. Everything comes in a letterbox size box which is recyclable. Buy from Yumbles for £13.95.
5. Inspirational Colouring Pencils – Encourage kids to ‘feel good on the inside, do good on the outside’ this Christmas with a pack of Stib Inspirational Colouring Pencils. Soft-leaded to leave a vibrant swish of colour on the page and ergonomically designed to support good handwriting style, these colouring pencils with a purpose are each embossed with a different ‘spark’ word, designed to inspire our youngest hearts and minds to create a world to be proud of. The 12 words are Great Leader, Good Listener, World Changer, Earth Lover, Self Believer, Big Thinker, Freestyler, Team Player, Storyteller, Problem Solver, Joy Finder and Peacekeeper. RRP 9.95 from www.stibpencils.com.
6. Leapfrog Magical Adventures Globe – Young explorers can travel the world and see everything in it with the Magic Adventures Globe from Leapfrog. Using the stylus, children can tap on the 10″ interactive learning globe and experience new places, languages, cultures, animals, geography, habitats and more through high-quality BBC videos. Featuring a 2.7″ integrated video screen, animations and live-action videos fully immerse kids in the curriculum to provide a better understanding of the world through more than 5 hours of videos. They can also play three interactive games called Around the World, Quiz Show and Where in the World to explore the globe, challenge a friend and solve mysteries. £79.97 from John Lewis.
7. Jumanji Board Game – Ever wondered whether Jumanji is a real board game? Well you’re only one dice roll away from finding out… Grab the 8 sided dice, roll it and find yourself escaping charging rhinos, snapping crocodiles and much more. If you manage to reach the centre of the board before your friends then cry “Jumanji” and take solace in the fact that you’re the one that got away. £15 from The Works.
8. Play Castle Tent – A great way to keep kids occupied while Christmas lunch digests. This play tent is easy to assemble and comes with 12 markers so kids can personalise the outside before hiding away on the inside. £15 from The Works.
9. Micro Cruiser Scooter – Suitable for children from five to 10 years, the Micro Cruiser is equipped with large 200mm wheels so they can scoot smoother and further. Its bicycle-style handlebars add extra control while its low footplate adds stability. The scooter can also be personalised and is available in a range of colours including aqua (pictured), pink and purple. £109.95 from Micro Scooters.
10. Tote & Tour Pet Travel Set – New from toy supremos Melissa & Doug comes this cute set to encourage kids to practice their caring and responsibility skills, and develop compassion and organisation by planning for upcoming trips. With two plush animals as well as accessories, the pet travel play set allows children to personalise their playing experience by filling out the pets’ ID tags, while learning handy traveling tips from the reusable checklist. RRP 19.99 from Argos, Amazon and more.
11. Hasbro Light Saber – With just days until the final film’s release, a Star Wars gift is a must-have for kids across the country. Forget any ideas of having a low-volume festive season – the Star Wars Scream Saber Lightsaber has 3 audio options so kids can record their own crazy combat noises, activate unexpected Star Wars sounds, and, of course, imagine battles with authentic Lightsaber sound effects. Warning – you’ll want to have a go yourself so maybe buy two so you dont have to give it back. £29.99 from Forbidden Planet and most major toy stores.
12. HappySelf Journal – If you buy one gift for a child this year, make it this daily journal for children aged 6 to 12 based on scientifically proven methods that promote happiness, develop healthy habits for life and nurture enquiring minds. Beautifully illustrated and easy to use, with just a few minutes focus each day, children benefit by being encouraged to express gratitude, reflect on their emotions and think about their actions. £19.94 from the HappySelfJournal website.
