Christmas Gifts for Children by Age

Nothing beats seeing a child's face light up as they unwrap a present on Christmas morning. But finding that perfect gift isn't always straightforward, especially when you're buying for grandchildren, nieces, nephews or children you don't see every day.

What delights a two-year-old might not interest a five-year-old, and finding something exciting for an older child can be a challenge all of its own!

To make your Christmas shopping a little easier, we've picked 15 lovely gift ideas for children of different ages, from toddlers discovering the world around them to older children who enjoy a challenge.

You'll find traditional wooden toys, imaginative playsets, construction kits, creative activities and family games. Some are old favourites, while others offer something a little different. We hope you'll find a little inspiration for the children on your Christmas list.

Christmas Gifts for Babies and One-Year-Olds

A baby's first Christmas is a special occasion, even if they're just as interested in the wrapping paper as the presents!

For newborns, soft toys with interesting textures and gentle sensory activities make lovely gifts, while older babies and toddlers might enjoy toys they can push, turn and investigate.

Here are three of our favourites for this stage.

Activity Cube – Jungle

For a baby's very first Christmas, the Activity Cube – Jungle from Little Big Friends is a lovely gift.

Made from beautifully soft materials, this colourful jungle-themed cube features different textures and activities for little ones to discover. There's plenty to look at, touch, and explore as babies begin to take an interest in the world around them.

It also comes with a handy buggy clip, so little ones can take it on the go as well as enjoy it at home.

A sweet, practical present for a new arrival, with lots of little discoveries to make.

Suitable from birth.

Baby Walker with ABC Blocks

If you're looking for a special present to mark those exciting first steps, the Baby Walker with ABC Blocks is a lovely choice.

Made from wood by Tidlo, this sturdy walker has rubber wheels and comes with 24 colourful alphabet and number bricks. Little ones can enjoy playing with the blocks before they're ready to push the walker around, giving them plenty to explore.

You can even have the walker personalised with the child's name, making it a particularly thoughtful Christmas gift and a lovely keepsake.

Suitable from 12 months. Personalisation takes about ten days, so allow a little extra time when ordering for Christmas.

My First Farm

Farm animals are always popular with young children, and My First Farm from Lilliputiens is a particularly charming introduction to farmyard play.

This soft fabric farm opens to reveal a playmat, complete with a farmer, tractor, and a collection of friendly animals, including a sheep, donkey, cow, pig, duck, and chicken.

There's lots of fun in moving the animals around, putting them into the stable, and making up little farmyard adventures.

When playtime is over, everything packs neatly back into the farm. The carry handle makes it easy to take along when visiting grandparents or friends.

Suitable from 18 months.

For more present ideas for little ones, browse our baby toys collection.

Christmas Gifts for 2–3 Year Olds

Christmas with a two or three-year-old can be wonderfully exciting. At this age, children are often full of imagination, curiosity and enthusiasm for doing things themselves.

Whether they enjoy sorting and building, making up stories or dressing up as their favourite characters, there are lots of lovely presents to choose from.

Animal Shape Lorry

What's more fun than a lorry full of animals?

The Animal Shape Lorry from Bigjigs combines two classic toys in one. It's a wooden pull-along lorry with ten chunky animal shapes that fit through matching openings.

Children can load the animals, pull the lorry along and then open the back to let everyone out again. We suspect the unloading might be just as popular as the loading!

This lovely traditional toy offers plenty of opportunities for imaginative play.

You can also personalise the lorry with a name and short message, making it a thoughtful gift for a little animal lover.

Suitable from 18 months. Allow approximately ten days for personalisation.

MagArt 64 Pieces

For a child who loves building, MagArt 64 Pieces makes a wonderful Christmas present.

This colourful magnetic construction set includes 64 pieces in different shapes and sizes that children can connect to create all sorts of designs.

They might begin with simple flat patterns before experimenting with towers, houses and three-dimensional models. 70 suggested designs get them started, but making up their own creations is part of the fun.

And because magnetic construction toys are so enjoyable to play with, don't be surprised if the grown-ups end up joining in on Christmas Day!

Suitable from age 3.

For more building inspiration, take a look at our guide to construction toys for children.

Sparkle Fairy Flower Set

For a child who loves dressing up and make-believe, the Sparkle Fairy Flower Set will bring a little magic to Christmas morning.

With a sparkly pink tulle tutu, delicate wings and a pretty flower garland, it has everything a budding fairy needs for an imaginative adventure.

Whether they're fluttering around the living room, putting on a performance or creating their own fairy stories, dressing-up clothes can inspire hours of pretend play.

Made in the UK, this lovely outfit suits ages 3 to 6.

Looking for more imaginative play ideas? Our dolls house gift guide has plenty of inspiration.

You can also browse more gifts for two-year-olds and three-year-olds.

Christmas Gifts for 4–5 Year Olds

Four and five-year-olds often have big ideas and plenty of enthusiasm to put them into action!

This is a lovely age for construction toys, imaginative playsets and activities that children can enjoy independently or with a little help from the family.

Super Marble Run

Few things are quite as satisfying as watching a marble race through a track you've built yourself.

The Super Marble Run from Galt is a brilliant gift for children who enjoy building, experimenting and seeing what happens next.

With 60 colourful pieces, including a staircase, rotary drop, paddle wheel, and vortex, you can create lots of different tracks.

Will the marble make it all the way to the bottom? What happens if you change the layout? Can you build an even more exciting run?

It's the kind of toy that can keep children entertained long after the Christmas wrapping paper is cleared away.

Suitable from age 4.

Moving Monkeys Gears Building Set

If you're looking for something a little different, the Moving Monkeys Gears Building Set is a lot of fun.

Children can create their own colourful jungle scene using gears, cranks, connectors, vines and cheeky little monkeys.

Once everything is connected, turning the gears brings the jungle to life as monkeys spin and swing around.

There's something wonderfully entertaining about building a moving creation and then watching all the different parts work together.

With 103 pieces, there's plenty of room to experiment with new designs, and you can combine the set with other Gears, Gears, Gears kits.

Suitable from age 4.

Dinosaur Train Set (49 Pieces)

Dinosaurs and trains in one toy? We think that's a rather exciting combination!

The Dinosaur Train Set from Bigjigs Rail brings prehistoric adventures to a traditional wooden railway.

The 49-piece set includes a dinosaur-themed engine, magnetic carriages, a volcano tunnel, a bridge, nine dinosaurs and palm trees to complete the scene.

Children can send their train rumbling through the dinosaur landscape, creating adventures and stories along the way.

It's also compatible with other leading wooden railway brands, including Brio, so it can become part of a larger train collection.

A member of our team chose this as a favourite, and it's easy to see why!

Suitable for ages 3 to 8.

Discover more present ideas for four-year-olds and five-year-olds.

Christmas Gifts for 6–8 Year Olds

By the time children reach six, seven or eight, they often have some very definite ideas about what they enjoy.

Some love experimenting and discovering how things work; others can happily spend hours making and creating, while many enjoy games that bring the whole family together.

Here are three very different gift ideas.

Glow in the Dark Science Lab

For a child who loves asking questions and trying things out, the Glow in the Dark Science Lab is a wonderfully exciting present.

With 20 experiments to explore, children can make glow-in-the-dark potions, soaps, flowers, and spinners; investigate with a UV light; and even create their own glow sticks.

It's a fascinating introduction to science, with plenty of opportunities to discover something new.

Imagine the excitement of switching off the lights and seeing your experiments glow!

The kit explains the science behind the activities, making it both enjoyable and educational. As with any science kit, follow the instructions and provide adult supervision where required.

Suitable from age 6.

Fairy Box Multi Activity Kit

For a child who loves making things, the Fairy Box Multi Activity Kit from Djeco makes a lovely Christmas gift.

Inside the box is a wonderful assortment of creative activities, including scratch art, stamping, painting, glitter collages and three-dimensional models.

Instead of completing one project and putting the box away, children can try several different crafts, perhaps choosing a new activity each time they open it.

It's a great choice for a child who enjoys art and making things, and it offers plenty to keep them busy over the Christmas holidays.

Suitable for ages 6 to 10.

Children of the World Game

Christmas is a lovely time for getting everyone around the table for a game, and Children of the World is a fun choice for families.

Players travel around an illustrated map of the world, collecting stamps in their passports by answering questions and completing challenges.

It's a great way to discover interesting things about different countries while enjoying a little friendly competition.

The game is designed for 2 to 6 players, so plenty of family members can join in. It can even be adapted for younger children who aren't yet confident readers.

Another favourite chosen by one of our team!

Suitable for ages 5 to 10.

For more inspiration, explore our craft and educational toys or browse gifts for seven-year-olds.

Christmas Gifts for 9–12 Year Olds

Buying Christmas presents for older children can sometimes be the trickiest part of the shopping list.

They may have grown out of some childhood favourites, but plenty of exciting toys and activities can still capture their interest.

Construction challenges, science experiments, and creative projects can make particularly rewarding gifts, especially when they leave something impressive to show for all their hard work.

12 in 1 Solar Hydraulic Construction Kit

For a budding engineer who enjoys a challenge, the 12 in 1 Solar Hydraulic Construction Kit is a fantastic choice.

With 230 pieces, children can build 12 different mechanical creations, including a climbing monkey, running ostrich, forklift and scorpion.

The clever combination of solar and hydraulic power means the models run without batteries, adding another interesting element to the building experience.

It's the sort of project that rewards patience and perseverance, with the excitement of seeing a finished model come to life.

Suitable from age 10.

Crystal Growing Experiment Kit

Growing your own crystals feels quite magical, and the Crystal Growing Experiment Kit from 4M makes a fascinating gift for curious older children.

The kit includes seven experiments that let children grow different crystal formations, including clusters, a crystal tree, and a glowing moon crystal.

Watching the crystals gradually take shape is part of the fun, and the included display cases let kids proudly show off their finished creations.

It's a lovely choice for a child who enjoys science, experimenting or collecting unusual things.

Suitable from age 10. The kit contains crystal-growing compounds, so follow the instructions and safety guidance carefully.

Knitting Suitcase

If you're buying for a child who enjoys creative projects, the Knitting Suitcase from Buttonbag is a lovely introduction to a traditional craft.

Presented in a charming retro-style suitcase, the kit includes bamboo knitting needles, yarn, patterns and accessories to help children learn to knit.

Projects include hats, fingerless mittens, bags, purses, and cuddly toys, giving children plenty of opportunities to practise their new skills.

It's also a wonderful gift for a child whose parent or grandparent enjoys knitting. Learning together can be just as special as the finished creations.

Suitable from age 8.

If you're still searching for inspiration, check out our screen-free gift ideas for older children, or explore our ranges for ten-year-olds and older.

Still Not Sure What to Buy?

If you're buying for a child you don't know particularly well, choosing a Christmas present can feel a little daunting.

A good starting point is to think about their interests rather than simply their age. Do they love animals or dinosaurs? Are they always building things? Perhaps they enjoy art, dressing up or playing games with the family.

If you're really stuck, ask a parent or grandparent for a few ideas. They might share a new interest or a favourite toy that could inspire your choice.

And remember, you don't always need to find the biggest or most expensive present. Sometimes a thoughtfully chosen toy that suits a child's personality can bring the most enjoyment.

For more helpful advice, read our guide to buying a gift for a child you don't know well.

At Mulberry Bush, we've helped families find Christmas presents since 1996, and we know how lovely it is to discover the right gift.

We hope our selection has given you a few ideas and made your Christmas shopping a little easier.

Happy Christmas shopping!