The must-have toys for children this Christmas, according to the experts

No, this isn’t 2004, Tamagotchis are back (we hope they never disappear again), and the retro handheld game will make a fantastic gift for any child aged six and up.

Tamagotchi parents will have to look after and nurture their digital pet from birth, picking out a name for them, feeding them, and playing with them as they grow. Each Tamagotchi includes six mini games that let you earn Gotchi points to then spend on extra items in the shop, such as a cheesecake for your pet. An essential, we think you’ll agree.

With the Connection feature, you can connect wirelessly with your friends’ pets and even send them on virtual play dates. In fact, your characters can even exchange gifts and get married!

We may have to add an extra one into our shopping basket for our inner child…

You’re invited! It’s time to celebrate with Bluey and her friends at Bluey’s own Celebration Home.

This set comes with 11 play pieces, including two beds, toilet, shower, a dining table with two chairs, a fridge and an oven with you own Duck Cake. And, of course, Bluey is in attendance with her party hat.

Children can add their own creative finishing touches to the party as well by decorating the house using the sticker sheet included.

Approved by the head buyer at Hamleys as one of the best toys for Christmas this year, this fun, interactive Stitch giggles away when you shake him. The plush toy wiggles around, too, so if you put him down while he’s still laughing, he’ll shake and shimmy away.

The laughter is certainly infectious, so it’s sure to keep kids entertained while they recreate adventures with this mischievous little sidekick.

With the live action remake scheduled for 2026, this singing Moana doll is right on trend. She wears the same outfit as the animated Moana and if you press her necklace, she’ll sing a 30-second clip from the film’s signature song, How Far I’ll Go.

The doll is one of a series from Mattel, which also includes Elsa, Anna and Rapunzel – any of which would make a great gift for Disney-lovers. Why not start off their collection this Christmas?

These collectibles work perfectly as little stocking fillers for children.

Simply add water to the test tube, give it a shake and watch as the Swarms appear with a fizz. Each tube contains a one-inch MrBeast Swarms character and there are more than 100 different characters to collect, including the ultra rare Hyperchrome Panther (only 1,000 exist!).

We remember these from our own childhood, and the woodland creatures, with their endless school houses, homes and forms of transport, continue to prove popular with kids today. This year, you can build on their collection or spark a new one with the Secret Forest Falls set.

Featuring Linnea the Husky baby, the Secret Forest set is the perfect place for little ones to search for treasure. Linnea has all the accessories needed: a lantern to see inside the castle, a fishing rod and life jacket for when she sets sail across the water, and an explorer’s hat for her journey.

Entertaining kids at Christmas can be difficult (there’s just too much excitement going on), and it can get even trickier when it comes to keeping them at the dinner table. Enter these clever placemats, which come with 10 wash-out markers to keep them busy while the adults tuck into all the trimmings – ideal for encouraging creativity and quiet play.

There are a variety of designs to choose from including Cars and Trucks, Fairy Tale, Dinosaurs, World Map and Space, and each placemat can be popped in the washing machine once they’re finished with their masterpiece.

This mini Scalextric set is perfect for the younger speedster. There’s over 3.5-metres of track with nine possible layouts to create endless fun. There’s also a ramp and a booby trap feature that flings the losing car off the track!

It’s easy to assemble and comes with one Aston Martin DB5 model and one Aston Martin V8 model so you can recreate classic car chases from the 007 series. A fantastic set for young car enthusiasts and James Bond fans.

Barbie Fashionistas are all about celebrating diversity and this Barbie was created in partnership with the American Foundation for the Blind to represent those who are blind or have low vision.

This inclusive Barbie wears a stylish satiny pink blouse and a sparkly, ruffled skirt, paired with strappy lavender heels. Perfect for any mini fashion fans.

Celebrating 25 years of the mouse’s encounter with The Gruffalo, this colourful box includes two puzzles that depict key moments from the story written by Julia Donaldson.

There are 48 puzzle pieces in total (making 2 x 24 piece puzzles) and each are made of FSC-certified materials. A great gift for older children and all the family to enjoy during the Twixmas period.

The second Stitch on our list (and also toy expert-recommended), this one is the all-singing, all-dancing version (well, almost). It boasts over 100 actions and sound combinations, moving eyes and mouth and special Tantalog speech.

At nearly 1.5ft tall, this blinking, squinting, talking Stitch is a great size for imaginative play as well as bedtime cuddles.

While this is a higher ticket option, this realistic baby doll from Hamleys will bring joy for years to come. The 40cm vinyl baby has a soft body with realistic details, including veins, and she comes dressed in a fur bonnet with a sleeping bag, dummy and a certificate of authenticity.

This is a real showstopper of a Christmas present from Disney and Lego, combining all your favourite princesses and characters with the building blocks we all know and love.

The box contains over 1,000 pieces (yes, really), 13 iconic figures and plenty of fun features throughout, including a spinning dance floor, zip line, waterfall, cave and campfire. Perfect for acting out all your favourite Disney moments. Just make sure to watch where you step on Christmas morning!

Looking for a fun, family activity for Christmas Day? This board game is easy to follow, but lively and engaging for all ages from seven up. You’ll have to use strategy as well as risk to avoid the exploding kitten – the last person alive, wins. It’s basically The Traitors with cats... sort of.

With a colour changing tail, the L.O.L. Surprise! Mermaid doll with make bath times a whole lot more fun and imaginative.

There are four mermaid dolls to collect (Cleo Clove, Lola Waves, Lana Marine and Serena Finn) and each comes with a set of accessories so they can use their best styling skills.

If your children keep asking for a puppy for Christmas, perhaps this plush, interactive toy is the low-effort answer? At least it’s worth a try…

The soft, fluffy Cocker pup comes with a blanket and dummy for nap time. Once the dummy is removed, its eyes will open and the toy will make cute puppy sounds.

You can also download the Baby Paws app, where a vet will guide you through different mini games that will teach you how to care for your new puppy, making it a great option if you want to prepare them for life as a pet parent in future.

As featured in the animated BABYBorn series on YouTube, this Emma doll comes with 10 accessories for creative playtime.

There’s a feeding bowl and potty (both with a water-reveal feature) as well as a dummy and bottle.

The Emma doll also has lots of lifelike features and abilities, including drinking water, wetting her nappy, closing her eyes when you lie her down and crying real tears.

Yes, it may feel slightly random, but who doesn’t want a cuddly croissant? A sweet, plush pastry is definitely one to add to your Jellycat collection. Its soft, fluffy and has a cute face – what more could you want?

Not a fan or Mr. Croissant here? Shop our favourite Jellycats for more picks.

This interactive musical playset is inspired by the award-winning BBC series that incorporates numbers and basic maths skills into fun, imaginative play, making it the perfect gift for any child of preschool or reception age.

The 23-piece set includes a Five figure with five songs and sound effects they can sing along to, while the stage boasts spinning dance floors and a revolving door.

Warning, this isn’t for muggles!

Learn and master all your key spells with this realistic wand from the wizarding world. It boasts a bright multi-coloured LED tip, which activates when you pronounce “lumos” correctly – in fact, the voice detection works with 14 familiar spells from the books and films.

For those that still need to perfect their swish and flick, there’s also a handy manual with easy-to-follow instructions.