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.
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.
The Best Christmas Toys for a Baby - Toddler
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:
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:
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:
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:
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:
The Best Christmas Toys for 5 - 10-Year-Olds
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:
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:
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:
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:
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:
The Best Christmas Toys for 10 - Teens
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:
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:
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:
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:
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:
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.
