Christmas Theme Toys: What to Buy, What to Skip, and What Kids Actually Want
Christmas Theme Toys: What to Buy, What to Skip, and What Kids Actually Want
Christmas theme toys are the toys that are only sold during the holiday season. They’re the toys with Santa, reindeer, snowmen, and elves on the box. The problem is that most of these toys are novelty items that are fun for a day and then forgotten. A Santa Claus action figure, a reindeer that sings, a snowman that wobbles. These are toys that look cute under the tree and are never played with again. The right Christmas theme toys are the ones that are actually fun, that kids play with beyond December, and that are worth the money. This guide covers what to buy, what to skip, and how to choose.
Christmas theme toys covers the holiday-themed toys sold during the Christmas season, including advent calendars, holiday-themed building sets, Christmas plush toys, and seasonal games. The best Christmas toys are fun, high-quality, and played with beyond the holidays. The worst are novelty items that are fun for a day and then forgotten.
The right Christmas theme toys are fun and worth the money. Here’s what to buy, what to skip, and how to choose.
The Best Christmas Theme Toys
Advent Calendars
Advent calendars are the toys that count down to Christmas. They’re the calendars with a small toy, a chocolate, or a surprise behind each door.
What to look for:
- A quality brand (LEGO, Playmobil, Funko, or a quality chocolate brand)
- A calendar with 24 doors (one for each day of December until Christmas)
- A calendar with a theme the child likes (LEGO City, Playmobil, Funko Pop, or a favorite character)
- A calendar that’s age-appropriate
- A calendar that’s reusable (some can be refilled next year)
What to skip:
- Cheap chocolate calendars (the chocolate is low quality)
- Calendars with tiny, useless toys
- Calendars that are too young for the child
Price range: $15 to $50.
Holiday-Themed Building Sets
Holiday-themed building sets are the LEGO or building sets with a Christmas theme. They’re the sets that are fun to build and that can be displayed.
What to look for:
- A quality brand (LEGO, Mega Bloks)
- A set with a Christmas theme (a Christmas tree, a Santa’s workshop, a winter village)
- A set that’s age-appropriate (check the age range)
- A set that can be displayed (after building, it becomes a decoration)
- A set that’s reusable (build it again next year)
What to skip:
- Sets that are too complex for the child’s age
- Sets that are too simple (the child will be bored)
- Sets that are too expensive for a one-time build
Price range: $20 to $100.
Christmas Plush Toys
Christmas plush toys are the stuffed animals with a holiday theme. They’re the reindeer, the snowmen, the Santas, and the elves that are soft and cuddly.
What to look for:
- A quality brand (Gund, Aurora, or a quality plush maker)
- A soft, huggable material
- A size that’s right for the child (small for a baby, medium for a toddler, large for an older child)
- A festive design (a reindeer, a snowman, a Santa, or an elf)
- A plush that’s well-made (the seams don’t come apart)
What to skip:
- Plush toys that are too cheap (they fall apart)
- Plush toys with small parts (choking hazard for young children)
- Plush toys that are too large (they take up too much space)
Price range: $10 to $40.
Holiday-Themed Games
Holiday-themed games are the board games and card games with a Christmas theme. They’re the games that are fun to play during the holiday season.
What to look for:
- A quality game (from a reputable game publisher)
- A game with a Christmas theme (a holiday trivia game, a Christmas charades game, a holiday bingo game)
- A game that’s age-appropriate
- A game that’s fun for the whole family
- A game that can be played year after year
What to skip:
- Games that are too simple (they’re boring after one play)
- Games that are too complex (they take too long to learn)
- Games that are too young for the family
Price range: $10 to $30.
Christmas-Themed Books
Christmas-themed books are the books with a holiday story. They’re the books that are read during the holiday season and that become a tradition.
What to look for:
- A quality book (a classic like “The Night Before Christmas,” “How the Grinch Stole Christmas,” or “The Polar Express”)
- A book with beautiful illustrations
- A book that’s age-appropriate (a board book for babies, a picture book for young children, a chapter book for older children)
- A book that can be read year after year
What to skip:
- Books that are too cheap (the illustrations are poor)
- Books that are too young for the child
- Books that are too generic (choose a classic)
Price range: $5 to $25.
Interactive Holiday Toys
Interactive holiday toys are the toys that do something. They’re the toys that sing, dance, move, or respond to touch.
What to look for:
- A quality toy (from a reputable brand)
- A toy that’s interactive (it sings, dances, moves, or responds to touch)
- A toy that’s age-appropriate
- A toy that’s fun (not just a novelty)
- A toy that’s well-made (it won’t break after a week)
What to skip:
- Toys that are too annoying (they play the same song over and over)
- Toys that are too fragile (they break easily)
- Toys that are too expensive for a novelty item
Price range: $15 to $50.
How to Choose Christmas Theme Toys
Consider the child’s age. The right toy for a 3-year-old is not the right toy for a 10-year-old. Choose age-appropriate toys.
Consider the child’s interests. Does the child love building? A holiday LEGO set. Does the child love reading? A Christmas book. Does the child love games? A holiday board game.
Consider what will last. A toy that’s fun for a day and then forgotten is a waste of money. Choose a toy that will be played with beyond December.
Consider the quality. A cheap toy that falls apart is a waste of money. Choose quality.
Consider the tradition. A toy that becomes a holiday tradition (an advent calendar, a Christmas book, a holiday game) is worth more than a novelty item.
What to Skip Entirely
Novelty toys. A toy that’s funny for 10 seconds and then forgotten is a waste of money. Choose toys that are actually fun.
Toys that are too cheap. A cheap toy that falls apart is a waste of money. Choose quality.
Toys that are too young. A toy that’s too babyish for the child is a disappointment. Choose age-appropriate toys.
Toys that are too old. A toy that’s too complex for the child is frustrating. Choose age-appropriate toys.
Toys with small parts. A toy with small parts is a choking hazard for young children. Check the age range.
Too many toys. A child doesn’t need 20 Christmas toys. Choose 1 to 3 quality toys.
FAQ
What are the best Christmas theme toys? The best Christmas theme toys are a LEGO advent calendar ($25 to $50), a holiday-themed LEGO set ($20 to $100), a quality Christmas plush toy ($10 to $40), a holiday board game ($10 to $30), a classic Christmas book ($5 to $25), and an interactive holiday toy ($15 to $50). Choose quality over quantity.
What should I look for in Christmas theme toys? Look for a quality brand (LEGO, Gund, Funko), a toy that’s age-appropriate, a toy that’s fun beyond December, a toy that’s well-made, and a toy that can become a tradition. Choose quality over quantity.
How much do Christmas theme toys cost? Advent calendars cost $15 to $50. Holiday building sets cost $20 to $100. Christmas plush toys cost $10 to $40. Holiday games cost $10 to $30. Christmas books cost $5 to $25. Interactive toys cost $15 to $50.
What should I avoid when buying Christmas theme toys? Avoid novelty toys (they’re fun for a day), toys that are too cheap (they fall apart), toys that are too young or too old for the child, toys with small parts (choking hazard), and too many toys (1 to 3 quality toys is enough).
Are advent calendars worth it? Yes, if you choose a quality one. A LEGO advent calendar or a Playmobil advent calendar is worth it because the toys are quality and can be played with beyond December. A cheap chocolate advent calendar is not worth it because the chocolate is low quality and the calendar is disposable.
What are good Christmas theme toys for teenagers? Good Christmas theme toys for teenagers include a Funko Pop advent calendar, a holiday-themed LEGO set (LEGO Architecture or Creator), a holiday board game (Catan, Risk), a classic Christmas book (A Christmas Carol), and an interactive toy (a drone, a remote control car). Choose quality over quantity.
References
- Amazon. “Christmas Toys.” Check on Amazon
- Target. “Holiday Toys.” https://www.target.com/c/holiday-toys
- LEGO. “Christmas Sets.” https://www.lego.com/en-us/themes/christmas
