Here's our guide to what to buy for primary school age children, aged 5 to 10, with something for every budget and hopefully with something to suit all children's interests.

What to consider:

This age group can be fairly opinionated about what they'd like for Christmas and peer pressure from the school playground might well influence their ideas of what's cool and what's not.

Classics (a new bike or scooter, a wooden castle or dolls' house, or board games) work just as well, if not better than, a particular year's 'must-have' toy. Think carefully about what will be played with for months and years and what will be cast aside in a week or two, no matter how much playground kudos it has.

If you're buying for someone else's child, bear in mind there's a huge variation in tastes among primary schoolers – some love fantasy toys, some prefer things which mimic real life, some are sports mad, others like nothing better than a bit of knitting or arts and craft, while yet more always appreciate the latest gadget.

If you're stuck for ideas and want to ensure you invest in a winning choice (and don't mind the lack of surprise when they unwrap it), ask the child or their parents for some hints.

With your own children, whether you go down the Christmas gift list route or not is personal preference – some people think it's a bit 'grabby', others like the way it means their kids get things they actually want and will play with. Amazon has a good, free wish list service.

Check out our inspirational presents for tweens, aged 10 to 12, for boys and girls.

20 of the best gifts for girls and boys aged five-10 years

  • <p> This Sylvanian Families Berry Grove School, &pound;49.97, from <a href="http://www.tesco.com/" target="_blank">Tesco</a> is a cute play set with spacious classroom, library, an arts and crafts area, staircase and a working clock so everyone will know when it&rsquo;s time for school.</p>
  • <p> Head to <a href="http://www.bombayduck.co.uk/charm-bracelets-and-accessories/charm-tbar-bracelet-with-heart-tag-silver">bombayduck.co.uk&nbsp; </a>for this pretty Charm Bracelet, from &pound;4.95 plus from &pound;2.75 per charm. She&rsquo;ll be desperate to show it off and friends and relatives can buy extra charms for future Christmas and birthday celebrations to add to her collection.</p> <p> </p>
  • <p> The Djeco Draw a Fashion Show, &pound;22, from <a href="http://www.crafts4kids.co.uk/" target="_blank">Crafts 4 Kids </a>is a gorgeous art set which allows budding fashion designers to put their own mark on the 32 pre-printed mannequin cards using the artist-quality pens, clothing templates and stickers included.</p>
  • <p> The Personalise Your Sonic Screwdriver, &pound;19.99, from <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Doctor-Who-Personalise-Sonic-Screwdriver/dp/B0056EO5IS/ref=cm_cr_pr_product_top">Amazon</a> is one of this year&rsquo;s &lsquo;hot toys&rsquo; for Christmas, according to the Toy Retailers&rsquo; Association and a must for Doctor Who addicts. Mix and match the screwdriver components to create no less than 80 different combinations.&nbsp;</p> <p> </p> <p> </p>
  • <p> Log onto <a href="http://www.boots.com/en/Playmobil-Family-Holiday-Home_1209552/">Amazon</a> to get a Playmobil Holiday Home for &pound;49.99 - because Playmobil people need a break too! Make every day a holiday for them with this fab two floor house, complete with barbecue and patio area. Splash out extra (sorry for the naff pun) on the <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/PLAYMOBIL%C2%AE-4858-Open-Pool-Slide/dp/B00324REN2">swimming pool with waterslide set</a> (from &pound;29.99) to make their stay even better.</p> <p> </p>
  • <p> With&nbsp;ChoconChoc Make a Chocolate House Kit, &pound;15 from <a href="http://www.chocolateonchocolate.co.uk/product/179.aspx">chocolateonchocolate.co.uk</a>, they have everything needed to make their own chocolate dwelling, including Belgian white and milk chocolate, moulds for trees and the house, plus a chef&rsquo;s hat.</p> <p> Masses of fun - just don&rsquo;t let them scoff too much of the building materials as they go.</p> <p> </p>
  • <p> Crafty kids can create this pretty kitty with the Black Cat Starter Knitting Set, &pound;16, from <a href="http://www.notonthehighstreet.com/thelittleknitkitcompany/product/create-your-own-black-cat-knitting-kit">notonthehightstreet.com.</a> The easy-to-use knitting set, designed for beginners, includes child-friendly needles.</p> <p> </p> <p> </p>
  • <p> The brilliant new Lego Ideas Book, &pound;8.39 from <a href="http://www.whsmith.co.uk/CatalogAndSearch/ProductDetails.aspx?productID=35234838">Whsmith</a>, is sure to provide heaps of inspiration to help kids make the most of their brick collection. It contains endless ideas grouped into six themes (space, kingdoms, &lsquo;useful makes&rsquo;, adventures, transport and buildings).</p> <p> </p> <p> </p>
  • <p> It's hard to go wrong with <a href="http://shop.lego.com/en-GB/Fire-Temple-2507" target="_blank">Lego </a>for primary school kids - whatever their interests are, there'll probably be something to appeal to them.</p> <p> We're reliably informed that the Ninjago Temple, &pound;91.99, will be one of this Christmas' most popular buys, but some of our other current favourites are the Lego Police Station (&pound;71.99), VW Camper Van (&pound;71.99 - more complicated than most to build so it will probably need an adult's involvement), and Knight Bus (&pound;29.99).</p>
  • <p> From the same Swiss designers as the immensely popular Mini Micro scooters, the Maxi Micro, &pound;99.95, from <a href="http://www.johnlewis.com/" target="_blank">John Lewis</a> is designed for six-year-olds upwards who still love to scoot.&nbsp;<br /> <a href="http://www.johnlewis.com/" target="_blank">John Lewis</a> have a range of limited edition colours, including this funky pink and a vivid green. For extra street cred, add the matching scooter bag (&pound;14.95) which attaches to the front handle:</p>
  • <p> There&rsquo;s no more dishing out tatty paper money with Monopoly Electronic Banking. Instead, for &pound;24.95, from <a href="http://direct.tesco.com/q/R.211-8251.aspx ">Tesco</a>, you get a handheld banker unit and debit cards. Gone too are the old style dog/ boat/ hat counters, in come the likes of a Segway transporter, baseball cap and flat screen TV. What remains the same though is the aim of the game &ndash; to get the most dosh by the end, bankrupting the rest of the family as you go.</p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p>
  • <p> We don't get the appeal of Moshi Monsters but kids certainly seem to - they're a massive trend in many a primary playground at the moment. Fans will delight in this treehouse, &pound;19.99 from <a href="http://www.smythstoys.com/moshi-monsters-718sc/moshling-treehouse-110751itm.aspx" target="_blank">Smyths Toys,</a> with working basket lift, so they can haul their collection up to the hang out inside. Doubles as Moshi Monster storage between playing sessions and comes with a 'Roxy Moshling'.</p>
  • <p> For &pound;24.99, from <a href="http://www.toysrus.co.uk/Toys-R-Us/Learning/Science/Hexbug-Nano-Habitat-Set%280082864%29">Toys R Us</a>, get a Hexbug Nano Habitat Set. Mesmerising robotic creepy crawlies which can be played with alone or observed scurrying round &lsquo;habitats&rsquo;.</p> <p> </p>
  • <p> Older primary schoolers love their gadgets and young music moghuls will appreciate this funky-looking Samsung MP3 player, &pound;23.99, from <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/" target="_blank">Amazon.</a> With 4GB of memory there should be room for around 1,000 songs (plenty of space for many years' worth of X Factor hits then.) and they can also listen to audio books on it too. Available in turquoise or pink.</p> <p> </p>
  • <p> Start getting the kids into Olympics mode ready for 2012 with this Micro Scalextric Team GB Velodrome Cycling Set, &pound;69.95, from <a href="http://www.johnlewis.com/231292833/Product.aspx?SearchTerm=velodrome+cycling+set">John Lewis</a>. If they get bored with the sight of the two Team GB cyclists whizzing round the track, it&rsquo;s also compatible with Micro Scalextric rally cars (sold separately).</p> <p> </p>
  • <p> This Tear and Share Sweetie Hamper, &pound;30, from <a href="http://www.johnlewis.com/230588173/Product.aspx">John Lewis</a> is the surest way to ensure &lsquo;giver of best present&rsquo; status this Christmas! Tear and Share Sweetie Hamper, &pound;30.00 from <a href="http://www.johnlewis.com/230588173/Product.aspx">John Lewis</a>. Granted you&rsquo;re also going to cause the world&rsquo;s biggest sugar rush, but this hamper is so packed with confectionary favourites from the old days (flying saucers, sherbets, dip dabs, blackjacks, Fruit salads!) it&rsquo;ll have parents in such a fit of childhood nostalgia they won&rsquo;t mind.</p> <p> </p>
  • <p> This official Panini Table Football Game, &pound;19.50, from <a href="http://www.marksandspencer.com/Marks-and-Spencer-Panini-Football/dp/B002PSMC9W">Marks and Spencer</a> sits on top of a kitchen or coffee table and includes scoreboards and two balls. Big enough for a decent match but, at 51cm x 31cm x 10cm, sensibly-sized for storage.</p> <p> </p>
  • <p> Harry Potter enthusiasts will love the Warner Bros Studio Tour gift tickets for the Harry Potter Studios, &pound;28 per adult and &pound;21 per child (under 5s free). It's a tour of the Hertfordshire film studios, where the most successful movie series of all time was shot. Guests are among the first to see the sets, props, costumes and animatronics when they open to the public from March 2012. Gift or standard tickets are available now and you can book a date and time for your visit at <a href="http://tickets.wbstudiotour.co.uk/webstore/shop/ViewItems.aspx?CG=HPTS&amp;C=TIX">wbstudiotour.co.uk</a>.&nbsp;</p> <p> </p>
  • <p> Boys and girls alike will find this high-tech Touch Screen ATM, &pound;35, from the <a href="http://www.sciencemuseumshop.co.uk/games-and-gadgets-science-gadget/product/290487/sm-touch-screen-atm.html#" target="_blank">Science Museum </a>the coolest way to keep their pocket money. Feed coins in and it automatically recognises their value and keeps tally of total contents, whilst there&rsquo;s a &lsquo;cash card&rsquo; and PIN system for withdrawals to ensure pesky younger siblings (or sneaky parents who forgot to go to the real cash machine) don&rsquo;t get their mitts on money that isn&rsquo;t theirs.&nbsp;</p>