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When it comes to Christmas shopping for children it can be a challenge to know which toys will appeal to them, actually be used and create lots of fun memories. This is why Fundamentally Children have created The Christmas Good Toy Guide 2018 Edition, which is filled with gifts for all ages and interests. Fundamentally Children is the home of The Good Toy Guide; a place where an independent team try and test a range of toys, so that they can share how long-lasting, age-appropriate, good for learning and development and, most importantly, fun they are! This year they have put together a guide just for Christmas, with the aim of making our shopping experience that bit easier. Parents and children can browse The Christmas Good Toy Guide 2018 here; let the wish list writing commence.
All of the toys that are tested by a team of adults and children are rated based on their level of fun, skills development and ease of use. Each score is out of five allowing you to quickly see which toys are worth the money. In The Christmas Good Toy Guide you'll also find a range of money saving tips, how to achieve a balanced Play Diet, reducing waste this Christmas, a wish list template, road trip boredom-busters and the top five apps of 2018. A simple trick that really stands out within the guide is the way to approach present buying for children. It is based around these four areas for gifts:
- Something they want
- Something they need
- Something to wear
- Something to read
It's such a clever idea and the perfect way to keep spending down, yet still fulfilling children's wish lists. To find out more about it head over to the guide online.
The Christmas Good Toy Guide starts with gifts for 0 to 2 years, including Lamaze Spin & Explore Garden Gym, Baby's Very First Book - Faces, Bubabloon, Indigo Jamm Wooden Heart Pram, Muro Cube, Brio Farm Play Set and Mini Micro 3in1. All of the toys come with a short description, price tag based on 'under £20', 'under £50' or 'over £50' and the ratings of fun, skills development and ease of use.
The toys for 3 to 5 years include one of our personal favourites, the Little Brian Paint Sticks - 24 Pack; I can't recommend them enough. Mess-free painting, so versatile and they have five out of five on fun and ease of use within the guide. This section also includes Sands Alive Castle Set, Orchard Toys Giant Road Jigsaw, Plan Toy Crane Set, Le Toy Van Card Machine, Fiesta Crafts ABC Bus, Toomies Foam Cone Factory and Mini Micro Scooter.
On to toys for 6 to 8 years, which is an exciting glimpse into the future for our family and includes many brands I remember from my childhood! Some of my favourites from this section are Playmobil Children's Playground, Gearphun Starter 200 Set, Numbalee, Learning Resources Playfoam and Smart Games Penguins on Ice.
The final section of the guide is toys for 9 years and up, which has lots of games including: Crazy Aaron's Mixed by Me Thinking Putty Kit, Wordstacker, Beasts of Balance, Twiddle, Hot Wheels Drx Monster X-Terrain Drone and Osmo. As you can see, something for all ages so don't forget to check out The Christmas Good Toy Guide 2018 before Christmas shopping this year.
Do you have many children to buy for this year?
Feel free to leave a comment - I love reading every single one :)
Helen x
Such a great option - it can be hard when so many children already have so much anyway - choosing toys and gifts can be difficult. I like how they have organised it into categories.
ReplyDeleteI've already finished my Christmas shopping for this year, but I might have to keep this in mind for next year.
ReplyDeleteI love that mantra. I saw it last year. There is so much waste in the world and so many toys that children get. I think they appreciate toys more when they aren't bombarded with loads
ReplyDeleteI miss the days of sitting with the Argos book and circling our wants for Christmas and not necessararily our needs. Love your tips
ReplyDeleteWe sometimes look through the Smyths catalogue to get toy inspiration although now most often mine already know what they want. They love slime, totally obsessed with the stuff!!!!
ReplyDeleteI love this - I am pretty much sorted for Pickle - Lego features heavily but it really fires his imagination. Kaz
ReplyDeleteI have my two boys and three nieces to buy for. We tend to keep it small and simple at Christmas though, as three of the kids have their birthdays in November and one in early December, so we tend to give bigger presents for their birthdays instead. My boys get so many presents from grandparents, aunts and uncles, I usually just end up getting them books (which they ALWAYS get) and a couple stocking fillers.
ReplyDeleteThere's so much choice out there, it's great to have some help narrowing things down a bit!
ReplyDeleteThis is a really great guide so thoughtfully curated and a great range of thoughtful gifts too.
ReplyDeleteNice to get some focus, as so many different gifts to pick for kids, a guide to whirl though is the best idea xx
ReplyDeletethese categories are a really excellent idea to focus as there is so much choice - and it's good that the toys have been tested by parents and children.
ReplyDeleteI love the idea of breaking down their list into 4 seperate ideas and this guide really does make it easier. The mess free paints would be a win in our household as my daughter loves arts and crafts but I'm not a fan of the amount of washing afterwards
ReplyDeleteI'm going to have to get this guide as I really need help with the children this year. I've absolutely no idea what to get them. I love the idea of the 'something to...' I think I might have to start that this year as mine get far too much and I really need to cut back.
ReplyDeleteohh i wish your guide came out before i started shopping , my daughter this year have asked for art supplies so i got that covered
ReplyDeleteI think this the 4 somethings is a great approach. Kids don't need huge piles of tat to have a lovely Christmas!
ReplyDeleteThis sounds like a great idea. I find it impossible to get an idea on what to buy our son so often guess. Having a book like this would be a big help. Kinda like the Argos catalogue when I was younger only better!
ReplyDeleteLove this - we started doing the something to wear, watch, eat, play with, read etc this year and it has made SUCH a difference. Our kids are already so lucky and have everything - so this way, it's things they'll actually use and enjoy.
ReplyDeleteSomething you want, something you need, something to wear and something to read is what my mother used to do. I plan on doing it with my kids when they’re old enough x x
ReplyDeleteChristmas shopping is tricky for children, they already have what they want most of the time and sometimes what you buy them just ends up shoved in the back of the cupboard three or four days later. I love the something they want, something they need etc premis - I’ll do that for my kids this year.
ReplyDelete