This year has gone by in an absolute whirlwind of work, house move and shortly a holiday that will take us right up until the first week of December. With that being said I think it has been an easier year for getting things in order. Somehow I feel a little more grown up this year – go figure!
The kids get so much for Christmas so this year we are buying games we can all play rather than bits that will just be left lying around the bedroom unplayed with. To start our guide this year I thought we would jump right in with an update on a one of my childhood favourites!
Pop Up Super Mario
Get ready to play with everyone’s favourite character in this fun twist on a classic kid’s game. Super Mario fans of all ages will enjoy this kid-friendly action game that’s simple to set up and learn, but always keeps you on your toes. With three different ways to play, the Pop Up family of board games is perfect for festive family game nights and can be played by 2-4 players. In Classic play, players slide paddles into Mario’s pipe and try to make him pop out. Each player takes turns until someone finds the correct slot and Mario bounces out, winning the game. For Coin Collection, the paddles are mixed up and placed coin side down. Players choose a new paddle each turn and count the number of coins on it when they make Mario pop out. The player with the most coins at the end wins! In Team Play, larger groups can divide into Team Luigi and Team Bowser, playing Classic or Coin Collection. No matter how you play, Super Mario fans will love this game. Includes 1 Mario figure, 1 pipe, 24 colourful paddles, and easy instructions. Let’s-a go, Mario!
RRP: £19.99
Suitable for ages: 4yrs+
Stockists include: Independents, Smyths, Amazon, Argos, The Entertainer, Very, ASDA, WH Smiths,
John Deere Kids Build a Yellow Dump Truck
The John Deere Build a Yellow Dump Truck is a 2-in-1 toy that provides endless fun for your little one! This 13-piece construction toy can be assembled and disassembled using a battery-powered drill, great for encouraging problem-solving skills. The chunky parts are easy for little hands to manoeuvre, and the dump truck also features a working dump bed for hauling treasures. The toy comes with batteries pre-installed and is an officially licensed John Deere product. It has received both STEAM Accreditation by the Toy Association and a Good Toy Guide Recommendation.
RRP: £27.99
Suitable for ages: 18m+
Stockists include: Independents, Amazon, The Entertainer, Very, Littlewoods, Next, Selfridges, John Deere Dealership
G’Vine gin
Originating from France, G’Vine is an unconventional luxury gin that is distilled from grapes instead of the usual grain. Use of grape alcohol and the rare vine flower in the production process captures a unique and refreshing taste, and the addition of ten fruit botanicals, including juniper berries, green cardamom and ginger roots provides a significantly smoother and silkier flavour.
Perfect for those who love an unusual gin.
Price: From £32.99
Stockists: Master of Malt, Amazon, The Whiskey Exchange, The Bottle Club, Drinks Supermarket
Let your child’s imagination soar as they build 3D structures using magnets and sturdy plastic panels. It’s a fantastic way to boost their spatial awareness, logical thinking, and fine motor skills.
Geomag (536) Glitter 60-Piece Set £38.99 from Amazon
This super stylish line of magnetic sets is perfect for those who adore sparkly colours. Plus, the practical storage boxes are made of recycled plastic, so it’s a win for sustainability too!
The Top Ten Naming Game! A riotous race to call out possible solutions to a given subject… but only answers matching the 10 on the card will score! Fast and frustrating but fantastic fun for everyone! Great for involving different generations, this version includes cards that are appropriate for players as young as 8 years old. Can you handle the Tension? 400 topics make this a perfect thinking game for both children and adults. The unique Tension score slider makes marking down the shout-outs so easy. Sounds simple but you have to get the exact 10 on the card. Rrp
Played against the clock, it’s a race to find as many examples as you can for your given topic; the catch being that all your answers must start with the same letter. Age 12+
Topix, £21.99 From Zavvi
The addictive audio quiz game in which teams compete to recognise songs from just 10 second clips! A mix of fun and nostalgia for anyone with a passion for music! Age 14+
rrp £25.83 from Amazon
The Connetix 120 Piece Pastel Creative Pack emerges as an exceptional choice that makes playtime engaging and educational, sparking boundless creativity and promoting educational, playful experiences for children of all ages. The amazing creative pack offers a spectrum of shapes in 8 delightful pastel colours, making it the perfect canvas for constructing impressive Connetix creations, from intricate designs to grand-scale masterpieces.
Whether children are absorbed in solitary play or engaging with friends and family, the 120-piece pack not only sparks STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and, Mathematics) learning but also nurtures fine and gross motor skills. With the vibrant pack, kids can assemble towering castles, futuristic rockets, majestic towers, sturdy bridges, and much more. Furthermore, they can delve into the world of patterns and shapes, craft captivating colour sorting boxes, and embark on a journey of limitless imagination.
Connetix also cultivates the invaluable qualities of endurance and resilience in young minds. As children ambitiously design larger and more intricate structures, they naturally develop problem-solving skills and learn to conquer challenges with determination.
The high-quality, open-ended pack seamlessly adapts to your child’s evolving interests and abilities, providing a platform for increasingly complex and imaginative play experience RRP £115
Limitless Win is a tv show we love so I can’t wait to try this one! Join the thrill of TV’s most electrifying duo in this high-stakes board game. Navigate challenges, answer questions, and experience the limitless fun of the show. £24.99 from Ginger Fox
Another tv show we really enjoyed was Traitors! I’m so excited to see how this game works. Dive into the world of intrigue and deception with this special edition card game. Can you spot the traitors among your friends? £11.99 from Ginger Fox
A calming kit is the perfect gift for anyone this time of year. Everything needed to create a moment of relaxation and inner peace. Tin includes wooden stress balls, cotton eye mask with an aromatherapy wormwood chachet inside, reusable ear plugs, and breathing straw.; Product Dimension: 9,8 x 14 x 4,3 cm; Packaging Dimension: 9,8 x 14 x 4,3 cm; Material: PP, wormwood, theaceae, bamboo, silicone, polyester Rrp £20
The Into the Wild A3 Mat from the ABC series, helps to practice writing the alphabets while learning the names of our furry, feathered and slimy friends.
See how many blowing leaves and shiny starfishes you can find!
Best thing is, as with all HeyDoodle mats, they can be wiped clean and reused! FREE UK Shipping on All Orders!
Custom shaped stickers are something I’m stocking up on this year as I’m making some homemade gifts this year too. This way I can design a little With Love From Debbie Christmas sticker and personalise my homemade goodies.
Having already used Sticker Mule for our SisterWitch stickers I know the quality is amazing. Each sticker is printed on a thick, durable vinyl with a matte finish – giving your stickers a premium look & feel. Order as little as 10 stickers at a time, or save money when you order custom die cut stickers in bulk. With easy ordering, fast turnaround, and free shipping, Sticker Mule is the Internet’s favourite place to get custom stickers.
Finishing off this years gift guide is one of my favourite items to gift and receive. Candles! Yankee candles bring out new candles each season. The new Yankee Candle Autumn Daydream collection and the Bright Lights Christmas collection are a must for any seasonal scent fan! From votives and wax marks to large and medium jars there is something for everyone and every budget. From £2.49
Boppi’s round jigsaw puzzles are made from three-layered, 100% recycled card and offer a great gift idea for the eco conscious shopper, and children aged 5–8+ years.
Each of the 7 themes – Space, Dinosaurs, World Map, Seasons, City Life, Animals Around the World, and Christmas – are depicted with cute, colourful, and whimsical illustrations created by Canadian children’s illustrator Laura Watson.
RRP: £16.99
Available to buy: Amazon, www.robertdyas.co.uk, and all good local toy and gift stores.
I hope there is something here to give you inspiration. Let me know if you have started your shopping yet or if you are like me and leaving it until the last minute!
