The best Christmas gifts for kids by age range

Gift shopping for kids can sometimes be tricky, especially if you want to get a present that’s not only age-appropriate but also fun enough to keep their hands busy and little minds buzzing. So here’s a quick little guide to the best kinds of Christmas gifts for children by age range. 

0 to 6 months 

At this stage, newborn babies start to develop their basic motor skills, like reaching out and grasping objects and sometimes sitting up with some support. Soft toys that they can safely squeeze, grab hold of, or push and pull are great for building their baby muscles. 

At around 5 to 6 months is when babies start to see colour and love reacting to moving objects. Soft wind chimes, baby mobiles and rattles are great options to keep their senses stimulated. Teething toys are also a practical gift choice around this age. 

6 months to 1 year 

Infants this age start becoming super adventurous! They’re already rolling, crawling and on their way to standing up on their own. Sensory play is really important so things like stacking blocks and big puzzle blocks are great for helping their hand-eye coordination.

You also want to encourage their language and cognitive development as much as possible during this period, so consider transitioning from black and white baby books to colourful books or big flash cards with bright and fun illustrations.

1 year

One-year-old babies’ brains are beginning to become really imaginative, so they love things that they can sort, pull apart and put back together. They love anything that helps them become little problem solvers, like shape sorters and wooden puzzle blocks. 

Product shown: Learn your numbers jigsaw cards, £8.95

At this age they love mimicking sounds they hear, whether that’s animal sounds, musical instruments, sirens or kitchen appliances. Their growing minds are also really receptive to learning through song, so they’ll absolutely love gifts that could teach them nursery rhymes or that they could tinker around with, like a toy piano. 

Product shown: Animal Park puzzle, £7.95

2 years 

Toddlers love to soak up their surroundings, so they love playing house, dressing up and playing make-believe. The perfect types of gifts are those that are similar to everyday things, like toy food, miniature household items, baby dolls, mini cars and art supplies.

Product shown: Mouse in a little house soft toy, £9.95

At this age, little ones are much more confident with how far and how fast their little legs can take them, so they love physical activity and love asserting their independence. Wooden pull toys are great for improving their whole body coordination and fine motor skills. 

Products shown: 
Retro race pull toy, £9.95
Vintage racer pull toy, £9.95

3 to 4 years

During the preschool period, there’s lots of focus on memory building and really mastering their fine motor skills. Writing activities like this set of ABC learning cards can help them get used to handling pencils and crayons more often. 

Games that keep their brain activity up are just as important as letting them enjoy outside play at this age. Jigsaw puzzles, spelling toys and simple crafts are a few ideas to help keep their little minds growing!

Product shown: Animal memory game, £3.95

5 years to 6 years 

As kids start school and begin to interact with others their age on a regular basis, they will start to prefer team games and lots of group play. 

Product shown: Travel snakes and ladders game, £6.95

This is the perfect time to give kids board games and outdoor activities like jump rope, a kite, or a little tricycle or bicycle. 

Product shown: Tennis with catch ball, £9.95

7 years to 9 years

School-aged children at this age have far longer attention spans, so craft activities like origami, knitting or stitching are ideal for them. 

Product shown: Origami animals kit, £6.95

Children in this age range also take a lot of pride in things they make and are not afraid to explore their interests. Whether they love nature, wildlife, outer space or making art, check out our full collection of make and build kits, for some fab gift ideas. 

Product shown: Space rocks excavation kit, £14.95

9+ years

Children over 9 years old are great at expressing and formulating their thoughts on certain subjects. Storytelling activities and card games that allow them to communicate ideas or make creative connections are the best types of gifts for this age group. 

Kids around this age are not afraid to ask questions about the world around them, so journals, challenging jigsaw and 3D puzzles, science experiments, construction or mechanical kits, and books are some great gift ideas to feed their curiosities. 

We hope you found some Christmas gift inspiration for the little ones on your list this year! For more gift inspiration, check out our Christmas gifts for children, stocking fillers for children and stocking fillers for teens.