Christmas Gifts for Kids, From the Advent Countdown to New Year's
By the Giftruly editorsUpdated 19 hand-picked ideas
For a child, Christmas isn't one morning. It starts the day the advent calendar goes up and doesn't really end until the last cousin goes home and school starts again. Adults tend to pour everything into the twenty minutes of unwrapping, and then wonder why the kids are bored by December 27th.
This guide follows the whole season instead. We start with small gifts that build the anticipation in December, then the big present for under the tree, then the games and kits that rescue the long, pajama-heavy week before New Year's. There's a section on the delicate business of Santa, some outdoor gear for snow days, and a couple of ornaments that come back every year.
Most of these suit kids from about five to ten. For under-threes, see gifts for toddlers; for small extras, our stocking stuffers for kids list has plenty. And if you're buying outside the holidays, start with our main gifts for kids guide.
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The countdown: gifts for the weeks before
Anticipation is half of Christmas for a child, and these gifts lean into it. Most need to arrive by late November to be useful, so they're a good reason to shop early. An advent calendar from an aunt or grandparent is a lovely way to be part of the family's December even from far away.
1.LEGO Advent Calendar ~$40
A small build behind every door, which adds up to a little winter scene by Christmas Eve. Several themes come out each year, so pick the one they're into.
2.Chocolate Advent Calendar ~$20
The classic: one square of chocolate a day, eaten before breakfast if the parents allow it. Cheap enough to send one to every cousin.
3.Christmas Picture Book Collection for Kids ~$22
A boxed set of holiday stories for reading aloud. Give it on December 1st so it's read all month, then packed away with the decorations.
4.Christmas Eve Box ~$20
An empty keepsake box to fill with new pajamas, a book and hot cocoa mix, opened on the 24th. Many families keep the box and refill it every year.
5.Gingerbread House Kit ~$25
Pre-baked walls, icing and candy for an afternoon of building, snacking and arguing about the roof. Kids under six will need an adult on icing duty.
The big one under the tree
Most families have one present that's the centerpiece of Christmas morning, and it's usually from the parents or Santa. If you're a grandparent or godparent hoping to give that gift, ask first. Otherwise, these are great for pooling with siblings or relatives.
The best big gifts are ones that are still in use by Valentine's Day. That usually means a hobby, not a gadget with one trick.
- Our favorite6
Telescope for Beginners
~$150
December is a surprisingly good month for this: it's dark by five, so a child can look at the moon's craters before dinner instead of staying up late. A beginner refractor is simple to point and doesn't need much setup. Best for kids around eight and up with a bit of patience, and a parent willing to stand outside with them on clear nights. Practice setting it up in daylight first.
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LEGO Harry Potter Hogwarts Castle and Grounds
~$130
A large castle set with towers, classrooms and minifigures, big enough to fill the days after Christmas with building. It's ideal for an eight- to twelve-year-old who has read the books or watched the films and can follow a long instruction booklet. Check the box's age rating against the child, and confirm they don't already own it; Harry Potter fans tend to collect.
- 8
Nintendo Switch Console
~$300
If the parents have decided it's time for a game console, this is the one families tend to share, because it plays on the TV or in hand and has plenty of games for younger kids. It's very much a parents' decision, so never give it as a surprise from outside the household. If it's already been agreed, a second controller and a family party game make it a whole-family gift.
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Adjustable Roller Skates for Kids
~$45
Quad skates that adjust across several shoe sizes, so they fit this year and next. Light-up wheels make them feel special, and they're a fine indoor-rink activity in winter even if the sidewalk is icy. Add knee and elbow pads and a helmet, because the first week involves a lot of falling down.
For the long week between Christmas and New Year's
School is out, the weather's gray, and the adults are tired. These gifts give kids something to do at the kitchen table, preferably with the whole family. They're also a gentle counterweight to new screens.
- 10~$20
Classic Clue Mystery Board Game
A whodunit that eight-year-olds can play on equal terms with adults. It's at its best with the grandparents around the table on December 26th.
True Crime FansBoard Game Fansfun - 11~$20
Exploding Kittens Card Game
A fast, silly card game with cats and catastrophe. Rounds are short, so it works for kids who can't sit still through a long board game.
Board Game Fansfun - 12~$25
Crystal Growing Experiment Kit
Crystals take a few days to grow, which suits a week with nothing scheduled. Kids check on them every morning, and the results sit on a shelf afterward.
Science NerdsArtists & Craftersfun - 13~$45
LEGO Creator 3-in-1 Set
One set of bricks, three different models. Once the first build is done, there are two more to try before school starts again.
LEGO Fansfun - 14~$25
Fuse Bead Craft Kit with Pegboards
Thousands of tiny beads arranged on pegboards and ironed into pixel art. Absorbing for ages six and up; keep the beads well away from toddlers.
Artists & Craftersfun
Santa, the parents and the gift that's from you
If the child believes in Santa, the family has a system, and outside gift-givers can accidentally break it. Before you buy anything big, ask the parents what Santa is bringing; you don't want your present to upstage his, or worse, duplicate it. Label your gift clearly with your own name, so there's no confusion about who to thank, and keep wrapping paper different from the family's "Santa paper" if they use one.
Families who don't do Santa have their own customs too: one big gift, a budget limit, a rule about no toys with screens. Ask once, early, and you'll save everyone an awkward moment. And shipping matters more in December than any other month. Personalized items and anything coming from far away should be ordered by the first week of the month; everyday items are safer before mid-December than in the final rush.
Out in the cold
A new outdoor toy is the best excuse to get everyone out of the house on a crisp afternoon. These depend a little on where you live, so think about what winter looks like for this child.
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Kids Snow Sled
~$30
In a snowy part of the country, a new sled on Christmas morning is used before lunch. A lightweight plastic or foam one is easy for a kid to drag back up the hill without help. In the South or on the West Coast, skip it; it'll just sit in the garage waiting for weather that never comes.
- 16
Remote Control Monster Truck
~$35
A rugged rechargeable truck that handles grass, gravel and a light dusting of snow. It's ideal for a car-mad kid who wants to be outside, and adults reliably take a turn. Charge the battery before wrapping so it's ready to drive out of the box. Better for ages six and up who can manage two sticks.
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Kids Binoculars for Nature Watching
~$25
Compact binoculars sized for small hands, with a neck strap. Winter is a good season for spotting birds at a feeder, since the trees are bare. Pair them with a simple bird guide for your region and a promise of a walk together over the holidays.
Ornaments they'll unpack every December
A small gift that grows in meaning. Twenty years from now, the ornament with their handprint will be the one they fight their siblings for.
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Salt Dough Handprint Ornament Kit
~$15
A kit for pressing a child's handprint into dough, then painting it and hanging it on the tree. It's a lovely project for the first weekend of December, and a sweet gift from a small child to grandparents. Do one every year and you have a record of how they've grown.
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Personalized Christmas Ornament
~$18
An ornament with the child's name and the year. Some families give one each Christmas, so that by the time a child grows up they have a box of their own to take to their first home. Order by early December, and choose something unbreakable for younger kids who'll want to hang it themselves.
Shop this guide by price
Under $25
$25–$50
Five ways to make it a better Christmas for them
Spread the gifts out. An advent calendar in December and a game for the 27th can mean as much as the main present.
Check with the parents about what Santa is bringing before you buy anything big.
Open the packaging and charge any batteries in advance. Twist ties and missing batteries have ruined many Christmas mornings.
Give something you can do together over the holidays: a board game, a project, a walk with new binoculars. Kids remember the time more than the box.
Short on ideas for a particular child? Our gift finder will suggest a few based on their age and interests.
Christmas questions, answered
What is the most popular Christmas gift for kids?
LEGO sets, building toys, video game consoles and art and science kits top most families' lists year after year. Advent calendars have also become a December staple. The best gift for a particular child still depends on their age and what they're into right now.
How many Christmas gifts should a child get?
That's up to each family, and many use a simple rule like "something you want, something you need, something to wear, something to read." If you're a relative, one thoughtful gift is plenty.
What can I give a child for Christmas that isn't a toy?
Books, an advent calendar, a Christmas Eve box with pajamas, a telescope or binoculars, a sled, or an outing together in the new year. A personalized ornament is also a keepsake they'll keep for decades.
When should I buy Christmas gifts for kids?
Advent calendars need to arrive before December 1st, and popular toys sell out in the weeks after Thanksgiving. Aim to have the main gifts bought by early December.