Whether you have a little one that’s got a birthday coming up, you want to reward them for doing well at school, or you just want to spoil them for the sake of it, finding a gift for your kids isn’t always as straightforward as it should be.

Maybe they’re too young for baby or toddler-style toys, but other items can seem a little too advanced or dull for them – you need to get creative. As a parent of a child, when they start growing up, you’ll want toys and activities that will engage them – see the best toys for an 11 year old here –  that will build on their motor skills, their imagination and will give you value for money. So, with this in mind, I’ve gathered a list of ideas your children will love!

Chalkboard/easel

If you’re looking for something that will help them unleash their creativity then a chalkboard/easel is ideal. They sound simple enough, and that’s the beauty of it. Toys that are all-singing and all-dancing might be fun to play with at first, but they lose interest in them fast. Whereas, more traditional toys your kids can return to again and again will always be a popular addition to their toybox. One side will be the easel, where they can draw and paint and the other side is chalk – perfect for drawing, scribbling and even practicing their writing skills. These will fold flat so they don’t take up much room and they can also take them outside when the weather is better.

Outdoor toys

Spring is here which means that the warmer weather is on the way. So, it’s always a good idea to have some good quality garden toys at the ready for when they want to burn off some energy outdoors. Footballs, bubble machines, space hoppers, playhouses, ride-along toys, sandboxes and water trays – there are lots of options to keep them happy and occupied in the sun.

Arts and crafts

Perfect for rainy days or some much needed quiet time, all kids love sticking, making, gluing and unleashing as much glitter as possible. If you don’t have an arts and crafts collection, consider building one for them and fill it with all the things they need to get creative. You can buy items such as glitter, glue sticks, card, tissue paper, googly eyes and pipe cleaners individually or buy them in sets depending on what you currently have at home.

Bath toys

Does your little one like bath time? Whether your child is a real water baby or simply hates getting wet, the addition of some bath toys will certainly make bath time much more fun. From simple squeaky plastic toys to bath crayons (don’t worry – they wash off) and even special mixtures that turn the bathwater into jelly or slime, bath time doesn’t have to be just about keeping clean!

Dressing up box

Your child might already have a few costumes for when they’re pretending to be their favorite princess or superhero. But what about a real dressing up box? Aprons, hats, old shoes, bags, dresses, shirts and trousers – let your little ones’ imagination run wild with some new additions to their dressing up box.