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The best gift ideas for kids in the UK

Toy trends change every year, but we're keeping up.

Leah Stodart

and

Matt Ford

on November 20, 2024

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Credit: Amazon

These are the tech, tools, and products — from laptops to e-readers, from earbuds to robovacs, and more — that Mashable ranks best in class.

This content originally appeared on Mashable for a U.S. audience and has been adapted for the U.K. audience.

Like everything else when it comes to parenting, finding the perfect gift is an all encompassing job. You have to listen to them closely, keep an eye on heir latest obsessions, and gauge their reactions to the newest toy advertisements. Plus, there's all that modern-day tech to stay in tune with...

Which is all a way of saying that kids can be particular. The things kids like change not just with age, but also with evolving trends from TV shows and new technology... and TikTok. If parents are lucky enough, their kid will provide a long list of the precise items they'd like as gifts — but sometimes, it can be as much of a lucky dip as gifting to someone else's child.

Instead of buying yet another gift card or random stuffed animal, here are some tips on how to gift to children of all ages.

What should you buy for a toddler?

Everyone is familiar with the "terrible twos" rep that the not-a-baby-but-not-yet-an-independent-kid stage of development gets. At this age, kids are bouncing constantly between the desire to explore on their own and the reliance on parents for most basic needs like eating, getting dressed, or going to the bathroom. That's a lot of frustrating emotions to go through in a day. Kitchen play sets, toys that involve different motor skills, and anything with music are gifts that aren't just distractions, but gifts that let the toddler feel in charge without too much assistance from a parent.

What should you get for primary school kids?

Potentially a more daunting phase than the terrible twos: the one where the pressure to be cool is relentless. This is that age. Though "cool" can lend itself to multiple interpretations, gifts that contribute to a kid's evolving critical thinking skills and sense of independence, responsibility, and style are all smart ideas. These could be anything from STEM toys to beginner's makeup tools to a fitness tracker or a pretend pet that encourages routine-making. Anything that involves an app or a tablet is also a guaranteed win.

What should you buy for teenagers?

Finding a gift that a teenager will think is cool (and that will be on-trend for longer than a few months) might be some of the trickiest shopping you'll do all year. They'll probably offer up a few suggestions, but if you're going the surprise route, remember that they care about brands. Thanks to social media influencers promoting products directly to teens on Instagram, Gen Z kids are loyal to very specific brands of tech, accessories, and even water bottles.

These are the best gifts for kids of all ages in 2025.

Topics Smartwatches Gadgets

Credit: Tactic

Outdoors Game

Best For Summer Fun

For families who like to play outdoors — whether it's in the garden, at the beach, or by the tent on your hols — Molkky is lots of fun. It's a variation on skittles, with 12 pins to try and knock down each go. The first to reach 50 points wins. But it's not as easy as it sounds. The kids (and adults) will love it.

£36.99 Amazon

Credit: Lego

Star Wars Lego

Best For The Jedi In Training

For kids of a certain age, Star Wars is still the coolest thing in the galaxy. This Star Wars themed Lego set is one of our favourites from this year, taken from a memorable action scene in Return of the Jedi. Don't worry parents — it's pretty good for entertaining all you young-at-heart grown-ups too.

£69.99 Amazon

Credit: Asmodee

Dobble

Best For Competitive Kids

Dobble has been a major hit in recent years. If you don't know it, it's like a funkier version of snap. There are lots of variations available but Dobble Connect is the ultimate version — a team game in which the object is to connect four cards. It's quick-fire and surprisingly competitive fun.

£14.99 Amazon

Credit: Japace

Science Experiment Kit

Best For Curious Minds

If you're sick of board games and all the other family activities that come around Christmas, treat the kids to a science kit. This set from Japace has 105 experiments to try, from growing crystals to making slime. Education, fun, and messy! What more could kids want?

£29.99 Amazon

Credit: Mede

Neon Light

Best For Stylish Kids

If you need to add a bit of colour to their bedroom, a neon light is the way to go. This gamer-friendly design is just one of many neon lights you can find on Amazon. For older kids, this is a great addition to their gaming station though it's sure to suit any kids' bedroom.

£35.99 Amazon

Credit: Scholastic

Poppy Playtime Merch

Best For Little Monsters

It might look a bit scary, but online horror games are the in-thing with kids of a certain age — from Five Nights at Freddy's to Roblox Doors. Never heard of 'em? Never mind. The kids have. Poppy Playtime is especially popular and this book is a complete guide to the world and characters. The kids will really want to sink their teeth into it.

£10.99 Amazon

Credit: CMYK

Fuzzies Game

Best For Family Fun

The Fuzzies is a great new game and a static-based spin on an old formula. The object is to create a tower using little fuzzy balls that stick together. But as the tower takes strange shapes and directions, you must stop it from toppling over. A selection of cards gives you instructions to make stacking the balls trickier.

£15.69 Amazon

Credit: Aklot

Ukulele

Best For Budding Musicians

The ukulele is having a bit of a moment. A popular instrument right now, it's even being taught in schools. If you want your little tyke to be the next Tay Tay, get them started with his good quality ukulele. It's a pricier one, but it's a more reliable model than cheaper options you'll find on Amazon.

£52.99 Amazon

Credit: David Fickling Books

Bunny vs. Monkey Book

Best For Young Readers

From the pages of Phoenix Comic and written by Jamie Smart, Bunny vs. Monkey is a raucous, hilarious comic strip and hugely popular with kids right now. There's a whole series of Bunny vs. Monkey books to collect and keep the little ones entertained, but the latest edition — the Great Big Glitch — is a must-have book for readers aged 7 to 9.

£12.99 Amazon

Credit: ANKER

Mini Projector

Best For Mini Cinephiles

Take family movie night up a notch with a screen that's double the size of a typical TV. As long as you have one empty, light-coloured wall, the Anker Nebula Capsule can project your movies indoors and out. Stream Netflix, Youtube, and more through the projector itself, or cast family favourites through a phone app. Connects via HDMI or USB.

£395.03 Amazon

Credit: Amazon

Kids Echo Speaker

Best For Smart Kids

Ease your kids into the routine of setting their own alarms or listening to books before bed with a kid-friendly Echo Dot. If you already have Amazon devices in your house, your kid probably loves talking to Alexa. With parental controls and a free year of content on Amazon Kids+, they can play around with voice commands and Alexa features safely.

£64.99 Amazon

Credit: Google

Fitness Tracker

Best For Challenges

If your kids need a little encouragement to put down the screens and get active, this Fitbit Ace makes activities fun and goal-orientated. Using animated clock faces, it's designed to create and nurture healthy habits. Parents can also monitor kids' activities.

£69.99 Amazon

Credit: Instax

Instant Camera

Best For Budding Photographers

It's very satisfying to print the physical version of photos right after you take them. The Instax Mini 12 is the newest iteration of Fujifilm's popular instant camera, now more portable and equipped with automatic exposure for better lighting. For kids who will undoubtedly document everything, a pack of extra film is a good idea for an add-on gift.

£79.99 Amazon

Credit: U-LACE

No Tie Laces

Best For Active Kids

Tie a kid's shoelace as much as you want, we guarantee they'll come loose as soon as you turn your back. Try these stretchy "infinity" shoelaces, which turn sneakers into slip-ons. Solid colours, rainbow stripes, and patterns offer options to match any kid's style.

£4.99 Amazon

Credit: Kidoz

Kitchen Playset

Best For Little Chefs

There are so many mini kitchen sets because they're just so popular. It seems like every kid has a play kitchen at some point. We like this one because it's the full caboodle: Toy kitchen, microwave, taps, over, fridge, ice maker, and utensils. It's also highly rated by satisfied Amazon shoppers.

£85.99 Amazon

Credit: Avialogic

Drone

Best For Frequent Fliers

Drones have been a hot item for kids (and adults) for the past few years. This Avialogic Q9 drone is perfect for little ones thanks to its neon lights and easy take off/landing action. It also does crowd-pleasing tricks such as a 360° flip and roll and mid-air spins. It can handle plenty of bumps around the home, too.

£39.99 Amazon

Credit: Ravensburger

Construction Starter Set

Best For Builders

There are a lot of building-themed learning toys out there, but the GraviTrax marble run is easily one of the best. Kids can experiment with the laws of physics by adjusting the angles and shapes of track pieces to make marbles roll faster and complete racing challenges. If they get good enough, the marbles can do trick shots.

£85.42 Amazon

Credit: Osmo

Interactive Learning Games

Best For Learning

Osmo is a neat way to make your tablet kid-friendly. It connects to iPads or Fire Tablets for hands-on exercises that coincide with physical pieces. The pieces move on-screen when your kid moves them in real life. Subjects include numbers, words, and art, plus extra packs for more advanced stuff.

£48.66 Amazon

Credit: Hydro Flask

Hydro Flask

Best For Travel

Hydro Flask has officially made hydration trendy. These reusable water bottles take the place of loads of disposable plastic bottles and use stainless steel insulation to keep water cold and ice cubes frozen for up to 24 hours. Older kids may prefer the bottle without the wide-mouth straw lid, but it's still a great gift for kids of all ages.

£36.95 Amazon

Credit: Nintendo

Nintendo Switch Transport Bag

Best For Gamers

The Switch is beloved by little gamers — partly because it's so portable. But that also means the Switch is susceptible to drops, bumps, or spills — it's bound to happen when your kids are on-the-go with the device. We recommend picking up the official protective case, which features an hard-shell exterior plus interior pockets to organise games and SD cards.

£15.79 Amazon

Credit: Lego

Duplo Box

Best For Beginner Builders

For little hands that aren't quite ready for Lego pieces, larger Duplo blocks are a great way to ease kids into constructive play. Kids as young as one or two can tackle spatial awareness, problem solving, and fine tune their motor skills. The Classic Brick box has 65 colourful pieces including a car, people figures, and number-learning blocks.

£24.99 Amazon

Leah Stodart

Senior Shopping Reporter

Leah Stodart is a Philadelphia-based Senior Shopping Reporter at Mashable where she covers and tests essential home tech like vacuums and TVs, plus eco-friendly hacks. Her ever-evolving experience in these categories comes in clutch when making recommendations on how to spend your money during shopping holidays like Black Friday, which Leah has been covering for Mashable since 2017.

Matt Ford

Matt Ford is a freelance contributor to Mashable.