This post is part of my 10 week Christmas Preparation Plan for 2011.
This originally was planned to be a post for Christmas gift ideas for boys, but I had a number of readers email and ask could I include Christmas gift ideas for girls too. So I have collated a list based on age more so than the sex of the child. I have based the ages on the ages of my kids, rounded up!
13 year olds
Movie Box
We now let our 13 year old see movies at the cinema on his own – something which he loves! So a perfect gift for a 13 year old like our son who likes the movies is to put together a movie box. Buy a large popcorn tub and add:
- 2 x movie vouchers for a cinema close to home
- 2 x packs of their favourite lollies
- 2 x bottles of water to wash down the treats!
Clothes
I have found it is at this age, that they start to get a little more conscious about the clothes they wear. The fashion tips from my eldest are:
Speedo Shorts
Not sure what the attraction is really with these shorts, but lots of his mates are wearing these, so they are top of his list at the moment.
Vans
Vans are the shoe of the teenager at the moment. I did actually buy everyone in our family a pair when I was in LA. Only one pair didn’t fit – Mr I’s didn’t, but given the rate of growth of out eldest son’s feet, he will be able to wear them quite soon!
They were so much cheaper in the US though. So this maybe a gift that family might like to chip in for the teenager in their life.
10 year olds
Magazine Subscription
Our ten year old is completely mad about football of the round ball variety. He is also not the keenest of readers, but he does however devour the sports pages of the paper we have delivered each Saturday and Sunday morning. It may not be great literature, but if a subscription to Four Four Two keeps him reading I am all for it – this gift would certainly get him reading!
There were a number of “girl focused” magazine subscriptions that I looked through, but I couldn’t find one that really stood out as one I would like to buy for a girl who I knew who was 10. This word find subscription however I thought would be the perfect gift to help pass the school holidays, trips in the car and on the days when it is too hot to go outside to play.
8 year olds
Sewing Kit
Studio Girl have a fantastic range of hand craft activities. But I think the favourite for my daughter who likes to sew would be one of their sewing kits. They are available form Lincraft here in Australia and the best bit is they contain everything your child needs to make the item.
Construction Kit
Put together a construction kit for the creative one you know. At 8, they can be taught how to use a glue gun safely, include a range of recycled off cuts and materials that they will be able to use, in a box – their imagination can then do the rest!
5 year olds
Tool Box
A long time favourite gift for me to give to kids of this age is a tool box that contains real tools, but just smaller versions of the ones that mum and dad use. They have always been hugely popular. We include:
- Hammer
- Nails – clouts are great as they have a big head for kids to hit.
- Nuts and bolts – may never use them for their intended purpose, but do provide great fine motor practice.
- Padlock and key – again a fun item for the kids to use. Tip for parents, keep one of each the keys that comes with the padlock as inevtiably they will lock it to something and not know where the key is.
To see some young kids in action with these types of tools, you can check out an earlier post of mine here.
Pencils
I can still remember when I received my first set of Derwent pencils – I loved them completely and ruthfully monitored that once used every one was put them back into their right spot! Big W currently have the above Derwent set on sale for $19.88.
3 year olds
Cooking Kit
I love having my kids help me cook in the kitchen. There are many prepackaged cooking kits you can buy for kids, but if you want to it is very easy to pull together your own cooking kit Christmas Gift. Simply buy a child sized apron and then shop around for:
- set of small tongs
- small grater
- small juicer
- small whisk
- measuring spoons
Wrap them with the apron and you have created a practical and useful gift!
Lunchbox Gift Set
Especially perfect if they will be heading off to kinder in the new year. The Goodbyn bynto box pictured above is a BPA phthalates & lead free lunch box. It provides 3 containers in 1, plus bottle & stickers.
What are your favourite gifts to buy kids?
27 comments...read them below or add one
Thank you! Love the movie bucket idea. I really struggle with buying for 2 10 year old and 2 12 year old boy cousins. Will have to look into whether there’s an afl version of the magazine subscription.
The only one I found was a weekly one which was a bit exxy http://www.insidefootballonline.com/subscribe.html
Back again. Any idea where you can buy the popcorn tubs (plastic?)? I haven’t been able to find one. Thank you!
I haven’t seen plastic, the one in the photo is paper. These ones aren’t quite so big:
http://www.speckledfreckle.com.au/store/pc/Large-Popcorn-Boxes-30p643.htm
http://www.thepartypeople.com.au/products/7088/popcorn-boxes-large-10-pk
The ones here look very good, but they are from an American site http://www.ht-express.com/catalog/catalog.asp?CID=100&CI=1719
Oh thank you so much. You didn’t need to go to so much trouble though! Best wishes for a lovely Christmas xx
I’m looking at the national geographic junior magazine subscriptions for my girls, they love animals and it is great reading.
Annie already gets Alphabet Soup magazine – her birthday gift was a subscription, one will we certainly be renewing.
Love the movie box idea. That is simple and fun
Thanks Marita, will check out Alphabet Soup magazine.
Some great ideas here! I have really made a point of staying away from ‘plastic fantastic’ gifts the last few years, the internet is a wonderful thing
Always find wonderful ideas trawling the internet!
I really love the lunchbox idea and think that this may find it’s way under our tree this year.
One thing I am struggling with this year is budget and working out how much is enough but not too much. I know that it shouldn’t be about “how much” there is but I also still believe in the excitement of a gift from Santa and also a santa sack ” stuffed” with little bits and pieces. Is that “enough” these days? I’d really love to hear your thoughts.
Hi Mel,
This is something I struggle with too. With 5 kids, our kids don’t get as much as their friends, but they don’t seem to notice (or at least don’t say anything about it!).
I like to have a Santa sack with lots of bits and pieces too, so what I have done for many years now is put in practical things that are more fun than what I would usually buy. For example, they will get new boxer shorts or jocks with characters on them. They also get a new supply of socks, a hat if they need one, sunglasses, colourful zinc cream etc.
I used to love those sorts of things at Christmas too. Little knick knacks were my favourites and I always got one of those chocolate santa sacks too. I think that will become our tradition.
I have a friend who is in her mid thirties who still gets a Santa Sack along with her brother and sister every year. They get a box of their favourite cereal ( things like cocoa pops that they were never allowed normally), biscuits, lollies and the like. They LOVE them and still look forward to them every year.
You could use a Christmas pillowcase as your sack, instead of a large sack. Smaller to work with, but still has the “stuffed” appearance.
Great idea Brooke, thanks.
Awesome suggestions:
I remember getting a magazine subscription when I was 13. One of the best presents ever. Although the magazines have changed, my Mum still gives me one for Christmas or birthday each year.
A magazine subscription is on my wish list!
Love this post Nic! Thank you!!! It’s so easy to fall in to the plastic fantastic trap of the major chain stores but I love to get things that are a bit different.
I’ve just jumped on to Biome and bought my Mr 3 a lunchbox for kinder next year which can go under the christmas tree. I’ll also check out the sewing kits for presents for some little girls in that age group.
I will definitely do the tool box in a few years for my boys too. This year, they are getting a small outdoor wheelbarrow to move rocks and dirt around over the summer. With no lawn or garden yet, we need to make do with the large space and rocks, but I have a feeling this will keep my grubby boy very happy anyway!!!
Thank you!x
Wheel barrow is a great idea! Thanks for your lovely comment Amy.
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Great ideas Nic – completely different from the usual fare of gift ideas I have come across so far. Hubby is a chef and the girls have just started to fight over who is going to be his sous chef…so the mini chef kit idea is just brilliant – perfect for their little hands and I know they will also embrace the ‘cute’ factor!
I’ve been looking at that lunch box for Brian. Is it easy to open for a 3.5 year old? And can they manage the drink bottle? Lots of growing and learning going on in our household!
Thanks for the afl mag link. Way expensive as you say. Something afl-related might be good though.
My kids are getting lots of art supplies in their stockings… things I know will be used up fast over the holidays like glue and paint and paper.
This year we are giving family friends with kids a cooking pack… a packet cake or cookie mix, a mixing bowl and a wooden spoon for each of the kids.
Great ideas – love the popcorn tub for presentation.
for junior scientists, a subscription to the CSIRO’s Double Helix Club is fantastic.
Great Ideas!
I know many people struggle with what to get for certain age groups.
I especially like the lunchbox idea
Well done
Some great ideas!
I bought that Studio Girl sewing kit today for my 7 year old niece, I found it at Big W.
I am now off to look for that A-League magazine, the kids can give that to their Dad for Christmas
Thanks for the ideas!!
[...] for your time Regards, LisaThe gifts for kid’s post Lisa is referring to can be found here:Christmas Gift Ideas For KidsBirthday Gift Ideas For KidsWe set a limit for birthday presents and Christmas presents on my side [...]