Christmas Gifts for Kids under $20

dasher86 on 17/11/2016 - 13:37
Last edited 17/11/2016 - 14:11

I guess I have come of an age where i need to start purchasing Christmas gifts for the children in my family.
And what i mean by family includes my cousins and their kids.
We basically all meet up once a year at Christmas.

As for my cousins kids I don't know what they like.
They are a mixture of boys and girls under 12 years.
Probably about 10 of them, and i don't even know all their names (I confess maybe not even 1).
Last Christmas i looked a little bit of a Grinch as i hadn't got any of them something…

TL:DR
Looking for suggestions for gifts under $20 for kids under 12 that i don't know too well.
Boys gifts
Girls gifts
X Gifts
Unisex

General Discussion

Comments

  • spackbace on 17/11/2016 - 13:38
    +3

    Bit rough, feeling the need to buy for your cousin's kids… I'd never expect that from relatives

    • dasher86 on 17/11/2016 - 13:55
      +3

      I guess it's a cultural thing.
      I have a big family. an even bigger family overseas. so even more unlucky if i lived overseas…
      It's manageable in Australia as there is only a small portion here, but we are growing.

      It's also a competitive cultural thing. I am seen as successful in my family. and to be successful you need to be shown to be generous.

      $10-$20 per kid once a year isn't going to put me out too much.
      I don't buy for the adults - kinda an adult agreement thing.

      Family Christmas's for everyone is different!

  • Nugs on 17/11/2016 - 13:39

    something noisy and annoying to listen to that doesn't need batteries.
    kazoo
    whistle
    fart cushion
    vuvuzela

  • ExPrinceHairy on 17/11/2016 - 13:58
    +3

    Eneloops.

  • lupiter on 17/11/2016 - 13:59

    Any kid loves lego, and Target has it on sale there are kits < $20… $200 lego isn't for kids :D

    If you want to give them something smaller, go for sweets or small stuffed toys (like the tsum tsums).

    • dasher86 on 17/11/2016 - 14:09

      I was actually thinking this.
      Does lego make good gifts for girls? - yes lego is for everyone. but a large part of the marketing isn;t…

      • lupiter on 17/11/2016 - 14:56
        +1

        There's Lego Friends, Lego Disney Princess and Lego Elves which is "for girls", but I think it's hard to go wrong with good old Classic Lego. If you like, you could get some "for girls" and "for boys" and some "for either", and then just wrap them so you can remember which is which.

      • Dibbers on 18/11/2016 - 09:32
        +1

        I have bought my grandaughter of 4 lego in the form of "aerials castle" for one which was prompted by my daughter as she loves the building blocks ..lego. Fairy castle doors is another right up to abt 7/8 years. I personally love them. Not sure for boys perhaps drones. Giant shoes I saw on Groupon. I try to be different. Hope this helps .😊

      • ATangk on 19/11/2016 - 12:44

        For the older ones, you can buy those assembly model kits if youre not so into lego. Much more hands on but it requires some degree of skill.

  • Findo on 17/11/2016 - 15:27
    +1

    I got a nerf gun for an 8 year old boy and a Lorna Jane gift card for a 12 year old girl in my sort of extended family

    • dasher86 on 17/11/2016 - 15:40

      nerf guns were big last christmas - boys and girls.

      i'm not going to by gift cards. defeats the point. if it were the case, i would just give them $20 each.

      • fastnbulbous on 19/11/2016 - 17:36

        Cash is the most flexible gift card!
        Tends not to expire as well

  • nerdycat on 17/11/2016 - 16:10
    +2

    • Simple Strategy games, examples:

      • Saboteur
      • Sushi Go

      If you have time to order them they can be gotten pretty cheaply from Amazon.com (even with delivery added). Games Paradise sometimes have sales. Local (non franchise) games stores will also sometimes sell them cheap. Can be enjoyed by both kids now and as they grow up. We play these all the time with adult friends.

    • Kiddy baking sets

    • science kits (national geographic)

    • small toiletry bags/shopping/purses for girls - add hair stuff if its empty (http://www.lovelibby.com they arent the cheapest but they do really nice bags)

    • dasher86 on 18/11/2016 - 09:12

      National Geographic looks good but is soo over priced. lol.

      • 0p on 19/11/2016 - 03:17

        Same things at kmart(Science kits…) for ~$6

  • kerfuffle on 17/11/2016 - 19:05
    +1

    https://www.amazon.com/Banana-Powered-Clock-Experiment-Kit/d… if they like bananas

    $20 from DJs (saw it in the Christmas catalogue and thought it was cool)

    • michaelTito on 19/11/2016 - 01:12
      +2

      For some reason I read it as banana powered c0ck.. Ok time to sleep…

  • Adz81 on 17/11/2016 - 19:24

    Donate to a charity such as the Smith Family, Legacy or your charity of choice. Then give the little peckers a card with the receipt for the donation in it… Show them the, "helping those less fortunate" aspect of Christmas… Then, next year, double up on gifts for any of the little gits that thought you were the "cool" uncle/aunt as a result of this year's action…

    • dasher86 on 17/11/2016 - 19:59

      Not planning on being the cool uncle.
      Easier to just buy them gifts.
      I don't want to give to a charity either.

      • Adz81 on 17/11/2016 - 22:04
        -2

        Well, for $20, get 'em whatever the (profanity) you want. Make it loud and noisy. They're only gonna be disappointed,but not as disappointed as their parents will inevitably be…

        • dasher86 on 18/11/2016 - 09:11
          +1

          sorry didn't mean to shoot you down.
          I prefer to give to charities other times of the year when the funds really help them out.

  • tonka on 17/11/2016 - 20:35

    In this case I think showing up with a wad of $20 Kmart giftcards would be fine. Everyone gets the same thing , no jealousy and they have the anticipation of picking their own thing out. Siblings could put them together to buy an Xbox game etc.
    That way you can also take a couple extra to make sure no one misses out.
    If you don't know their names no one would expect a thoughtful gift.

    • dasher86 on 17/11/2016 - 21:05

      Cold hard cash would be my option.
      I'll make them line up and have them say merry Christmas to me.

      • tonka on 17/11/2016 - 22:07

        I see cash as needing a card though so you'd need to figure their names out.

  • itajac on 17/11/2016 - 20:51
    +8

    Okay, here are my suggestions. I hope they help. You might find that for the older children say 9+, it may be harder to buy toys for,as they tend to start growing out of them and spend more time on technology based entertainment.

    Girls:
    - Everafter High dolls/ Monster High
    - Jewellery and hair accessories (Lovisa and Diva, stock childrens jewellery)
    - Princess dolls
    - Nom noms
    - Shopkins
    - Littlelest petshop or My little pony
    - Doc McStuffins for <6 yrs old, Aldi had a couple for under $20.
    - Anything from Smiggle

    Boys:
    - Watergun
    - Lego from Duplo for little ones to Ciry for older kids
    - dinosaurs, trucks/cars or trains depending on what they're into
    - Hotwheels
    - Anything Spiderman or superhero

    Both genders:
    - Itunes giftcards
    - Anything from Smiggle
    - Lego
    - Aldi has artwork sketch/watercolour books with pencil or paint included
    - Waterguns
    - Playdough or Kinetic sand (their parents will love u :P)

    Have a look at Aldi, Big W, Target and Toyrus catalogues for specials. If you are really stuck for ideas, then Smiggle it!

    • dasher86 on 17/11/2016 - 21:04

      That's a really good list. Thank you.

    • 0p on 19/11/2016 - 03:22

      Thanks for the list…

      Lego from Duplo for little ones to Ciry for older kids

      Do you mean city?(I hate to be that person, i am just curious…)

      • itajac on 19/11/2016 - 08:24
        +1

        Yep,City.By the time I went back to edit, I couldn't do it anymore :(
        To my defence, I was feeding the baby while typing the list out :P

  • Sweet3st on 17/11/2016 - 23:23
    +2

    I think books are good value. Lots for around the $10 mark from Book Depository with free shipping.

  • Savas on 17/11/2016 - 23:43

    this is a good crowd pleaser

  • Pumpkin_rrr on 18/11/2016 - 07:20

    In true Ozbargain spirit, check "Unwanted gift" in Gumtree :-)

  • Helenn on 18/11/2016 - 07:29
    +1

    I would add sports equipment. Sets can be bought cheaply from kmart, bigw, aldi, etc (eg cricket set, netball and net, pole tennis)
    Or craft sets, board games, jigsaw puzzles, outdoor games (slipnslide, bocce, sprinkler thingy, bunch o balloons, water pistols, inflatable limbo, octopus sprinkler), bubble machines, anything light up, kite, hula hoop.
    Another winner would be walkie talkies. Don't forget to have some batteries on hand.
    I find kmart to have the best range of cheaper toys around where I live.
    Also - slushie cups, milkshake makers, ice block molds, remote controlled cars or copters, cheap binoculars, glow sticks & LED light ups if it's a night party.

  • ilovepizza on 19/11/2016 - 01:29
    +1

    my 5 year old cousin's (girl) favourite toy is her $2 water gun (its pretty big though) lol (i didnt buy it, i would have bought her a proper one..)

    • decr on 19/11/2016 - 07:32

      Yep small inexpensive things are usually the best, but you'll need to know the kid or let them choose… My daughter's favourite thing currently is a $5 DC comics plush-beanbag-toy thing. Went to the shops to buy a bday present for a party so I thought what the hell buy something for the kids as well, we don't get to go to the shops that often. Out of all the characters to choose from she chose Batman.

  • decr on 19/11/2016 - 07:40

    I can't believe I'm saying this but I'd say cash. I'm usually against giving money as a present but if you don't know the recipients at all and aren't very creative (asking OzB), just think of the times you got presents from random people as a kid that were… well weird, never used, forgotten and finally disposed of. $20 would have gone a long way for me at that age. On rare occasions when I did, I had to ring up the person, tell them what I bought with the money and thank them. Win/win. Might not work in your case though.

  • sagitox on 19/11/2016 - 08:45

    Take a visit to the National Geographic Shop Online (Not sure about in store - Prices might be different). You can search for toys under $20. There is some pretty cool things like Seamonkeys, pin art, etc

  • kawinuyo on 19/11/2016 - 10:51

    There are some card games or board games for under 20 on sale for younger ones, monopoly deal is always a good gift, saw a mine craft card game under 20 but don't know how fun that is

  • onlyletters on 19/11/2016 - 11:03
    +2

    Just get them all bubble guns for $4 from kmart, and some batteries and extra bubble water so they can share. They will love it. They don't care about its value.

  • fruxo on 19/11/2016 - 11:35

    Lots of girls like clothes even at a young age. We bought some really nice shirts the other week at target for $4 each for my 5 year old niece. She doesn't live in Australia, so it might be different if the kids you are buying for are Australian as the prints might be common.

    Here's an example. Don't let the price fool you, they are really cute. They had a table with like 10 different prints, but can't find many of them online.
    https://www.target.com.au/p/short-sleeve-cupcake-on-bike-pri…

    Otherwise nerf and Lego are safe bets, but can be a little pricy. Anything with Pokemon, such as Pokemon cards, will probably work too. Hot wheels, Thomas the tank and similar should appease any young boy. Maybe throw in some cuddly teddy bears (although maybe not bears, but unicorns and dinos or whatever they have that's nice). Between Kmart, bigw and target, there's a LOT of nice toys between $10-$20.

    If you buy generic stuff, maybe you can do a bit of a lucky dip since you don't seem to really know the kids and you can tell them that they can trade with each other if some weirdo doesn't like the Lego they got for example.

    • dasher86 on 19/11/2016 - 11:54

      I'm going to scrap clothes out of the question as they will get plenty from their adoring aunties.

      Hot wheels, Lego and nerf seem to be the way so far.
      I'll probably Chuck in a science kit or a book for the older ones.
      I'll have to do further research and actually find out how old they are.

      • fruxo on 19/11/2016 - 12:00

        The only kids on my wife's side that we are buying presents for are 9 and 12 years old or so. They wished for science kit and books. So yes, those will work too, but might be hard to know exactly which books they want etc.

        • dasher86 on 19/11/2016 - 12:20

          I figure I do some moulding and give them stuff I like.

  • scrimshaw on 19/11/2016 - 16:39

    Those Cheerson quad copters from Geekbuy or Gearbest would make pretty good older boys toys.

    There's also puzzle toys you could look or DIY robot kits.

  • Shoppingisfun on 19/11/2016 - 16:43

    Definitely science kits…there are volcano or solar powered vehicle type ones for boys and lip gloss or bath bomb type ones for girls.
    Books are great…small sets from Big W…Timmy Failure, Andy Griffiths, Ella and Olivia, Billie B.
    Lush has beautiful bath bombs for little girls, could get a few for $20. Good thing is they enjoy using them there they're done..no storage, no mess etc.
    Anything from Smiggle for boys or girls.
    For older kids, a pack of Nike socks or Nike drink bottle.
    Good luck!

  • kind on 19/11/2016 - 18:00

    Kmart has some very nice 10$ toy bears. Grab one today.

  • Kwikyoz on 19/11/2016 - 20:08

    Kick scooter, skateboard, puzzle/ thinking board games, hopper balls (younger ones) backyard tennis, soccer balls/ footballs etc. Movie tickets just to name a few.

    Beware some kids don't like Legos- trust me.. Mine included.

    Happy shopping.

  • gekiyasu on 19/11/2016 - 21:00
    +1

    Get them all kites.

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