Parents reveal the best Christmas presents for children: from building blocks to creative clay

We ask UAE mums which toys hold enduring appeal for their young ones

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  Magna-Tiles hold enduring appeal for Jacqueline Curran's children Katie, 9, and Barney, 3. Courtesy Jacqueline Curran

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  Abu Dhabi mum Geraldine Mailen Jamora brought the outdoors in with at-home playground toys. Courtesy Geraldine Mailen Jamora

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  Mixed media artist Lene Pieters' daughter created a miniature pumpkin using coloured clay, for Halloween. Courtesy Lene Pieters

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  Elisabeth Van de Pol-Rubner suggests adding accessories to the Ikea play kitchen as you go, instead of buying them all at once. Courtesy Elisabeth Van de Pol-Rubner

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  Both of Evans Den Dekker's sons, who are 3 years and 7 months, adore Duplo. Courtesy Evans Den Dekker

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  Kiara, 4, loves playing dress up with her wooden dollhouse and dolls with magnetic dresses and accessories. Courtesy Pooja Ramchandani Mehbubani

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  Alison Rego's daughter Kristen, 7, is a fan of Blume dolls. Courtesy Alison Rego

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  Lego has passed the test of time for Alessandra Castiglione's children. Courtesy Alessandra Castiglione

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  Tanisha Gupta's twin girls with their Blume dolls, which they mix and match with other action figures for role-play-style games. Courtesy Tanisha Gupta

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  Lavita D’Souza's daughter Liel, 10, and her friends turn to Lol Dolls for plays they write themselves. Courtesy Lavita D’Souza

'Tis the season to celebrate, yes, but also perhaps to be a bit more mindful about the things we buy and gift. A significant yet confounding chunk of Christmas shopping lists are made up of presents for children – whether your own or others'.

So we ask mothers of the Real Mums UAE Facebook group which toys their youngsters can’t get enough of. Here are some to consider ...

Magna-Tiles

Magna-Tiles are a favourite for children who enjoy building. Courtesy Amazon

The 3D magnetic building sets are a clear favourite among children – and their parents, who appreciate the hours of screen-free fun afforded by these colourful tiles that can be made into varied shapes.

"They are definitely the best across age groups. We bought them for my daughter when she was 2 and she still plays with them at 9 along with her brother, who is 3," says Jacqueline Curran. "They are great fun and virtually indestructible."

Magnaformers

Another magnetic building toy, these blocks are smaller than Magna-Tiles, so while they can fit little fingers more easily, they also require greater co-ordination. As Valerie Bach puts it, "I bought my daughter Magformers when she was 3. She's 10 now and still plays with them. They are a toy I will keep for my grandchildren. They've kept my kids entertained for hours, they don't take up a lot of space, and they are really easy to clean up."

Ikea kitchen set

Ikea's Duktig play kitchen. Courtesy Ikea

The Duktig set in birch and plywood is a realistic miniature of a kitchen that lights up and comes with various cooking paraphernalia and food items. Elisabeth Van de Pol-Rubner says she got the play kitchen for her daughter's first birthday and "almost two years later, it's still a big hit. It's great to keep adding items to as well."

Mini playground

Abu Dhabi mum Geraldine Mailen Jamora resorted to buying a mini slide, swing and ball pit during the pandemic, when her children were unable to visit the park. It's a decision she doesn’t regret even when her son and daughter remain blissfully unaware about their parents’ presence. “At least they get to enjoy our little playground at home.”

Clay

Don’t underestimate the appeal of simple coloured clay, says Lene Pieters, a mixed media artist from Dubai. “It’s fabulous for taking along when travelling and provides hours of fun. It’s also great for fine motor control and stimulating children’s 3D spatial awareness and creativity.”

Dolls and action figures

Tanisha Gupta's twin girls with their Blume dolls, which they mix and match with other action figures for role-play-style games. Courtesy Tanisha Gupta

When it comes to role-playing games, dolls and action figures are a no-brainer, say several members of the Real Mums UAE group. "My three-year-old twins love mixing it up with their Disney Princess Barbies, Blume dolls and Avengers action figures – Captain America, Hulk and Iron Man to be precise – in equal measure," says Tanisha Gupta.

Lol Dolls are another option, where half the fun lies in their unboxing, as these come with a surprise element. Lavita D'Souza says her 10-year-old daughter, Liel, and her friends use Lol Dolls for plays they write themselves. Blume Dolls, too, are fascinating for young minds, says Alison Rego, mum of seven-year-old Kristen; because as the name suggests they bloom and can be created into flower pots and so on upon adding drops of water.

Doll's houses

Pieters is a fan, and advises parents not to discount the value of a simple doll's house. "The plain wooden houses are more fun, as children can imagine all the decorations or even put up temporary versions from cut-outs from interiors magazines. They can cut up old clothes for curtains and other furniture. The variables are endless," she says.

Pooja Ramchandani Mehbubani has got her four-year-old Kiara wooden dolls with magnetic dresses and accessories to change their outfits. "My daughter loves dressing them up and can play for hours," she says.

Duplo and Lego

An oldie but goodie, a traditional building block set is a favourite with children of all ages. Duplo bricks are twice the length, height, and width of Lego pieces, hence are easier to handle and safer for younger children. Both of Evans Den Dekker's sons, one who is 3 years and the other 7 months, adore them, with the older, she says, “able to play with his Duplo for a long time each single day”.

Fellow Dubai mum Alessandra Castiglione agrees: "Lego is the one thing that passed the test of time for my kids. They are 9 and 8 years old and they still play with it daily, even still using the Duplo sets that I bought for them when they were 18 months." Given that they are from the same company, the two sets are compatible.