What will the little people in your life be hoping to find under the Christmas tree this year? Velvet’s smallest team members, Isla, 5, and Mia, 6, unwrap some of this season’s best presents and give their honest verdicts

LITTLE LIVE PETS - MAMA SURPRISE

Never has a toy had such anticipation! Isla loves to watch videos on YouTube Kids so had already seen this clever interactive toy in action (and was truly captivated).

Mama Surprise is a gorgeous fluffy guinea pig, who you care for by feeding her celery, brushing her soft fur and giving her cuddles. She responds with the cutest little life-like squeaks of appreciation. Once enough TLC has been administered, Mama’s heart begins to glow, indicating she is ready to give birth, so you settle her into the magical interactive hutch, and wait for her three babies to be born. The adorable baby guinea pigs arrive with dinky care packages, which include birth certificates, accessories such as glasses and tiaras, and hair elastics, so you can create different looks.

Mia and Isla were in raptures over this toy, excited to care for the mummy guinea pig, and literally squealing with delight when the babies were ‘born’, one by one.

And the fact that this wonderful experience is repeatable, makes it well worth the money. Santa better stock up on these for December 25!

Little Live Pets Mama Surprise, rrp £64.99, age 4+, available at Argos, Smyths, The Entertainer, Amazon, Very

SCRUFF-A-LUVS SEW SURPRISE

In my experience, children love to mess around with water – and embrace any opportunity to ‘bathe’ their toys – whether they be waterproof or not!

So, this gift was an immediate winner with Mia and Isla.

You open the pretty pink packaging to discover a matted ball of fur, which needs a bath to be brought to life. Brilliantly, as the girls are both OBSESSED with cats, our ball of fur transformed into a kitten (some become pups and you don’t know which pet you’ll get until you wet it). Once dry, your pet can be fluffed up with a good brush. Then it’s time to use the magic sewing machine to discover 10 surprises. Turn the multicoloured spools of thread to open the machine drawers and find super-cute fashionable outfits and accessories; ours included pink glasses, a headband, a watch, plus a trendy matching magenta two-piece! The girls loved dressing up their Scruff-A-Luvs kitten, as well as accessorising the sewing machine with the fun sticker sheet provided. There are hours of fun to be had with this oh-so-cuddly toy.

Scruff-A-Luvs Sew Surprise, rrp £29.99, age 5+, available at Argos, Smyths, The Entertainer, Amazon, Very

INTERNATIONAL ELF SERVICE CHRISTMAS ADVENT CALENDAR LETTERS

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Bring the magic of the North Pole, Father Christmas and his mischievous elves to life with these simply enchanting personalised letters. A festive bundle of 25 tales penned by the elves themselves, and addressed to your child or children, these enthralling letters can be hidden in their shoes, popped in school bags or slipped underneath their pillows.
Spark their imaginative with tales from the International Elf Service of cinnamon mines, magical wind machines, emergency pyjama meetings and Santa’s disastrous visit to Marshmallow Mountain.
Printed on recycled paper, featuring gorgeous illustrations, and bound in soft cotton candy cane cord, with eco-friendly personalised brown envelopes, they’re bursting with festive charm. And there’s even a letter from the man in the red suit himself!

The International Elf Service is the creation of Emily Beckloff, who grew up in Oakington, and has won numerous awards for its lovely range of North-Pole inspired products.

International Elf Service Christmas Advent Calendar Letters, personalised, £42.50, at internationalelfservice.com