Toy Story Gifts for Kids

Toy Story is one of the few things that works for a three year old and a nine year old, which makes it a safe bet when you're buying for a child you don't see every week.

The ideas below are split by age and budget, with the quiet stuff (colouring, art sets) separated from the loud stuff, because one of those gets played with in the car and the other does not.

We make cards, pin badges and prints in house, printed in the UK. We don't make toys - the toy links below are to other shops, and buying through them costs you nothing extra.

Best for toddlers and pre-schoolers (2-4)

• A talking character figure. At this age the voice lines are the whole gift, and it usually ends up in bed with them.
• Chunky character figures they can actually drop. Anything with small removable parts is a few years too early.
• A Toy Story bedtime book, which turns the film into something you do together rather than something on a screen.
• Bath toys or a character cup - dull to give, used every single day.
• Skip anything with a lot of small pieces, and check the age rating on the box rather than the shelf label.

Best for ages 5-7

• A giant colour-me pad. The size is the novelty, and it buys you a genuinely quiet Sunday afternoon.
• A Toy Story art or stationery set for starting school - felt tips, stickers and a pencil case in one.
• Character figures they can line up and act out scenes with, which is where the imaginative play kicks in.
• A jigsaw around 100 pieces - hard enough to be a challenge, not hard enough to end in tears.
• Sticker books and activity pads for long car journeys and waiting rooms.

Best for ages 8 and up

• Collectible or posable figures, which at this age get displayed on a shelf rather than dragged round the garden.
• A build-it kit or model, so the making is part of the present.
• Art supplies with a bit more to them - proper pens, a sketch pad, something that outlasts the theme.
• A film night bundle: the box set, popcorn and a blanket, wrapped together.
• Dressing up still lands at this age, especially in the run-up to World Book Day.

Dressing up and parties

• A Woody or Jessie outfit covers Halloween, World Book Day and most fancy dress parties in one buy.
• Adult versions exist too, which is how you end up matching your child at a birthday party. Forewarned.
• A cowboy hat and a checked shirt from the wardrobe gets you most of the way to Woody for nothing.
• For a Toy Story party: green army men as table scatter, a claw machine game, and 'you've got a friend in me' on repeat.
• Pin badges work as party bag fillers and cost less than plastic tat that's binned by Tuesday.

Budget guide

• Under £10: colouring pad, sticker book, character cup, a pin badge and a card.
• £10-£25: talking figure, art set, jigsaw, a book bundle.
• £25-£50: dressing up outfit, a larger figure set, or a film night bundle.
• Over £50: usually a big playset - worth checking with the parents first, because floor space is finite.
• Group gift from several families? One big playset beats five small figures they already own.

What to write in the card

• To infinity and beyond - happy birthday!
• You've got a friend in me. Happy birthday, from all of us.
• There's a snake in my boot! Have a brilliant birthday.
• Reach for the sky - happy birthday, big man.
• Happy birthday. Look after this one, it's going to be your favourite.

Shop birthday cards

Pin badges for the party bag

Made in house, and cheaper than plastic fillers.

How to write it so it lands

• Check the age rating on the box, not the shop's shelf label.
• Quiet gifts - colouring, jigsaws, books - are the ones parents thank you for.
• Ask before buying a big playset. Floor space is the real constraint.
• A pin badge and a card turns a small gift into a proper one.

Where to shop next

• Gifts for kids and school
• Kids' party games
• World Book Day costume ideas
• How much to spend on a child's birthday gift
• What to write in a child's birthday card
• Printables and party sheets
• The gift hub
• All guides
• Planning the party? Birthday party ideas
• How to make a balloon arch
• Photo booth prop ideas
• Birthday cards for kids
• Thank you cards
• Thank you cards guide
• Pin badges

Frequently asked questions

What is the best Toy Story gift for a 3 year old?

A talking character figure. The voice lines are what a toddler responds to, and it's sturdy enough to survive being carried everywhere.

What Toy Story gifts suit a 6 year old?

A giant colouring pad, an art or stationery set, or a small set of posable figures. At six they want to make things and act out scenes.

Are Toy Story gifts only for little kids?

No - the films run from 1995, so there's a decent chance the parents are bigger fans than the child. Collectible figures and dressing up work well into double figures.

What's a cheap Toy Story gift under £10?

A colouring or sticker pad, a character cup, or a pin badge with a card. Under a tenner and still unwrapped with enthusiasm.

Do you sell Toy Story toys?

No. We make cards, pin badges and prints in the UK. The toy links in this guide are to other shops.