Another year, another mountain of glitter on the rug. Welcome to my annual round-up of Christmas gifts for kids. All genuinely tested by my two expert product stress testers: a 6-year-old who lives in a permanent state of costume change, and an 8-year-old who believes every object has the potential to become a magic spell.
This guide is split into handy categories, because no two children are quite the same and no Christmas morning ever goes entirely to plan. Whether you’re looking for Stocking Fillers that won’t end up in the bin by Boxing Day, Arts & Crafts that keep little hands (and big feelings) busy, or something from Make Your Own Magic for mini sorcerers, it’s all here.
So grab a mince pie, hide the wrapping paper from the cat, and let’s begin.
Curveball Gifts – Unexpected surprises for the kid who has it all
Ordo Electric Toothbrushes – Wicked Elphaba Squishmallows Editions
What Is It: A range of kids’ electric toothbrushes with fun licensed toppers — think Elphaba’s hat for budding witches or a Squishmallows Patty topper for plush-loving fans. They turn brushing from chore to character-led moment, with gentle sonic action designed for little mouths.
What We Thought: This is one of those rare parenting wins where hygiene meets hype. The girls were actually keen to brush because they wanted to “wake up” their topper’s magic, which is exactly the behaviour I’ll happily reward. No lies, they asked four times on the first day of getting them to brush their teeth. The brushes feel solid (not flimsy) and the themed toppers make them feel like a proper grown-up gadget, but the right size for their kid’ mouths. If you’ve been negotiating teeth-cleaning like it’s a hostage situation, this might be the peace treaty you need.
Where To Buy It: From £44.99 online.
Bloomables Kittyfly
What Is It: An interactive surprise toy from Hatchimals: water the flower, nurture it until it glows, then watch the petals open to reveal a hidden “Hatchipillar” friend. Features over 100 sounds and reactions, plus a repeatable double-reveal for extra drama.
What We Thought: Delightful, theatrical, and just a tiny bit addictive. The growing/building moment is genuinely magical; the girls loved tending the flower and squealed when it finally bloomed. It’s part pet, part plant, part unboxing drama, and the variety of sounds keeps playtime fresh. Worth the slightly dramatic reveal for the sheer joy on little faces.
Where To Buy It: £59.99 online.
Fuggler Ugly Pet
What Is It: A bizarre, hilarious plush toy that proudly wears its “ugly” badge — complete with creepy, human-like teeth and mischievous expressions. Part novelty, part cult-favourite plush monster.
What We Thought: Weirdly charming. There’s something joyously silly about an ugly pet that grins at you with human teeth. It made the girls laugh, squeal, and immediately invent backstories involving midnight cookie thefts. Not for purists who only love cute, but if your child has a taste for oddball humour, this will be the plush that never gets put away.
Where To Buy It: From £7.99 online.
Bitzee Hamster Ball
What Is It: An interactive digital pet inside a rolling “hamster ball” — feed it, pet it, play, and watch it react with sounds and movements. A techy take on classic digital pets with cute hamster characters.
What We Thought: A sweet, battery-powered companion that’s great for kids who love pets but not the actual responsibility. The hamster’s reactions are charming, and the rolling ball adds a playful, kinetic element. It’s engaging without being overwhelming and fits perfectly into everyday play or a quiet desk companion.
Where To Buy It: £42.99 online.
Stocking Fillers – Small, silly, joyful, perfect for the fireplace grab-and-grin.
Chuckle Soaps
What Is It: A bar of soap with a tiny surprise toy hidden inside, from Taylor Swift figurines to superheroes and festive minis, all designed to make handwashing way more fun.
What We Thought: My two are currently washing their hands at every available opportunity because “we’re nearly at the toy, Daddy.” We had Harry Potter, Taylor Swift and Spiderman, which is basically the perfect Venn diagram of small girl obsession in our house. The lavender scent is lovely (not that artificial “playdough perfume” smell), and they’re vegan, cruelty-free, and gentle enough for sensitive skin. Basically, good, clean bribery and I for one support it.
Where to Buy It: £8 available online.
Jokes For Funny Kids (Series)
What Is It: Pocket-sized joke books with themed jokes. We tried Santa’s Jolly Jokes, Spooky Jokes and Laugh Out Loud Jokes.
What We Thought: These are prime Christmas chaos material. Read aloud while waiting for dinner, perfect for long car journeys, or pop one into a Christmas Eve box. Not every joke is a winner (and some will make you groan like your leftover Halloween decorations), but the joy is in the delivery. And honestly? Hearing your kid absolutely lose it at a knock-knock joke is one of life’s great pleasures.
Where to Buy It: £5.99 available online.
Poo Curling Game
What Is It: It’s curling… but with novelty poos. Yes. That’s the description.
What We Thought: It’s ridiculous. But also brilliant because there’s nothing funnier to kids than poo. The kind of game that will come out after Christmas dinner, when everyone’s slightly too full, and grandparents will be shocked. It’s juvenile, chaotic, and exactly what stockings are made for.
Where To Buy It: £9.95 available online.
FunLockets Secret Journal (Glitter Edition)
What Is It: A sparkly lockable journal with hidden compartments for your tiny person’s most precious treasures.
What We Thought: My children have so many treasures. Sticks, rocks, that one leaf they found in April. This journal lets them hide, store, and guard their hoard like tiny glittery dragons. The joy of discovering the secret compartments was huge. The lock is more symbolic than secure, but the drama of “I MUST FIND MY KEY” is priceless.
Where To Buy It: £19.99 available online.
Foodibles
What Is It: Scented collectable plushies that combine animals with fruit. (Yes, really.) They’re made from recycled fabric and come in different sizes.
What We Thought: These were an instant giggle. We got Avocado Rabbit and Peach Pig, and the kids howled at the concept before immediately adopting them as bedtime buddies. Seriously, look them up online and you’ll want to have one! The scents are surprisingly nice, not overpowering, and the textures feel great. Cute, daft, very huggable. Solid stocking fun.
Where To Buy It: Large £14.99, Small £7.99 available online.
Little Live Pets Mama Surprise Families
What Is It: A pocket-sized surprise family of plush creatures hidden inside a “Mama” shell. Perfect for unwrapping, collecting and role-playing mini pet families.
What We Thought: Small but mighty fun. These ones were perfect as little bedside companions or day-out passengers in bags. The girls loved the “who’s inside” excitement, and they’re lightweight, so easy to carry. Great for Christmas morning stocking fillers.
Where to Buy It: £9.99 available online.
The Magic Tooth Fairy Game
What Is It: A board game based around losing teeth — spin, collect, pop a “tooth” under the pillow and watch the magic happen.
What We Thought: This sits firmly in the “easy to learn and very charming” category. The transformation moment is something the girls always look forward to. Works well across ages, quick to play, and doesn’t require adult intervention once they’ve got it. A lovely one to play over the almost never-ending Christmas break, especially if your household is mid-tooth-losing era.
Where To Buy It: £19.99 available online.
Arts, Crafts & Make Your Own Magic – For the tiny creative who will cover the cat in glitter
So Slime Yummy Twist & Slime Mixer
What Is It: A full-on slime extravaganza! This set comes with everything to make your own swirls, sparkles, and squishy creations. The Yummy Twist Slime Mixer lets kids blend colours and textures to create endless slimy designs.
What We Thought: A messy masterpiece in the best way. The girls loved experimenting with colours, stretching slime, and seeing how twisty it could get. Surprisingly high quality, easy to clean up (mostly) and the mixer actually makes the whole process faster and more fun than just hand-mixing. Hours of tactile fun and giggles guaranteed.
Where To Buy It: £24.99 available online.
Fold-Out & Play Dollhouse
What Is It: A cased board book that magically transforms into a 3D dollhouse. Comes with press-out furniture, stand-up characters, stickers, and even a storage drawer. Retro-inspired illustrations by Ingela P Arrhenius make this one of the most stylish playbooks out there.
What We Thought: Ingenious! The girls couldn’t believe the book became a house. Hours of imaginative play followed as they furnished the rooms and decorated them with stickers. Clever storage and compact design make it perfect for small spaces or travel.
Where to Buy It: £20 available online.
Art Lab Fluffy Paint Studio
What Is It: A fluffy, textured painting kit that turns ordinary paint into puffy, squishy works of art. Comes with a range of pastel colours and accessories to create tactile masterpieces.
What We Thought: Satisfying and oddly addictive. Painting with fluff adds a new dimension to the usual art desk chaos, and the girls loved experimenting with textures and layering colours. Easy to us,e and the results actually look impressive.
Where to Buy It: £22.99 available online.
Style 4 Ever Magic Clay Jewellery Maker
What Is It: A kid-friendly jewellery-making kit with soft, colourful clay that magically hardens in 3 minutes in a special oven. Create beads, charms, and wearable pieces, then assemble them into bracelets, necklaces, and rings.
What We Thought: Instantly rewarding. The girls were thrilled to design and wear their creations (almost) immediately after they used the special oven. The clay is easy to shape, soft to handle, and the colours stay vibrant. A winner for crafty kids who love fashion accessories.
Where to Buy It: £22.99 available online.
Blo Pens Fantasy Creative Studio
What Is It: A blo pen kit designed for fantasy-loving kids. Use the stencils to create mini unicorns, fairies and more, whilst you can add sparkle with glitter glue and decorative tape.
What We Thought: When they’re bored with colouring, blo pens always get them engaged again. A big plus with this set is that it can be easily folded to carry to their grandparents’ house to use there. Oh, and the magic colour-changing pen came as a delightful surprise.
Where To Buy It: £24.99 available online.
Bluey Hey Clay
What Is It: A hands-on modelling kit inspired by Bluey. Kids can create fun Bluey-themed figures and shapes using safe, colourful clay.
What We Thought: Bluey fans rejoice! The girls loved crafting their favourite characters and mixing colours. The clay is soft, easy to work with, and provides hours of imaginative play that’s simple enough for little hands. The 3D step-by-step instructions on the Hey Clay app meant that their creations actually looked like Bluey & Bingo. As the cartoon dogs would say, ‘Horrrray!’
Where to Buy It: £20 available online.
How To Train Your Dragon Aquabeads
What Is It: A bead craft kit with 700 beads and attachments to make dragon-themed creations, including Toothless. Simply arrange beads, spray with water, and watch them fuse into colourful designs.
What We Thought: A quiet but absorbing activity. The girls loved designing dragons and keychains, and the spray-and-set system keeps things neatish. Perfect for fans of HTTYD and miniature craft projects.
Where to Buy It: £11.99 available online.
3Doodler Start+ Essentials Pen Set
What Is It: A kid-safe 3D printing pen that allows children to draw in three dimensions using soft, low-heat plastic strands. Comes with templates and tools to create a range of fun designs.
What We Thought: Next-level craft for curious kids. The girls were thrilled to make mini sculptures and 3D doodles, and it’s surprisingly intuitive to use. Endless possibilities for creative exploration, and it’s perfect for slightly older kids ready to take crafting up a notch.
Where To Buy It: £39.99 available online.
Connetix Bright Portal Pack
What Is It: A vibrant, high-play magnetic tile set from Connetix engineered to inspire creative building and imaginative fun. This 48-piece pack includes three sizes of square tiles in eight bright colours, featuring large portals and the brand’s Smart-Spin mini squares, which let magnets rotate 360° for incredible versatility in construction.
What We Thought: We love Connetix in our house, and additional packs are such a good gift, allowing us to extend the magical world we build with them. This new set meant the girls dived right in, and within minutes the floor had become a kaleidoscopic construction zone of castles, tunnels and rainbow portals. The smart-spin tiles genuinely added a twist, literally, that kept everyone engaged. The quality is top-notch: sturdy, magnetic connections that don’t topple at the first wobble. If you’re after something more than just “click-together”, this tile set is a standout for creative, long-term play.
Where to Buy: RRP £79, available online.
