Catherine Jacoby, Marketing Manager at Toys R Us says that consumers are driven more than ever by experiences and parents are looking for value and toys that give their children memories outside of the digital world. “We’re seeing kids of all ages most interested in quieter and comforting toys or stress-relieving toys that transcend age which we are seeing a rise in this year. This includes LEGO, dollhouses and role-playing games.” Hence, considering these findings and our kids’ letters to Santa, I’ve put together the ultimate Christmas Gift Guide for Kids for 2023.
This Squishmallows Plush Chipmunk from Toys R Us was just too cute to leave out of this gift guide. There’s just something comforting about a soft toy like this and I can just see our kids falling asleep with these in the car en route to our holiday destination, curled up on their favourite Mungo beach towel (another gift worth looking at) after a fun morning building sand castles, and even after reading a bedtime story with grandma and grandpa.
Wikus and I have also found that LEGO is always a firm favourite with our kids, aged 3 and 5. While we initially started with Duplo, we recently bought them their first official LEGO sets and they’re loving it. It’s also a way for us to spend quality time with them, as we still need to guide them through the steps stipulated in the booklets. There are numerous options out there, but I personally love the festive season inspired ones like this iconic nutcracker available here. It fits in perfectly with the theme of the Ultimate Christmas Gift Guide for Kids, plus it should keep them busy for at least a part of the school holiday.
For the eager learners, this Cactus Mentor Time Teacher Watch from Timeless Toys is also a winner if you are looking at buying your child his or her first watch. They come in different colours and feature clear, easy-to-read numbers with a colour-coded face.
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Available on Takealot, this PolarB 50-piece wooden city is not only the prettiest city I’ve ever seen, but also very educational and it will keep them busy for ages. It stimulates creativity and the imagination and helps kids to practice stacking, building and balancing abilities. These blocks are suitable for kids 2 years and older.
If you’re looking for some strong, durable beach toys, look no further than this 7-piece beach toy bucket wagon and rake jumbo pack. It is perfect for lugging things around on the beach, to build sandcastles, dig around for ‘fossils’, and to rake and shuffle all day long. The set comes with a beach bucket, watering can, pull-along wagon, rake, shovel, poker and even a dinosaur skeleton!
Which kid wouldn’t want sneakers that light up on New Year’s Eve? These sneakers are from a South African brand called Pop Candy, and they are available on Superbalist. They come with a Lo-top, round toe, elastic laces, Velcro strap, a light-up feature and even include a USB charging cable.
Our son is currently obsessed with rocket ships (apart from Paw Patrol and Dinosaurs), hence I just had to include this Cosmic Rocket Set by Tender Leaf Toys, available through Timeless Toys, in this Christmas gift guide. Let your kids take off into an imaginary galaxy and land on new planets with space shuttles and satellites. It’s a great toy to encourage kids to explore astronomy, science and imaginative role play.
For the little ones who enjoy exploring nature, this Natural Trail Bug Habitat box is bound to provide hours of fun. It’s a DYI set that will allow them to discover the behaviour of snails, woodlice, beetles and more. The lid is fitted with ventilation holes and the box includes a bug catcher and chippings too. It’s available from Babylonstoren’s online shop.
For those travelling far and wide this Christmas, this African Travel Activity Pack from The Colour Jar can just come in handy. Perhaps a good pre-Christmas gift to keep the little ones busy on the road… It’s available through Barefoot Toys.
Finally, for the little travellers, these Dream Rider Spinner suitcases from Samsonite are truly awesome! Order them directly from Samsonite’s online shop.
Whether it’s pretty little dresses, sneakers that light up or rocket ships that ignite the imagination, there is something for everyone this Christmas. And, it doesn’t even have to cost that much. You’d be amazed at how happy a child is with something as simple as a small wooden broom.
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