10 is a tricky age: they're not quite children, not quite teenagers. But one thing is for sure, and that's that they’re definitely never too young or too old to be excited about Christmas. When thinking about the perfect gift for the 10 year old in your life, don’t just go along with current trends, but really think about their hobbies and interests.
By the age of 10, children have quite a clear understanding of what they do and don’t like, and their personalities have really started to form. Yes, all children will probably want the latest gadget or game on the market, but you don’t always have to spend a fortune on something that will inevitably go out of style as quick as it came in.
Arts and crafts and outdoor toys are always a safe and fun option for pre-teens. They usually include items that are universal and won’t be discarded anywhere near as quickly as some of the more novelty toys on the market. Also, although kids are a dab hand with technology nowadays, we think there is no rush to buy them their first smartphone or tablet, which is why all of our Christmas gift ideas are not super techy, with the exception of one or two.
Take a look at our top picks for some great inspiration on the best Christmas gifts for 10 year olds to suit all styles and budgets.
We know we said that tech and gadgets can be a bit much at the age of 10, but a games console is the exception to the rule as every child at some stage will have, or will have wanted, their very own console. In our day it was the Gameboy, and now the Nintendo 2DS dominates shelves as one of the most popular handheld consoles on the market in 2017. It’s not too pricey (not when you compare it to the new iPhone X, anyway) and this bundle comes with the new Super Mario Bros 2 which is fun for girls and boys alike. This will undoubtedly keep them busy after school and on those long car journeys.
Playing outdoors never gets old, and at the age of 10, learning a new skill can be both fun and rewarding. These girls’ rollerblades are a great way to get your daughter up and moving, whether it’s in the back yard, in the school playground or at the park. They come in subtle pink and black which is bound to be appealing to any young girl and they are easily adjustable to most foot sizes. The rubber wheels ensure a smooth ride whether your child is a beginner or showing off their skills to their mates.
This is a hilarious fast-paced thinking game which requires you to come up with as many answers as possible in only 5 seconds. It sounds easy, but when under pressure this game can become super competitive. What’s great about this game is that it's fun for all the family, and you can have hours and hours of fun with it wherever you are. The only downside? Some users don’t like that this is an American game, so a few of the references may go over the heads of British players (although we're sure the kids can enlighten you on some of them).
Remote control cars are another great children’s classic, and this set of 2 is great for playing alone or with a mate. These days technology is a little better, meaning these cars can be synced up to iOS or Android for control from any smartphone or tablet device. These can be played with safely both indoors and outdoors, the only annoying thing is their run time is only around an hour, so batteries will need to be replaced fairly frequently.
Kids who love art will have hours of fun experimenting and creating masterpieces with this huge art set. It is more expensive than your average arts and crafts set, but all of the paints and equipment is of very high quality, so much so that adults love this set too for practising their skills. This is definitely a worthwhile investment that will bring out your children’s hidden talents.
If your son or daughter is keen to learn a new skill but rollerblades don’t take their fancy, then this skateboard is a great way to get them out in the fresh air and learning tricks. It’s a beginner’s board that comes in a range of funky designs and it’s ready to ride straight out of the box. The only thing we would say is that this is a board specifically designed for beginners to learn the basics and any advanced stunts may lead to the skateboard's demise as it is a little flimsy compared to full boards.
Shooting hoops is always fun, and now it can be done in the comfort of your own home. Whether sat watching telly, doing homework or in bed, you can take a quick break by shooting some hoops into the basketball hoop which sits conveniently on the back of your bedroom door. It comes with a ball included, and is sturdy in structure; however, if you have a thin door then it will need to be tightened so that the bracket doesn’t rattle every time you shoot the ball in the hoop. This would also make a great purchase for home offices as a welcome distraction during tea breaks.
Star Wars lovers both big and small will love this Darth Vader alarm clock that features an LCD screen with backlight and alarm clock. This would go perfectly in a Star Wars themed room on the bedside table and also comes in the form of a Stormtrooper. The only thing that is mildly annoying is that you have to press on the head of the figure to be able to see the time during the night, but at least the bright light won’t keep you awake.
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Still got very small people left to shop for? Check out our list of the best Christmas gifts for one year olds.
