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Gift IdeasReviews

The 15 Best Christmas Toys for Kids of Every Age – Ultimate Gift Guide

written by Joe A 17th December 2021
best christmas gifts for kids, kids gifts for christmas,

With Christmas just around the corner, many of you will be gearing up for the end of yet another unprecedented year.

Given you’ll be desperate to buy the right gifts for your little ones, we have compiled this list of top Christmas toys for kids across a range of ages. From babies and toddlers through to the notorious teen years, we’ve got present recommendations for fathers with children of all ages.

But before we dive into those recommendations, let’s give you a little more background as to why this Christmas is going to be a little different.

Table of contents
Why Christmas 2021 Will Be Different
What to Look for in a Great Christmas Gift?
The Best Christmas Toys for a Baby - Toddler
   1.    Manhattan Toy Skwish Color Burst Rattle and Teether
   2.    Hide N Side 6ft Crawl Through Play Tunnel Toy
   3.    GUND Baby Animated Flappy The Elephant Animal 
   4.     Boon PIPES Building Toddler Bath Tub Toy
   5.     Fisher-Price Linkimals Cool Beats Penguin
The Best Christmas Toys for 5 - 10-Year-Olds
   6.    A Knock Knock Joke A Day: Over 365 of the Best Knock Knock Jokes for Kids
   7.     Squeakee The Balloon Dino
   8.     Pictionary Air Harry Potter Family Drawing Game
   9.     LEGO Minecraft The Blaze Bridge Building Kit (370 Pieces)
   10.    Spirograph Original Deluxe Spirograph Art Set
The Best Christmas Toys for 10 - Teens
   11.    5 Second Rule Game
   12.    Razor Power Core E90 Electric Scooter 
   13.     The Mindfulness Journal for Teens 
   14.     NERF Fortnite BASR-R Bolt Action Blaster 
   15.     Dash Mini Donut Maker Machine 
Best Christmas Toys for Kids FAQs
What toys will be popular in 2021?
What should I be thinking about when getting a Christmas toy?

Why Christmas 2021 Will Be Different


With the severe restrictions in place last year and everyone enduring a very different Christmas, this year sets to mark at least somewhat of a return to normality (even if Covid is still very much a part of our lives). 

As a result, Christmas spending is set to soar. In the US, fourth-quarter spending is set to come in at 7% higher than last year and almost 10% higher than in 2019, when the pandemic was still several months away from derailing our lives. 

Part of the reason spending is so high already is because of fears of goods shortages. With global supply chains still tainted with the backlogs caused by the world coming to a standstill in 2020, many consumers are carrying out their shopping earlier than usual to ensure everything arrives on time. 

In the UK, spending on toys and clothes was up a percentage point in October, with November and December expected to deliver even more significant increases. So once you’ve decided on the best gifts from the list below, it might be a good idea to get your skates on to ensure you get the hottest Christmas toys of 2021 before stocks run out.


What to Look for in a Great Christmas Gift?


When buying a Christmas gift for your little girl or a Christmas toy for your little boy, you might be weighing up what constitutes a good present and what doesn’t. Even if they have given Santa a list of gift ideas, it’s always nice to get them something they aren’t expecting that you just know they will love.

While several factors will rest heavily upon your child’s personality, there are always some aspects that you should always take into account when trying to find the perfect Christmas gift.

  • Longevity – How long a toy may last should be one of your key considerations. The last thing you want is for your little one to play with it throughout Christmas day only to lose interest in the days that follow. Yes, kids can indeed outgrow any toy quickly. But you should be considering gifts that at least have the potential to hold their interest until Christmas rolls around again next year. 

  • Fun – Similar to the point made above, will your kid have fun with the toy you are considering? If you can’t see them having a whale of a time with a particular gift idea, then you shouldn’t even entertain buying it. Some kids prefer toys that involve thinking skills (such as LEGO), whereas others prefer more active toys (think NERF gun). You know what your child enjoys, so pick your gifts accordingly. 
  • Price – Cost is always going to be a consideration. As a parent, you will only have a limited budget, and it’s about making sure you deliver the most bang for the buck on your gift choices. It might be better to spread your spend out over several engaging toys than blowing it all on a Nintendo Switch, for example. 
  • Age Suitability – Of course, the appropriateness of a Christmas toy for your little one is going to be determined at least somewhat by its age suitability. For instance, there’s no point gifting a small toddler a LEGO set (not to mention it could present a swallowing hazard!). That said, getting the best Christmas toys for your little one(s) may involve buying items slightly ahead of their current age bracket since they will then have space and time to grow into their toys, increasing their longevity and making them a worthwhile investment. 

The Best Christmas Toys for a Baby - Toddler


   1.    Manhattan Toy Skwish Color Burst Rattle and Teether

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Editors Review

“With an engaging color scheme and flexible elastic ties in between the wooden dowels, this will keep your baby entertained for hours on end.”


This rattle and teething toy from The Manhattan Toy Company is perfect for newborns. It allows your little one to get a head start on developing those all-important motor skills by allowing them to grasp, and the exciting color scheme will help them learn to turn and track their heads.

Key Features:

  • Wooden toy with beads that produce a muted, pleasant sound when rattled - loud enough for babies to explore auditory cause and effect.
  • Babies (and adults) will love 'skwishing' it down and watching it return to shape.
  • High-quality wooden rattle made from splinter and chip-resistant rubberwood and finished with a water-based, non-toxic finish.

   2.    Hide N Side 6ft Crawl Through Play Tunnel Toy

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Editors Review

“A brilliant futureproof(ish) present that will help your child develop all kinds of coordination skills as they grow."


If your baby is on the cusp of learning to crawl, then why not make it enjoyable by inviting them to crawl through an exciting tunnel? This Hide N Side crawl tunnel is the perfect place for babies and young infants to practice crawling, sensory processing, and coordination activities. Plus, it’ll last them right into toddlerhood when they can use it as a den or their secret quiet place.

Key Features:

  • Collapsible design, making this play tunnel easy to store.
  • Bright and engaging color scheme.
  • Made with the highest quality 190T soft polyester fabric and thick steel wiring, assuring your kids are safe. 

   3.    GUND Baby Animated Flappy The Elephant Animal 

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Editors Review

“Be careful, you’ll find that your child will become very attached to this charming Christmas toy very quickly. You have been warned!”

 

This plush toy from GUND is as practical as it is adorable. Not only is he a great cuddly toy, but Flappy the Elephant has a couple of buttons that bring him to life.  Pressing the left foot plays an interactive game of peek-a-boo, and the right plays the song Do Your Ears Hang Low in a cute child's voice! Perfect for that age when your child starts becoming attached to their favorite toys.

Key Features:

  • Two play modes, including one interactive game of peek-a-boo.
  • Flappy’s ears flap in time to commands and songs to the delight of your little one.
  • Ultra-soft and ultra-plush exterior.

   4.     Boon PIPES Building Toddler Bath Tub Toy

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Editors Review

“These pipes will help your baby get to grips with basic physics and develop their problem-solving skills at bath time, killing two birds with one stone!”


It’s time to change up the bath time routine and make it more exciting and engaging for your toddler with these Boon pipes. With these pipes, your baby gets to unleash their inner plumber as they work out how gravity and water interact. Tied to the wall with a suction cup, these pipes can be used independently or in tandem, helping children develop their problem-solving skills.

Key Features:

  • Bright color scheme, and each pipe is a unique shape
  • No need to assemble. Just stick them straight on the side of the bath or on tiles.
  • Design means water always filters back into the bath, not on the floor.

   5.     Fisher-Price Linkimals Cool Beats Penguin

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Editors Review

“This multifaceted penguin will keep your toddler engaged for hours on end, and crucially, will help them develop key skills at an early age.”


This interactive penguin toy from Fisher-Price is trending right now and currently sits inside the top 10 toys on Amazon. The arctic animal makes a great toy for those in that 12-month to 24-month age range as it sings fun songs and flashes fun colored lights that will get your little one moving. This miniature penguin also reads out letters, numbers, and shapes to help them build critical skills early in their development.

Key Features:

  • Offers kids multi-color lights and cool music that teaches the alphabet, opposites, counting, and shapes.
  • Pressing the buttons sees the penguin flap its flippers and bob side to side with lights and music.
  • Encourages babies and toddlers to dance and get moving with fun songs, phrases, and games.

The Best Christmas Toys for 5 - 10-Year-Olds


   6.    A Knock Knock Joke A Day: Over 365 of the Best Knock Knock Jokes for Kids

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Editors Review

“This joke book provides a much less intense way to introduce your little one to reading, and you’ll hear them laughing from their bedroom!”

We couldn't help but include our own book! Getting your little one into books at an early age is crucial to developing their reading skills later in life. The problem is that books can seem a bit dull compared to many of their toys. The solution? Have them read our hilarious knock-knock joke book! Not only will it help develop reading skills, but it will also have them giggling away as they turn each page!

Key Features:

  • Provides a knock-knock joke for each day of the year.
  • Develops critical cognitive skills through wordplay.
  • Perfect for adults too!

   7.     Squeakee The Balloon Dino

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Editors Review

“This guy will become part of the household in no time. Whether it’s singing, dancing, or popping, you’ll see this dinosaur everywhere you go after he arrives!”


This toy is literally everywhere this year and has become a “must-have” for many infants. In many ways, this electronic balloon dinosaur is like having a real-life pet in your home in many ways. He boasts over 70 incredible interactive sounds and movements. And kids will love catering to his many requests – including petting, tickling, and talking him out of being scared.

Key Features:

  • Makes over 70+ sounds and reactions. Play games with him like Chicken and Tug of War.
  • Your kids can tickle, pet, and make him laugh.
  • Hear Squeakee Dino roar but roar too loud back and he will run away or pop!

   8.     Pictionary Air Harry Potter Family Drawing Game

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Editors Review

“A perfect Christmas game for all the family that you and your children can keep coming back to year after year.”


With most children getting into the world of Harry Potter between the ages of eight and ten, this Harry Potter-inspired Pictionary game will be perfect for your little Potterheads. It’s super simple – you split into two Hogwarts teams and get drawing. Each player will first need to download the free Pictionary Air app, where they’ll sketch something from the Wizarding World. You can then connect the app to your TV and watch as their creations come to life on screen. We've got more boardgame recommendations here too.

Key Features:

  • Comes with the free Pictionary Air app allowing the active player to appear, along with their sketch, on the screen of your smart device.
  • Players can cast gameplay onto their TV using Apple TV, Chromecast, or a compatible streaming device at home.
  • Includes 1000+ clues from the Muggle and Harry Potter worlds.

   9.     LEGO Minecraft The Blaze Bridge Building Kit (370 Pieces)

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Editors Review

“LEGO and Minecraft are insanely popular at this age (as you well know), so why not combine the two in one gift?”

No best Christmas toy list for this age bracket would be complete without a LEGO set. But with Minecraft also dominant at this age, what better way to delight your little boy or girl than combining both crazes! This Blaze Bridge set offers kids the chance to build a swooping blaze and gravel rockfall functions, burning lava, magma, soul sand, glowstone, gravel, nether quartz, brewing stand, two potions, and a treasure chest.

Key Features:

  • Includes an Alex Minifigure, two blazes with spinning blaze rods, and a wither skeleton with a stone sword.
  • 370 pieces – For boys and girls aged 8+ and for fans and big kids of all ages.
  • Can be built together with all other original LEGO sets and LEGO bricks for creative building.

   10.    Spirograph Original Deluxe Spirograph Art Set

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Editors Review

"There’s a reason the Spirograph has remained popular since 1965. Not only are they practical and entertaining, but they also help develop large motor skills at this crucial age."


Spirographs are back! Now you can live vicariously through your young ones as they start to explore their artistic talents. With new shapes and templates such as hearts, teardrops, and stars, your kids can now create fascinating designs that are bound to go up on your wall in no time.

Key Features:

  • Convenient, easy-to-carry case.
  • Complete set of new shaped wheels and rings compatible with all other Spirograph sets..
  • Comes with a handy organizer tray, three colorful design markers, two 24-page drawing pads, and a detailed instruction guide.

The Best Christmas Toys for 10 - Teens


   11.    5 Second Rule Game

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Editors Review

“This is a fun game for friends or family to play, and there are so many question cards included, you’ll never play the same game twice.”


This is a fast-paced game where you race to name three things associated with a seemingly easy topic, such as “things that go with chips.” Do it before the timer runs out, and you can give the buzzer a satisfying smash. Have a mind-blank, and the alarm will go off – a perfect gift for a tween eager to play games with the family this Christmas

Key Features:

  • Includes 400 Questions on 200 Cards, six Pawns, Five-Second Twisted Timer, Game Board, Rules.
  • Read a card and give an answer. But you have to do it in 5 seconds.
  • Silly answers are bound to be blurted out under severe time pressure, leading to laughs for all the family.

   12.    Razor Power Core E90 Electric Scooter 

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Editors Review

“Not only is this scooter broader and more sturdy (and therefore safer) than similar models, it also boasts incredible battery life."


Electric scooters are all the rage right now, and this unisex model boasts an anti-slip footplate, easy-grip handles, brake, and acceleration to speeds of up to 10mph. Better still, your kid can ride for 80 minutes straight without needing a recharge!

Key Features:

  • 80-minute battery life.
  • Spring-loaded kickstand you can use to keep it upright when you stop and get off.
  • Weighs just 9kg – light for an electric scooter of this type.  

   13.     The Mindfulness Journal for Teens 

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Editors Review

“Mental health for teens is of real concern right now, and this journal can help to keep your young one in a positive headspace, and they deal with the challenges of being a teenager.”

 

Between school exam stress, social media pressures, and friend drama, being a teenager is tough. Mindfulness ― pausing to experience the present moment only ― is a great way to stay focused on positive mental health and practice dealing with one feeling at a time. This mindfulness journal is especially for teens to help them practice mindfulness.

Key Features:

  • A journal with a toolbox of simple breathing exercises, easy meditations, and dozens of writing prompts that help your teens bring mindfulness into their daily routine. 
  • Contains quick and easy exercises that you can do anytime in just a few minutes, like power posing, mindful eating, and mindful walking.
  • Inspirational quotes from a variety of figures that encourage your teen to find their strength and face their fears.

   14.     NERF Fortnite BASR-R Bolt Action Blaster 

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Editors Review

“If you’re fed up with your teen wasting away hours on Fortnite, this NERF gun might provide a solution that gets them and the rest of the family active and ready for battle!” 


Fortnite is a daily ritual for many teenagers, but this NERF gun combines their love of the game with something a little more active. With three bush targets, you can spend time with your little ones practicing their aim, honing their precision skills, or storming into competitive dart-blasting games with friends and family. 

Key Features:

  • Comes with a removable clip that holds up to 6 darts and includes 6 Official Nerf Elite darts that are tested and approved for performance and quality.
  • Designed to look like the blasters used in Fortnite.
  • Includes a scope to look through to line up your shots. The scope is removable, so you can customize the blaster for each battle.

   15.     Dash Mini Donut Maker Machine 

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Editors Review

“The machine is easy to use, easy to clean, and makes goodies in a flash. What more could you want?"


Buy this for your teenager, and they won’t be the only ones enjoying it. They’ll be making you and the whole family all manner of treats, with over 50 recipes to choose from in the included guide. Perfect if you have a budding chef or baker on your hands! 

Key Features:

  • Over 50 combinations of doughnuts and glazes.
  • Have your teen make a fresh batch of doughnuts in a matter of minutes.
  • Works with a range of batters (cake mix, brownie mix, doughnut batter, etc.).

Best Christmas Toys for Kids FAQs


What toys will be popular in 2021?

Pretty much all of the toys listed above are trending this year. However, there are a few to watch out for in particular. 

The Fisher-Price Linkimals Cool Beats Penguin is already selling well within the toddler toys categories, as is Squeakee The Balloon Dino for those aged five to ten. Lastly, electric scooters are all the rage right now, so you’ll need to be quick to secure one for your teenager before they sell out. 

What should I be thinking about when getting a Christmas toy?

As always, you should be conscious of how much fun a toy might bring to your little one. Don’t make the mistake of thinking they might like it. Use your knowledge of their personality to decide what they will really enjoy. 

Lastly, make sure you aren’t buying a cheap one-and-done present that barely lasts into January. Think about buying a toy that will stand the test of time and will give your child months or years of enjoyment. It’ll be kinder to both your wallet and the environment.

Top tip: Buy a toy aimed at children slightly older than your child’s current age to extend its longevity, fun, and return on investment. 

The 15 Best Christmas Toys for Kids of Every Age – Ultimate Gift Guide was last modified: December 17th, 2021 by Joe A

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