Secret Santa Gifts for Kids And Cousins: Ideas Under £15

Secret Santa gifts for kids and cousins

A children's draw needs gifts that open well, survive the day and do not require batteries nobody has. Aim for immediate fun rather than long-term value, and keep the budget low enough that every family can join in.

Everything below sits inside a normal UK Secret Santa budget of £10 to £15, so nothing here makes anyone else's gift look small. The ideas are grouped by what usually works, what to steer clear of and how to handle the opening itself.

If you are still setting the draw up, the Secret Santa rules guide covers budgets, deadlines and drawing names, and our free name picker does the draw for you.

Secret Santa gifts under £15

Pin badges, candles, coasters and prints designed in house and posted from the UK — all comfortably inside a Secret Santa budget.

A typographic music print featuring Taylor Swift Bejewelled lyrics on high-quality paper, unframed. Best Believe I'm Still Bejewelled By Taylor Swift Music Lyrics Print £8.00 Unframed wall art print featuring the text 'In A World Of Grey, Be A Flamingo' in colourful, vibrant lettering. In A World Of Grey, Be A Flamingo Print (A4 & A3) £8.00 A colourful typographic wall art print with the quote 'I work hard so that my dog can live a better life' in A4 or A3. I Work Hard So That My Dog Can Live A Better Life Print (A4 & A3) £8.00 A colourful fitness wall print illustrating the HYROX competition race format with running and functional workout steps. Hyrox Competition Race Format Print (A4 & A3) £8.00 Enamel pin badge shaped like a red cowboy boot with the text What Would Dolly Do. What Would Dolly Do? Pin Badge £4.49 Small enamel pin badge with a funny "Chicken Nugget Club" design, perfect as a humorous novelty gift. Chicken Nugget Club Pin Badge (Small) £4.00

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Secret Santa gift ideas for kids and cousins

  1. A sticker or postcard set. Opened, used within minutes, costs very little.
  2. A pin badge for a school bag or coat.
  3. A small game or card game they can play the same afternoon.
  4. A puzzle sheet or activity printable, which fills the flat hour after lunch.
  5. Colouring pens and a sketchbook. Always used, never refused.
  6. Sweets or a chocolate selection, cleared with the parents first.
  7. A keyring for a bag or water bottle.
  8. A print for a bedroom wall with their name or favourite thing on it.

What to avoid

  • Anything needing batteries you have not supplied.
  • Noisy toys, unless you dislike the parents.
  • Age-inappropriate joke gifts, which land badly in a family room.
  • Anything with small parts for under-threes.

Budget and etiquette

  • Agree a low budget and one age band per draw where possible.
  • Check allergies before buying anything edible.
  • Let the kids open first so the adults can watch.
  • Label clearly — children's wrapping paper all looks the same.

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Pin badges under a tenner

Small enough to post, funny enough to survive being opened in front of everyone.

Enamel pin badge shaped like a red cowboy boot with the text What Would Dolly Do. What Would Dolly Do? Pin Badge £4.49 Small enamel pin badge with a funny "Chicken Nugget Club" design, perfect as a humorous novelty gift. Chicken Nugget Club Pin Badge (Small) £4.00 Small, cute enamel pin badge in the shape of a daisy flower. Cute Small Daisy Pin Badge £4.00 Cute Cat With Pearl Ball Pin Badge Cute Cat With Pearl Ball Pin Badge £4.00 All Panic, No Disco Pin Badge For Emos All Panic, No Disco Pin Badge For Emos £4.00 Small Heart Notification Pin Badge Small Heart Notification Pin Badge £4.00 What Would Dolly Do? Small Pin Badge What Would Dolly Do? Small Pin Badge £4.49 Cute Duck In Pink Cowboy Hat And Boots Pin Badge Cute Duck In Pink Cowboy Hat And Boots Pin Badge £4.00

Christmas cards to go with it

A card turns a small gift into a proper present. Printed and posted in the UK.

'tis the season to drink Guinness Christmas Card 'tis the season to drink Guinness Christmas Card £3.87 Let's drink (Guinness) and be Merry Christmas Card With Tree Let's drink (Guinness) and be Merry Christmas Card With Tree £3.87 Let's drink (Guinness) and be merry Christmas Card Let's drink (Guinness) and be merry Christmas Card £3.87 Wishing you an Electrifying Christmas Greeting Card Wishing you an Electrifying Christmas Greeting Card £3.87 Merry Christmas Nanny (Christmas Card For Nan) Merry Christmas Nanny (Christmas Card For Nan) £3.87 Merry Christmas Mummy (Christmas Card For Mum) Merry Christmas Mummy (Christmas Card For Mum) £3.87 Merry Christmas Brother (Christmas Card For Brothers) Merry Christmas Brother (Christmas Card For Brothers) £3.87 Merry Christmas Daddy (Christmas Card For Dad) Merry Christmas Daddy (Christmas Card For Dad) £3.87

How to write it so it lands

  • Usable on the day beats saved for later.
  • Check allergies before anything edible.
  • Separate the kids' draw from the adults'.

Where to shop next

Frequently asked questions

What are good Secret Santa gifts for kids?

Stickers, badges, card games, colouring sets, puzzle sheets, keyrings or sweets. Things that can be used the same afternoon.

What budget works for a children's draw?

£5 to £10. A low limit keeps every family comfortable and stops the draw becoming a competition.

Should kids and adults be in the same draw?

Usually not. Separate draws let you set different budgets and stop a child receiving a gift aimed at an adult.

How much should you spend on Secret Santa in the UK?

£10 to £15 at work and £15 to £20 in families. Agree one number rather than a range, and say up front whether the card and postage count towards it.

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