Christmas Gifts for Kids Under £20, £30 and £50
Setting a budget is the easy part. Finding something at £20, £30 or £50 that a child will still be playing with in February is harder. We have grouped our favourite in-stock Christmas gifts by price, with the age each one suits, so you can shop for your own children, nieces, nephews and godchildren in one go.
Quick picks
Under £20, for a babyJo & Nic's Crinkle Cloth Book£14.99
Under £20, ages 3+Lottie Doll: Ballet Class£19.99
Under £30, family gameAnimal Shut the Box£22.99
Under £30, science kitFizzy Bubble Colour Lab£22.99
Under £50, for a toddlerJungle Busy Board£49.99
Under £50, first cameraHoppstar Popcorn Camera£39.95
How to choose a good gift on a budget
- Check the age on the box. The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA) notes that children under three are the most vulnerable, especially to choking, and that many toy accidents happen when babies play with toys meant for older children. Mini figures and small pieces are for ages 3+.
- Look for the CE or UKCA mark. RoSPA's toy safety guide explains that the mark is the maker's claim that the toy meets the safety rules.
- Watch out for button batteries. The Child Accident Prevention Trust warns that a swallowed button battery can badly hurt or even kill a small child, and suggests checking for loose battery backs.
- Pick something open-ended. A doll, a puzzle or a set of figures gets played with in lots of different ways, so it lasts longer than a toy that only does one thing.
Christmas gifts for kids under £20
Small, easy to wrap and with something for every age, from a baby's first crinkle book to a soapy science kit for an 8-year-old. Every one of these also makes a good stocking filler.
Jo & Nic's Crinkle Cloth Newspaper (Busy Road)
£14.99
A soft "newspaper" with six super crinkly pages of transport pictures. Machine washable and light enough for the changing bag. From 3 months.
Bigjigs Darcie Rag Doll (Small)
£15.99
A small, soft rag doll with removable clothes, just 28cm tall, so she fits in a stocking and goes everywhere. Suitable from birth.
Tidlo Touch and Feel Wooden Farm Puzzle
£15.99
Four chunky wooden farm animal pieces with soft textures to feel underneath. A lovely first puzzle. From 12 months.
CollectA Mini Dinosaurs Box (10 Figures)
£14.99
Ten hand-painted mini dinosaurs in a clear box they can carry around. Small enough to tuck into a stocking for a child who loves dinosaurs. Ages 3+.
£19.99
An 18cm doll shaped like a real child, in her tutu and ballet shoes, in a gift box with a handle. Ages 3+.
Tiger Tribe Claytopia Dinosaur World
£19.99
Ten colours of air dry clay, a sculpting tool and pop-out scenes for making a T-rex, a Triceratops and their world. Ages 4 to 8.
Tiger Tribe Bubble-ology Soapy Science Kit
£16.99
Three bubble recipes, make-your-own wands and a 50-page guide book. Adult supervision recommended. A good pick for an 8-year-old who loves mixing and experimenting. Ages 8+.
£16.99
Everything they need to make their first proper comic: a step-by-step drawing guide, pens, pencils, stickers and 16 blank comic pages. A lovely next step for a child who is always doodling. Ages 7 to 12.
More stocking filler ideas: stocking fillers for babies and toddlers, toys under £10 or all gifts under £20.
Christmas gifts for kids under £30
This is the sweet spot for a present from an aunt, uncle or godparent: big enough to feel special, without competing with the main present.
Little Dutch Cuddle Doll: Rosa (35cm)
£24.95
The classic Little Dutch doll, with hair buns, a floral skirt and pompom boots. Soft, light and machine washable at 30°C. From 12 months.
Bigjigs Animal Shut the Box Game
£22.99
A classic game with an animal twist: spin the dial and flip down the matching animal. Simple enough for preschoolers, good for turn-taking and counting, and fun on Boxing Day. Ages 3+.
Bigjigs Wooden Pretend Play Microscope
£26.99
Three lenses and ten wooden slides of bugs and plants, for little scientists who want to be just like the grown-ups. Ages 3+.
£28.99
Mould clay and paint wood to make tree decorations, build crackers and decorate gift tags, all packed in a mini suitcase. It gets used before the big day as well as after. Ages 4+.
4M KidzLabs Fizzy Bubble Colour Lab
£22.99
Fizzing, colour-changing experiments with test tubes and a proper lab feel. Ages 8+.
£23.99
Grow crystals in different colours and compare the results. They take around 4 to 7 days to grow, so there is something to check every morning. Ages 10+.
Christmas gifts for kids under £50
For the main present, or a joint gift from grandparents. There are more ideas in our gifts under £40 and big gifts collections.
Little Dutch Jackie Dog in a Bag
£34.95
A plush puppy in a floral carry bag she can peek out of, with a soft bone to play with. Lovely nurturing play. From 12 months.
£49.99
Packed with buttons, dials, wheels and cogs to push, spin and twist, for fine motor skills and cause and effect. Made from FSC certified wood. From 12 months.
£34.99
48 chunky wooden pieces: a stable, windmill, veg patch, pond, animals and movable fencing, so they can set up and rearrange their own farm scenes. Ages 3+.
Hoppstar Popcorn Digital Camera (Breeze)
£39.95
A pocket-sized first camera at around 40g, with big buttons, a selfie camera and a 16GB card included. Ages 3+. Not sure which one? Read our Hoppstar cameras compared.
£49.99
An all-in-one art station with a whiteboard, a blackboard, a paper roll and four paint pots. Ages 3+.
£49.99
More than ten motor-powered builds, from a walking robot to a speed racer. Good for a curious 5 to 10-year-old who likes to see how things work. Ages 5+.
Gift ideas by age at a glance
- Babies (0 to 12 months): the crinkle book or the Darcie rag doll under £20.
- 1 to 2 years: the touch and feel puzzle, the Little Dutch Rosa doll, Jackie the dog or the busy board. More in our gifts for 1-year-olds and gifts for 2-year-olds guides.
- 3 to 5 years: mini dinosaurs, a Lottie doll, the microscope, the shut the box game, the play farm, the easel or a first camera. More in our gifts for 3-year-olds guide.
- 5 to 8 years: the clay kit, the Christmas decorations kit or the Mega Motor kit.
- 8 and up: the bubble science kit, the colour lab or the crystal growing kit. For more kits by age, see STEM gifts by age.
What is the 5 gift rule for Christmas?
It is a simple way to keep presents from getting out of hand: something they want, something they need, something to wear, something to read and something to do. The price bands above fit it nicely. A kit or a game covers "something to do", a crinkle book covers "something to read" for a baby, and our stocking fillers are perfect for topping up the rest.
Still not sure? Let them choose with an Arlo's Place gift card, from £10. UK delivery is free on orders over £65.
