Shopping for great gifts for kids can be child's play

Being the cool relative is high praise indeed, so it pays to plan ahead and choose a gift that truly lands well. As children grow, having their own space becomes increasingly important to them.

Consider kitting out their room with a soft night light for cosy evenings, a play tent for building secret forts, and a few trusty wooden toys to spark hours of make believe. Together, these pieces turn any corner of a bedroom into an adventure playground, complete with its own little kitchen for snack breaks.

Getting messy in the kitchen is all part of the fun when baking with children. It is a chance to slow down, measure, stir and laugh together over a bit of flour on the floor.

Pop on matching MARIATHERES aprons and let your little one take charge of the mixing bowl. Whether the result is a wobbly cake or a batch of slightly lopsided biscuits, the joy is in the making, and the aprons ensure everyone looks the part while doing it.

Brighten your child's nighttime routine with a whimsical night light that turns bedtime into something to look forward to. For daytime play, a colourful bead maze is wonderful for building curiosity and fine motor skills.

A classic wooden abacus is another lovely choice, gently introducing counting and colour recognition through hands-on play. These are the sort of gifts that suit little hands and big imaginations alike, offering something for both quiet moments and lively ones.

Drawing, painting, creating: children's imaginations rarely need much encouragement, only the right materials to run wild. Giving them the freedom to make a mess on paper rather than the walls is a gift in itself.

With the MÅLA series, there are no limits to what they can dream up. From paints to easels to paper by the roll, it is all designed to support creativity in whatever form it takes, one happy, colourful masterpiece at a time.