Usually when I start to mention the “C” word in October I’m greeted with the usual “it’s too early” remarks however this year I feel that Christmas is something people are thinking about earlier; with the cost of living going up everyone is focusing on how to stretch each pay-check out and planning their Christmas shopping earlier than they may normally. I’ve definitely purchased a few things already and been stocking up on those food items with long shelf lives ready for my favourite day of the year.
I am hoping that this year’s gift guide will showcase some fantastic toys but please remember every family is different and all children really want is your presence in their lives…not how many presents you can buy. With this in mind we’ve decided not to go mad this year; we will also be focusing on making Christmas traditions and memories with Ellie too.
DISCLOSURE – SOME ITEMS SHOWN BELOW HAVE BEEN GIFTED TO REVIEW AND INCLUDE IN THIS YEAR’S GIFT GUIDE HOWEVER AS ALWAYS ALL THOUGHTS, OPINIONS AND PHOTOGRAPHS ARE MY OWN.
Tactic Games
Magic Forest
The naughty trolls have mixed up the crystals that protect the magic forest. The magic forest needs your help!
Adventure awaits but you must pick your route carefully and avoid those naughty trolls!
This is a great board game, complete with wooden characters and a 3D tree. It’s the perfect adventure game for 2-4 players.
Available from The Range
RRP: £24.99
Sylvanian Families
Pony’s Hair Stylist Set
Create different hair styles with the Sylvanian Families Pony’s Hair Stylist Set.
The Manely Pony Mother, Serafina, has a great sense of style and can be seen with a new hair style each day!
This set can be added to the Pony Stylish Hair Salon for extra fun but is perfect to play with on it’s own too. Give Serafina different hair styles using the accessories included. Serafina can ever hold them herself!
Available from Sylanian Families
RRP: £22.99
Eat Sleep Doodle
Heroines of History
Colour-in and discover twenty influential women in history from across the world – some familiar, some lesser known – with this fun, creative and hugely inspiring tablecloth!
All items are made from 100% cotton and come complete with a set of 10 wash-out markers to colour in.
This is such a unique gift idea from Eatsleepdoodle. Children will love colouring in the pictures while also feeling curious about who the women are. Although it’s a tablecloth it would make a beautiful wall-hanging too!
Available from EatSleepDoodle
RRP: £24.95
Yeti Cards and Gifts
Fairytale Placemat
Personalise your living space with these beautifully illustrated, hand printed, baize backed alphabet placemats.
These beautifully illustrated placemats pay homage to classic fairytales. Each letter of the alphabet features a different fairy tale.
These placemats (coasters can also be purchased) are made from hard board and have a green baize backing to prevent it from moving whilst being used.
Available from Yeti Cards and Gifts
RRP: £9.99
Bandai Uk
Switch N Go Scooter
The Miraculous Switch N Go Scooter is Ladybug’s best way of getting around the streets of Paris!
Transform Ladybug’s yoyo into her very own scooter in a few simple steps – just push, transform and go!
The set comes with a 26cm Ladybug doll dressed in her lucky charm outfit and helmet.
Available now from Smyths
RRP: £42.99
LEGO
Frozen Elsa and The Nokk Adventure Book
This creative LEGO ǀ Disney set gets kids playing quickly with 3 micro-doll figures – including Iduna and 2 versions of Disney’s Elsa – plus Olaf, the Nokk and Earth Giant LEGO figures.
Lego is always a “can’t go wrong” type of gift for the whole family but the Disney themed sets are great for kids especially.
Available from The Lego Store and all good toy retailers.
RRP: £17.99
ZURU
Mini Brands
Unwrap, peel, and uncover real miniature collectables with 5 Surprise Mini Brands! There are 60+ miniatures of your all new favourite brands to collect, including rare metallic, super rare gold minis and all new super rare frozen moments!
All kids seem to love surprise toys; the novelty of not knowing what you will get is really exciting!
There are many different versions of the 5 Surprise Mini Brands to find; food, fashion, unicorns and even Disney!
Available from Smyths and all good toy retailers
RRP: starts from £6.99
Character Toys
Jiggly Pets Rex
Rex is the super cool electronic T Rex who walks, shakes, and jiggles with music and sound effects. Watch him move to the beat of his tune!
Jiggly Pets are fun, musical and make you giggle. Rex has soft and stretchy bright red hair which can be pulled and jiggles as he moves.
They have around 10 seconds of music where they dance around before needing to be activated again.
Available from Smyths
RRP: £17.99
Aquabeads
Mystic Unicorn Set
Create your own mystical world with the Mystic Unicorn Set. The set comes with 1500 beads in 24 colours, template sheets and instructions. Follow the template sheet to make wearable charms with your Aquabeads unicorns by using the included key chain accessories and colour straps.
With lots of refill sets to choose from Aquabeads make great gifts for creative children. This set’s template designs include colourful unicorns, rainbow, moon, and hearts.
Available from Hobbycraft
RRP: £18.00
Bandai UK
Miraculous Kwami Surprise Box
Each surprise box contains a Kwami with his Miraculous. There are 8 Kwami collectible figures to collect.
Also comes with a Miraculous map!
Perfect for any Miraculous and Cat Noir fans!
Crayola
Washimals Super Salon
Colour, wash and colour again with Crayola Washimals in this super salon. The revamped Crayola Washimals Super Salon features four brand new pets and five different ways to customise and design. It’s hours of fun – just design, wash, and create again! Use the markers, add designs using the washable transfer stickers, add pearlescent paint, add colourable costumes and then spray with scented spray to make your pets smell as good as they look.
Also doubles up as a perfect storage container that holds up to 20 washimals.
Available from Smyths
RRP: £34.99
Crayola
Colour ‘n’ Style Mermaid Salon
Step into the magical world of the Sea Salon, a place you can design in your very own style.
Using the included reusable sticker sheets and washable dry erase pens, the salon will soon be ready for its first Mermaid appointment. Maya the mermaid doll has extra-long hair with glitter highlights to colour and style, with three braiding clips and two themed extension clips, both of which you can also wear in your hair!
The Sea Salon is such a creative place you and your Mermaid will certainly be coming back again and again for more appointments!
Available from Smyths
RRP: £24.99
Wonderbly
Where Are You Christmas Edition
A personalised search-and-find extravaganza where you’re looking for… yourself! Dive into seven classic adventures from our smash hit bestseller Where Are You? – with an added Christmas twist. Watch out for the brand new mission to save Christmas!
I absolutely love personalised gifts, especially when they are books too! The festive edition of the Where Are You series contains mind-boggling new Christmas scenes, curious characters, festive puzzles and more!
Available from Wonderbly
RRP from: £27.99
Board Games
Family Fun Games
We love playing family board and card games together.
We love fast paced, observation games that we can play as a family so card games are great for that.
Games like Dobble come in different themes, such as Harry Potter, Animals, Dobble 360o, Dobble Junior and Dobble Kids.
Taco, Cat, Goat, Cheese, Pizza is another speed and observation game that gets competitive very quickly!
Do you know of a toy that is top of your kid’s Christmas lists we haven’t included?
Let me know in the comments below!
Mothering A Rainbow 