WWhat hat would a child under five want for Christmas 2024? Well, according to Ayla, a two-year-old from London, it's a “rainbow in the sky.” But other than cloud seeding, what is the best gift to delight young children?
Gifts come directly from children, whether it's parents who've tried and failed to get Santa to write them a letter, grandparents panicking about John Lewis, or close (but ignorant) family friends.5 Here are 28 Christmas gift ideas for under-age kids. , and their parents, and themselves.
Best Christmas gifts for children under 5 years old
Chill out area
Tipi tent, 68 lbs.
dunelm.com
£69.99
Amazon.co.jp
She loves being in a tent and is obsessed with books, so I'm going to fill it up with cushions and books from a charity shop and decorate it with fairy lights. This will be a nice, comfortable and quiet space for her. Beverly, 's mother Sophia, 19 months
drawing space
ikea Frisat Desk, £89
ikea.com
Art table with paper roll holder, £64.90
Amazon.co.jp
I am gifting this desk to her because she loves drawing on my friend's little girl desk. I'd like to encourage her to draw all over her desk instead of sitting at my desk and drawing on it. The ones from Ikea are great because they have adjustable legs and paper rolls. Beverly, 's mother Sophia, 19 months
Train sets for kids (and adults)
Brio Starter Train Travel Set, £30
Argos.co.jp
Amazon.co.jp
The Brio set is the best. I love building the track the night before Olly comes down and playing along with the new layout. I like that it's made of wood and is environmentally friendly, so you can use it until you're a grandpa or grandma. In the run up to Christmas I was looking on Vinted for another set to add to Ollie's truck. People sell it all the time, and every set works together. Tom, father of Ollie, 3 years old
old fashioned toys
Personalized pink yoyo, £12.95
personalizedgiftshop.co.uk
Pink heart wooden yoyo, £3.80
Amazon.co.jp
I want a yo-yo like the one at my Nana's house. I want a pink one. Effie, 3 people
in the driver's seat
fisher price garage Playset, £45
Argos.co.jp
51 lbs.55
Amazon.co.jp
I'm buying this garage for Jude. The car goes down the ramp, the lights come on, it makes noise – he loves this kind of thing now. melanie Jude's mother, one
block party
mega block Build and Learn Table, £20
Argos.co.jp
£19.99
Amazon.co.jp
Also, at the moment he likes to do frog legs and jumps instead of standing, so I'm giving him this building block table to encourage him to stand. melanie Jude's mother, one
music, stories, and podcasts
Yot Player, £89.99
yotoplay.com
Amazon.co.jp
Laeya loves Yoto because she listens to music, plays slot-in story cards, and listens to children's podcasts. A man named Jake listens to podcasts every day. Ed, father of Raeya, 5 years old
skateboard like barbie doll
Skateboard, £17.50
saltrock.com
£24.99
Amazon.co.jp
Sophia really wants a skateboard for Christmas. Her favorite Barbie is skateboarder Renee and she wants to be like her. Kate, Sophia's mother (4 years old)
paw patrol cruiser
Skye's mighty pup Jet, £24.99
elc.co.jp
£17
Amazon.co.jp
Because I like playing with it! Dashiell, 3 people
magnetic tiles
Magna-Tiles 32 piece set, £35
Argos.co.jp
Set of 100, £41.99
Amazon.co.jp
Julio loves to build things and can immerse himself in magnetic tiles of any shape for hours at a time. Also keep an eye out for Duplo's 1kg bags on eBay. There are some real bargains there. Ben, father of Julio, 4 years old
story time
Tony Box, £79.95
tonys.com
Amazon.co.jp
Tony's Story Figures, assorted, £14.99
tonys.com
Gruffalo Story Figure, £14.99
Amazon.co.jp
George loves listening to Tonies on Toniebox before bed. he is so crazy The tiger that came for tea and hungry caterpillar And such a story at the moment. Listening to them before bed sometimes helps you relax more than looking at a book. I find it really helpful and he wants more. Jessica, George's mother, 2 years old
wearable princess
Disney Frozen Kids Watch, £29.99
Argos.co.jp
Amazon.co.jp
I really want a watch – I love princesses so I'm excited to wear a princess watch on my wrist. It will tell you when it's bedtime at 8pm. Lala, 4 people
unbreakable drawing pad
Doodle board, £15.59
Amazon.co.jp
These Doodle tablets are perfect for young children. Not only will it keep you busy on long trips and restaurants, but it will also stimulate your imagination and help you learn how to hold a pen. And it's very unbreakable! Cleo's mother, Kelly, 2
decorations and butterflies
Bauble Decoration Kit, £10
flyingtiger.com
£7.26
Amazon.co.jp
Butterfly puzzle, £15.75
smallkins.com
£25.99
Amazon.co.jp
I want a bauble to decorate the tree with for Christmas, but I also want a toy butterfly as a gift on Christmas Day. Marianne, 3 people
bird is a word
Montessori Bird Feeding Game, £29.55
projectmontessori.co.uk
Fraser is completely fascinated with taking things out, putting them back together, and poking what appears to be a particularly dangerous hole. I think this toy will help with that. Bella, Fraser's mother, two
leave me alone
Frozen Elsa Singing Doll, £19.99
johnlewis.com
Amazon.co.jp
I want Elsa and I want cake too. why? Because I want it. Ada, 3 people
electric toys
LEGO Ninjago Lloyd's Elemental Power Mech, £17.99
lego.com
asda.com
Monster Jam Megalodon Monster Truck, £45.50
Argos.co.jp
Small version costs £17.99
Amazon.co.jp
For Christmas, I want a remote-controlled monster truck and lots of Legos. I love building Lego kits with my dad, especially carts. I saw this Ninjago one and it's really cool. toby, 4 people
fantasy play
Wooden dollhouse, £34.99
smythstoys.com
£40
Argos.co.jp
Wooden Farm Set, £55
kidly.co.uk
£25
Argos.co.jp
I like to give them toys that they can play with and imagine, so I think anything that involves people or animals will be helpful. Camille Pippa and Teddy (twins), mother of two
supermarket cart
Shopping cart, 28 pounds
johnlewis.com
I want chocolate and a Christmas trolley. I like pushing the trolley around Riddle. Freya, 3 people
dress up
Rapunzel dress, £35
disney store.jp
Amazon.co.jp
Doctor kit, £18.40
elc.co.jp
£29.99
Amazon.co.jp
I want a Rapunzel dress so I can dress up like a Rapunzel doll. I also want a doctor set. Willow, 4 trees
prehistoric games
dinosaur toy, £11.16
rockawaytoys.co.uk
I want a T-Rex. I want it to be yellow, black, white, and blue. Talulah, 3 people
Help with housework, ride a bicycle
Learning Tower, £154.99
learningtowers.co.jp
Folding Standing Tower, £64.99
Amazon.co.jp
My son has just started hobbling around on two legs and seems eager to “help” in the kitchen. With this in mind, I'm going to have him have a learning tower. It's a wooden structure that stands next to the kitchen counter so he can see what's going on there and get into it. Paddy, Reuben's father, 1
scramble bug Ride on toys, £39.99
tptoys.com
£39.17
Amazon.co.jp
As an avid cyclist, I want to get him back on the bike as soon as possible, so a ScrambleBug is also on my Christmas shopping list. It's a four-wheeled ride-on toy, so (in theory) it shouldn't fall off. In addition to being foldable for storage, the manufacturer claims that the “fun insect design is pleasing to the eye,'' but I think this is subjective. Paddy, Reuben's father, 1
