*Advertorial Feature* 

Joshua is now 9 and I know that sometimes boys of this age can be a little troublesome to buy for as they are what I think of a pre-teens, not quite teens and not quite child.

So in order to help you out this festive period I have selected a range of toys and gifts in varying budget that could be ideal for you to pop on your shopping list.

Playmobil Knights of Novelmore Castle Fortress £79.99

Playmobil has always been a great choice for my kids and this utterly stunning castle is no exception. With easy to put together pieces that your 8 year + child can help with too

The Novelmore Knights are ready for defence. The Playmobil Knights Novelmore Fortress features a door at the back which can be opened, as well as a catapult and a working projectile at the top of the fortress. There are secret passages inside as well as fold-out stairs and 3 places to launch rocks from. The playset comes complete with 4 Playmobil figures, 1 horse, 1 wolf and many accessories ready for hours of play.

 

Sketchy Board Game £20

My kids are massive boardgames fans and Sketchy is going to be epic this Christmas and beyond.

Sketchy is all about drawing quick, simple pictures so your team-mates can guess what they are. One player – the Sketcher – grabs the Sketchyscreen and slots in a card. The Gussers get a huge hint about the topic. The Sketcher has 30 seconds to sketch 6 simple pictures that explain the subjects on the card for the others to guess. As the Sketcher draws on the back of the machine, the picture appears on the other side for their team-mates to see and solve.

Madd Gear MGP Pro Series Gameplay Skateboard £29.99

Anything that gets the kids out and about is a bonus in my book and so this festive period why not look at getting the kids some fun and fresh air with a skateboard?

We were recently sent this Madd Gear MGP Pro Series Gameplay Skateboard to give away on Instagram (you can find the competition HERE) and I know so many other parents are looking for outside toys and gifts this year in light of the current COVID restrictions. Outside fun is always going to be a winner.

If your kids are not skateboard fans Skates.co.uk do have a range of other offerings from scooters to skates and even mini BMX bikes!

HEXBUG Nano Flash Playground Set £24.99

HEXBUG’s are super fun and something both my boys love and will spend hours playing on their own with them and together. The HEXBUG Nano Flash playground is going to be a big hit in this house.

Let your nano Flash loose in this fun playset with lots of colour features to play with. Inside the robotic toy playset, kids can build fun playgrounds for the newly designed flash nano and 2 regular nanos using colourful jelly walls, tracks and unique obstacles like the 2 merry-go-rounds. Watch as the flash nanos scurry across their all new environment.

Scalextric Hire

If you want to delight an 8-year-old boy, whilst at the same time giving them a throwback to a toy that you loved when you were young, hiring Scalextric is one of the best ways of doing this. There are a lot of things that you need to consider when choosing the right gift, and one of the best ways of being able to boost your child’s imagination. Something like miniracing is one of the best ways of being able to achieve this, and represents one of the best gift ideas for buoys over the age of 8.

When you are looking to find the ideal elements that are going to help you choose the perfect gifts, there are so many options to consider, but this might well represent something a little different, and exciting.

Wicked Mega Bounce Balls £20

My whole family love playing ball games but the boys tend to get stuck just playing football which is ok but I like to give them a shake up and when I discovered Wicked Mega Balls  I was thrilled. These super giant balls come in different sizes and can be used on lots of different terrains.

The Mega Bounce XL ball has a whopping 2.51 METRE circumference, you’ll be AMAZED at its size. Mega Bounce boasts Wicked bouncability on almost any terrain – even grass and sand! Despite being larger than life, Mega Bounce XL is still incredibly easy to throw and catch thanks to its super grip graphics. This extremely durable MEGA ball is perfect for the beach, park or playground and comes with a handy foot pump.

Brainstorm Microscope £29.99

See the world in close-up with this illuminated Brainstorm Microscope. View the prepared slides magnified up 450 times! There is a detailed booklet that explains how you can prepare your own slides, just like in a laboratory. Perfect for the young scientist.

Brainstorm Toys is a range of fun, educational and interactive STEM toys that brings together a host of fascinating items. STEM toys incorporate science, technology, engineering and maths and encourage children to explore and develop a passion for these subjects. The aim of Brainstorm Toys branded products is to entertain children but also to inspire them to learn more about their environment

I love this slightly unusual drawing implement! The Glow Art Neon Effect Drawing Board is super cool. it illuminates your illustrations and the picture will transform and change with the help of the 36 different light effects.

If drawing is not your forte then don’t worry this super clear screen will allow you to trace an image instead.

I think this would be a hit with any budding artists this coming festive season giving a new and funky take on art is certainly fun!

StikBot Zanimation Studio £14.99

We discovered StikBot Zanimation last year with the boys and they have been played with regularly since then.

StikBots are a unique, poseable and collectable figurine! At a basic level they are a fidget toy that is perfect for imaginative play. Their unique design allows for easy positioning on any flat surface thanks to their suction-cup hands and feet. StikBots can be posed in countless ways – their limbs, torso, and even neck can be positioned at multiple different angles! This makes StikBot perfect for making your own stop-frame animation movies using the StikBot Animation App which is free to download for iPhone and Android operating systems.

Top Outright Games For Consoles – £ various

This year games feature heavily for Joshua and his Nintendo Switch. Some of the top pick games for him come from Outright Games. On his wish list this year is the newly launched Zoids Wild: Blast Unleashed.

Unleash the power and animal instinct of Zoids, in spectacular head-to-head battles! Your strength in combat will decide who is victorious between Arashi’s Team Freedom and the power-hungry Dark Metal Empire, in a new single-player story. With stunning graphics faithful to the anime, and a simple 3D combat system that lets you chain combos instinctively, Zoids Wild: Blast Unleashed takes mecha combat to the next level!

Another great choice on Joshua’s list is Transformers: Battleground.

As evil MEGATRON closes in on the Allspark, BUMBLEBEE and the Autobots need a new commander to help save Earth – you! Assemble your squad and roll out for a battle that will rage from Central City to Cybertron… and even to the local multiplayer arcade

Build Your Own Telescope – RRP £19.99

This STEM-inspired telescope is bound to be a hitIt’s great fun to build and will provide hours of entertainment.

This innovative build your own telescope is the perfect way to encourage children to get outside during the day to explore wildlife and develop their passion for nature, birds and plants. And once darkness falls, the extending focus lens and specialist 16x magnification will help them explore craters on the moon.

Constructed using slot-together techniques, there’s no glue, no mess, no fuss. Everything you need is provided in the kit.