🎄 The Ultimate Christmas Gifting Guide for Kids (Free Download)
I love Christmas. 🎄 The lights, the music, the magic and especially the joy of choosing gifts for the people I care about. I’ll happily spend hours researching the perfect present, imagining the smile it’ll bring.
There’s something so special about finding a toy that’s not just fun, but meaningful. One that encourages curiosity, independence, and connection.
But I also know how quickly the season can become overwhelming especially when you’re buying for kids across different ages and stages.
Between family, friends, and school gift exchanges, the sheer number of options can feel like too much. So this year, I’ve done the research for you!
I’ve explored my favourite small businesses, scrolled through parent forums, and reviewed trending toys backed by meaningful play value.
In this list, I’m sharing 10 of my top toy picks for 2025, each chosen with an occupational therapist’s eye for development, regulation, and sensory needs.
And if you’d love even more inspiration, my FREE Christmas Gifting Guide includes over 70 OT-approved toy suggestions, grouped by age and developmental skill from babies to big kids. 🎁
PS: These are not affiliate links, just my personal and professional picks. I don't get any compensation for these.
🧸 Top 10 trending toys for Christmas 2025
2. Montessori Treasure Chest (AUD $43.99)
Age: 3-4 years
Why I love it: A mix of mystery and skill-building. Unlocking surprises supports fine motor skills, colour and number recognition, and sequencing, all while keeping play engaging and screen-free.
3. Drill & Learn Toolbox (AUD $29)
Age: 2–4 years
Why I love it: Encourages hand strength, coordination, and imaginative play. It’s open-ended, kids can “fix” things, design patterns, and practice bilateral coordination (using both hands together).
4. My Backpack Buddy Busy Book (AUD $89.99)
Age: 5+ years
Why I love it: The Busy Book is a fantastic all-in-one resource that offers a wide variety of play-based learning activities for young children. It supports key developmental areas like pretend play, fine motor skills, and executive functioning (think sorting, planning, and organising). Kids can explore early learning concepts like colours, numbers, maths, weather, and even geography, thanks to a super cute map of Australia page!
Plus, it’s created by a local Perth mum who built this business with child development and play in mind, which makes supporting it even more special.
5. Fat Brain Toys Air Toobz (AUD $174.99)
Age: 2–8+ years
Why I love it: A sensory-rich experience that fascinates toddlers and older kids alike. It encourages experimentation and engineering thinking while satisfying sensory-seeking needs through airflow and movement.
6. Rainbow Colour Sorting Set (AUD $35.59)
Age: 2–3 years
Why I love it: Sorting, counting, colour recognition, and imagination all in one. Young children can scoop, pour, or sort. Building early maths and sensory skills through play.
7. Make do Construction Kits (AUD $35-70 different kits to choose from)
Age: 6–8+ years
Why I love it: For little inventors and builders! These kits turn ordinary cardboard into extraordinary creations, supporting creativity, engineering skills, and teamwork. Plus, it’s a sustainable choice for families who value reusability.
8. Skillmatics Poke-In Art Kit (AUD $34.99)
Age: 4–10+ years
Why I love it: A mindful, tactile art activity that builds fine motor precision and focus. Great for kids who love craft but need calming, screen-free engagement. Perfect for rainy days or quiet time.
9. Rocket Launcher Toy (AUD $26.12)
Age: 3–8+ years
Why I love it: I bought one last year for an eight-year-old, and it quickly became the hit of the family gathering. Every child from toddler to tween, wanted a turn! It’s active, joyful, and gets kids outdoors, promoting coordination and turn-taking.
10. Take-Apart Dinosaur Construction Kit (AUD $22.99)
Age: 3-8 years
Why I love it: Ideal for kids who love tinkering and tools. It supports sequencing, hand-eye coordination, and imaginative storytelling, all while encouraging persistence and focus.
📥 Want more? Download the full guide
These are just a few of my favourites this year. The full Christmas Gifting Guide 2025 includes over 70 OT-approved toy ideas, all grouped by age and developmental benefit from babies to school-aged kids.
You’ll find toys that support sensory exploration, emotional regulation, gross and fine motor development, and imaginative play.
Not sure which toy is actually right for them?
Every child’s a little different, and the best toy really depends on their personality, interests, play style, and goals. Take my free Toy Quiz (it takes a few minutes) for a personalised, OT-approved recommendation matched to your child’s age and stage.
✈️ Travelling or out and about this holiday season?
If your family is heading away or spending more time out and about this Christmas, you’ll love what’s coming next.
The Kidera Travel Play Kit is a grab-and-go activity bag for kids 3 to 6, designed by a paediatric OT for flights, road trips and cafes. It’s available to pre-order now. Estimated dispatch is February 2027, so it won’t arrive before Christmas, but it will be ready for your next trip.
Eight activities fit in one small bag, with a fold-out guide of 40+ ways to play on planes, road trips and at cafes.
🎒 Pre-order the Kidera Travel Play Kit, or join the waitlist if you’re not ready yet.
Frequently Asked Questions
What’s included in Kidera’s free Christmas Gifting Guide?
It includes over 70 OT-approved toy ideas grouped by age (from babies to school-aged kids) and developmental benefit, covering sensory exploration, emotional regulation, gross and fine motor development, and imaginative play.
How were the toys on this list chosen?
Each toy was hand-selected using professional OT knowledge and experience, considering development, regulation, and sensory needs, rather than simply what’s trending.
Are these gift picks sponsored or paid placements?
No. The picks in this particular list are personal and professional recommendations with no compensation involved, though some other Kidera blog posts do use Amazon affiliate links, which are always disclosed.
Brittany is a paediatric occupational therapist who has been registered with AHPRA for nearly nine years, working with kids and their families across homes, schools and her own clinic in Perth.
Through Kidera she shares her toy picks alongside OT tips for supporting children through play, skill development and goals, drawing on her professional experience and her own opinion. The aim is a community where parents feel supported and confident navigating raising kids, and where other professionals can pick up something useful too.
