Please note, this post contains some gifted items, marked with a *, however we will only recommend products when we genuinely love them! We are brand ambassadors for Little Trekkers, so often link to products available from there, even where we have previously purchased from other places.

Whether your little ones love relaxing on a campsite or hiking up a hill, here are a few ideas for Christmas gifts that they’ll not only love, but are super useful too!

From ways to make memories and inspiration for long-lasting gifts, through to fun stocking fillers for kids who love the outdoors, we’re sure that these will be great presents to spread some joy this Christmas.

To help make it clearer, I’ve split this into three main sections: Outdoor Clothing & Accessories, Toys & Activities, Making Memories.

Outdoor Clothing and Accessories

Learning Resources UK Geosafari Jr Kidnoculars

The Learning Resources Kidnoculars are probably one of our greatest purchases for Lily.

They are binoculars designed specifically for kids, with slip-free handles and a rubber surrounding to the eye area, so they can fit perfectly around little faces and in little hands.

Lily forgets she is on long walks with these and loves to see what she can spot along the way, from butterflies and birds to landmarks on the horizon. You also don’t need to focus with them too as they have a set 2x focus keeping them simple for little explorers.

The neck strap also has a breakaway clasp for safety, which is great as Lily loves to run and explore with these on every adventure.

For more information, check out the Learning Resources website here

Kelty Bestie Blanket*

Now a staple on every one of our roadtrips, the Kelty Bestie Blanket is now officially our adventure Bestie!

It rolls into its own handy little cover to keep it tidy, a bit like a sleeping bag cover, but then folds out into a beautiful blanket that is just unbelievably cosy!

Perfect for camping, roadtrips and keeping in the car or van for chilly evenings by the campfire or keeping cosy on the road, we can’t recommend it enough – so much so that we’ve now ordered two more for the rest of the family!

They’re such high quality, so soft on the inside, and so warm for both kids and adults too.

Check out the Little Trekkers range of Kelty products here

Spotty Otter Forest Ranger Jacket*

I’m not sure how we got through days out in wet weather before we tried out the Spotty Otter Forest Ranger Jacket – it is the most waterproof jacket we’ve ever come across.

Don’t let rainy days spoil the fun. We know kids love the outdoors, but there is nothing worse than coming home with a soggy coat, or being unable to dry your coat while on a campsite. The Forest Ranger Jacket solves everything – keeping the kids dry and enjoying their adventures, without coming home with wet, heavy coats.

Lily’s favourite features are the little peak on the hood and the reflector strips on the wrists, which she shone under every light on the campsite to check they still worked 😉

It is waterproof, windproof, childproof, and also treasure-proof thanks to the big pockets to store everything she’s collected along the way. From forest school and coastal walks to camping trips and rainy school runs, this coat has her covered!

Find out more about the Spotty Otter Forest Ranger Jacket here at Little Trekkers.

Julbo eyewear sunglasses*

Another great idea for a stocking filler are these Julbo eyewear sunglasses.

Lily isn’t one for wearing sunglasses as they often fall off her face, but these are the first ones that she insists on wearing as soon as the sun comes out.

They wrap round her face and are super comfy, so don’t fall off and she barely notices she has them on.

She stays protected from the sun, can see clearly, and they look great too!

Find out more about the Julbo range of sunglasses at Little Trekkers here.

Klean Kanteen Water Bottle

The Klean Kanteen water bottles are in a league of their own and would be great to open up under the Christmas tree or to pack out a stocking. We go through so many water bottles, but now have definitely found our favourite for adventures.

We love the kids classic sports bottles, with spill-proof top to not dampen any days out!

The little loop on the top means it can be carried or attached to a backpack, and the insulation means it can keep hot drinks warm for 12 hours or iced drinks cool for up to 40hours! They also come in a whole range of designs to keep adventures (and staying hydrated!) fun while being great for the environment to avoid single use bottles.

Find out more about the Klean Kanteen water bottles here

Trunki Paddlepak

For a gift that wont fail to put a smile on their faces, the Trunki Paddlepak is your answer!

Whether you’re heading to the beach, the pool or to the stream for a paddle, the Paddlepak is completely water resistant with a roll top, allowing little ones to store up to 7.5l of whatever they want for their adventures, while keeping everything dry!

What’s more, there are plenty of fun designs to choose from, including a lobster, fish and turtle.

Find out more about the range of Trunki items at Little Trekkers here

Tula Mini toy carrier

One of the best things we bought Lily for her birthday was her Tula Baby toy carrier as she always takes a toy of some kind on our adventures, so it means she can now carry them herself!

We always carried Lily in her own Tula carrier when she was younger and so it is really special to have her own one now too.

They are really comfy to wear and come in all kinds of unisex designs as well as matching ones you can twin with parents too!

Find out more about the Tula Baby Mini toy carriers here.

Cotswold Ducklington Walking Boots*

Lily isn’t always the happiest when walking in wellies, and for our longer days out we realised we needed something more hardwearing to keep her on her feet, while still letting her explore all the muddy puddles, without soggy toes. We realised she was much happier in walking boots, but her last one’s weren’t waterproof, meaning we still had to mix it up with wellies.

Now, with the Cotswold Ducklington Walking Boots, we have the answer – she finds them incredibly comfortable, they’re play-proof, puddle-proof, trail-proof and dance-in-the-mud proof too!

We’ve only had these recently, but I know they will be on many adventures with us – we could not be more impressed with them, they are such high quality, look great, and will definitely be our go-to boots in the future too.

They currently come in blue or pink, and are easy to get on/off too. Find out more here at Little Trekkers.

Creative Toys and Activities

Button & Squirt – everything!

Where do I start with Christmas ideas from Button & Squirt? From their Amazing Animals Fact Cards and Activity Books through to their 3D models and eco soft toys, there really is something for everyone to enjoy.

Lily takes her Amazing Animals and Amazing Dinosaurs fact cards on every adventure, her Amazing British Birds activity book is a staple in our backpack for days out, and we can’t describe how soft her eco elephant is!

If you’re looking to shop small, shop eco and shop AWESOME this year, look no further. Everything is hand-drawn by the incredible Ria, sustainably sourced, educational, and she gives back to charity with every sale too.

What’s more, you can find everything from decorations and cards to beautiful eco-friendly, long-lasting gift bags too. I can’t recommend this beautiful little store enough.

Check out the Button & Squirt range of Christmas ideas here and her beautiful full shop range here.

Usborne Questions and Answers About Nature book

One of Lily’s favourite books is the Usborne Questions and Answers about Nature, a book that will give years of information, learning and fun.

With flaps to give you answers and your little ones the time to explore the questions, this book is packed with information for every little adventurer who wants all the answers to all the questions!

This book is such high quality and is a great way to explore and learn about nature while providing answers to all those random questions that the little ones come out with, making it a beautiful present for Christmas.

We’ve also just ordered the Usborne Mini books for Lily for Christmas this year, including the Bugs To Spot book with stickers and a chart to keep track of what you’ve found. This also comes with versions for trees, birds and more. A great pocket book for all the little adventurers out there.

For all our Usborne books, we use the lovely Ruth’s Little Readers shop – find out more here.

My Busy Bots Fun Folder

This is a fantastic addition for every adventurer. We love the My Busy Bots fun folder as it contains all her pencils and activities for days out, overnight stays, or long car journeys when she needs something to keep her occupied.

It is very high quality, with a zipped outer edge, vivid colours, gorgeous illustrations and would make such a beautiful gift.

The activities booklets are designed by age, with a whole range of fantastic activities to keep little ones busy. Lily loves the dinosaurs one so much that I’ve now ordered the pirates and mermaids one and the Christmas one too!

You can order the Fun Folder and Christmas book together, which would be great for activities over the festive season, whether you’re at home or away.

Find out more about the My Busy Bots Fun Folder here.

Playmobil Family Camping Trip

For those days where it is just too miserable to set up your tent or for a cosy evening in, planning your next adventure, the Playmobil camping set is a great way to inspire your little ones to role play their favourite adventures.

Lily’s had her set for over a year and still loves to recreate her camping adventures – especially with the little sleeping bags!

The set comes with people, squirrels, a tent, BBQ and more, making it a great package to unwrap on Christmas morning in time for getting excited for next year’s adventures!

Find out more on the Playmobil website here

Peppa Pig Grow & Play Pot*

We were sent the Peppa Pig Grow & Play Pot and I couldn’t believe how much fun Lily had with them. So much so, she wants more for Christmas!

Each come with their own packet of different edible plant seeds to grow. Lily had the cress version with Peppa and was amazed about how quickly it grew.

The instructions are so easy, there are 4 to collect in the set and they are all interlinkable, to make a little “street”. The little characters “live” inside the plant pots, so a great way to play and have fun while learning about how things grow.

The pots are available online, including from Smyths Toys here.

Sylvanian Families Camping Set

If you’re still looking for inspiration for something to unwrap on Christmas morning, Sylvanian Families has so many options, from the campervan through to mini adventures to roleplay.

We bought Lily the Seaside Camping Set last year which is a great little set that she keeps in her adventure bag to take away with us camping, to our camping pods and anywhere we stay overnight. All the little bits fit inside the tent for easy storage and she has hours of fun with this.

At home, she loves to play with it alongside her Sunshine Bus, but has her eye on the campervan. The Sylvanian Families Lighthouse is already on order and waiting for her for Christmas morning too – beautiful gifts that give years of play.

For more ideas from Sylvanian Families for outdoor adventures, click here.

Pom Pom Climbing Triangle

Little ones constantly climbing the walls at home? If you’re looking for something truly special, this Colourful PomPom Climbing Triangle for kids from 6 months up to the age of 5 is just beautiful.

It’s a great way to keep active at home, practise their climbing skills, keep busy, and a long-lasting present too. It’s the world’s first climbing triangle with 3 easily adjustable heights and is instantly foldable too so easy to tidy away.

It is made in the UK, comes in plain wood or colour and has a reversible ramp / slide on it too.

If you’re looking for a truly unique Christmas present for a little explorer, this really does look fantastic.

Find out more about the Climbing Triangle from PomPom here – an incredible small business with some beautiful plastic-free, eco- friendly toys.

Fuzzikins campervan

Anyone who has followed us for a while will know that this kid loves her Fuzzikins campervan. She fell in love with it at Gloworm 2019, and has since come on every adventure with us!

The Fuzzikins can be coloured in, washed, and recoloured, while used to role play all her favourite adventures.

They come in a campervan with a carry handle, making them perfect for taking away for screen-free fun on overnight stays, campsites, or wherever we know she may need a bit of a distraction.

Inside, you can also find colouring sticker sheets and little slots for the pens, so everything can be easily tidied away – win, win!

A lovely present for Christmas morning for every little explorer to enjoy.

Find out more about the Fuzzikins here.

Making Memories

Gloworm Festival Tickets

With 2020 being such a crazy year, why not make those memories together in 2021? Gloworm Festival is a fantastic festival to introduce the love of festivals to little ones.

Whether you wish to enjoy the campsite for the weekend, join in the dancing, visit the animals or meet their heroes, there really is something for everyone to enjoy at Gloworm Festival.

What’s more, the prices have been frozen until December 31st 2020, and payment plans are available too, making it a great Christmas gift for all the family while spreading the cost. Glamping options are also available to make it even more special.

Check out our full review of Gloworm Festival here or visit their website here.

Elderflower Fields festival tickets*

Another fantastic festival for all the family is Elderflower Fields, with the South festival taking place from May 28th-31st 2020 and the Midlands festival taking place June 11th-13th 2020.

With nature fun, music, sports and the arts, there is no better way to enjoy the outdoors with the family in the countryside.

From wildlife activities through to woodland fun, sports, activities and more, it promises to be another fantastic weekend at Elderflower Fields, so will definitely be a great option for a memory-making Christmas present.

For more information on Elderflower Fields, check out the festival website here.

Adopt an animal

For a truly different way to give an amazing gift this Christmas, why not adopt an animal? Depending on the package, some come with beautiful gift packages including soft toys, certificate and regular photos of the animal you’ve chosen, helping kids learn about the animals too.

Why not combine it with a ticket to the place you’ve adopted from, not only helping support the zoo or farm during this difficult time, but a great way to make memories too?

From alpaca and cow adoptions through to giraffes, elephants and more, there are plenty of places to adopt an animal, supporting places that really need it right now, while giving such a treasured gift.

We recommend London Zoo adoptions as well as Pukka Pacas alpaca adoption and Bluebell Dairy, however if you check out your favourite local farm or zoo, you could also find out if they run them too.

Gulliver’s Theme Parks Stay & Play packages

Why not book a staycation with one of the fantastic themed Stay & Play packages at Gulliver’s Theme Parks?

We’ve visited the overnight accommodation around 5 times now at different Gulliver’s parks, and Lily has always had a great time, from the dino den and beach den through to the pirate suite!

Packed with activities for kids of all ages, affordable themed rooms, and the packages can be booked with theme park tickets for the next day too, making it a great way to make memories and give a really special gift this year.

Find out more about the Adventurer’s Village here or the Gulliver’s Kingdom Explorer’s Retreat here.

Animal experiences

From a day as a zoo keeper to encounters with animals, you really could give a very special gift this Christmas to a kid who loves animals.

We have our eye on the Peak Wildlife Park penguin experiences (find out more here), but there are zoos and farms all over the country that can offer safe and fun encounters with some incredible animals, including giraffes, elephants, turtles and more.

We recommend experiences at Peak Wildlife Park (click here), Twycross Zoo (click here) and Cotwold Wildlife Park (click here).

Let me know if you have any other ideas that you think we should add to the list!

Find out more about the Learning Resources UK top 10 educational gifts for kids this Christmas with their Building Someone Amazing campaign, here.

For more ideas on screen-free travel gifts for kids, click here.

For more ideas for family-friendly festivals, click here.