The gift guide
A little knowledge of what they love goes a long way.
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Christmas 2026
Original buying guides
Our newest guides and the ones readers turn to most. Each connects age, interest, safety and practical household fit, and identifies the sources used for factual claims.
NewEight board, card and party games for teenagers, checked with each maker: big-group party games, word and trivia games, and a strategy game for a smaller table.
8 checked picks · 5 minute read
NewTen LEGO sets for teenagers, marked 9+ to 12+ and checked on lego.com: Wednesday display builds, Technic supercars, Hogwarts decor and two Formula 1 cars.
10 checked picks · 6 minute read
NewSensory toys from birth to 3 and up, described by how they look, sound and feel: a playmat, cubes, a rainmaker, a ball pit, sand and water, bubbles and more.
10 checked picks · 7 minute read
NewGifts for teenagers aged 13 to 17: LEGO display sets, 1,000-piece jigsaws, games for a group of friends and an instant camera. Nine maker-checked picks.
9 checked picks · 6 minute read
Most readSuperhero toys for kids aged 2 and up: preschool Spidey and Batman, LEGO Marvel and DC sets, Avengers: Doomsday tie-ins, and eight maker-checked picks.
8 checked picks · 8 minute read
Most readJigsaw puzzles for kids aged 3 to 12, chosen by piece count: first 4 in a Box sets, XXL pieces, 3D puzzle balls, a wooden jigsaw and a first 500.
10 checked picks · 7 minute read
Most readLEGO Star Wars sets for kids aged 4 and up: SMART Play All-In-One and Compatible explained, plus mechs, an advent calendar and starships, checked with LEGO.
10 checked picks · 7 minute read
Most readMusical toys from 6 months to 9 and over: a baby band, drum, glockenspiel, guitar, grand piano, DJ mixer and LEGO piano, with batteries and ten checked picks.
10 checked picks · 5 minute read
Most readChoose construction toys by build style, material and replay value, with nine checked systems from wooden blocks and MAGNA-TILES to Technic and K'NEX motors.
10 checked picks · 8 minute read
Most readThe best STEM toys for kids aged 3 to 9+: shape building, a Minecraft logic game, screen-free coding, a science lab and moving-part kits, by age.
9 checked picks · 9 minute read
“Most read” counts visits from Google search between 4 May 2026 and 4 Nov 2026.
Shop by interest
Building and constructionBricks, models and open-ended builds
LEGO setsDUPLO to Technic, by age
Wooden toysStack, push, build and pretend
Dinosaur toysChomp, build and roar
Minecraft toysBuild the game in bricks
Car toysTracks, diggers and models
Train toysThomas, track sets and LEGO trains
Farm toysTractors, farmyards and horses
Princess toysDisney dolls and LEGO castlesLEGO Star WarsSMART Play explained, by age
Bluey toysBath toys, cars and ChattermaxMusical toysInstruments and sing-along toysSensory toysTextures, sounds, light and bubbles
Image: © Spin Master (spinmaster.com)PAW Patrol toysPup vehicles and playsetsSuperhero toysSpidey, Batman and the Avengers
Pokémon toysLEGO Pokémon and games
DollsBarbie, Disney and Polly Pocket
Arts and craftsDrawing, making and modellingSTEM and scienceCoding, experiments and logic
Family gamesQuick to learn, fun together
Board games for kidsFrom first games to strategyJigsaw puzzlesFirst puzzles to 500 pieces
Outdoor toysSandpits, swings and trampolines
Trading cardsCollectors and new players
Birthday giftsStart with what they loveCurrent catalogue snippets
These dated selections are generated from approved catalogue tags and current merchant data. They are useful shopping snapshots, separate from our primary Top Ten rankings.
Start with the person, not the bestseller list. Ask what they already play with, what they would like to try and how much space they have. These guides help you narrow the options without relying on a price tag or a trend.
Choose one interest to build on. Check with a parent or the recipient about duplicates, age guidance and practicalities such as noise, mess or storage. Keep the receipt and check the retailer’s returns conditions for gifts.
Think about what is needed on the day: batteries, a compatible device, a place to build or time for an adult to help. Check what is included rather than assuming the picture shows the whole box. Allow time to confirm delivery with the retailer.
Consider whether they prefer open-ended pieces, a detailed model or a build with moving parts. Check compatibility with what they already own and whether the finished creation needs a permanent place to live.
A gift that invites trying and noticing can be a good starting point. Our STEM guide explains how to compare coding, science, logic and engineering ideas without assuming that a more technical kit is a better one.
Explore the STEM guideMatch the gift to the space actually available and where it can be stored. Check assembly, maintenance, protective equipment and supervision information. Outdoor use does not remove the need to follow manufacturer age and safety instructions.
Use an age guide to begin a conversation rather than to guarantee a match. Ask about favourite activities and check the manufacturer’s exact age marking. For teens and adults, hobbies often tell you more than an age band.
