Useful Christmas Gifts People Will Love To Receive

This Cross Bailey Light Amber Gold Trim Ballpoint & Fountain Pen Set from Pen Heaven will make writing a delight whether it's being used for a shopping list or thank you letters. Writing will become a pleasure again with these beautifully designed pens with black ink. Pen Heaven have a range of gift sets at a wide price range so you can find a pen set for every budget, many options can be engraved too. Whether you choose their name or a motivational message it's a great way to show some extra thought has gone into the gift. 

Buy here

Cycle Of Good Bags and Card Wallet

Can you ever have too many bags? Whether you use them to carry your items to work, for shopping or as storage a bag is a practical present and these bags by Cycle of Good have something a little bit different about them. Cycle of Good sell ethical, recycled and green gifts. They directly employ Malawian tailors to ensure they get paid a good wage and they make their products by repurposing items that would otherwise go to landfill.  The credit card holder pictured is made from inner tube with a orange flash of recycled lorry curtain, the small tote bag is made from recycled coffee sacks and inner tubes with a wipe clean lining and the rucksack is made from organic cotton and hemp canvas with recycled inner tube straps.

Check out the full range here. Use code COUNTING20 for a 20% discount.

There are bags of potential uses for these ethically made items from Cycle of Good

Heat Holder Men's Dressing Gown

It can be hard getting out of bed on a cold winter's morning, but the Heat Holder range from Belledorm will make it a little bit easier. Providing toasty warmth this super soft dressing gown comes in a choice of 3 colours and 4 different sizes as well as 4 additional colour options in a Ladies Dressing Gown (style in image in Antique Silver). It might look like normal soft fleece, but the Heat Holder fabric has been designed to maximise the amount of warm air it can hold, this means it provides a superior level of insulation. 

Buy it here

This Heat Holders Dressing Gown from Belledorm is as cozy as a big hug

Practical Gifts For Children

ION8 lunch bag and water bottle

With this matching lunch box and water bottle from ION8 children will be excited to get back to school in January to show off their present. ION8 have a great range of different designs and whether they are using them for school packed lunches or picnics in the park it is bound to get lots of use. 

The insulated lunch bag has a zip round 3 sides so it is easy to open flat and clean, it can even go in the dishawasher. It has an elasticated mesh pocket on the side for a bottle. It also has other handy features like the carry handle with a clip so you can attach it to a school bag and there is space for the child's name on the bottom. This makes it easy to see who it belongs to when lying flat, but isn't visible to everyone they walk past on the school run.

We are long time fans of ION8 water bottles because they are easy to open and close, they don't leak and they have a good size spout for glugging back water quickly. As a bonus they are easy to clean without a complicated spout or narrow neck.

Buy the bag here

Buy the water bottle here

The Dragons print is one of the many designs available on this fun and practical lunch bag and water bottle from ION8

Gardman Paint Your Own Bird Feeder

This DIY bird feeder is a craft project which will give children something to do and it is more than just a display object after painting. Hang it in the garden to feed birds or you could even get your children to paint it before Christmas and then give it to Grandparents as a present. It comes with several paints and 2 paint brushes.

Buy it from Marshalls Garden

The birds will appreciate a snack from this bird feeder when it has been painted specially for them

Spotty Otter Fleece Lined Wellies

Splashing about in puddles is so much fun it’s even the core theme of one of children’s best loved television programmes. These Spotty Otter wellies are fleece lined to help keep toes cozy, a drawstring top to stop rain getting in, reflective strips and great grips on the soles. Available in Infants size 4 to Junior size 3 (or EU sizing 21 to 36). The wellies come in a choice of yellow, red or blue and they are perfect for having fun in the snow, rain, or maybe even muddy puddles. They make a practical present which promises lots of adventures. 

Buy here

Promise adventures this Christmas with well designed wellies from Spotty Otter

Little Hotdog Watson Arctic Cub Hat

Children are happy to have adventures as long as they feel warm and the Arctic Cub hat from Little Hotdog Watson will ensure they feel cozy all winter. Providing that little bit more coverage than a standard woolly hat it protects against harsh winds and is water resistant too. They can wear it with ear flaps up or down depending on their preference/ the weather and there is even reflective piping to help them be visible in the dark. Oh and it has ears too! The Arctic Cub hats come in a huge range of patterns so you will find something to suit every child's personality. Available in sizes 0-6 months to 8 to 10 years (they also have adult size hats, but in a few less pattern options). 

Buy here

Rudolph is modelling the Little Hotdog Watson Arctic Cub Hat in Panda Pop Yellow

Spotty Otter Forest Leader Insulated Printed PU Jacket

This PU jacket is super waterproof, but still soft and flexible. It is perfect for rainy day adventures whether to the playground or the zoo. The body and hood have a warm fleexe lining and the sleeves have polyester quilting. The hood is detachable and is peaked to keep the water out of their face and the elasticated cuffs will stop water running down their arms. There are also reflective trims to help them stand out in the dark. It is available in an exclusive dotty blue and red prints in ages 1-2 years to 7-8 years.

Buy it here

Waterproof, soft and insulated this jacket will be ready for anything

Personalised Towel from ASDA Photo

Bath time is bound to be more fun if children can dry off with a towel designed by them. For this design from ASDA photo we created some dragon wings, but children could draw anything they want. Just check the dimensions of the towel, create some artwork and pretty soon it will be on its way to you. You could even design towels personalised with their name, a photo of their face or their best artwork. 

Buy it here

This ASDA Photo towel features dragon's wings, but you can personalise with any photo or artwork you own

Time Teacher Watches From Tikkers

Watches are a great way for children to help learn the time and to learn to be on time. The Tikkers time teacher watches help make it easy with information around the dial to help learn the minutes from and to the hour. There are a wide range of styles that should appeal to all children. They come with a fun sticker sheet in the box and a one year guarantee.

Buy it here

These Tikkers Time Teacher watches make it easy to learn to tell the time

Sun-Star Japanese Stationery

Older children and teens can be difficult to buy for if you are looking for something practical they will use, cool stationery that will impress their classmates is a good choice though. Japanese stationery definitely ticks the box for being cool as well as innovative and uncommon enough in the UK to have serious street cred. These items from Sun-Star all have pretty smart designs: the pencil case pulls down to half it's height so you have an instant pen pot, each of the Ninipie pens has a double nib so you can highlight or write without switching pens and Twiink pens have 2 coloured nibs next to each other creating a fun 3D effect. 

 Buy them here

Cool stationery with clever features

If none of these ideas are quite right then how about a gift card for any experience they might enjoy? I think it's time we thought more about presents and give people things that are meaningful. What are you planning to give this Christmas?

Disclosure: this post contains gifted items and some affiliate links.