Children have a natural affinity with the great outdoors. Whether yours are the type to climb trees or like collecting petals for an Eau de Garden perfume, gifts that encourage kids to be outside tick all our boxes. So we’ve picked out some of our favourite gift ideas for any small explorer. Because, to quote Charles Muntz in Pixar's masterpiece Up: “Adventure is out there!"
1. ADVENTURE WEAR
First things first. Outside adventures can be messy, so some good quality outerwear and accessories are always wise pressies. For little ones who love jumping up and down in muddy puddles (thanks to a certain pig whose name begins with P) a pair of wellies is a must-have. Too boring a present, we hear you say? No way! Grass & Air boots change colour when they get wet and are a KIDLY best seller.
Sticking with accessories, if your pockets are constantly weighed down by scavenged pine cones, pebbles and feathers, think about gifting a hard-wearing backpack that they can fill with their bounty. The also perfect for storing drinking bottles, snacks and anything else a small explorer needs to take out and about with them.
2. A SET OF WHEELS
The first set of wheels a child owns is a big deal. Who doesn't remember their first bicycle with stabilisers? Kids typically scoot more than they walk these days so a scooter is a fail-safe gift. TRYBIKE makes trikes that can be converted into two-wheelers, to get them ready for riding and we love Little Dutch's balance bikes for their signature lovely shades, the comfy height-adjustable seat, the inflatable rubber tyres and the easy-grip chunky handlebars. Ride on!
3. FIELD TRIP PROPS
Whether little ones are going on a bear hunt or in search of minibeasts, field trip props can really bring their adventures to life. We love cameras which can add a role playing element to any trip out. For those who like to get up, close and personal with nature, a flashlight, notebook and magnifying glass all make fabulous gifts, or Tender Leaf Toys Forest Trail Kit is a great compendium of wilderness accessories and we love Hape's Nature Detective Set. Anything from The Den Kit Co always hits the spot too.
4. TRAVEL ACCESSORIES
Holidays and trips away are a huge adventure for kids and there are plenty of great travel-focused products to help them live their best lives while away. There's also often lots of waiting around, though, so games designed for playing on the go make a great little gift idea.
In need of a big gift for a seasoned traveler? We love Pellianni's City Suitcase: a sturdy and retro style tote that's a superb gift for any pint-sized globe trotter. Once home, it can be used as quirky storage too.
5. READ ALL ABOUT IT
There's gotta be downtime too, right? For your active and adventurous kid, we stock loads of great books to inspire and captivate them about the wonders of the big wide world. One pick we really love is Abrams & Chronicle Books' Deep In The Ocean, a beautifully illustrated story about a submarine that's caught in a storm and drifts far off course and gets to explore different waters - some full of sea creatures and colour, others sparse and turbulent. It's riveting, gorgeous and educational.
We hope this gave you some inspo. And, remember you can shop for your Christmas gifts by price as well as by age and type of gift. Still not sure what to get them? Pop us a message: our Live Chat Team is always here to help, from 9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday (but not bank holidays) and they will happily help you suss out the Best Gift Ever. Just hit that purple button, bottom right.
Our picks
Little Dutch Backpack Little Goose
Pellianni City Suitcase Sun
