As Chanukah approaches, get inspired by our top picks of must-have gifts for the kids.
It’s a familiar scene: the first night of Chanukah, the light outside has faded, the first branch of the Menorah has been lit, and the excitement from the kids is palpable as they wait for present time! We all know how difficult it can be to come up with gifts that won’t be discarded after an hour, never to be played with again, but never fear! We’ve got some ideas to make light work of your present buying, conveniently tailored across a span of age ranges and price points.
TO 4 YEARS OLD UNDER £20
Stacking rings | £9.99
An excellent toy for curious little ones, allowing them to learn how to put them in size order on the bendable stick. As well as being a fun activity, this game also develops hand-eye coordination and perception skills. The rings are made of rubber wood in a range of colours which manage to be both bright and stylish.
UNDER £50
Gantosaurus in egg | £41
This cuddly dinosaur offers a fun surprise for younger children, allowing them to uncover a new friend from inside the egg exterior. The dino – a Gantosaurus – is made of the softest cotton and linen, so as not to irritate delicate young skin, while the plastic eggshell features a realistic egg-like texture.
UNDER £100
Liberty House Toys slide | £56.99
Let your little ones shoot for the moon with this fun rocket slide. The modern design of the slide means it has safer softened edges and a handrail to give your child extra security. The steps on the slide have a pebble texture to help little feet grip easier. Even better, it can be folded down so it can be stored away quickly and easily, freeing up space when it’s not playtime.
5 TO 9 YEARS OLD UNDER £20
UNO Minecraft | £11.99
This Minecraft-themed deck is the UNO you love, with some extra gameplay added in. UNO Minecraft gameplay still has players racing to get rid of all their cards, but this version features cards with Minecraft characters and images and a special rule.
You want to match a card in your hand with the current card shown on top of the deck, and you’ll score points for the cards your opponents are left holding. There’s also a new type of action card; when you draw the Creeper card, show it to the other players and they’ll have to draw three more cards! The first player to reach 500 points wins.
UNDER £50
Lego Groot | £39.99
Featuring the beloved character, this Lego Groot is the perfect gift for any young Marvel fan. As well as the fun of getting to put the toy together, once it’s complete it features a movable head and posable arms. When kids turn the handle at the back of the flowerpot, the jointed Groot starts dancing. The figure can be customised with additional leaves, buildable headphones, and sunglasses, and kids can personalise Groot’s pot by adding one of three different nameplates to the front.
UNDER £100
Teepee | £74.99
Available in dusk blue, platinum, and baby pink, from durable, washable fabric, this teepee gives your children a space to let their imaginations run wild. The teepee is easy to put up and store, coming with four high quality wooden poles, a pole tie, and instructions, making it super easy to have adventures on the go.
10 TO 13 YEARS OLD UNDER £20
Coca-Cola headphones | £8.24
For older kids, these Coca-Cola headphones allow them to listen to their music in style. The officially licensed genuine Coca-Cola collectable headphones are designed with a Coke bottle on the left and right, and the inner side of the headband carries the official Coca-Cola logo. The slider parts are extendable and can be adjusted easily according to the shape of the head, while the cushioning material for the padded headband and polyurethane for the ear pads all for comfortable listening for extended periods of time.
UNDER £50
National Geographic 40mm children’s telescope | £39.99
Budding young astronomers will adore this Nat Geo 50 / 400 telescope, which boasts fully covered optics, giving good levels of brightness while maintaining a compact size. The focal length of 400mm offers magnification up to 66x which gives excellent views of the moon, planets, and distant stars, which keeping the telescope compact and easily transportable.
UNDER £100
Yoto Mini | £59.99
The Yoto Mini allows children to listen to music and audiobooks without exposing them to screens, ads, or requiring an internet connection. Simply insert a smartcard containing the audio you’d like to listen to, and you’re ready to go. There are plenty of smartcards available, from the newest Disney soundtracks to classic stories such as The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe or Little Women. The Mini version comes with a smaller interface and speaker, which is great for use on the go.