Gifts for kids

How to choose for a kid

Start with the age on the box, then adjust for the child. A sharp six-year-old can handle Sleeping Queens, which is rated 8 and up, if an adult plays the first few rounds. A seven-year-old will find the Orchard Toys Football Game too simple no matter how much they love football.

Next, think about who will be in the room. Some gifts are solo: the Yoto Mini, the Switch Lite, the Skullcandy headphones. Some need a grown-up for the first hour: the mBot, the Hydroponics Lab, the weather station. Some only work with a group, like Sushi Go Party or Tilt n Shout. If the parents are already stretched, a solo gift is kinder to them.

Finally, ask what the kid already has. Magna-Tiles, Yoto and Plus-Plus all expand, so a second set is often more useful than a new system that competes for shelf space.

Rough picks by age

Ages 3 to 5: Magna-Tiles, the Yoto Mini, the Moulin Roty painting book and the Orchard Toys Football Game. Keep Plus-Plus away from this group if there is a toddler in the house too.

Ages 6 to 8: Catan Junior, Ticket to Ride First Journey, the OOLY clay car, Splatterbrain, the Techno Gears dinosaur and the mBot. This is the age where a kid starts to enjoy rules and winning, so a real game with a short playtime goes over well.

Ages 8 to 10: Sleeping Queens, Sushi Go Party, the weather station, the microscope kit, the Waboba ball and the Switch Lite. Kids this age can run a project on their own, and they will tell you quickly if a gift feels babyish.

Budgets that make sense

Under $25 covers stocking gifts and party gifts: the OOLY clay car kit, the Plus-Plus dinosaur tube, the motion tube, the Moulin Roty painting book. These are one-afternoon projects, which is fine for a classmate's birthday.

The $25 to $75 range is where most good kid gifts sit. Catan Junior, Ticket to Ride First Journey, the Science Museum microscope, the Techno Gears dinosaur and the mini stick set all land roughly here, depending on the country.

Above that you are into gear the family will live with for years: the Yoto Mini, the mBot, a larger Magna-Tiles set, the Switch Lite. Check with the parents first. Nobody wants two story players or a console they had decided against.

Common mistakes

Buying a kit that needs things you did not buy. The mBot needs batteries and a tablet or computer. The Techno Gears dinosaur is motorised, so check the listing for batteries. The Yoto Mini has no wall plug in the box, and most audiobook cards cost extra.

Ignoring small parts. Plus-Plus pieces are not for children under 5, and a younger sibling in the house counts.

Buying something slow for a child who wants results now. The Hydroponics Lab takes weeks to grow, and air dry clay takes time to harden. Both are great for the right kid and a letdown for the wrong one.

Pairing and shipping

Small add-ons turn a good gift into a complete one. Pair the Road Warrior sticks with a mini net, the Yoto Mini with one extra card the child will love, and a board game with a bag of snacks for the first game night. The motion tube or the Waboba ball fill out a stocking around a bigger main gift.

Most of these picks ship from one country only, so check the shop for your region before you get attached to one. The Skullcandy headphones are the only pick here sold in the US, Canada, the UK and Australia. In December, order two weeks earlier than you think you need to, and longer for anything crossing a border, where duties can also add to the cost.

For an Australian Christmas, outdoor picks like the SUNNYLiFE surf mat and the Waboba ball will be used the same week. In the northern winter, games and building kits get more play.

Questions people ask

What is a good gift for a 5-year-old?

Look for something they can use with little help. Magna-Tiles, the Plus-Plus dinosaur tube and Catan Junior all suit this age, and the Yoto Mini covers ages about 3 to 8. Avoid kits with lots of reading in the instructions. A five-year-old will want a parent nearby for anything with small parts, slime or a motor.

What can I buy a kid who has lots of toys?

Pick something that adds to what they already own or something they use up. Extra Magna-Tiles or Yoto cards add to a system already in the house. A science kit like the Hydroponics Lab or a painting book gets used and finished, so it does not add clutter. A family game also helps, because it gets played with the parents rather than stored in a bin.

Are screen-free gifts worth it for kids?

Yes, if the gift does something a screen does not. The Yoto Mini plays stories without a display, which suits bedtime and car trips. Building sets, card games and outdoor toys like the Waboba ball give kids something to do with their hands. A screen-free gift that the child finds boring will not change their habits, so match it to their interests.

How much should I spend on a gift for a child?

For a classmate's party, under $25 is normal and nobody will expect more. For a niece, nephew or grandchild, $25 to $75 buys a good game or kit. Spend more only if you have checked with the parents, especially for electronics like a story player or a console, which families often have opinions about.