This post was commissioned by Wicked Uncle, whose new article The Secret Life of Toy Designers finds out what goes into making a hit Christmas toy. I have worked with Wicked Uncle several times; to see my review posts go here.
It’s now November, and therefore it’s now officially acceptable to mention (not DECORATE for, MENTION) the C word. And on this occasion, I do mean Christmas.
We love toys, and luckily we get to test out a lot of them.
Predicting and designing the next must-have Christmas toy might seem like a dream job, but with so many toys coming out every year how on earth do you make sure it’s the Next Big Thing?
The inventors of water-bouncing Waboba, need-for-speed Hot Wheels and the Jenga share their secrets!
What should you think about when buying a Christmas gift?
I asked the parents in my parenting Facebook group, Whinge with Wine, to tell me what made a great Christmas gift for children in their eyes.
Obviously every child and every parent has a different opinion (some of them even liked slime! Crazy talk) but here were some things to consider when picking toys for kids:
Do: Make sure it has an off switch!
Noisy toys in general got a thumbs down. Emily said: ‘My son got a rapping goose on wheels last Christmas. If you pick it up by the neck it makes choking noises. Get anything, but not that.’
However it’s increasingly hard to buy must-have toys that don’t make a noise these days and even I admit that there are some great ‘noisy toys’.
But, unless you hate the parents, make sure they can turn it off or face being taken off the Christmas card list permanently.
Beth said ‘We have a horrible little monkey that laughs and says ‘come play with me’ in a really creepy voice, and it just goes off of its own accord. I hate it.’
Don’t: Buy something HUGE
This one was pretty unanimous; parents do not appreciate having to find room in their already-packed-to-the-gills-with-toys houses for 3ft teddy bears.
In all but very specific circumstances, when it comes to Christmas presents for kids then the message from parents was that smaller is better.
Jac said: ‘My cousin’s mother in law gave her child a Buzz Lightyear ride in car so big they had to park their car in the street to house it in the garage. She got it on offer somewhere, but it runs on a battery that is £120 to replace. It got left in the rain so was destroyed but she went on so much they kept it for ages even though it didn’t work’.
Which brings me on to…
Do: Think about ongoing costs
Yay! You got a bargain in the sale. But if it costs £25 for the refills or requires expensive equipment to use it, then the parents are going to be left footing the bill.
Don’t: Give something which requires a lot of parental input
It’s my Christmas too, I don’t want to spend it cutting out tiny pieces or constructing something.
Fine if you like that kind of stuff, and it’s for your own kids, but complex crafting kits got a thumbs down from a lot of mums.
Kylie said: ‘The worst are DIY craft type kits. You spend 1000 hours doing them (if you’re lucky the kids might help for 5 seconds) then they sit for an eternity on the shelf collecting dust, not being played with but not allowed to be thrown out.’
Do: Make sure they’re safe and genuine
Please don’t buy rip-off toys from the market which break apart and pose a danger, and make sure that any toys which aren’t bought directly from a authorised supplier (I am not averse to a charity shop bargain!) have the CE label.
Don’t: Go too messy
On Christmas day, you can hardly say ‘no’ to your child if they want to open up and play with their new toys.
When that new toy is a slime making kit however, you are definitely going to want to. And it’s not like you can tell them to play outside if it’s below freezing…
Do: Buy something age appropriate
There is nothing worse for my kids than receiving something they perceive as a ‘baby toy’ – despite being traumatised to the point of tantrums if they catch me trying to give their own old toys away.
Conversely, something they won’t be able to play with properly or understand for another 5 years, or need a parent to sit patiently with them to use, will be disappointing to unwrap.
The owner of Toynk advises, “When selecting the perfect Christmas gift, ensure it’s age-appropriate. For example, choosing Star Trek memorabilia at Toynk can delight an older child who is a fan of the series, making the present both enjoyable and meaningful. Avoid items that might be too advanced or too juvenile, as this can lead to disappointment.”
My husband loves Lego, and will happily sit with the kids while they help him construct buildings aimed for much older children, but for me – no thanks. Hannah suggested that with Lego ‘If in doubt go YOUNGER so they can do it themselves’.
Don’t: Buy musical instruments
Unless you want them to buy your children musical instruments back. It could start a feud spanning year.
Before you know it, your kid has a full sized drum kit, and it all started with a recorder.
Do: Ask
Jac said: ‘I can’t stand waste and the concept of ‘any gift as a gesture’. Please don’t waste your money on tat. And when in serious doubt, freaking ASK! Say, Hey, what is X into at the moment?’
If you’re buying for a child who you don’t know particularly well, then ask the parents for some ideas! Seems simple enough right – and yet a lot of relatives end up buying things that don’t get played with.
Don’t: Forget the batteries
Some electronic toys come with batteries, and others don’t, but as a parent I can tell you there is nothing worse than opening a surprise gift on Christmas day and then having to raid remote controls to get it to work.
For extra help with picking a suitable present, do check out Wicked Uncle where you can find hand picked toys sorted by by age and category. I’ve used the site myself to and it makes finding toys for other people’s children a breeze!
This Christmas will be toys -free for me. This is a perfect guide to follow lol. Thanks for sharing!
Haha I have done the we don’t need loads of plastic tat . Can you buy them this please . But we still end up with the plastic rubbish that they never play with !