What kind of Christmas gift toy will delight both parents and children?

A gift for a young child is also, in a sense, a gift for the parents. The child plays with it, but it's the parent who receives it and sends the thank-you note. While the most important thing is that a child's gift makes the child happy, parents—who spend so much time with their kids—inevitably notice these things too. You might give a toy in loud colors that clashes completely with a carefully decorated home, or a large toy to a family living in a compact apartment with no room to spare. And for families who are particular about the materials their children handle, something made with reassuring materials and a trustworthy background matters. There are, in fact, more things to consider than you might expect.

Dinosaur Rock House / ¥10,560 (tax included)

This time, we've selected items that fit naturally into the interior of even the most design-conscious homes, that won't get in the way, and that are stylish enough to make you want to snap a photo alongside them. These are all toys that are especially popular during the Christmas season.

A fabric picture book that's fun to look at and delightful to touch

Goodnight Book / ¥8,030 (tax included)

The Goodnight Book from oskar&ellen is a popular choice for baby shower gifts as well. Founded in Stockholm in 2000, oskar&ellen is a fabric toy maker that creates toys designed to stimulate children and build their learning ability and creativity through colorful play and imaginative role-play.

Among their toys, the most popular is the "Goodnight Book." Shaped like an easy-to-carry bag, it becomes a picture book once you open the zipper.

The story follows the main character getting ready for bed—putting away toys, taking a bath, brushing teeth. It's easy for even young children to follow the story, and it captures the warmth found in simple, everyday routines. The designs aren't printed but sewn into the fabric, with all the fine embroidery done by hand by skilled artisans. With careful attention to safety and its status as a fair trade product, this is a gift made with kindness in mind—not just for the child, but for the people who made it too.

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A beautiful swan bath toy that captivates adults too

Bath Toy Swan / ¥3,300 (tax included)

Bath toys that make daily bath time fun are also important to parents—they can encourage kids to head into the bath and help them stay in the tub a little longer. Many people like to collect a few so their child doesn't get bored, which also makes bath toys an easy gift to give.

Natruba began when a couple living on the small Danish island of Bornholm, watching their own curious child try to put everything in their mouth, wished to give babies toys made from environmentally friendly materials free of chemicals. This is a brand that makes handmade toys using natural rubber. Compared to synthetic plastic or silicone, natural rubber is more flexible, making it easy for small children to grip, and safe even when put in the mouth.

One thing that can be a concern with bath toys is hygiene. The Bath Toy Swan is designed without any valves or holes, so there's no worry about mold or bacteria building up inside, allowing for hygienic play. Its elegant form, as if gracefully spreading its wings while bathing, is born from a process that begins with a hand-drawn sketch, from which a mold is made—every step, including trimming and painting, is carried out by hand with care by skilled artisans. Part of its charm is that each one has a slightly different expression.

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For dinosaur-loving kids, wooden blocks to touch and learn from

Dinosaur Blocks /  ¥6,380 (tax included)

Dinosaur Blocks are toys you can look at, touch, and learn from. These fun wooden blocks are sure to bring a smile to any child who's crazy about dinosaurs and monsters.

The blocks feature eight dinosaurs and one reptile, with all six faces illustrated with fascinating information—the shape of the dinosaur's skull fossil, its footprints, the era it lived in, and size comparisons with humans—that even adults can learn from. The raised, embossed faces show the skull and footprints. These blocks are fun to look at and to touch, and can also be used to make impressions in clay or as stamps.

Toys that let children use their imagination to play in many different ways, and that let them absorb knowledge through play, tend to satisfy parents as well. The blocks are made from basswood, a wood that's light and not too hard, so even two-year-olds can hold them—and the fact that everything, right down to the ink and packaging, uses only renewable American resources that are kind to the environment adds to the peace of mind.

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The classic game of playing doctor, now with a wonderful wooden toy

Doctor Set / ¥5,280 (tax included)

For young children, doctors are among the few people outside their family that they interact with regularly. The confident way doctors and nurses handle their instruments naturally captures a child's curiosity. Because of this, toys designed for playing doctor are quite common, but it's rare to find one whose design also satisfies parents.

This doctor set is made by PLANTOYS, a company that was the first in the world to use rubberwood as a toy material, driven by a desire to create toys that are safe and gentle on the environment, free from chemical substances such as preservatives. All five items that come out of the red doctor's bag are made of wood, yet each one is crafted with careful attention to detail. Since the parts are fixed with adhesive rather than screws, there's no worry about children swallowing loose screws, making this a toy you can let them play with safely.

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For girls who love to dress up, a kids' wristwatch

Kids' Wristwatch Mini Kyomo FRIENDSHIP / ¥9,680 (tax included)

For a child, receiving a wristwatch as a gift can make them feel like they've joined the world of grown-ups, giving them a special sense of pride. Even if they don't need it right away, occasions to use it will increase as they start lessons and other activities. With a design from Mini Kyomo that even adults would want to wear, it's the kind of watch that will make them say, "This is exactly what I was looking for!"

Kids' Wristwatch Mini Kyomo 1987 / ¥9,680 (tax included)

Mini Kyomo wristwatches are designed with parents' perspectives carefully considered. The dial features small dot marks for every minute (second) and numbers every 5 minutes (seconds), making it easier for children to learn how to read time. Other reassuring points include water resistance up to 5 atmospheres for everyday splashes and a washable nylon strap, allowing kids to wear it without worry. It makes a gift that both parents and children will be happy with.

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Display it as it is once assembled. A wooden puzzle from Hungary

FAUNA Animal Parent and Child Sheep / ¥3,300 (tax included)

When it comes to educational toys for children, puzzles are a must-have. But don't you ever find yourself at a loss for where to put a puzzle once it's assembled? With FAUNA's colorful and fun wooden puzzles, you can display them as objects even after they're put together. Children love them, and since they're Hungarian wooden toys, adults are happy too—they make a lovely accent piece for the home without looking out of place among the furniture.

FAUNA Animal Parent and Child Panda / ¥4,950 (tax included)

This puzzle uses maple wood from sustainably managed forests, and is painted with non-toxic paint that has obtained the CE mark, Europe's safety standard, so that children can play with it safely. Each set is cut from a single wooden board, which is why every piece fits together perfectly. Although these steps could be mechanized, they are deliberately done by hand, resulting in a unique puzzle full of warmth and individual character.

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