Still stuck for some gift inspiration? We have some cracking ideas that won’t break the bank and will be here in time for the big day. Here are our recommendations for Christmas gifts the whole family will love…
The Virtuali-Tee
I cannot wait until Harry opens this t-shirt with a difference by Curiscope. This is the first time I have seen something like this and I am sure that our science-lover will be thrilled at the virtual AR t-shirt that gives you a guided tour around your body! The high-quality t-shirt is available in both child and adult sizes and allows you to take a virtual anatomical tour through the free app, downloadable for systems iOS 8.3+ and Android 4.4.4+. It’s certainly not your average boring t-shirt! The Virtuali-Tee is available from Curiscope, Selfridges and Amazon now.
A World Full of Animal Stories
I cannot express just how beautiful this book is. When Cait saw it she wanted to lay claim to it but truth be told, I want to keep it high up on a shelf because it is just such a lovely book to treasure. 50 gorgeously illustrated animal-related folk tales and and fables from around the world bring together classic favourites with modern tales. A World Full of Animal Stories by Angela McAllister is published by Quarto (rrp. £12.99) and is available at all good book sellers including Amazon now.
Mr Tumble Learning Pad
What preschooler does not like Mr Tumble? Now they can learn about colours, sounds, numbers and shapes with Mr Tumble’s Learning Pad. Sturdy enough to withstand the inevitable bumps, colourful enough to grab their attention and fun enough to provide hours of play, Mr Tumble’s Learning Pad (rrp. £17.99) makes the ideal first tablet for little ones.
A Little Fun Viewing
So admittedly, it’s not your average BBC travel programme but we did enjoy Steve Coogan and Rob Brydon’s good humoured ribbing in the series Trip to Italy. You don’t really get to know much about the country they are visiting, I feel, but you do get to enjoy their wit and impressions whilst watching them eat at extortionately priced restaurants. Great fun and some good laugh out loud moments.
A Personalised Watch
If you are looking for a gift that will last long after the Christmas season has ended, I still think that a watch is always a good choice of gift that both the more traditional and techie recipient will love. You could almost say that it is a ‘timeless gift’ – if you will excuse the pun! If you want to go the extra mile you can also opt to have a personalised message added to the back, choosing one of a selection of fonts, creating a keepsake to cherish. Giftsonline4u.com offers a wide range of quality engraved watches to suit any taste complete with leather straps and precision timing. They also arrive with their own gift boxes too. This website also offers a wide range of products for people of all ages. If you are looking for that bottle of something special for your other half, a unique toy for your little ones or a little something for that football fan in your life there are a host of personalised Christmas gifts to choose from here. And don’t worry about running out of time as thanks to most of the items being manufactured on site, you still have time to get that last-minute Christmas order in!
Xtrem Robots Smart Bot
At under £30 the Xtrem Robots Smart Bot is incredible value for money. Controlled by hand signals and the included remote control, your child’s new robot buddy has more than 20 functions and can perform up to 50 actions in programming mode. It also has a range of more than 5 metres thanks to its infra-red transmitter. Sure to be a popular addition to the family, you can find the Xtrem Robots Smart Bot on Amazon for just £29.99.
The Very Merry Christmas Game
Every year we go through the same thing: the family sits down to play a Christmas game or two and one person in particular gets insanely competitive. In our home the person is Steph, and she’s already challenged spent quality time with her younger siblings to play the Very Merry Christmas Game. The result was a lot of complaining about naff presents and very loud and bad singing. When Steph returns home the game is somewhat quieter to play, but still so much fun. It does state that the game is for aged 8 upwards but the twins and Bel at ages 6 and 5 respectively enjoy it too. The perfect choice to get the whole family into the festive spirit. Even with Steph’s competitiveness. Available from all good sellers including Amazon.
Mover Kit by Tech Will Save Us
The Mover Kit by Tech Will Save Us is an utterly brilliant toy that is certain to keep kids entertained for hours. This box contains everything they could possibly need to learn how to put together their own Mover, then code it in any number of ways to bring it to life. Included in the box is a motion sensor, LED lights, compass and more. Educational and fun, they can learn to program it to do countless things! Great fun for the techie (or would-be techie) and one of the top unmissable gifts this year for sure. Suitable from ages 8 upwards, the Mover Kit is available from all good sellers including Amazon and John Lewis.
Haynes Build Your Own Engines
Haynes are the indisputable experts when it comes to all things mechanical so young engineers are certain to the thrilled at the range of Build Your Own Engine Kits. All the parts you need plus the step-by-step instructions are included to create a scale model engines. There is even some interesting background info on the project too! Choose from a Combustion Engine, a V8 Engine, Motorcycle or Jet Engine, all available in time for Christmas from Amazon.
Wraps Earphones
You know how it goes, the kids have lost yet another set of earphones and all hell is breaking loose. You’ve stuck yours in your handbag (without the case, of course) and all you want to do is to have five minutes to yourself with some good music but your entire available five minutes are spent trying to untangle them before you admit defeat. Who in the house doesn’t need a pair of Wraps Earphones? These innovative earphones can be worn comfortably and stylishly around your wrist, doubling up as a stylish accessory as well as their practical function. They have a unique patented system which keeps the lightweight alloy heads, slider and jack plug all connected together for a secure compact fit and they will remain tangle free no matter what. The ‘Talk’ range enables you to have a conversation with a single button microphone, and you can choose from one of six colours so everyone in the family can identify their own. And they are comfy too! Just ingenious. Also available at Amazon.
The Bitmore Blast-AR, AR gun
Augmented reality games are big this Christmas and the Bitmore Blast-AR, Ar Gun is a great way to join in the fun. Download the free app (available on both IOS and Android) and turn your phone into a gun as you make your way through the selection of games currently available, with new ones added regularly. Find out more here.
Bitmore® VR Eye Mini™ VR headset
Here is some more virtual reality fun from Bitmore with their Bitmore® VR Eye Mini™ VR headset. This neat and inexpensive gift transforms your mobile into a fully-featured VR headset. Load up your phone with your choice of content, slot it into the headset and you can keep yourself busy for hours with the choice of hundreds of games available. The face contact foam ensures you stay comfy while the adjustable head straps provides a good fit, and at 263 grams it won’t weigh you down either.
Humans vs Computers
This book by Gojko Adzic is such an incredible collection of the most entertaining tales of tech gone wrong. Undeniably funny yet sometimes sobering (and can be a little worrying if you over-think some of it!), this book highlights perfectly how our transition into such a computerised world doesn’t necessarily make it for the better. Definitely put on your read list. Humans vs Computers is available from Amazon now.
Practical Winter Wear
If you want to give something practical boys and girls will love the winter jumpers and cardigans from River Island. Choose from a selection of comfy, stylish winter wear that will keep them warm and looking good. Perfect.
Luxury Skincare from Unity Beauty Essentials
Whether you need a gift for someone that is pregnant or even if they are already a mum, or you just want to inject some luxury into your own skincare regime, Unity Beauty Essentials have you covered with their new collection. Unity Beauty have created a range that has specifically been designed for use throughout pregnancy and beyond. The products are full of Indian Gooseberry, containing one of the highest known natural sources of vitamin C, as well as being one of the safest natural ingredients in beauty care making the Indian Gooseberry a true “Superfruit”.
And Don’t Forget The Christmas Jumpers!
Last but not least, make sure everyone celebrates Christmas the right way with some fabulous Christmas jumpers like the ones modelled by Libby, Anna, Bel and Tim from Outfit Kids at Dorothy Perkins. Looking fab, aren’t they?!
