Harry Potter gifts - which are the best ( recent child convert!)

[Beakerandbungle]

Hi everyone

My two DSs have very belatedly got into Harry Potter ( one is 9 but a young 9 as ADHD and the other nearly 7).

This brings me great joy as it’s a new source of gifts . However given there are so many Harry Potter themed stuff just wondered if anyone had any recommends for the best ones they’ve found so far ( and the ones to avoid!).

You need to ask which house they identify with... then you have all of the clothing from hats down to socks...

Primark often does HP stuff, we get pyjamas and socks from there for the kids at Christmas, sooooooo much cheaper than the online HP shop stuff which can be eye-watering in price.

There is a lot of HP tat about... my girls like the jewellery and the platform 9 and 3/4 stuff... they are older and want less of the kiddie stuff now. They used to like anything Dobbie...

Lego is still popular here too and some of the HP lego sets are quite spectacular. We have the mechanical Hedwig (owl) which is really great to look at, play with and build.

What went down best with my kids were wands. Not Harry Potter wands, just cheap battery operated wands that made a magicy noise when you pressed a button. Also dressing up , so a set of robes. They also liked to play "we are going to Hogwarts" which involved shopping in Diagon alley, for which we needed toy owls, cats etc (again not specifically Potter but could be), a lot of books, the robes, and the wands. Then we got on the train and the boat (sofa), did the sorting hat (just a hat) and made potions.
Apart from the robes, they have enjoyed HP Lego, the trivia questions set and HP scrabble, but were a bit older then. And best of all was a trip to the HP studio.

Yes, clothes and bedding, Primark has had some affordable stuff.
My ds gets great value from his Harry Potter Lego because he does stop motion animation with it.

Stuff that has been a waste- official wands and a golden snitch that flaps its wings.
The sweets are well done but outrageously expensive.

H&M just launched HP clothes which are lovely.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/WOW-STUFF-WW-1128-Potter-Painting/dp/B07Y154PH3/ref=dpprsubss1?pdrddi=B07Y154PH3&psc=1

We have had a lot of fun with this light painting wand. You can get an app to make it easy to make light painting pictures with the wand.

That light painting wand is really good and we bought a Hermione gown in H&M yesterday which is fab and they had lots of really good stuff.

Thanks for the ideas everyone!

Huge Lego fans so that might be main present sorted

Definitely the Lego! The Headwig set is amazing and so is the Hogwarts Express…mine is HP mad and loved these last Christmas. For his 7th birthday we did HP Studios as his present and it was amazing - the library of books that they read in the book is lovely too for those who love to read and get a bit disappointed at the end of the last book. Quidditch through the ages and two others.

Also this year my Elf on the shelf is getting a Harry Potter make over and a Christmas Dobby friend!! I’m also going to use Etsy to get some chocolate coins with pictures on and mini bags of sweets themed to fill our homemade advent calendar.

A trip to the studio tour is hands down the best thing. A trip to Platform 9 3/4 at Kings Cross is also great if you happen to be in London.

Primark is great for stocking fillers: socks, scarves, random tat.

The Lego is great - there are sets for every budget.

Primark stuff is great. Over the years we’ve got bedclothes, blankets, cushions, sweatshirts, wall plaques, notebooks, pens etc.

Oh my gosh I was a huge HP fan as a child (well I still am a huge fan ) and I also played we're going to hogwarts!

• I had a broomstick (check Amazon)
• A wand (same as a PP the generic ones are fine)
• Some HP school books in the form of the 2 charity books Fantastic Beasts and a History of Quidditch. I had a quick google and you can get a gorgeous "Hogwarts Library" set that contains all 3 supplementary JKR books
• A cauldron - buy in October when all the halloween stuff is in
• If possible some HP/Honeydukes sweets
• A robe or HP themed dressing gown

God I can't wait til my DC are old enough to enjoy HP

The really expensive pure wool slytherin jumper that's made in Scotland
Bought for dd 5 years ago and she still wears it

DS is 9 and a recent Harry Potter fan. He's a young 9 and still loves playing with toys. Lego and small figures are a favourite. He has a wonderful imagination!
His favourite things are various HP Lego sets, his HP robe (from Tesco), his HP replica wand (from the shop at Platform 9 3/4 that we visited a few weeks ago) and a HP toiletries bag (Primark).

For Christmas he's getting a HP duvet cover and fleece throw (Primark) and a few more Lego sets. There will also be a variety of HP themed items such as pjs, t-shirts and various stocking fillers - pens, notepads etc (Primark do quite a good selection). I also noticed Primark Do a Hogwarts carry on suitcase for £35. DS has a school trip coming up and needs a small bag so I'm tempted by that too
I've also seen HP clothing and other bits in in Primark, H&M, M&S, Next, Amazon, Argos and I'm sure there are many more!

You can also get a variety of HP games - Uno, Dobble etc.

Aldi have a few Harry Potter bits in their online sale just now. www.aldi.co.uk/c/specialbuys/reduced?sort=popular&q=%3Apopular%3AtransactionalStatus%3Atransactional%3AtransactionalStatus%3Anontransactional%3AEvent%3AToys%20%26%20Activities%3AavailableOnline%3Atrue&page=0&firstPlacementTotalCount=0&secondPlacementTotalCount=0.
I've got a cuddly Hedwig stashed away for DD.

These mini kits are good.

Aldi online has some good HP stuff at mo! Sorry if already been said!

DD2 turned 18 today, and we did a mini-shop in the York Harry Potter shop. She particularly loved:

Harry Potter playing cards (one suite per house)
Tiny Golden Snitch earrings
Bertie Botts Any Flavour jellybeans

H&M Harry Potter clothing range

My ds is a fan too and he's now 17!

Over the years he's had puzzles, blanket, bedding, pens, jumpers, slipper etc.

Oh yes we've got the double, cards etc too!

Thanks you everyone . Looks like Christmas shouldn’t be a problem this year!

@Beakerandbungle

Hi everyone

My two DSs have very belatedly got into Harry Potter ( one is 9 but a young 9 as ADHD and the other nearly 7).

This brings me great joy as it’s a new source of gifts . However given there are so many Harry Potter themed stuff just wondered if anyone had any recommends for the best ones they’ve found so far ( and the ones to avoid!).

9 is not late, it’s just the right age!

HP presents are the presents that you can just keep giving.

Studio tour is amazing!
Wands, of course
Primark pretty much always have clothes/slippers/socks/T shirts in, and various supermarkets from time to time
Boden and M&S have done HP kids clothing ranges in the past, May do again, but places like character.com always have T shirts and PJs
Fancy dress
Stationery
Mugs
The Works had a lot of stuff a couple of Christmasses ago eg: lunch bag, playing cards, water bottle, sorting hat toy
If you are at anywhere near York, The Shambles is what inspired Diagon Alley and there is an amazing HP shop there (The Shop Which Can Not Be Named) and a couple of copycat shops too. Can not be Named has stuff in that I havn’t seen anywhere else.
If you are in the NE, you can have broomstick lessons at Alnwick Castle (where the HP broomstick lessons were filmed in the first movie)
DD had some HP, Ginny dolls (Action Man/Barbie type size).
School bags and sports bags