It’s October! The time to start planning and shopping for Christmas for parents up and down the country, so I’m here to give you my own thoughts on what I think will prove to be big hits with children everywhere this festive season!

10. Lego City Advent Calendar

Technically this one is for before Christmas, because it’d be a bit pointless opening up an Advent Calendar come Christmas Day wouldn’t it. What kid doesn’t love Lego? This cool advent calendar, released yearly, is the perfect way to bring a little bit of Christmas joy to your little ones every morning throughout December.

9. Play-Doh Ice Cream Castle

Play-Doh will always be popular with kids as far as I’m concerned, and this year will be no different. Of the countless sets available, my kids would love this Ice Cream Castle set allowing them to create all kinds of sweet-looking treats.

8. Fisher Price Bright Beats Learnin’ Lights Dance Mat

One for the tiniest of kids out there! The ones down on all fours. This colourful and vibrant play mat lights up and plays sounds and music as your baby crawls and moves across it.

7. Sofia the First Talking Doll

Every little girl wants to be a princess, just like Sofia. This adorable Sofia doll interacts with it’s included animal friends, and allows your child to unlock upto 30 different phrases. If they play with this, you may get a break from the program repeating on TV all day!

6. Lego Minecraft Crafting Box

You can’t go wrong with Lego. You can’t go wrong with Minecraft. So why not combine the two and pickup the Lego Minecraft Crafting Box? It contains everything your kids need to build in 8 different ways!

5. Pie Face

If you don’t already have it, you can’t go wrong with Pie Face! It’s a game that kids and grown ups enjoy in equal measures, and is guaranteed to get everyone in giggling fits as you play.

4. LeapFrog LeapPad Platinum

With getting to grips with technology at a young age now more important than ever before, help your little ones on their way with this children’s interactive tablet packed with games and activities they can enjoy for hours.

3. Lego City Fire Station

Lego is always popular with kids of all ages, and every young boy wants to grow up to be a firefighter so, the Lego City Fire Station is perfect to get them playing with their imagination whilst honing those motor skills.

2. LeapFrog Leap TV

Aimed at children from as young as three, the LeapFrog Leap TV gets kids enjoying games while learning and keeping active all at the same time. Never again will you wonder “have they been playing for too long?”.

1. Xbox One S Minecraft Bundle

As an avid gamer myself, I’m a big believer in the good they can do for children and with Minecraft now being used in many schools as an educational aid, what console bundle could be better for your little ones big surprise this Christmas?

Time to get Christmas shopping!

And where better to do it than at Smyths Toys? With stores across the country, you’re sure to find everything your kids desire under one roof!

Disclosure: Smyths Toys compensated us in return for sharing this post, however all content remains our honest opinion.