Toys, Tech, and Treats for Festive Wish Lists

November 28, 2025 Paul Wojnicki 0 Comments LEGO, presents, toys, Xiaomi

Ever noticed that finding that perfect present can feel like searching for a needle in a haystack of tinsel? Fear not! In this curated Christmas gift guide, Paul Wojnicki rounds up inspiration for every wish list—from gaming gadgets to innovative toys for creative souls, with a couple of timeless classics thrown in for good measure. Let the gifting season begin!

Pop It, Twist It, 3Doodler It

3D printing is great fun for older children, giving them the chance to learn about coding and see how manufacturing works, but actually using your hands to create objects is much more satisfying for smaller children. The 3Doodler pen uses the same basic technology as a 3D printer, but without all the need for coding or a computer. It’s direct, hands-on, fun, and there’s no limit to what they can create. The eco-friendly filament is warmed inside the pen and comes out ready to let their imagination run riot. The 3Doodler is designed to have no hot external pieces, with a mess-free tip and filament that’s safe to touch.

3Doodler Start+ 3D Printing Pen Essentials Set available in Smyths, John Lewis and The Range for £39.99

Marble Mayhem with GraviTrax

Germans know a thing or two about construction, which might be why Ravensburger’s GraviTrax marble runs have ruled the roost in the market for years now. Built on interlocking baseplates, these sets combine tracks, curves, loops, and magnetic elements to create endless gravity-fuelled paths. What sets GraviTrax apart from lesser marble runs is the engineering depth; magnets propel marbles uphill, while kinetic converters add thrilling boosts, teaching concepts like momentum and energy transfer without feeling like homework. These sets are more than just a fun toy; they’re a gateway to problem-solving too. Highly recommended for curious minds.

Starter sets are available for £39.95 on Amazon

Pad Up the Fun with Xiaomi Redmi Pad 2

Tablet computers can be powerful tools for children’s learning and development when used responsibly and in moderation. Interactive and educational apps, games, and videos help children build essential skills in areas like maths, reading, and problem-solving. Their portability also makes them valuable for learning on the go, turning travel or waiting times into productive, educational moments. The Xiaomi Redmi Pad 2 is possibly the best value budget tablet on the market, with a sleek metal unibody design that looks and feels more expensive than it is. The 11-inch screen has a 2.5K display and a 90Hz refresh rate, which makes it perfect for little gamers or watching the latest animated movies. There’s also a compatible smart pen that turns it into an e-ink tablet with palm rejection, so it’s also great for budding artists. Best of all – because kids never remember to charge anything – is the massive battery life. It’s the perfect, affordable option for streaming, browsing, doodling and casual use.

Available on Amazon for £165

Brace Yourself for Loopdedoo

This Loopdedoo Friendship Bracelet Maker is an award-winning spinning loom kit that transforms the traditional art of knotting threads into a quick, fun activity for kids of all ages. Even dads can join in the fun, because the days of finger-tangling frustration will be a thing of the past with this in your little one’s armoury. Users simply select their embroidery colours, thread them through the adjustable loom, and crank the handle to weave patterns in seconds. The result? Customisable bracelets, headbands, anklets, and zipper pulls galore. The only limit is their imagination…oh, and the amount of thread. The kit does include over 30 feet of colourful threads though, as well as the portable loom with built-in storage. It’s perfect for sleepovers, solo crafting sessions, and making gifts; all while fostering creativity and developing fine motor skills.

Available from Amazon for £20.99

Huggable Friends from Squishmallows

Forget those scary-looking Labubu toys, which will most likely be long forgotten by next year anyway. Squishmallow plushies have been the go-to ultra-soft plush toys since 2017, thanks to their blend of charming stuffed characters and pillow-like comfort. Crafted from stretchy, huggable fabric, they feature adorable characters like animals, foods, and fantasy creatures in sizes from key-chain minis to 24-inch giants. Our daughter fell in love with them when they surged in popularity during the pandemic and still sleeps with them now.

Prices vary by size, but 12-inch versions are available from Argos for just £7

An Evergreen LEGO Christmas Tree

We say it every year, but there’s no more evergreen gift than Lego. We’ve built countless Lego sets in our house, from Star Wars characters to Harry Potter and from sprawling cities to intricate flowers. Our ten-year-old daughter particularly enjoys building the Botanical range that is designed for adults. I can’t say what we’ve got for her this year, in case she reads this before Christmas, but I would recommend this Lego Christmas Tree as the perfect gift, or even to open on the first of December, and start building in anticipation of the big day.

Available in Smyths for £36.99

Head Paw Patrol Tennis Rackets Serve Up Aces

Tennis rackets aren’t just toys; they’re a passport to physical fitness, improving coordination and turning holiday downtime into laughter-filled tournaments. But it helps if they’re cute as well, right? Luckily, leading tennis brand, Head, has designed these adorable Paw Patrol rackets, which come in two sizes, for kids aged 4-6 (21 inch) and 6-8 (23 inch). Lightweight and easy to handle, these are perfect for little beginners and are balanced in a way that puts most of the weight at the handle, giving better control and manoeuvrability for younger players. The Paw Patrol rackets also have a special 16/19 string pattern, which allows the strings to move more freely and generate more power when hitting the ball. So don’t be surprised if they smash a few aces past you once they get the “swing” of things.

Available on Amazon for £23.99

Keep Control with the Razer Kishi

Unless you’re a hard-core gamer, there’s no need whatsoever to spend hundreds of pounds on a console when you can simply pay for a Game Pass subscription and use cloud gaming to play hundreds of high-quality games on any PC, iPhone or Android device. True, gaming on a phone can feel a little fiddly, but the Razer Kishi mobile gaming controller brings console-level control to your mobile device at a fraction of the cost of a console. Playing Minecraft or Hogwarts Legacy on the Kishi feels great, but it’s not restricted to Game Pass games; users can enjoy many of their favourite iPhone and Android games using the Razer Kishi too. Pair it with the powerful, yet affordable POCO F7 Pro that we reviewed earlier in the year, and you’ve got yourself the ultimate mobile console.