Many children will be hoping for the latest console this year. If you are finding it a bit of a challenge getting hold of one, then do check out the Stock Informer site (it’s such a useful resource). Once you have the console secured then you can move onto other Christmas gifts for children and I have some lovely ideas below.

Christmas Annual

Is it even Christmas if you don’t have a new annual for Christmas? I think it’s a lovely tradition. It is a great way to encourage children to get excited about books and reading. We were sent a selection of Little Brother Books annuals. They have plenty of choice available with thirteen 2021 annuals in total. We already purchase the Beano annual every year for my youngest. It is always quite high up on his Christmas list for Santa (AKA me).

We were sent Fortnight and Minecraft annuals which gamers will appreciate. Little Brother Books also have a Roblox annual. Then we had Shoot for my child who enjoys football, that has plenty of player info and puzzles for him to complete. Plus, a Natural History Museum Dinosaur book for my son who has a thirst for knowledge. Annuals make great value gifts, if you order direct from their site you can make quite a saving. If you are still doing Elf on the Shelf, they even have an annual full of “elfing” activities! Maybe the elf could even bring that when he arrives on the 1^st of December.

Board Games

Pencil Nose

Pencil Nose (RRP £14.99) from IDEAL is a hilarious party game where you draw using a marker attached to your nose! As board games go its very original, rather silly but extremely entertaining! Will your teammates be able to guess what you drew correctly? I have enough trouble drawing the usual way so I think this game would be extremely amusing to play with the family over the festive season. I think we are all in need for some feelgood fun to make us smile. If you would like a chance to win your own copy of the game, please fill in the form below by the 19^th of December.

Win Pencil Nose Game

Taskmaster

The Taskmaster board game (RRP £29.99) from Ginger Fox is based on the BAFTA winning TV show. The aim of the game is to become the Taskmaster Champion if you gain the most points for completing tasks successfully. The game includes Kitchen Tasks, Living Room Tasks, Lab Tasks, Garden Tasks, Final Tasks and Secret Tasks. So, plenty of variety to keep the game fresh and interesting. Some of the tasks even include video content from Alex Horne who is assistant to Greg Davies in the TV show. The tasks are so funny, and I know this game will have us creased up in laughter over the Christmas holidays.

Some examples of the tasks are:

Make the Taskmaster a surprising cup of tea

Create something beautiful out of a tea bag

Make the most exotic sandwich

Make up a lullaby to sing to the tired Taskmaster

There are also secret tasks for bonus points if you manage to do yours undetected.

Players take turns in being the Taskmaster and choosing where the next challenge will take place and then awarding out the points as they see fit. Not necessarily based on who did the best job! So, you could let the power of playing taskmaster go to your head and dish out these points on a whim! I think I would feel too guilty not giving them to the person who did the best job! But if someone entertained you more doing a task badly then feel free to award those points however you choose! You’re in charge after all. Mind you remember they will get their own chance to be Taskmaster and might be biased by whatever you did on your turn!

If someone in your family doesn’t like the thought of completing tasks, they can just be the taskmaster for the whole game. It is nice they can still be involved even if they are not keen to do tasks themselves.

Cave Paintings

This entertaining drawing game (RRP £19.99) sees you try and draw 6 objects in just 60 seconds using your best “caveman” gripped fist. You get awarded a point for each object drawn as long as most of the other players can recognise what it is. I can’t wait to play this game with my dad, his drawings are always caveman style without attempting to draw with a gripped fist! So, I am sure we will be highly amused seeing how he gets on with this. The winner at the end of the game gets the great honour of being able to say, “Me Draw Good!”. You can purchase the game from the Interplay website.

Silly Sounds

Silly Sounds (RRP £12.99) is a game where you do just what it says on the box! You make silly sounds to try and help the other player guess what sound is on their headband. The cards themselves are quite tricky “a mouse on roller-skates” or “an elephant asleep on a train” – but its comedy genius! The sounds made will be hilarious as you try and help the other players guess correctly. Such an inventive take on the headband games where you usually just ask questions to try and pinpoint what person you have on your headband! Making sounds is much more amusing!

Stationery

Smiggle

I really love the Smiggle online store. They have so much choice when it comes to Christmas gifts for children. Everything is so colourful and appealing with a price range to suit most pockets. Even more so now they have a black Friday promotion and huge savings off their best Christmas gifts. The promotion ends on Tuesday but they regularly have sales so you can always find a bargain at Smiggle.

Often, I find the stocking fillers can be the hardest part to organise but Smiggle have pencil toppers, collectable erasers, highlighter packs, slapbands and scented pens that children will adore. They really are the best place to shop for the gift of smiles and giggles.

In terms of main gifts for Christmas the gadgets will appeal to older children, they have clocks, headphones, and money box safes. However if you are worried about keeping your children entertained over the Christmas holidays why not stock up on some activity kits as Christmas gifts. They have DIY Journal Keepsafe kits, Nail Art DIY kits, Shrink Me Jewellery Kits and plenty of choice of activity books for water play, colouring in or scratch art. Let your children unleash their creative side this Christmas with Smiggle.

Unicorn Universe scented pencil top erasers £4.50 (currently £3.60)

Sleepy Sprouts scented markers £10 (currently £6)

Nail Art DIY set £10 (currently £8)

Craft Kits

So Sand DIY Case

The So Sand DIY Case (£19.99) is available to buy from Smyths Toys and lets you shape, slice and squish magic sand! The set contains 4 cutting tools, 3 bags of sand, 3 bags of decorations and 3 magic sand components. The case itself is handy to store everything safely and the accessories were sturdy and well made. Given how much is included it seems very reasonably priced. It’s such a relaxing activity for children playing with this sand, a sensory experience that will help them unwind.

Crystal Art Sticker Sets

I thought the Cool Christmas Owls crystal art sticker set (£9.99) makes for lovely Christmas gifts for children. It’s a nice activity for them to complete and the stickers are really adorable. We are already fans of DIY Crystal Art Kits having completed one during the first lockdown. They are very sparkly, and the activity cheered up my children. The stickers can be used however you please afterwards. Perhaps making a card for someone special or to decorating a notebook.

Clothes

I always try and buy my children some clothes for Christmas. I really like the kids range at Regatta. There are insulated body warmers, soft and seamless base layers, winter jackets and warm fleeces to pick from. All designed to keep your children cosy over the winter months. I mentioned how affordable the prices are in Regatta in my Christmas gift guide for men. They have a beat the chill promotion at the moment and you can get up to 50% off fleeces. So, stock up on those lovely bargains as practical Christmas gifts for children.