Edited by Natalie Lue, Lucy Davies, Claire Archbold, and Saria (age 5).

Christmas gift guide preview

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BRILLIANT BABIES________________________________

It's easy to dismiss the under-ones as being 'too young to appreciate Christmas', but there are lots of gifts they will enjoy. Sensory play

helps build concentration, creativity, imagination, language and numeracy, while graspers and shakers that will fit into tiny

hands boost motor skills.Ella & Otto owl rattle, £12, Mollie Bee

Littlephant pram necklace, £27.95, Little Baby Company

Anne-Claire Petit crochet music box, £40, The Kid Who

Ej Sikke Lej velour owl dungarees, £34, Love It Love It Love It

Sew Heart Felt fox slippers, €30, Shak-Shuka

Sensory Bambini flower, £15, Amazon

babies

Naef Baby Balls, £35, Bebe Moda

P'Kolino puzzle stacker, £19.50, Lula Sapphire

Deuz Mini Maracas, €28, Der Kleine Salon

Sensory stacking hoops, £40, Play to Z

Kid O tugboat bath toy, £13.99, Toyella

Manhattan Toy wooden car, £15, Hop Toy Shop

Petit Collage bamboo mobile, £35, Piccolo Bambino

shake it!

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Glodos ‘Flap’ wooden baby walker, £85, Dorothy & Theodore

Teenytini knitted turtle, £54, Olive Loves Alfie

Uncle Goose wooden ABC blocks, £24.99, Daisy Daisy. Rubbablox Just

Triangles set, €28.95, Shak-Shuka. Set of 10 vintage style alphabet blocks, £12.95,

Little Baby Company

Kid O Go Car, £16.90, VUP Baby

Walkers are the multitaskers of the toy world - not only do they aid

mobility, but also double as dolls' prams (and emergency storage when

you're in need of a quick tidy fix).

stacks of fun

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EARLY EXPLORERS________________________________

A key stage when babies turn into toddlers, learning to walk and talk. Toys to push, pull, press and pile

up are particularly popular with this age group.

Plastic pull-along horse, £13, Molly-

Meg

1-2

Liandlo green lion t-shirt, £16, Kyna Boutique

Djeco wooden pull-along elephant, £25, AlexandAlexa

Fisher Price Change A Tune piano, £24.95, Hop Toy Shop

nostalgic buy

Janod wooden car transporter, £25, Lula Sapphire

Mini Micro 3in1 special edition scooter with seat and O-bar, £74.95, Micro Scooters

Djeco wood and felt Happy Farm puzzle, £13.45, Tickety-Boo

Kid O plastic sorting house, £22, and DwellStudio wooden zoo shape sorter, £25, both Huggle

sort it out

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PLAYERS________________________________

Learning to play with others is an essential life skill - this is the time to encourage social interaction with simple, engaging board games. Plus, you'll also find a case for your little one to store their

treasures is useful for mess control.

Djeco Little Cooperation Game, £18, Couverture and the Garbstore

123 Suitcase, £8, ByGraziela

Janod wooden DIY truck, £25, Lula Sapphire

Bock CPH mini owl cushion, £31.99, Nordic Kids

2-3Cotton top, €9.95, Lindex

Grimms Four Elements wooden puzzle, £80, Little Acorns to

Mighty Oaks

John Crane Tidlo 14-piece wooden musical instrument set, £31.95, The

Wooden Toy Shop

Wooden woodland animal set, £25.22, Mielasiela

Bristle Blocks Stackadoos, £26, Jojo Maman Bébé

Amazing Child Montessori Fastenings Cube, £17.15, Amazon

Kiko Kuruma wooden car, €19, Mes Habits Cheris

Crocodile Creek Safari ball, £7, Little Citizens Boutique

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PRETENDERS________________________________

Pre-school children thrive on imaginative play, so vehicles and role-playing toys will always be a hit. Musical instruments (especially super-cool food-

styled ones) will help to increase confidence.

P’kolino Little One’s art easel, £60, Nubie

Kiko Kids hamburger and chips music set, £20, AlexandAlexa

The chips are maracas and the hamburger is a castanet!

Kid O magnatabs, from £19.99, Toyella. Uppercase, numbers and

freestyle also availableJanod cash register and scales with

money and fruit, £36, Lula Sapphire

Find My Piglet! animal memory game, £12.95, Design Museum Shop

3-4

Sprig Toys eco-friendly dino adventure rig and dolphin explorer boat (opposite page),

from €26.50, Shak-Shuka

Big chevron hoodie, £26, Boys & Girls

Kovap classic tin plate Mercedes MB355 fire engine, £35, Rume

Mini Micro scooter, £59.95, Micro Scooters

Miller Goodman Facemaker wooden blocks, £31.99, Peanut & Pip

Pintoy wooden doll buggy, £37.95, Wooden

Toy Shop

Kid O wooden forest play set, £36.98, Toyella

Ingela P Arrhenius set of six animal nesting dolls, £18.95, Little

Baby Company

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CREATORS________________________________

Craft and construction kits are key for improving your child's drawing and writing

proficiency and motor skills as they prepare for or start school. Make believe will still feature

strongly in their play, so now's the time to invest in a dolls' house (or space station).

Card London Flick Golf, £6.99, Clockwork Soldier

Hape wooden spaceship and rocket, £104.99, Amazon

Gonge River stepping stones, £44.58, Rapid

Oak and plywood Miniko dolls house and furniture set, £219, Miniio

Donna Wilson Make Something With Me kit, £8, Little Scout

Hardwood Fort Standard balancing

blocks, £65, Theo Theo

Vilac pirate puzzle, £16.99, Eeny Meeny Kids

Taro Gomi animal doodle placemats, £8.99, White Stuff

Janod wooden dominoes, £38.48, Amazon

Bibu elephant cushion, £30, Hunky Dory Home

Funktionalley Leka wooden horse, £99, Mydeco

Crazy Stuff fully moulded eagle safety helmet, £35, Bird Kids

Wooden castle marble run, £25, Cox & Cox

Early Rider Belter bike, £230 Toyella

Plus-Plus mini blocks, £19.98 for 600, Toyella

Jaquard knit Christmas jumpers available in various designs, £33

each, Tootsa MacGinty

4-5

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Lego alternative

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DISCOVERERS________________________________

Once your child starts school, peer pressure kicks in, and with it the requests for more commercial toys. We asked Saria, the five-year-old 'bambino', to help us find creative, challenging and imaginative gifts

for children finding their way in the world.

Mushroom Princess Sparkles cotton and tulle tutu, $149, Tutu de Monde

Spirithood fake fur wolf hat, scarf and mittens, £75, I Dream Elephants

Makedo 165 piece freeplay kit, £18.98, Toyella

Turn ‘rubbish’ into new objects.

Paper Cochae origami Russian dolls, £12, The Kid Who

Maileg King Mouse and tower, £27.50, Sisters Guild

Beinnn 20+ small aluminium bike, £299,

Islabikes

Vilac wooden bow and three arrows, £15.99, Kidsen

Djeco Pinocchio puzzle, £12.95, Fenwick

Mon Chalet en Bois wooden construction

kit, £25, The Garbstore

Seedling The Great Adventure Kit, £39.99, Kind Toys

Yellow Owl Workshop Cityscape Stamp set, £22.99, Little Scout

Pucket elasticated table game, £40, Pucket

P'kolino Playful Art set, £20, Huggle

Mouse House craft kit, £11, Buttonbag

Dress-up Dolly in a matchbox, £14.95, Rockett St George

5

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