The best kids’ toys for Christmas: Gifts for newborns, nine-year-olds and everyone in between
Watching a child unwrap a Christmas gift they love is one of life’s most precious moments. But in reality, getting to that stage can be a tiring process. Enter any toy store, and you’ll usually be greeted with rows and rows of brightly coloured plastic, often containing small parts that you’re pretty much guaranteed to trip over or stand on, later down the line.
If you’d like to cut down on the plastic junk this year, and want to find a gift that’s longer lasting, that little ones can play with unassisted, and can even be passed down to siblings, then you need to be fully aware of what’s available before you shop.
There are some impressive toys that make STEM fun – such as building a volcano or making an engine – as well as activities for kids that are crazy about arts and crafts.
As Christmas is a time for family games, we suggest looking at the age of the youngest family member when selecting the entertainment, as there are options that can be enjoyed by children from the age of four that are still challenging for grown-ups.
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If you’re looking for a toy that’s cute, educational and continues to hold interest as your baby grows and develops, this is a truly multi-functional elephant. With lights, sounds and hands-on activities, Triumphant helps infants develop physically, socially, emotionally and cognitively. Our newborn tester appreciated the lights, while our two-year-old was intrigued by the cause-and-effect nature of finding out what happened when buttons were pressed.
This 30cm doll is as soft as a teddy bear so it’s suitable from birth. Your baby might be quizzical about its face, as it looks like them, but it feels even softer and squishier. Features that make it amazing for newborns include a hat with ears that babies can grip hold of, and an integrated rattle, so it makes a sound if baby shakes it. This unexpected noise can cause those delicious baby giggles that we all enjoy.
Steiff is one of the most famous teddy bear brands. With a distinctive yellow label in the year, the teddies often end up being very valuable after several years, so you’re not just buying a child a comforter, you’re buying them a keepsake they can treasure forever and pass down through the generations.
Children of all ages appreciate the super cute face and tousled scarf, while babies love to grab the soft comforter and enjoy the feeling of the material in their hands.
This easy-to-grip phone is roarsome. It’s the perfect size for tiny hands and keeps baby busy and happy with fun sounds, tunes and more. It’s a toy you can put in their hand when you need five minutes to drink a hot cup of tea, and they’ll still be entertained by the time you’re ready to play again.
Totter and Tumble are pioneers in stylish floor mats. Soft for baby to play, roll and crawl on, these mats will also fit into your lifestyle and interior decor scheme. For most people, living rooms and kitchens become overwhelmed with baby gear, and previously minimalist or well-designed rooms become unrecognisable.
Thanks to Totter and Tumble, you can enjoy your wooden floor and just roll out a mat when baby wants to play, then fold it up when you’re done. The brand offers a swatch service, so you can double check your mat fits in with the rest of your decor and the website is divided into sections so you can narrow down the best rug for your needs, Sections include greys, monochromes, reds, blues and greens and the bold and beautiful new William Morris collaboration.
Even by the age of one, children know all about Peppa and her friends. This toy makes their favourite show more educational. It’s ideal for helping them learn new words and develop language skills. Flip up the lid and Peppa will ask lots of fun questions, to encourage learning about colours, numbers, shapes and objects.
