Christmas Festive Faves

 

– Updated for 2024 –  

As the days grow shorter and the festive season approaches, now is the time to start thinking about the gifts that will bring smiles on Christmas morning. Whether you’re shopping for a curious toddler or a hard-to-please pre-teen, we’ve got you covered. Our Festive Faves span a range of play styles – from creative building sets to active toys and imaginative play – ensuring there’s something for everyone. So get ready to find the perfect presents for the children on your list!   

 

Sensory and Developmental Play

For the littlest ones, toys that stimulate the senses and support early milestones are essential for healthy development. These are sure to bring a smile;

 

NogginStik Developmental Light-Up Rattle from SmartNoggin

A thoughtfully designed toy to help parents encourage early milestones in babies. Its head lights up in red, blue and green, stimulating baby’s eyes and promoting visual tracking. The soft rattle sound and textured handle engage the senses, while the easy-to-grip design helps babies master grasping and fine motor skills. Ideal for newborns, the NogginStik comes with a parent guide including activity suggestions and a milestone checklist for the first year. A valuable tool to help support sensory development from day one. 

 

 

Yoto Player (3rd Generation) and Cards  

A screen-free speaker designed to let children independently enjoy stories, music and activities. Operated by simply popping cards into the player, there is no need for constant online access, encouraging children to engage with content in a safe, ad-free way. It’s easy to set up and the accompanying app offers extra features like volume control and night settings. Just the thing for building a calming bedtime routine, the Yoto Player also doubles as a clock and OK-to-wake indicator. Whether for bedtime stories or morning wake-ups, it’s also a great tool for developing listening and literacy skills.

 

 

Sunny The Weighted Sensory Sea Turtle from Meavia

Lovely to simply cuddle, but also really helpful for supporting various sensory and emotional needs. Weighing in at 3 lbs, it can be used as a weighted lap pad or separated into a detachable sensory pillow, perfect for home or travel. Each brightly coloured section of the turtle’s ‘shell’ features engaging textures for tactile exploration. Its interactive design, accompanying story and resources are all beneficial for providing comfort and helping children to process emotions. Sunny also inspires creative, imaginative play and encourages communication and storytelling. 

 

 

Rainbow Design’s Bedtime Cuddles With Peter Rabbit 

Suitable from birth, this is an ideal gift for a newborn, and as it’s portable and travel friendly it’s also useful for holidays and sleepovers. Bedtime Cuddles with Peter Rabbit creates a soothing bedtime routine for little ones, featuring a soft Peter Rabbit toy and a musical nightlight that projects a starry sky onto the ceiling and walls while playing 20 minutes of calming lullaby music. The nightlight includes a timer that turns it off automatically, ensuring peaceful and undisturbed sleep.

Building and Construction Play 

For children who enjoy hands-on creativity, the following toys will be a hit and help to develop problem-solving and logical thinking skills; 

 

MAGNA-TILES® microMAGS 70 Piece Deluxe Set

A fun, travel-friendly twist on the classic magnetic building toy. With pieces 75% smaller than the standard version, children can be creative and build anywhere – useful if you’re not at home for Christmas. Fully compatible with other Magna-Tiles sets, these tiny tiles help develop important skills like fine motor control, visual planning and problem-solving. This set is great for older kids looking to create more detailed builds while providing hands-on learning and endless entertainment. 

 

TECTI

Tweens and teens will enjoy creating up to 50 kinetic structures using interlocking, movable cubes. Step-by-step tutorials are available via the QR code or on YouTube and guide users through increasingly challenging designs. Children will feel a real sense of achievement when they complete each design and develop skills such as spatial reasoning and critical thinking, all while having fun. 

 

 

Active and Outdoor Play 

For those who love to be on the go, these toys will keep them active and help to build confidence and coordination as they explore the world around them; 

 

 

Mini Micro Scooter from Micro Scooter

The perfect wheeled companion for 2-5 year olds. With its three-wheel design, the scooter stays stable and safe, giving little ones a smooth and sturdy ride. The tilt and lean steering makes it easy for children to intuitively master scooting, while the adjustable handlebars ensure just the right fit for different riders – ideal for families with more than one child. With its lightweight frame and reliable brake, it helps children improve spatial awareness, strength and motor skills as they scoot around and build their confidence. 

 

 

Ollyball 22″ Mega-Sized Planet Earth

An exciting, eco-friendly toy that combines active play with educational fun. Featuring over 150 geographic features and regions, this large inflatable ball (which can also be filled with helium to make it ‘gravity neutral’) can be coloured in with any crayon or marker, making it both interactive and creative. Made from upcycled, sustainable materials, it’s designed to engage children while being kind to the planet. The ball encourages cooperative play and supports large motor skill development as children throw, kick and catch, while also deepening their understanding of the planet through interesting facts which also come included. 

 

 

Competitive Play 

If your child enjoys a bit of friendly rivalry and a challenge, these games are great for boosting skills while having a blast; 

 

 

Dobble by Asmondee

A truly addictive card game for the family to play this Christmas. Players race to spot one matching symbol between two cards, creating an exciting, face-paced challenge. It comes in a small tin and there are several ways to play, making it handy for travel and engaging for different ages. Children will love the friendly competition, which helps them to learn to win or lose graciously while also developing important social skills like communication and confidence. Dobble is sure to bring everyone together for some quality family time. 

 

 

Subbuteo

The classic tabletop game that brings the excitement of football to your living room! Complete with 20 players, 10 in blue and 10 in red, this engaging game lets you pick your team and create your own game plan. Suitable for ages 8 and up, Subbuteo helps children develop logic and strategic thinking skills, while also encouraging friendly competition. Whether dreaming of becoming a footballer or cheering for their favourite team, players will enjoy hours of fun playing this game. 

 

 

Imaginative Play

The following are sure to be a hit with children who love storytelling and roleplay, and help develop creativity and social skills; 

 

 

PlayHouse Pop-Up Playtown Play Curtain

A space-saving way to spark children’s imaginations. This pop-up curtain easily transforms any doorway into a theatre stage, ice cream shop or food market. It’s quick to set up with the adjustable rod and encourages storytelling and self-expression. When playtime is over, it simply rolls up for easy storage. Great for little ones who want to perform or have a go at running their own shop; the Play Curtain is sure to inspire creativity and enjoyment. 

 

 

Eco Animal Puppet Buddies 

Made from 100% recycled materials, these adorable puppets are perfect for eco-conscious families. With over 30 puppets to collect, they will inspire endless storytelling fun. Sized to fit both children and adults, they encourage interactive play and will help to develop language, communication and social skills. Whether acting out stories or creating new ones, these puppets will be popular with all ages and ideal for both playtime and learning.