Christmas is a time of giving, and we (whether we are parents, grandparents, aunties, uncles or friends), have the tough task of making sure the gifts we give to children are not only toys they will be happy to receive and play with on Christmas and boxing day, but gifts that hopefully will encourage their creativity and imagination, and which will last for many years to come.
In this age of tablets and I-pads, authentic toys that inspire inventiveness and socialising in our children, will make excellent gifts this Christmas season.
We have listed 10 Christmas gift ideas which are long-lasting, and help encourage creative and imaginative play in children.
With fun sounds and bright colours this is a great toy for entertaining little ones whilst at home and also perfect to get children to interact during playdates!
A must-have toy for little adventure seekers, it features the act of bouncing balls into the palm trees and watching them spiral down through all the twists and turns. Great for kids aged between 12 and 36 months, they can get into the action as they can grab the ball at any point and change it’s direction. They can also send the monkey for a spin and introduce it to the giraffe.
Click here for more information on the Jungle Ball Run; delivery option available free of charge for all purchases above €50.
Suitable from 24 months, this ‘Happyland Jack and the Beanstalk’ set is perfect for inspiring young minds; it includes a castle, 3 characters, 2 animals, a wind-up rainbow lift, magical music and so much more.
The characters can travel to the Giant’s castle via the rainbow cloud lift and make a quick escape, by lifting the drawbridge and whizzing back down to the ground on the emergency chute.
Click here for more information on the Happyland Jack & the Beanstalk; delivery option available free of charge for all purchases above €50.
3. Happyland Remote Control Race Track
This makes a super ‘first racetrack’ for young car-loving toddlers. It features two remote control race cars and a track, and is suitable for children aged 18 months and over. It is made from 6 large pieces of track in a figure of 8 and comes with a large, chunky remote control which is the ideal shape and size for little hands to grip and point at their car.
Little drivers can move forward, reverse and even hoot their horn as they press the large easy-to-use buttons on the chunky remote control.
Click here for more information on the Happyland Remote Control Race Track; delivery option available free of charge for all purchases above €50.
Suitable for children aged 18 months and over, the Wooden Balance Bike is built purposely to promote physical development and coordination, and to give younger children the confidence to balance and steer, until they gain more confidence to lift their feet for free-wheeling fun.
Riding a balance bike can help children to learn the necessary balance needed to progress to a standard bike, and help with coordination and physical development.
Click here for more information on the Wooden Balance Bike; delivery option available free of charge for all purchases above €50.
We love this multi-storey garage because it gives ample opportunities for kids to use their own minds and create different stories and outcomes. Suitable for children aged 3 years and older, the garage features a lift, ramps and lots of fun sounds as well as a cool helipad on top with realistic helicopter sounds. At the bottom of the multi-storey garage, there are petrol pumps, a car wash and movable barriers. There’s plenty of room for friends to play together too.
Adding their own engine noises and creating their own stories is how children expand their imagination, and also how they begin to understand the world around them.
Click here for more information on the Big City Garage; delivery option available free of charge for all purchases above €50.
The Big City Loop and Crash Track Set is suitable for children aged 3 years and older and comes with a loop and crash track and 2 cars offering non stop motorised wizzy fun.
This toy is perfect for thrill-seeking little ones who can they feed the cars through the neon track and watch them whizz around and loop the loop.
Click here for more information on the Big City Loop and Crash set; delivery option available free of charge for all purchases above €50.
Is your little one a budding artist? If so this sturdy double-sided plastic easel is ideal to help him or her develop their skills and express themselves.
It has a large wipe-clean chalk-board on one side and a large wipe-clean white-board on the other. The white-board is also magnetic, so it’s ideal for magnetic letters and numbers.
Drawing and painting are wonderful ways for children to express and enjoy themselves in a creative manner.
Click here for more information on the Art Easel; delivery option available free of charge for all purchases above €50.
8. Music mood – Keyboom board, Rock Star guitar & Sing Along Star Mike
This is such a fun set, adults will surely want to get in on the fun. The Keyboom Board is more than just a keyboard; from the light up drum pads to the voice and song recording feature, the Key Boom Board is a mega music station. An MP3 docking station adds fun and a karaoke feel to the Key boom Board, as children can sing along to their favourite tunes.
The Key Boom Board helps discover the joy of music, boost confidence and develop imagination.
Click here for more information on the Keyboom Board; delivery option available free of charge for all purchases above €50.
Another great musical gift idea. The super-cool red Rockstar Guitar comes with glasses and a hands-free mic, and easy-to-press fret-board buttons that play cool tunes and sounds.
This gift inspires creativity and imagination in children by allowing little musicians to make their own music, sing along to their heart’s content, and even start their own band.
Click here for more information on the Rock Star Guitar; delivery option available free of charge for all purchases above €50.
Does your child love to sing? Then this gift is spot-on; apart from being a fun and interactive microphone it also comes with other features including record and playback, melody maker, robot sound effects and much more!
With five demo songs to sing along to, an echo effect voice changer and flashing lights, music-loving kids will have a blast singing away to their heart’s content.
How cute is this double-sided play kitchen? It comes with no less than 37 accessories. The fact that it is so realistic will surely inspire kids to enjoy many hours of fun cooking. One of the rings on the Little Cook’s Kitchen hob sizzles and the other makes boiling noises when you put a pan down.
The Little Cook’s Kitchen has everything a young cook could dream of; from a microwave, dishwasher, sink, hob, oven, griddle, plant, to shelves, cupboards, lots of storage space and even work-surfaces on the sides for preparing play meals.
A truly ‘open-ended ’ toy like the Little Cooks Kitchen means the sky’s the limit for kids’ imaginative cooking adventures. Plus there’s lots of room to play with friends in the Little Cook’s Kitchen, so kids can build social and communication skills too.
Click here for more information on the Little Cooks Kitchen; delivery option available free of charge for all purchases above €50.
We are in love with this new wooden Fairy-Tale Palace from Rosebud. Beautifully made and easy to assemble, it is full of pretty details such as gold opening doors and a sparkly finish. It also comes with beautifully crafted accessories including king and queen figures, a golden throne, table with chairs, bed and a stunning chandelier.
The Fairy Tale Palace’s open plan three-storey design allows kids the opportunity to make it their own, inspiring years of fun and imagination.
Click here for more information on the Fairy Tale Palace; delivery option available free of charge for all purchases above €50.
We hope you like our gift ideas! We tried to choose toys that inspire imagination and are also great to encourage kids to socialise and play together. If you have any more ideas you wish to share with us please feel free to leave your feedback in the comments section below.
A big thanks to Early Learning Centre Malta for helping us out with this feature and for offering the great free delivery service (for purchases above €50) which is so very welcome when one considers how tough it is to go to a toy shop with young kids!
To keep up to date with more gift ideas, tips and giveaways follow the BuzyMummy Facebook page.
We wish you health and happiness this festive season.
Great list! Thanks for putting it here. Indeed there are lots of activities and gift ideas where creativity and imagination of the children can be stimulated. At ChiselTree, they also have Christmas decorations and special kids wooden watches that can be customised in any design/print that they want. Not only it makes them look good, but also it’s a perfect gift for them to be more organized and learn the importance of time.