The best moment in my life ever (apart, obviously, from the birth of my first
child, and ,er, the second) occurred at a quarter past four on Christmas
morning, 1981. I opened my eyes and saw Father Christmas sneaking out of my
bedroom. He looked a little bit like Dad with some cotton wool tied to his
chin. But I didn’t dwell on that, because I also noticed that my bed was
surrounded by an enormous train set. One of Santa’s elves had clearly spent
most of the year painting hedges, little lead railway workers, a field of
cows and a bridge. Chuffing its way around the homemade landscape was the
Flying Scotsman, the bestest steam train in the whole wide world. This is
magic, I said to myself, as if I’d just walked through one of CS Lewis’s
wardrobes.
The worst moment of my life ever occurred at a quarter past six precisely two
years later. In the front room, by the fireplace, next to the standard-issue
half-eaten mince pie and necked sherry, there was a footprint. Darren from
school had been telling us all for years that Father Christmas was nonsense,
but I never believed him. Until that footprint. You see, the mud was outside
rather than inside. It was a footprint silhouette. I saw right through it.
Now that I am a father, the greatest responsibility I have (apart, obviously,
from keeping the children out of the medicine cabinet) is to ensure that the
magic of Christmas is kept alive in the Rudd household for as long as
possible.
It is almost as important that I get the presents right. By right, I don’t
mean big or expensive or, for that matter, what everyone else is getting
their spoilt brats. I’m still at the stage where my children get more joy
out of the box than the thing in it. I also don’t mean homemade. No, right
means well thought-out. Preferably wooden. Ideally with no repetitive
melodies. And certainly not something that plugs into a television – I read
about that kid who collapsed after playing World of Warcraft on his Xbox for
24 hours straight.
The other thing they should be is fun. Not just for them. For me, too. As long
as they still let me play with their toys, the toys might as well be ones I
want to play with. Is it dangerous to give a three-year-old a remote-control
helicopter?
Thank goodness, then, that help is at hand. The art of present-buying for kids
has been made easy for us over the next five pages. Here, our experts have
selected the finest offerings available in toy-land this season. No train
sets, though.
BEST FOR UNDER 5s
From soft, star-spangled teddies and musical mobiles for their first Christmas
to a traditional wooden sledge – just the kind Santa’s helpers might ride to
work – these gifts for the underfives, should cover all the bases. Wooden
toys for building are always a hit, as are drawing and playing at cooking.
The Teletubbies are also set to make a comeback this year, with Dance with Me
predicted to be among the tots’ top playthings. Too gimmicky? We’ve got some
sure-fire favourites, too.
Encourage your child’s inner Hirst or (if you dare) Emin with a tabletop
painting easel; if art leaves them cold, a pink woolly rocking sheep should
provide hours of entertainment. Just one word of caution: make sure anything
noisy (with tunes, bells, sound effects or gurgles) has easy-to-remove
batteries or a great big “off” switch. After all, Christmas isn’t just for
kids . . . is it?
On the sledge £80 - Okay, white Christmases are a rare thing in
Britain, but should we wake up to a blanket of snow, at least you’ll be
ready to get towing. Sturdy and traditional, this Hamax sledge folds flat
for easy storage.
3+; 0844 557 7755, www.cotswoldoutdoor.com
Great bear £10 - This Cath Kidston Shooting Star bear is made of
cuddly 100%-cotton jersey. He is 17cm high, machine-washable – and, most
important, cute.
0845 026 2440, www.cathkidston.co.uk
Art attack £35 - For precocious artists, this 46cm-high wooden
tabletop easel has a magnetic board on one side and a chalkboard on the
reverse. A paper roll can be pulled up and over for drawing and painting.
3+; 0844 888 5000, www.letterbox.co.uk
Cooking up a storm £60 - For budding Nigellas and Jamies, this
Honeybake oven and hob set comes with a saucepan, a frying pan and utensils.
The fake food includes a pizza – don’t tell the real Jamie.
3+; 0844 888 5000, www.letterbox.co.uk
Animal magic £10 - Making lunchtime fun, these metal boxes with
colourful plastic handles come with a gorilla, polar bear or hippo motif.
Fun facts about the animal are written on the side.
020 7229 2178, www.couverture.co.uk
Soft rocker £265 - This rocking sheep, made in Denmark from wood
and wool, comes in white or – naturally – pink. At 80cm long and 61cm high,
it also makes a great footstool for grown-ups when the kids have finally
gone to bed.
2+; 01330 850400, www.pedlars.co.uk
Eh-oh! £30 each - Set to top Christmas wish lists this year,
Tomy’s Teletubbies Dance with Me figures bring old favourites Po, Laa-Laa,
Dipsy and Tinky Winky to life. The battery-powered toys have two dance
modes, blinking eyes and giggling sound effects.
1+; www.argos.co.uk
Pile ’em high £17 - These 15 rainbow-coloured building
blocks are made in Germany using European alder wood from renewable sources.
Inspired by the Steiner educational system, they are hand-finished and
splinter-free, with smooth edges, and are unvarnished and unlacquered. They
come in a useful cotton drawstring bag.
1+; 0141 416 1448, www.greeneyedfrog.co.uk
FAMILY GAMES
Because all the wrapping has usually been ripped from the presents before it’s
time to put the turkey in the oven and crack open the sherry, it makes sense
to keep one last gift until after lunch, to keep up spirits and provide some
postprandial entertainment. The traditional family Christmas is notoriously
hard to make a reality, but do take the opportunity to gather together and
compete against each other in games of skill, silliness, cunning and fun –
rather than fighting over who is going to do the washing-up. If you can’t
stir yourselves to go for a walk, gather round the television with a white
mat and tiny controls, then get Wiiing. There’s plenty of time on Boxing Day
to slump in front of the DVD box sets, eating all the chocolates. One last
thing: charades is banned.
Foul play £12 - The classic murder game gets a modern makeover in
Cluedo Reinvention: this time, a soirée at a millionaire mogul’s luxury
mansion turns deadly. That means no more lead piping or billiard room, while
Colonel Mustard has been stripped of his rank and is now plain old Jack
Mustard, a football pundit. Was it movie star Scarlett with the barbell in
the spa? Or Victor with the baseball bat in the boardroom?
8+; www.amazon.co.uk
High flyer £30 - Head outside for some bracing fresh air and let
rip with the latest sports kite. The Raptor, by Spirit of Air, has “a firm
pull and an aggressive streak”. It comes in a heavy-duty zip-sided carry
bag.
12+; 07934 743684, www.kitesuk.com
Yes Wii can £180 - It’s not hard to see why the Nintendo Wii
(pronounced “we”) is such a hit; the sleek white console is just begging to
be played with, and there’s a range of games for all the family. So
set up a tennis tournament in your living room, go bowling or let Dad learn
to play golf. Just remember, it’s virtual bowling – otherwise,
the new plasma television will be the first Christmas casualty.
www.nintendo.co.uk
I can see you £20 - Find objects fast and first in Pictureka!, a
nail-biting version of hide-and-seek.
6+; 0844 822 2321, www.littlewoodsdirect.com
FOR THE BOYS
It’s a delicate balance, buying Christmas presents for your children, and
especially for boys. Guns, gadgets and gruesome sticky messes are all very
well, but they rarely last into the new year – and weapons of mass
destruction do nothing for the decor. There’s always football – but you
probably did that last year. And the year before. So, do you go for the
educational but not too boring – it is, after all, the season of goodwill –
or for something that will keep them happy (if not enlightened) for hours
and hours? Our advice is to mix it up a little with a combination of the
two: you could go for a ride-on dinosaur (fun), then tack on the Beastly
Body Bits kit (fun, but also educational). And old standbys such as Monopoly
are an ideal way to get the boys to interact with the rest of the family.
Just don’t expect them to play fair.
Galactic adventure £28 - “Get ready to turn those clankers into
scrap metal!” Put the Star Wars Clone Trooper Voice Changer helmet on and
use the force. It comes with radio commentary, built-in key phrases and a
voice amplifier.
5+; 020 7803 1900, www.forbiddenplanet.com
Globe puzzle from £9 - Budding globetrotters can fit together the
pieces of the unique 3-D Puzzleball and learn their way around the world at
the same time. There are two versions: 96 pieces (6+) and 240 pieces (10+),
each with its own display stand.
0871 222 1500, www.mailorderexpress.com
Yucky biology £10 - With the Beastly Body Bits kit, kids can
squelch sick in a fake stomach and blow bogies from a fake nose, or find out
how the stomach digests food, how mucus works and why sneezes can be
explosive. Like we said, educational...
8+; 0870 874 5437, www.kidestore.co.uk
Win at all costs £25 - Forget Park Lane and Mayfair: you play for
world domination in this new, global version of the old favourite, Monopoly
Here & Now: The World Edition.
8+; www.argos.co.uk
Good knights £15 - Hast thou the bottle to face thy nemesis and
clonk ’im? Charge headlong towards the enemy and try to win the tournament
with these radio-controlled jousting knights. They come with removable
lances and adjustable visors.
8+; 0844 573 7070, www.iwantoneofthose.com
Ride-on kit £200 - With Moov, a four-in-one construction kit from
Berg Toys, you can make a go-kart, scooter, trike or carver. The set
contains 150 pieces including timber, steel, plastic rings and pneumatic
tyres – all you need is a handy parent to help put it together.
5+; 01727 841400, www.kidestore.co.uk
Look out £10 - Big sisters had better watch out if their naughty
little brother gets his hands on a pair of these Night Vision Goggles.
Taking exploring to a whole new level, they come with a high-powered torch
and “sonic ear” listening device.
8+; www.argos.co.uk
Film it £35 - Budding film-makers simply have to point and press
to get creative. The Busbi digital camcorder has a 2in LCD screen, so they
can see what they’ve recorded instantly.
8+; 0844 922 1010, www.firebox.com
Walk the dinosaur £300 - Meet Kota the Triceratops, a “life-size”
(2½ft tall) baby dinosaur. He has 11 sensors on his body and will react to
stimuli, roaring when you speak to him, moving his head and swishing his
tail. A great friend for adventurous little boys.
3+; www.hasbrotoyshop.co.uk
FOR THE GIRLS
Whether they’re little princesses, animal crazy, art mad, budding fashionistas
or out-and-about tomboys, Christmas was made for little girls. To maximise
the shrieks of delight – and select gifts that will be sure to outlive the
holidays, without breaking the budget, thinking low-maintenance is the key.
If your daughter is clamouring for a pet, for example, you could present her
with Biscuit, the toy dog that is tipped to be this year’s Christmas No 1
toy, for little girls at least. He gives you his paw, lies down, nods and
whimpers – but he doesn’t need feeding and you won’t need a pooper-scooper.
Genius. If her dolls are still living in a staid Victorian-style house,
bring them into the 21st century with a brand-new minimalist one. And to
indulge the little girl in your life even further, join the High School
Musical craze with an all-singing dance mat. All she’ll have to do is get
Mum off it.
Puppy love £150 - Give a home to Biscuit My Lovin’ Pup and
you get all the benefits of owning a dog with none of the drawbacks. Tell
him to give you his paw and he will; ask if he wants a treat and he’ll nod
and whimper. Biscuit obeys six commands, including “sit”, “speak” and “lie
down”, and comes with an adoption certificate.
5+; www.hasbrotoyshop.co.uk
Rhythm challenge £17 - Compete to the beat with Bop It Extreme 2,
a fast, addictive way to hone hand-eye coordination. It sounds easy enough –
you bop, flick, twist, spin or pull the relevant bit when prompted – but
competitive parents be warned: it’s harder than it looks, and there’s no
point grumbling about small hands ...
8+; www.argos.co.uk
Make-up pro £15 - Experiment with cosmetics – or simply slap it on
– using the Fashion Angels Make-Up Artist Sketchbook kit. It includes a
22-colour palette, brushes, applicators and a colour chart.
6+; 0870 874 5437, www.kidestore.co.uk
Looking glass £6.50 - This funky pink heartshaped mirror
will brighten up any little girl’s dressing table.
020 8974 0110, www.oliverbonas.com
House of fun £95 - Traditional doll’s houses are just so last
century. The Noughties girl will love this stylishly decorated and painted
modern pad, exotically named Ocean Drive. It comes with a pull-out pool, a
wooden staircase and innovative sliding panels – for when the dolls need
extra privacy.
3+; 0800 011 4411, www.dollshouse.com
Dance on £23 - The High School Musical seniors have all the moves
– and now your kids can too. The High School Musical 3 dance mat features
four hit songs from the film, with all-new dance routines. It offers three
levels of difficulty, for beginners, stars and superstars.
6+; 0871 231 3511, www.elc.co.uk
Customised wellies £13 - Brighten up a rainy day with these funky
boots, which come with a set of paints so kids can get creative. The paint
is waterproof within 24 hours, so they’ll soon be ready to show off to their
friends. Available in green or pink, in children’s sizes 8-13.
0844 573 4000, www.hawkin.com
Money bags £4 - Cath Kidston’s cute mini clasp purses make great
stocking fillers for little girls – perfect for keeping their Christmas cash
in. The patterns range from puppies to roses and polka dots.
0845 026 2440, www.cathkidston.co.uk
A piece of cake £29 - Budding bakers will love the Gourmet
Cupcake Maker. Add water to the mixture provided, pop it in the microwave
and you’ll soon have a cupcake ready to decorate – which is where the real
fun begins. In theory, they’re edible, too.
8+; 0845 604 9049, www.johnlewis.com
TEEN IDOLS
Money, that’s what they want. Just ask any teenager – but for your own peace
of mind, don’t ask them what they plan to spend it on. Even so, bless their
little skinny jeans, they’re still kids at heart, and a Christmas morning
without anything to unwrap would be too bleak for even the mopiest of emos.
So what should the old beardy dude be bringing down the chimney for the
teens in your life? It’s hard to steer a path between the embarrassingly
childish and the boringly grown-up, but the key is remembering that the
average teen’s lifestyle requirements are both limited and draconian. Which
means that if they love football, they won’t want to broaden their sporting
horizons with a book on rugby, and if they’re crazy about urban music, they
will not be looking to experiment with a compilation of electro folk. Unlike
proper adults, when presented with gifts that will only ever work for them
after a complete personality transplant, teenagers won’t conceal their
withering disappointment. So, know your target – their tribe, heroes,
obsessions, favourite activities and amazing capacity for inactivity – and
don’t use Christmas gifts to try to turn them into what they’re not.
Festival fun £23 - You can’t go to an Underage event if you’re
over 18, so young audiences are free to go wild for their favourite bands
without having to fight for mosh-pit rights with middle-youthers. Parents
love them too, because they’re safe and alcohol-free. Next year’s festival
is in Victoria Park, London E9, on August 8, and tickets are available now.
www.underagefestivals.com
Bright lights from £85 - Light up their lives with a Philips
LivingColors LED lamp, which will bathe a teenager’s bedroom in mood
lighting that spans the colour spectrum. They come with a remote control, so
the kids can dim the brightness or change the colour without having to move
off the beanbag.
0845 604 9049, www.johnlewis.com
Love at first bite £6 - If they’d asked any teenage girl, British
retailers would have known that Twilight gear would be scorching hot this
Christmas: the cult vampire film starring Robert Pattinson hits the
multiplexes on December 19. But they didn’t, so while devotees wait for the
cool T-shirts to arrive from America, they’ll have to make do with a poster.
www.allposters.co.uk
Super snapper £100 - Dedicated cameras take much better pictures
than phones, and they’re even more desirable when they’re this compact. The
10MP FinePix Z20 has a 3x optical zoom and comes in bright jewel colours.
www.amazon.co.uk
The max £30 - Lie back and think of Dizzee Rascal. Louche and
low-slung, the Maxlounge Bossa Inflatable Lounge Chair has built-in speakers
so teens can hook up their MP3 player. Made of durable PVC, it can even be
taken outside when the weather warms up.
www.gadgets.co.uk
Soft touch £19 - Young skin needs the gentlest care, and
Philosophy, which works with medical researchers to devise its products, has
a range of gifts for Christmas, including this set of lip shine, body
shimmer and shower gel.
0800 123400, www.selfridges.com
By the book £4.80 - To fill the years before they can (legally)
just go down the pub, Teenage Kicks suggests,inter alia, that they plant a
tree, learn to juggle and get on with the opposite sex. No pressure, then.
www.amazon.co.uk
Personal shopper free - Buy a fistful of Topshop gift vouchers and they
can make an appointment with an instore personal adviser in the private
style lab to help spend them.
www.topshop.com
Fly the flag £30 - It looks like it comes from mod heaven, so
don’t let on that you bought this groovy cushion from none other than Her
Majesty’s own retail outlet, the Buckingham Palace Shop.
020 7834 5358, www.the-royal-collection.com
Wake-up call £45 - Slot an iPod into this alarm clock, set the
time and it’ll wake them up with their favourite choons: the
omni-directional speakers will rouse the laziest teen. It works as a
charger, too. Not compatible with iPod Shuffle.
0845 330 1288, www.urbanoutfitters.co.uk
For more Christmas gift ideas for kids visit our Christmas
Gift Guide
