We asked young children (and their parents) what they’d really like to find under the tree from the big man in red this year

• Best Christmas gifts for children aged five to eight, chosen by kids themselves – from Squishmallows and slime to Lego

What does an under-five want for Christmas in 2024? Well, according to Ayla, two, from London, it’s “a rainbow in the sky”. But short of cloud-seeding, what actually are the best gifts to delight young children?

Whether you’re a parent whose repeated attempts to get them to write to Santa have failed, a grandparent panicking in John Lewis, or a close (but clueless) family friend, here are 28 ideas for Christmas presents for under-fives direct from kids, and their parents, themselves.