Children's Gifts

Science Museum Store

Website: www.sciencemuseumstore.com

Trying to find inventive and original gifts for people can be tricky - in fact many people call it an art. It can get worse when buying for kids.

Should you go for something fun? Something interactive? Something educational? The Science Museum Shop could solve all your problems, as it sells nothing but these items.

School holidays are usually great fun for kids, with all that time off they can play away to their hearts content outside in the sunshine, and if the weather is wet, why not get them indoors getting crafty and creative?

£4.99 at Purple Puffin

If you are struggling with a present for your little brother, nephew or grandson, I have spied this cute and very collectable money box, which is in the shape of a cartoon style VW Beetle.

It’s a bargain at under a fiver so it won’t burn a hole in your pocket.

Hawkins Bazaar

Website: www.hawkin.com

Remember the good old days? Of school days and playgrounds, when the 6 weeks holidays would seem to last forever? Well the Hawkin’s Bazaar online shop takes me right back to those days. They have all the little nick-nacks we used to play with, things I thought didn’t exist anymore!

It’s a great site to browse in your lunch hour but beware, you could get lost in the vastness of gift ideas it holds.

£12.45 at The Poetry Studio

After raving about My Silver Balloon Volume 1, I have since discovered that the 2nd edition is now available. This personalised CD has a new collection of 8 happy childrens songs to keep the little monsters dancing and singing to their hearts content.

£12.45 at The Poetry Studio

With my little nephews 1st birthday approaching, I have found him a perfect little present that is guaranteed to provide him with hours of entertainment (although I am sure it’s bound to drive mum and dad potty after the 30th play!)

The Silver Balloon CD is a personalised album filled with lovely songs written especially for children and designed to be fun and educational. The best thing about them is that they have over two thousand pre-recorded names so the songs can include the name of my nephew.

£14.99 at Amazon

Underground Ernie is the latest cartoon to hit the TV screens and wow the young generation. This Underground Ernie Train, Track and Tunnel set will prove to be very popular with all fans of this hit TV show.

£19.47 at Amazon

I would have loved to have had a toy like this whilst growing up! It would have provided hours of entertainment for my creative yet slightly clumsy hands. It certainly would have kept me out of the kitchen and getting in mums way.

The latest creative toy is the Teddy Bear factory, which keeps hands busy creating a teddy and not a mess in your kitchen!

£20.24 at Woolworths

Most little boys love being creative, making a mess and having fun. Team that up with their favourite character Thomas the Tank Engine and you have a winner of a present.

The Aquadraw Mat is a parents best friend. Kids can play with water whilst drawing their very own pictures to create their own Thomas & Friends story.

£24.99 at Hamleys

The Aquadraw is probably the best invention for parents since sliced bread.

Finally a creative game that’ll keep pre-schoolers occupied for hours but without creating a messy blob on your dining room floor.

Last year we had the Aquadraw for the boys with Thomas the Tank Engine and friends, this year it’s all about the girls, with the Cinderella Aquadraw.

£22.45 inc. delivery at BlahDVD

Disney came up with another wonderful animation film this year, Ratatouille which is sure to become another classic. The story is set in Paris and follows the lives of Remy the rat and the human Linguini.

Note: Out comes lots of merchandise tied in with the film just in time for Christmas time so kids can pester their parents. However, this board game could prove to be fun for all the family to enjoy.

£12.74 at Amazon

I had never heard of Fifi until I saw the children’s programme Fifi and the Flowertots. Fifi is a Forget-Me-Not flower who lives in a beautifully decorated watering can called Forget-Me-Not Cottage.

As always with popular kids programmes lots of merchandise comes out in the shops, but this bedtime Lullaby Fifi doll is one of the Dream Christmas Toys of 2007 for pre-schoolers.

£9.99 at Woolworths

In The Night Garden is CBeebies latest tele adventure for pre-school girls and boys (although it is quite fun for adults to watch too).

The Ninky Nonk Train is one of those weird objects that takes on a personality of its own.

£14.99 at Hawkin's Bazaar

Become Willy Wonka with your very own chocolate machine. Brilliant toy for christmas or for birthdays close to christmas, as you can make choccie coins for the christmas tree or make your very own xmas pressies for family and friends.

This creative toy is aimed at kids over 6 but will need some adult supervision.

A few years ago I remember getting addicted to those dance mats. Remember the ones you connected to your games console where you had to dance the steps being shown on the screen and hope to beat your previous score or your brothers score?

Then the idea came out as a guitar version - will it be just as addictive?