Top 5 Christmas gift ideas for kids age 5 and under

*Before reading this article, please know that I am not affiliated with any brand that I mention in this post. I am in no way sponsored to write this - these are simply my honest opinions on favourite products.*

I couldn't resist sharing this list: I literally headed off to the mall to do my Christmas shopping yesterday (I know it's late!!! I'm an Army wife ok, we do everything on the fly and call it adventure ;))

No matter how determined I am each year to purchase something new and unique for my kids for Christmas, there are a handful of toy brands that reel me in, like a black hole: their gravitational pull wins out and I come back to these brands over and over again. I’m not won over by their shiny packaging or prowess in the advertising department, but am head over heels for their educational and indestructible qualities. These are the brands we collect, adding a little at a time to our cherished stash each and every Christmas. They are tried and true and adored by all three of my kids (five, three and 15 months) and I thought I’d share them with you. I've found that of all the playthings in our home, these are the toys my kids gravitate to: they're great for imaginative play, they challenge coordination and I'm not constantly calling out "gentle hands!" from across the room because these toys are darn near indestructible. 

I'll divide them into four categories: sensory, wooden, plastic and books. These are my all time favourite gifts for kids five and under…

Sensory play

First up is Play-Doh, I seriously cannot highly enough speak to the wonders of this toy, it is an all time hit in my house (If you want to read more on my toddlers’ affinity for Play-Doh, check out my post on Entertaining toddlers in temporary accommodation as an army parent!). 

For those whose little ones are allergic to or intolerant of wheat, but don't want to miss out on the fun; you can still pick up any of the incredible modelling tools or playsets available in the branded range and create your own dough. 'Cloud dough' has been doing the rounds on social platforms, it has a texture remarkably similar to Play-Doh and couldn't be simpler to make. Simply combine hair conditioner/moisturiser/any creamy, moisture infused, baby-safe product with cornflour and mix thoroughly. Some recipes quote a 1:1 ratio of ingredients, I’ve heard from mum friends that it can be more like 2:1 (lotion to flour), so perhaps choose an affordable lotion or hair conditioner and be prepared to get your hands messy and experiment with this recipe until its texture is to your liking.

Now that the kids are a little older, we're starting to get into Kinetic Sand territory which has been brilliant fun also, I just don't find it to be as portable or easy to clean up as other sensory play things on the market. 

Wooden toys

Anko wooden roleplay sets are an in-house brand by Kmart and they never disappoint. We've been collecting these to use with our wooden play kitchen for the past three years and for the price-point - I am seriously impressed! These have withstood my kids chewing on them, climbing on them and using them as step stools or drum sets. They are seriously incredible value for money and so stinking cute too! There are complete role play kits available for as little as ten dollars, or, you can mix and match from kitchen items, food items and dress up items to create your own. My kids have hours of fun with these (as do I!) And they don't break the bank either (win-win!).

Plastic toys

If this is where it's at for you, you can't go past the Fisher Price ‘Little People’ range. We have a tradition in my family that each child gets gifted one large Little People play set for their first birthday and then of course we collect the figurines and vehicles on other special occasions, as well as those that loved ones have gifted my children over the years.

We've amassed quite a collection and I wouldn't have it any other way! I don't know what else to say about these other than that they stand the test of time in a big way! They're adorable, educational and suit the littlest ones, right up to five and six year olds. My nearly six year old loves to get into these with her little siblings, but I have to admit, it's the three and one year old who will entertain themselves independently with these for a couple of hours while I attend to some household jobs. I can definitely see us hanging onto these for the grand kids - they're such a cherished part of our playroom. 

Duplo/Lego are also must-haves under my family's Christmas tree! We have an ever-growing collection of both and love love love the creativity they inspire!. Many a family night in my home has been spent building duplo creations together and there's so many sets for us to explore yet! To attest to their longevity: nestled within my children's duplo collection are a mummy duplo figure, along with her baby and pram (the favourite pieces in our collection) … these three items are well over thirty years old, passed down from grandparents after they were well used by aunts and uncles growing up and they're still going strong! 

Books

I couldn't round out this list without mentioning our favourite book series also: the 'That's not my…' books, written and illustrated by Fiona Watt and Rachel Wells. These are incredible for little ones of all ages, reader or non-reader. With approximately 73 in the collection, there’s a favourite title to be cherished whether your little one is into vehicles, animals, dolls or magical creatures. Not a Christmas passes without us adding a few new ones to our collection. 

These have been the top five items I come back to over and over again when it comes to gift giving for my children - what are your go-to gifts for your little ones? 

If you enjoyed this list and you’re a fellow Army spouse or have a loved one who’s recently joined the Army, why not check out my basic training themed: Christmas gift guide for the soldier in your life! 

Hope these gift ideas give you a little inspo if you’re scrambling for a last minute gift, or a little enjoyment if you’re just curious as to what items are on others’ lists!

Jessi xo