If you’re an Aunt or Uncle looking for something a bit more creative than a board game or book for your niece or nephew, and want something that will actually get them off their screens for 5 seconds, I’ve got the guide for you. I have a 13, 12, and 8-year-old, the older two are like ghosts that live in the house and we only see them when they’re hungry or they want something. The 8-year-old has to be pried away from YouTube and the Playstation, but he at least does bounce around in the garden and he likes to create forts, mazes, and crazy stunts for his toys to do.
So, aside from a truckload of sweets and screens, what can we give them that will not only prise them away from the screens but also be something that will actually give us some cool points? The first thing you need to do is go and bookmark the Wicked Uncle site. It’s my go-to for present shopping. I like the way you can shop by age group, and they always have interesting options that trawling around the shops just doesn’t have, and you can get everything in one go. Here are my top picks, tried and tested by us:
Jellyfish tank mood light
Originally I had thought of this for William, my 13-year-old, because he is into gaming like a lot of teenagers, and his room is always dark with coloured lights from various sources. He has a light strip going around his room across the top of the walls, then the computer fan has coloured lights, the keyboard lights up and he has a couple of plug-in lights. Then I thought of Phoebe, who is 12, she doesn’t have another light source other than her desk lamp, and she loves it. She loves watching the jellyfish dance and she says they are her pets. She has named them Felicia and Patricia. I find them quite mesmerizing too. So if your kids are bugging you for fish as pets, try this cheaper and safer option first, it’s amazingly lifelike, and relaxing to watch.
Sticky balls
Well, um, yes, they are what they say they are, sticky balls! Daniel (8) has been asking for those sticky hands for a while so I took the opportunity to get him the next best thing. I was initially a bit worried about them leaving a sticky residue on the glass or on the walls, but they don’t. We had great fun throwing them and watching them roll down slowly. We made them race, chose colours to have as ours, and then we had team races. We discovered how they acted on different surfaces, so really it’s a bit of a science lesson. We also found out how long it takes for them to drop down from the ceiling!
Unicorn Bath Bomb set
If you have a mini unicorn fan in your house of any age, this unicorn sparkle luxury bath set is a really nice present. It comes ready wrapped so you don’t even have to do the wrapping. They smell divine and I am bagsying the big bath bomb with the golden horn, I don’t think there’s an age limit on enjoying unicorns is there? Under the wrapping is a pink cardboard box with shredded paper inside and the bath bombs and soap nestled in. They will want a mini spa day immediately. Best of all, they are all handmade, vegan, and not tested on animals.
Which is your favourite? When I buy for my nieces and nephews, I often buy things I wouldn’t always buy for my children, perhaps because I think they are too messy, have too many pieces, or involve too much playing with (I’m not a fan of playing with them for extended periods), but for my nieces and nephews I just think what would they really like and enjoy. I have 11 nieces and nephews in total, and Christmas gets expensive. If you’re shopping on a budget, Wicked Uncle has lots of gifts for under £10, so there is lots of choices.
Disclosure: collaborative post
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