ALL EARS
Splashing out on anything containing the word ‘Ugg’ is bound to bring a smile to all teenage girls. These snugly ear muffs will help keep the cold out, too. UGG Australia Ear Muffs, £74.99, Rubber Sole (020 3026 9854; www.rubbersole.co.uk)
MATCHBOX MARVEL
The teeniest, tiniest wooden dolly comes complete with five outfit changes and accessories, all tidily kept in her very own matchbox. It’s bound to be a hit with all little girls. Matchbox Dress Up Dolly, £14.95, dotcomgiftshop (www.dotcomgiftshop.com)
READ ALL ABOUT IT
Richard Curtis, of Four Weddings And A Funeral and Notting Hill fame, has written a beautiful book for children this Christmas. The Empty Stocking is a charming and heart-warming tale about a naughty little girl who turns out good, and every child will adore it. The Empty Stocking by Richard Curtis, Penguin, £6.99, available from all good book shops
THE WHEELS ON THE BUS
This beautiful, big red bus (with driver) is bound to be a hit with small boys and girls this Christmas, and its wooden design will please parents too. London Sight Seeing Wooden Bus With Driver, £40, Museum Of London (www.museumoflondonshop.co.uk)
WALKING IN A WINTER WONDERLAND
This classic wooden push along is perfect for babies who want to toddle. Not only can it help them learn to walk, but they can also build big towers with the pretty blocks. Classic Wooden Push Along With Blocks, £65, Silver Cross (www.silvercross.co.uk)
FESTIVE FOOTWEAR
It might be wellie weather, but these Birkenstocks emblazoned with Mickey Mouse cartoon strips are utterly adorable. Birki’s Mickey Mouse Children’s Shoes (size 28-32), £49.95, Birkenstock (www.birkenstock.co.uk and stores nationwide)
GADGET GORGEOUS
If you’re fed up with sharing your iPad with the smaller people of the house, buy them their own! Leap Frog’s LeapPad is amazingly educational as well as being great fun. LeadPad2, £89.99, Toys R Us (www.toysrus.co.uk and stores nationwide)
PRETTY IN PINK
Very few girls (or mummies, for that matter) will be able to resist this fabulous tutu. Turn Christmas into a dance-fest this year! Angel’s Face Blooming Lovely Tutu (available in ages 1-8 years), £50, Skin & Bliss (www.skinandbliss.com)
SPEED MACHINE
Tricky teenage boys looking to be the coolest kid on the block will thank you for the street cred that comes with riding Razor’s Electric E300 scooter around. Even One Direction’s Zayn owns one of these, and with speeds of up to 15mph, it’s bound to be a hit. Razor E300, £229.99, Argos (www.argos.co.uk and stores nationwide)
WHEELY GREAT GIFT
Fans of YouTube and Facebook are sure to have come across The Rabbids and now their Crazy Toilet is available to build and decorate from Meccano. With a pull of the flush, the motor is triggered to launch the bewildered bunny off at great speed. The Rabbids Crazy Toilet, £24.99, Meccano (available from all good toy shops. For stockists, visit www.meccanouk.co.uk)
WOODEN WONDERS
There are three ways to play with this Alphabet Zoo toy; pull it along on its wheels, pop the wheels up to rock the boat, or have a go at stacking and matching the six different animal parts. Alphabet Zoo Rock & Stack Pull Toy, £22, Bibs And Stuff (01293 774924; www.bibsandstuff.com – available in November)
MEGA MADNESS
The ultimate Power Rangers Samurai set is sure to delight any young dudes out there. This 334-piece Megazord can be re-built into completely new fantasy vehicles, with interactive digital instructions, for hours of adventurous play. Power Rangers Samurai Megazord, £29.99, Mega Bloks (www.megabloks.com and all good toy shops)
SILENCE IS GOLDEN
Keep them quiet for hours as they listen to their favourite music – in silence – through these funky Urbanears headphones. Urbanears Plattan headphones in Tomato, £50, BODIE and FOU (www.bodieandfou.com)
FUTURE FINE ARTISTS
For creative types, the iTikes Canvas is the ultimate doodler. Draw, colour and stamp out shapes, before discovering even more when combined with an iPad and the free iTikes app. iTikes Canvas, £39.99, ASDA (www.asda.co.uk and toy shops nationwide)
BABY BUNDLE
Buying for tiny babies can often be troublesome but an Inch Blue gift set will bring smiles all round. Featuring a pair of soft-soled leather shoes and a matching cotton babygro, the Rudolph design is perfect for the festivities. Available in 0-6 months and 6-12 months. Rudolf Giftset, £32, Inch Blue (www.inch-blue.com)
ROCKET FOR RUDOLPH
Let their imaginations run wild with this wonderful wooden rocket, complete with two astronauts. Big City Wooden Rocket Set, £20, Early Learning Centre (www.elc.co.uk and stores nationwide)
DIGITAL DREAM
Any teen will think Pure’s new Sensia 200D Connect is a pretty cool piece of kit. The portable, wireless music and radio system has a colour touchscreen and can play songs streamed from any handheld iOS (like an iPhone) or Android device. Kids can also connect to Facebook and Twitter, listen to FM, digital and internet radio stations and podcasts, view photos, news and weather and record live radio. Hours of fun… Sensia 200D Connect, £249.99, Pure (http://shop.pure.com and all good electrical retailers)
WINTRY WEB ACTION
All other superheroes better beware as the Web Shooting Spider-Man is going to be a huge hit this Christmas. Kids will love watching the motorised web shoot out of Spider-Man’s wrist, then retract and shoot out the other side. Web Shooting Spider-Man, £34.99, Hasbro (available from all good toy shops including Argos)
PLAY DAYS
It’s every girl’s dream to own a dolls’ house as big as them (well, almost!) and Leckford House will not disappoint. With a pink roof and door, large Georgian windows and two central staircases, there’s lots of fun to be had in this home. Leckford House Dolls’ House, £100, John Lewis (www.johnlewis.com and stores nationwide)
NEW FESTIVE FRIEND
Challenge any child not to fall in love with Furby. Each Furby develops its own personality based on how they’re played with. Feed, speak, tickle and play music to him or her and they’ll let you know how they’re feeling through animations displayed in their eyes. When Furby first arrives in the home, they’ll speak Furbish, but the more they’re spoken to, the more English they learn, and Furbies also recognise each other – put two side-by-side and watch them interact! Furby, from £47.99, Tesco (www.tesco.com and stores nationwide)
