If you’re struggling to think of gift ideas for little ones, fear not. We know that it can be tough to find something that ticks all or at least one of the boxes, be it educational, their favourite animated characters (Disney pyjamas, anyone?), or oozing with street cred. Whether it’s babies, toddlers, children or teenagers, here are great gifts for kids.
Brilliant presents for little ones (0-3-year-olds)
1 The gamechanger gift: Ewan the Dream Sheep
Award-winning Ewan is responsible for soothing thousands of young children to sleep (and saving the sleep-deprived sanity of just as many parents). Cute and cuddly to look at, the secret lies within with Ewan who emits a range of calming, low-frequency noises which emulate the sounds babies hear in the womb. Comforted by the familiar, Ewan can send even the most restless of infants to the land of nod and also happens to double up as a lovely nightlight. Give a new parent the gift of sleep this winter and they will thank you for it, time and time again (the baba will love fluffy Ewan, too).
SAR142. mumzworld.com
2 The gift to repeat year after year: Seasonal pyjamas
Purchasing super-soft and snuggly PJs for a tiny baby might initially give you more of a kick than them, but if you do so year after year it will become a sweet annual tradition that little ones look forward to. This is particularly true if the pyjamas in question feature a favourite film, TV show or character (Frozen, Paw Patrol, Sing – you know the drill). When it comes to cute and comfy kid’s nightwear, Marks & Spencer and Next know their stuff.
SAR120. marksandspencer.com/en-sa
3 The inexpensive but excellent gift: Dimpl Digits
Fat Brain Toy Company’s rainbow-coloured, number and word-embossed version of the sensory toy that took 2021 by storm has been created with 2-5-year-olds in mind. Lightweight, safety-tested and easy to handle thanks to the studier than the usual frame, the Dimpl Digit fidget toy might not look like much but you’ll be amazed at just how long it will keep a toddler amused (we’re talking enough time to drink a coffee while it’s still hot. And you can’t put a price on that).
SAR76, amazon.sa; SAR70, mumzworld.com
Great gifts for 4-7-year-olds
4 The educational, enduring and just generally excellent gift: Magna-Tiles Clear Colors 100-Piece Set
Magna-Tiles are that rare gem of a toy that utterly entrances children, stimulating imaginations, boosting dexterity and providing hour upon hour, year upon year, of screen-free, hands-on learning and entertainment. Infants will enjoy sorting the translucent 3D magnetic tiles into different shapes and colours, while for older children the sky is the limit when it comes to constructing complex buildings and plotting the architectural wonders of the future.
SAR546 amazon.sa; SAR849 saudi.desertcart.com
5 The ideal gift for a super-cool aunt or uncle to buy: Jumbo Slime Kit
Kids adore making slime and revel in all its colourful, slippery, sticky, messy glory. Parents tend to be rather less keen for all the same reasons. Don’t let that put you off though. There are hundreds of different slime-making packs and products on the market but we found this 50-item strong kit to one of the best. Not only is it filled with everything children need to whip up batch after batch of all-bells-and-whistles DIY slime (think neon colours, glow-in-the-dark glitter, mini beads, ball, cutters, cups and more), the contents are eco-friendly and borax-free.
SAR88.06, mumzworld.com
6 The meaningful gift: Stories for Kids Who Dare to Be Different: True Tales of Amazing People Who Stood Up and Stood Out by Ben Brooks
As inspiring books for kids go it doesn’t get much better than this compilation which celebrates the real-life achievements of a range of individuals, all of whom refused to conform to the norm and changed the world for the better as result. Not only does the book have a brilliant message at its core – challenging stereotypes, celebrating diversity and overcoming adversity – it’s also wonderfully engaging. In short, this is perfect reading fodder for little people feeling their way in the world.
SAR184.85 amazon.sa
7 The present that will grant you cool parent status: a blanket hoodie
We have it on good authority (and by that we mean we’ve been told by several 8-and 10-years olds) that this winter season a blanket hoodie is the only acceptable loungewear to do said lounging in (so long slanket, see you later, onesie). For the unfamiliar, we are indeed talking about a garment that’s part oversized hoodie, part soft and snuggly blanket. Tweens do tend to favour getting cosy in a blanket hoodie with cute designs; seek out those with rainbows, cartoons, pizza slices, watermelon wedges and the like and you won’t go far wrong.
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8 The perfect gift for the fashion-forward: Tulip One-Step Tie Dye Kit
You heard it here first (maybe): tie-dye clothing is back and its bolder, brighter and better than ever. The tween in your life is no doubt already aware of the trend and this fun gift will allow them to get in on the action. Available in an array of colour palettes ranging from statement neon to pretty pastels and everything in between, each packs contains five bottles of easy-to-use dye, protective gloves and those all-important rubber bands. Throw a few white t-shirts into the gift mix and the kids will have everything they need for
a super-fun tie-dye party.
SAR87 amazon.sa
9 The best gift for budding young chefs: MasterChef Junior Cooking Essentials Set
While they may have previously dabbled in baking, this is the perfect age for kids to really get stuck in and find their feet in the kitchen. This durable, child-safe set includes plenty to help them on their way: a sturdy chopping board, apron, mixing bowls, measuring cups, spatula and spoon, as well as recipe cards. If you know someone who is already a MasterChef fan and chomping at the bit to hone their knife skills, they’ll love this gift. Plus, as parents, it brings you one-step closer to having breakfast made for you…
SAR416 amazon.sa
The early teens (AKA the hardest to please)
10 The gift they all want: Apple AirPods Pro
Why you should buy it: This is the present of the moment and will make any music-loving, podcast-devouring teen smile. Admittedly the new and improved ear buds from Apple (an update on their 2019 model) don’t come cheap but boy, do they deliver. Sleek, stylish and wireless (of course), these little power pods are Bluetooth enabled, pair easily with other Apple devices, are sweat and water resistant and come with three different-sized tips for a customisable fit. What really sets them apart though is the wireless charging case (which delivers an impressive 24-hours of battery juice) and their fully immersive, active noise cancelling credentials.
SAR799, noon.com; SAR1,129, virginmegastore.sa
11 The gift that should raise a smile: The Unofficial TikTok Cookbook by Valentina Mussi
If in doubt when present buying for a teen, a gift with TikTok in the title is likely to serve you well. From the lockdown sensation that was Dalgona coffee to ever-so pretty garden focaccia, the pasta recipe that sent feta cheese sales soaring and the pancake cereal that made millions of TikTok fans mornings sweeter, this fun cookbook features all the quick and quirky recipes that have dominated social media platforms over the last 18-months or so.
SAR74, ubuy.com.sa
12 The nostalgic gift: Kodak SMILE Instant Print Digital Camera
While they might take hundreds of snaps on their smart phones, it’s unlikely your teen has many printed photos knocking about. This nifty device from Kodak will change all that, allowing users to shoot, edit (there are filters, of course) and print their photos instantly.Pocket-sized, available in a range of colours and featuring a trendy slide-open design, this is a brilliantly modern way to give Gen Zers a taste of the tactile thrill that comes with handling a physical photograph.
SAR623, saudi.whizzcart.com
Family favourite gifts that all ages will enjoy
13 The gift that will make memories: A record player
A record player for all the family to share is, though we say it ourselves, a genius gift. The perfect conversation-starter or evening focus point, a night spent sitting around the turntables with everyone picking their favourite records is family bonding gold.
Lightweight, with a retro suitcase design both the GPO Attache Briefcase Style Three Speed Portable Record Player and the ByronStatics Vinyl Record Player provide an excellent, relatively budget-friendly introduction to the world of vinyl.
SAR463 ubuy.com.sa
14 The gift with multu-generational appeal: Trivial Pursuit Family Edition
Turn those smart phones off, cosy up and embrace some good old-fashioned fun with this family-friendly version of the classic boardgame. While the kids might initially be reticent, we guarantee that a few rounds in they’ll be fully focused on winning their next wedge, beating mum and dad and showing off their general knowledge at the same time.The Trivial Pursuit Family Edition has separate questions geared towards adults and children and is a deliberately quicker play than the original, making it a win-win in our eyes.
SAR404, en-sa.namshi.com
15 The gift that keeps on giving: Gift Republic 100 Movies Scratch Off Bucket List Poster
A simple poster this may be, but it will yield hours of entertainment, making memories that kids will remember for years to come at the same time. Offer this present up with the promise that from now on one evening a week will be movie night, then proceed to work your way through this list of films (in age-appropriate order of course). Scratch the movies off as you go and by the end you can congratulate yourself that your offspring are now well versed in the cinema classics. Pro tip: go big on the movie night snacks and this gift will be even more popular.
SAR77 en-sa.namshi.com
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