Christmas gift ideas: children - £20 and under

Stay the right side of twee by giving little princesses a jewellery box with a spinning giraffe in lieu of a fairy. It’ll also teach her not to think pink.

Jewellery box, £12.45
Reader offer: buy for £10 plus p&p with the code GN01 by 24 December
Buy online at tickety-boo.co.uk Photograph: Sarah Lee/Guardian

Children love dressing up, but why not get them in good habits and be historically accurate about it?

Plastic replica of a Roman legionaire's helmet, £11.99
Reader offer: buy for £9.99 with the code EHGR11, valid until 9 December
Buy online at english-heritageshop.org.uk Photograph: Sarah Lee

Ikea has some of the best designed, best priced toys for the under-fives we’ve seen, and this little wooden truckful of bricks will keep toddlers company when they start to walk (it has a pull-along cord) and still be useful when they’re into early Lego.

Truckful of bricks, £9.99
Buy online at ikea.com Photograph: PR

Turn a little one’s packed lunch into an event with these smart, sturdy tin cases, which could also be used for dolls’ holidays or squirreling away treasures. Made from recyclable steel.

Lunch box, £12
Reader offer: enter the code 'G2tin' at the checkout to buy for £10 until 2 December
Buy online at nettlegreen.co.uk Photograph: Sarah Lee

Built from solid plywood, chunky and strong, with graceful, ergonomic curves and a hole that’s just the right size for one-year-old hands to vroom it along.

Wooden taxi, £14.95
Reader offer: buy for £10 while stocks last from hopandpeck.co.uk Photograph: Sarah Lee

Attach this noise-making gadget to a handlebar and it will make a pushbike growl like a motorbike. Now who doesn’t sometimes want that?

Cycle twist, £9.99
Reader offer: this is a special price for Guardian readers. No code needed.
Buy online at auto-bits.co.uk Photograph: Sarah Lee

This comprehensive set of miniature stainless-steel pots and pans will keep small children busy; pretty much all they need to make a pretend Christmas dinner.

Cooking up a storm, £9.99
From ikea.com Photograph: Sarah Lee/Guardian

Christmas in a house with children isn’t Christmas without some Lego. Take things up a cultural level by buying from the Architecture range.

Architecture lego, from £19.99
Buy online at amazon.co.uk Photograph: Sarah Lee/Guardian

Another one for the child that loves dinosaurs, this fun paper garland has been designed in Paris and handmade in Nepal. It is 1.5 metres in length.

Dinosaur paper garland, £8
Reader offer: enter code 'GNM11' at checkout to get 15% discount until 18 December.
By Lamali
Buy online at littleyellowbirds.co.uk Photograph: PR

This friendly lion trebles up as a tea towel, a craft project and a soft toy.

Sew your own lion, £12
Reader offer: enter 'GUXMAS11' at the online checkout for 10% off this product until 24 December.
Designed by Madeleine Rogers
Buy online at maidenshop.com Photograph: PR

These jolly, colourful, stackable crayons are as much fun to play with as they are for drawing with.

Playon Crayons, £9.95
Buy online at hoptoyshop.co.uk Photograph: PR

For the young (or old) dinosaur enthusiast, a light in the shape of a flying pterodactyl will be sure to please.

DIYnosaur lamp, £20
By Moedik
Buy online at littlescout.co.uk Photograph: PR

A toy made from squeezy, soft natural rubber sap and covered with flocking material. It bounces when dropped (or thrown) and its propeller and wheels spin.

Propeller plane, £14.99
By Rubbabu
Buy online at mysmallworld.co.uk Photograph: PR

Makedo is a connector system that allows you to easily join together materials such as plastic, cardboard and fabric to make new structures. In this set, you can make your own doll's house and decorate it with the included stickers.

Doll's house, £11
By Makedo
Buy online from designmuseumshop.com Photograph: PR

A great craft project for parents to do with their children. The kit includes everything you need to make 12 medals, including metallic card templates, ribbon, pins and sequins.

Medal making kit, £11.99
Buy online at iwmshop.org.uk Photograph: Greg Smith/PR

A child-sized monkey masterpiece to sit on.

Monkey chair, £17.99
By Galt Toys
Buy online at galttoys.com Photograph: PR

A simple, classic toy for toddlers. Good for improving co-ordination and balance skills.

Push rainbow, £14
Buy online at giftshop.redcross.org.uk Photograph: PR

Lovely little mouse baby booties (fit up to age six months).

Quiet as a mouse baby booties, £14.95
Buy online at bombayduck.co.uk Photograph: PR

With its safe movable parts and stimulating colours, this teething ring makes a great baby gift.

Rainbow hearts touch ring and rattle, £5.99
Buy online at totsandtiddlerstoys.com Photograph: PR

Textured and cuddly rabbit shape sorter with three vegetables that can be pushed through the corresponding holes.

Rufus rabbit shape sorter, £17
Buy online at silvercross.co.uk Photograph: PR

A great activity toy for toddlers to play with in the bath. Has three squirters, a water wheel, a tap and two scoops.

Seaside pour and play, £8
Buy online at elc.co.uk Photograph: PR

This great retro design lunch bag will stand out in the playground.

Zoo Lunchies - owl, £14
By Skip Hop
Buy online at babylurve.co.uk Photograph: PR

Splash about in style in these goose-patterned wellies.

Puddle goose wellies, £19
By Frugi
Buy online at welovefrugi.com Photograph: PR