Femail reveals the best children’s gifts for a magical Christmas 

Santa Claus IS still coming to town! From a rocket that soars to 400ft to beautiful books and a baking kit subscription, Femail reveals the best children’s gifts for a magical Christmas

  • FEMAIL picks out a selection of this year’s best gift ideas from the UK High Street and online for children 
  • From £9.99 Peppa Pig Growing Pots to £279 Nintendo Switch, there’s something to suit all budgets 
  • Highlights include Fender Fullerton Ukulele, Paw Patrol Ryder’s Alphabet Tablet and Barbie Summer Villa

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There’s nothing more magical than seeing little faces light up on Christmas morning, and it’s more needed than ever after what’s beena tough year for so many families. 

This year, outdoor toys for socially distanced play will be more popular than ever, while there’s plenty of options featuring much-loved characters including Barbie, Paw Patrol and Mickey Mouse. 

Here, Femail reveals the best children’s gifts for 2020, divided into helpful categories such as stocking fillers, tech, main gifts and clothing. 

From mini Hunter wellies to a fold-up scooter, tablets, books, headphones and wooden toys for imaginative play, there’s something to suit all age groups and interests, with prices starting at just £9.99. 

STOCKING FILLERS 

Creative kids can choose to decorate six Fuzzikins characters, choosing from a doctor hippo, superhero hamster or a bear in a tutu. The set includes six washable pens and accessories. 3+ 

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Budding scientists can make a walking robot with the solar panels and motor, while using recycled materials to create its body. The science robot can also be transformed into a dinosaur and monster. (5+) 

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Kids will love the tale of the man who walked 100 laps of his garden during the pandemic and captured the hearts of the nation in unprecedented times. (3-7) 

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Tiny gardeners can plant these cress seeds and watch them grow in the plant pot house, which comes with a garden fence and a tree. Great for parents to do with little ones. (4+)

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With its vintage style matchbox and whimsical theme this is a cute festive keepsake, with a unique cuddly toy that promises a never-ending magical playtime. (3+) 

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Such a simple gift providing hours of fun for all ages. Kids can run, jump and stomp as rockets soar 400 feet in the air. The outdoor play encourages exercise and is ideal for socially-distanced days out. (3+)  

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For small and big kids alike. This eco-friendly giant bubble blowing kit comes with enough mixture to make more than 1,000 bubbles made from biodegradable solution. (3+) 

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Paw Patrol to the rescue! This ‘tablet’ teaches little ones the letters of the alphabet using phonics as well as sounds and words while keeping them entertained with Ryder and the pups. (3+) 

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Make unique magic sand creations with this all-in-one set that comes with a sensory case, four bags of coloured sand, six tools as well as decoration bags and a carry case (6+) 

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MAIN GIFTS

Let their imaginations run wild with this 123-piece marble run. The classic design is perfect for exploring creativity and encouraging learning of acceleration and gravity. (3+) 

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The unicorn ambulance (with its spinning horn) opens up to a hospital room where little ones can use a pressure pump, rainbow heart monitor, and X-ray machine on the Kindi Kids’ dolls (£39.99), which are sold separately. (3+). 

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This Barbie horse has more than 30 reactions, so your little ones will be engaged as they feed it carrots, watch it trot, turn and neigh. They can take Barbie for a ride on the saddle. (3+) 

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Little heroes will be ready to take on some web-slinging action with this all-in-one costume – with a pair of gloves that feature an exciting web projection feature. (3-10) 

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The sky’s the limit with this classic toy that encourages creative thinking. This 100-piece set can be stacked or built – from colourful shapes to space rockets! (3+) 

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These colourful dolls provide hours of fun as they cry real water and make realistic baby noises when her dummy is removed. (18ms+) 

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Have something to look forward to in the diary with afternoon tea at the elegant Langham London Hotel. Kids can enjoy their own version with dainty finger sandwiches while parents enjoy the full works. 

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This eco-friendly telescope will engage inquisitive minds with its 16x magnification. It comes with pre-cut parts, lenses and mirrors to build a fully functioning refractor telescope. (8+) 

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With oversized wheels, a projectile launcher and a Chase and T-Rex dinosaur figure, your little one can save the day along with the Paw Patrol. (3+) 

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A beautiful gift from this renowned designer, this 19-piece plastic tea set decorated with pink and red hearts comes within a house-shaped carry case, perfect for packing and tidying away. (3+) 

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Cicely Mary Barker’s eight-volume fairy book set from The Folio Society is a beautiful keepsake. With fully restored original fairy paintings, children will love picking out the plants and flowers in the illustrations. 

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A twist on the classic doll’s house is this summer villa – with a veranda, pool, lots of rooms, 3D furniture, a barbeque area and a Barbie to get their imaginative play going. (4+) 

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Encourage imaginative play with this adventure treehouse and your little ones create a storyline as they have fun with the rope swing, log ride slide and secret passage inside the tree. (3+). 

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Create a magical den in any nursery or bedroom with this pretty cotton canopy. As well boasting an elegant style, bed canopies encourage reading, sleeping and relaxing – as well as adventure. 

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Perfect for kids who want to copy mummy. This twin pram can face forward or back, and the storage basket is perfect for storing essentials. Comes with a matching bag as well as easy-to-move swivel wheels. (3+) 

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If you want to give your children the chance to enjoy and explore tech, without handing over a tablet designed for adults, the Mickey & Friends tablet is the perfect choice. 

Free from in-app purchases and unwanted pop-ups it comes with full parental control, access to more than 500 games, ebooks and learning apps – free for the first 12 months. 

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Parents will appreciate sharing this delightful book with their children. Enchantingly illustrated this Folio Society edition comes with miniature envelopes with letters inside, and will truly bring storytime alive in the most imaginative way.  

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A great option for slightly older kid and teenagers, the TONE Free Wireless Earbuds (FN6) offer not only great quality but peace of mind for the year that’s in it. The UVnano case eliminates bacteria and germs on the earbuds as they charge helps, and there’s a noise cancelling mode, as well as an Ambient Sound Mode that allows users to hear what’s going on around them with the press of a button – so there’s no excuse to ignore your calls for help with the washing up!

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OUTDOOR GIFTS

Get them outside this Christmas on this 2.4m trampoline that comes with a heavy duty frame, protective net inside the jumping area as well as a flexible bounce mat with 48 springs. 

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This is the perfect gift for kids of all ages. With a one click folding system, smart LED wheels, and a lean-to-steer intuitive, this must-have scooter also has a matching bell (£7.95), a helmet (£29.95) and a lunch bag (£9.95). (5-12) 

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This super-cool 18-inch mountain bike is the perfect first geared bike for a new rider and it can even be used as a balance-bike with an optional kit. It’s lightweight and its unique frame design means you can transform the bike into a larger model as they grow. (5+)

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WOODEN TOYS

This is the perfect personalised present to make breakfast time hassle free. It has two rounded dips to hold the boiled eggs in place and a groove to catch the crumbs. 

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Make breakfast time fun with this wooden toaster with velcro bread slices, jam and butter to stick together. Use the lever at the side of the toaster to pop up the slices of toast. Voila! (3+) 

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Off to the coast! This is an adorable travel gift for children with big imaginations. It comes with wooden play pieces, card fish, a printed felt mat as well as a play sheet. (4+) 

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A blend between the beloved ukulele and Fender electric shapes, this is the perfect starting place for budding musicians. Choose from Stratocaster, Telecaster or Jazzmaster shapes and let them play plugged or unplugged – using the Fender Play app. 

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Watch your little astronaut take an adventure into space with this wooden rocket ship with 12 themed rooms. Space lovers can let their imaginations run wild in the bedrooms, operation rooms and laboratories before closing the rooms and tidying the wooden accessories ready for lift off. (3+) 

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This beautiful kids’ kitchen is perfect for imaginative play, allowing littles to spend hours cooking, mixing and baking. It’s packed with layers of discovery including opening doors and turning hobs. 3+ 

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This is a gift for the kids that the whole family can get involved with – and it’s perfect for a fun activity after your Christmas dinner! This colourful twist on the classic game has a unique aim; stack the dominos so that when they are toppled over, the bear can deliver his message of friendship! (18months+).

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Watch as your little ones turn this into any sort of transport vehicle – for dolls, blocks, or any toy. It’s stylish and durable – and the design is timeless. (3+) 

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Get ready for a sleepover! Little ones will love putting their dolls to sleep in this sweet bunk bed. It comes with two pillows and two quilts so they can tuck their dolls in for the night and is perfect for encouraging imaginative role play. (3+) 

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CLOTHES

Made from 100% wool, this unisex long-sleeved coat will keep your little one warm and stylish on a winter’s day. It features double-breasted fastenings as well as a contrasting collar and cuffs. 

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Look stylish while splashing in muddy puddles with these waterproof wellies that feature a gloss finish with reflective detailing for visibility as your little ones explore. 

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This brand, loved by the royals including the Duchess of Cambridge, produces beautiful outfits perfect for special occasions. This traditional embroidered tartan dress with a classic peter pan collar, puffed sleeves and flared skirt is perfect for classic winter style. 

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These vintage-inspired pyjamas with a cute floral print are comfy and stylish. Featuring a long-sleeved top with bow detailing and matching pants, they’ll love wearing them on chilly winter mornings. 

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These super-soft joggers are perfect for lounging around on Christmas Day, complete with an adorable reindeer motif. 

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Choose from the brand’s classic stripes or festive designs – perfect for Christmas snuggles.

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TECH 

Perfect for bedtime stories, this interactive story creator comes with 48 stories, while there’s additional 1,500 to choose from too and the app lets family members record and send messages to the device. Pair with Octave headphones (£32.95). 

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In just two minutes, kids can cook up a delicious snack, to be stuffed with a savoury or sweet filling. It comes with 20 serving cones, recipes and topping ideas. 

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This electronic balloon dog comes to life like a real puppy with more than 60 interactive sounds. He sits and responds to your little one’s voice as well as eats, barks and begs. (5+) 

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Future stylists can practise their skills with the magic brush and become a makeup artist by applying colours to the unicorn’s horn, eyes, and wings. Myla’s features light up and little ones can sing their hearts out with the magic microphone. The interactive unicorn also comes with five accessories. (5+) 

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This slim VTech laptop is perfect for inquisitive kids. It has 40 curriculum-based activities which reinforce phonics, vocabulary, maths, music and French in quiz show style game play. The laptop comes with a mouse and keyboard and produces a progress report. (4+) 

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Aspiring YouTubers and TikTok fans will love creating their own content with this set; fully equipped with a Green Screen, tripod, LED ring light and phone holder. 

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This hybrid games console is ideal for budding tech fans – it can connect to the TV for home play as well as gaming on the go. It also features WiFi, a nine-hour battery life and a touchscreen – the ultimate gaming device offering a full home-console experience anytime. 

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Embrace the outdoors by taking this RC boat out on a nearby lake or pool to see it glide across the surface. Boating enthusiasts will get their need for speed as it travels up to 18 metres. (8+). 

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This gift unboxes itself as each interactive pup – Princess or Kweenie – paws its way out leaving littles surprised as to which puppy they are getting. With over 100 sounds and actions including tail wagging, tricks and tickling tummies. (5+) 

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Turn your iPad or tablet into an early learning tool. Kids can use their imagination and critical skills while playing these four educational games. It comes with 38 silicone Sticks & Rings, 19 costume pieces, stackable storage containers and a play mat. (3-5) 

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Budding DJs can perfect their music skills with this karaoke and DJ mixer. It comes with sound effects and songs as well as vocal reduction and removal technology. With a microphone, stand and colour- changing light, little superstars can record their performances too. (6+) 

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This robot smartwatch comes to life with an interactive and playful personality. With games, activities, a built-in pedometer and a rechargeable battery, the watch will keep your digital-savvy kid entertained for hours. (4+) 

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SMALL BUSINESSES

This eco-friendly subscription pack is delivered straight to your home and contains seasonal activities which encourage family fun outdoors. With different adventures, environmentally friendly stickers, a story and a pack of seeds, kids will be occupied for hours. (2-7yrs) 

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These beautifully illustrated affirmation cards (box of 35) are a great way to talk about emotions and mental health. Stored inside an adorable keepsake box, each card includes uplifting statements on each side. 

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This sustainable raincoat is perfect for keeping kids dry while they splash in muddy puddles. It’s made from recycled plastic waste and sustainable materials and features a digitally printed fun shark pattern in collaboration with artist Amber Badger. (2-9yrs) 

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Gift a high-end luxury wooden bear and see the treasured toy become a family keepsake. The elegant solid oak bear can either be played with or used as an ornamental piece in a child’s bedroom. 

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This traditional Russian Doll-inspired toy is perfect for inquisitive little ones as it encourages interactive play and is safe for little hands. With fun faces to look at, the Nesting Babies will excite your toddlers. (12 months+) 

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Make mealtime fun with these fun Munchy Play plates. Choose from a train, racing car or picnic theme and bring playtime to dinner time. 

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This healthy cooking kit contains organic ingredients needed to make the month’s recipe as well as kid-friendly family meal suggestions and foodie activities. The monthly subscription is ideal for little cooks 

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Kids can draw any design on the paper, before getting an adult to iron their drawing onto a T-shirt, bringing their artsy creations to life! 

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An online course combining photography and mindfulness for kids is the perfect gift to impact how your child looks at the world. They will learn exploration and creativity with fun films, interactive group webinars and colourful worksheets. (5-9 and 10-16) 

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