Tablets and consoles: what they do well, and why parents look elsewhere
Let’s be fair to the tablet and the console first. They are top of many Christmas lists for good reasons: one device holds hundreds of games, stories and shows, it keeps a child entertained on a long drive to the grandparents’, and games like Minecraft and Mario Kart are genuinely creative and sociable. If a Nintendo Switch 2 or a tablet is the one thing a child really wants, there is nothing wrong with buying it, and there is a section on doing that sensibly further down.
But plenty of Irish parents are looking for something else this year, usually for one of four reasons. Cost: a console or tablet is a big outlay before you add games, cases and controllers. Rows: a new device brings a new negotiation over screen time, often starting at about 10am on Christmas Day. They already have screens: many children have a family tablet, a school device or a phone, so another one adds little. Lasting value: a good screen-free present gets a child doing something, often with the rest of the family, and the right one is still in use when school goes back in January.
Below are alternatives by age, each with what you gain and what you give up compared with a screen. The catalog picks are sold and dispatched by Amazon.ie, so there are no UK import charges on a Christmas present; the rest are Amazon.ie search links for well-known brands. For a wider spread of ideas, including toddlers, see our kids’ gifts by age guide.
The swap guide: what to buy instead
| If they want… | Screen-free alternative | What you gain | What you give up |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tablet games and stories (3–5) | An audio player such as Yoto or Toniebox, plus a first game like Pop-Up Pirate | Stories and songs a child controls themselves, with no video and no ads | Cards or figures cost extra, and setup still needs a parent’s phone |
| Minecraft or Roblox (6–12) | A big brick box such as the LEGO Classic box, or a Creator 3in1 set | Real building that can be taken apart and rebuilt for years | No online friends, and bricks under the couch |
| YouTube science and slime videos (8–12) | A kit such as Galt’s Explosive Experiments | They do the experiment instead of watching someone else | Mess, an adult on hand, and consumables that run out |
| Party games on the console (7+) | Exploding Kittens or The Game of Life | The whole family plays, grandparents included | It needs other players; there is no solo mode |
| Racing games (10+) | A LEGO car such as the Technic Koenigsegg or a Speed Champions F1 car | A model they built and keep on the shelf | Built once rather than raced every evening |
| More scrolling (teens) | A two-player strategy game, an instant camera, a big build or a book | Something absorbing to do offline, alone or with friends | It will not replace the phone, and it shouldn’t try to |
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Ages 3–5: first games, bricks and stories
Pre-schoolers and junior infants want to do things themselves: press the button, take the turn, hear the story again. Good alternatives to tablet games at this age are ones a child can work without an adult reading the rules out, and short enough that a game ends before attention does. The games and the LEGO Classic box below are labelled 4+, so for a three-year-old look first at the audio players, Water Wow! pads, LEGO DUPLO and picture books further down. Check the age on every box, especially if there is a baby or toddler in the house who could get at small pieces.
TOMY Pop-Up Pirate Classic Children’s Action Game – 2–4 Players, Ages 4+
Best for: Ages 4 to 7, and mixed-age family play at Christmas.
The simplest swap for a tablet game: there is nothing to read, a turn takes seconds, and the moment Pirate Pete flies out of the barrel usually gets a shriek. Players take turns sliding a coloured sword into the barrel and the pirate pops at random, so a four-year-old can beat a grandparent on level terms, which is exactly what makes them want another go. It needs no batteries, it is small enough to bring to the grandparents’, and it is one of the cheapest gifts here. What you give up is depth: it is pure luck, so children of eight or nine will soon want something with more decisions in it.
Pros
- Nothing to read and no batteries
- Turns take seconds, so it holds short attention spans
- Small and cheap enough for a stocking
Cons
- Pure luck, so older children tire of it
- The swords are small parts: keep them away from toddlers
Hasbro Gaming Cluedo Junior Board Game – 2-in-1 Double-Sided Board, 2–6 Players, Ages 4+
Best for: Children aged 4 to 6 with older siblings or cousins to play with.
Cluedo Junior’s double-sided board gives it a longer life than most pre-school games. On the Level 1 side (ages 4+) everyone works together with picture clues to find a missing item, so nobody loses; flip it for Level 2 (ages 5+), a race to solve a Science Lab Mystery. Up to six can play, which helps when cousins are visiting. You give up a little convenience: Amazon’s listing says the instructions may not be in English, so check the box when it arrives.
Pros
- Co-operative first level, so no tears over losing
- Two levels from ages 4 to about 6
- Up to six players
Cons
- Instructions may not be in English, according to the listing
- Children of seven and up will want the full Cluedo
LEGO Classic Large Creative Brick Box – 790 Pieces in 33 Colours with 2 Green Baseplates, Ages 4+ (10698)
Best for: A first proper LEGO set for ages 4 to 6, and siblings who share.
If the request is for a building game on the tablet, a big tub of mixed bricks is the real-world version. This LEGO Classic box has 790 pieces in 33 colours, with windows, doors, wheels and eyes, plus two green baseplates and a brick-shaped box that doubles as storage. Nothing has to be built "properly", so younger builders are not frustrated by a long booklet, and later themed sets add to it. What you give up: it is labelled 4+ and full of small parts, and it needs a floor or table to spread out on.
Pros
- Open-ended, so it suits any interest
- Storage box included
- A base collection that keeps growing for years
Cons
- Small parts: not for homes where a toddler can reach them
- No single model to finish, which some children want
More ideas for 3–5
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Yoto Mini or Yoto Player
A screen-free audio player: a child slots in a card to play a story, music or a podcast. It has a small pixel display for icons but no video. Setup is through the Yoto app on a parent’s phone, and most cards are sold separately. When we checked, Yoto players were not in Amazon.ie’s own stock, so check the seller line and avoid UK-dispatched listings.
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Toniebox
A soft cube that plays a story or songs when a figure (a Tonie) is placed on top; Creative-Tonies let you record your own, which is handy for grandparents who live abroad. It needs Wi-Fi and the app to set up, and you want the version with a UK/Irish plug on the charging station. When we checked, only Toniebox accessories were in Amazon.ie stock.
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Melissa & Doug Water Wow!
Colouring pads where a water-filled pen reveals the colours, which fade as the page dries so it can be used again. Labelled 3+, cheap, and no mess in the car: a good swap for a tablet on journeys.
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LEGO DUPLO
Bricks twice the size of standard LEGO, made for younger hands; most sets are labelled from 18 months or 2 years, and standard LEGO bricks fit on them later. Check the age on the listing.
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Picture books by Chris Haughton or Oliver Jeffers
Two picture-book makers with Irish roots: Chris Haughton (Oh No, George!, A Bit Lost) and Oliver Jeffers (Lost and Found, Here We Are). A book read together at bedtime is the original screen-free gift.
Ages 6–8: first booklets and family games
Somewhere between senior infants and second class, children can follow a LEGO booklet largely on their own and play a short card game to the end. That makes this the age when screen-free gifts really compete with screens: a set to build on Christmas Day and a game the whole family plays on Stephen’s Day often beat a new app.
LEGO City Emergency Air Ambulance Plane with Snow Scooter, Stretcher and Minifigures, Ages 6+ (60465)
Best for: Ages 6 to 8 who like rescue and emergency play.
LEGO City is where many six-to-eight-year-olds start following a full instruction booklet, and a rescue vehicle that opens up for play is a safe bet. This air ambulance has 403 pieces, fold-down boarding stairs and a fuselage that opens to show the cockpit, medical screens and a fold-out lab, plus a snow scooter and minifigures including a pilot and a doctor. Compared with a game on a screen, you gain a couple of hours of focused building and then a toy for role play. You give up instant variety: once it is built, the play is the same plane, so it works best for a child who already loves rescue play.
Pros
- Buildable by a six-to-eight-year-old with little help
- Lots of play inside the finished model
- Adds to any existing City collection
Cons
- One model, so less open-ended than a brick box
- Small parts with toddlers around
Exploding Kittens Original Edition Card Game – 2–5 Players, Ages 7+, 15 Minutes
Best for: Mixed-age family gatherings from about seven up.
The easiest swap for a party game on the console. Everyone draws from one deck, whoever draws an Exploding Kitten is out unless they can Defuse it, and the other cards let you skip, peek or push the danger onto someone else. It takes a few minutes to teach, a game lasts about 15 minutes, and the box fits in a stocking. You give up solo play, and luck decides a lot of games, but that is what lets a seven-year-old beat a teenager.
Pros
- Quick to learn and quick to play
- Two to five players, from about seven up
- Stocking-sized box
Cons
- Needs other players
- Strategy fans may tire of the luck
More ideas for 6–8
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Hama Midi beads
Fuse beads placed on pegboards and ironed into keyrings, coasters and characters. The Midi size is labelled 5+, and an adult does the ironing.
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Kids’ scooter and helmet
An outdoor present for dry spells and the walk to school. Check the age range, the maximum rider weight and the adjustable handlebar height, and buy a helmet that fits: ABUS kids’ helmets showed up in Amazon.ie stock when we searched.
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Dog Man graphic novels
Dav Pilkey’s comic-style books are a reliable way into reading for fun for children who would rather be on a tablet, and the series is long enough to keep going.
Ages 9–12: science, bigger builds and strategy
This is the age when screens pull hardest: friends are on Minecraft, Roblox and Fortnite, and some children get their first phone. Screen-free gifts that work here feel grown-up rather than babyish: a real experiment, a challenging build, or a strategy game they can beat adults at.
Galt Horrible Science Explosive Experiments Kit – 8 Experiments Including a Rocket, Volcano, Lava Lamp and Slime, Ages 8+
Best for: Curious children aged 8 to 12, and a rainy Stephen’s Day project.
If a child watches slime and science videos, this lets them be the one doing it. Galt’s kit takes its tone from the Horrible Science books, so it leans into the gross and the loud: launch a rocket, erupt a volcano, make a lava lamp and mix "seriously slimy snot", eight experiments in all, guided by a 32-page lab notebook, with goggles in the box. It is labelled 8+ for use under adult supervision, so plan it for Stephen’s Day rather than the chaos of Christmas morning, and do the rocket outside. What you give up is longevity: once the slime powder and bicarbonate are used up, the kit is done, so treat it as a few memorable afternoons.
Pros
- Eight experiments, with goggles and a lab notebook
- No batteries; the listing says the core materials are in the box
- Pairs well with the Horrible Science books
Cons
- Needs an adult on hand
- Consumables run out; it is not a toy for the whole year
LEGO Creator 3in1 T. rex – Rebuilds into a Triceratops or Pterodactyl, 626 Pieces, Ages 9+ (31151)
Best for: Dinosaur fans aged 9 to 12.
Creator 3in1 sets are a natural swap for a child who loves building in Minecraft, because the box has instructions for three models and the point is to take one apart and build the next. This one makes a poseable T. rex, a Triceratops or a Pterodactyl from 626 pieces. You gain three proper projects from one present; you give up the ability to keep all three built at once.
Pros
- Three substantial builds from one box
- Poseable models that get played with
- A good step up from City sets
Cons
- Only one model can be built at a time
- A seven- or eight-year-old may need help with parts of it
For family game night: Ticket to Ride Paris is a quick, standalone first strategy game for ages 8 and up (games of around 15 minutes, according to the listing), short enough to compete with "one more level". The Game of Life is mostly luck, so an eight-year-old can beat a grandparent on level terms.
Days of Wonder Ticket to Ride Paris Board Game – 2–4 Players, Ages 8+, 15+ Minutes
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Hasbro Gaming The Game of Life Family Board Game – 2–4 Players, Ages 8+
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Check price on Amazon.ieMore ideas for 9–12
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Beginner microscope kit
Turns the kitchen table into a lab for looking at hair, salt crystals and leaves. Kits vary: some include sharp slicing tools or need a coin-cell battery fitted by an adult, so read the listing and supervise younger users.
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Artemis Fowl by Eoin Colfer
The Wexford author’s fairy-world crime series, set partly in Ireland, is a good next step for a confident reader.
Teenagers: offline, not anti-phone
Most teenagers have a phone, and a screen-free present won’t change that. The realistic aim is a gift that gives them something absorbing to do offline: a long build, a game to play with a friend or a parent, a creative hobby. Ask before you buy, and pitch it as an upgrade rather than a lesson.
Next Move Azul Duel Two-Player Board Game – Ages 10+, 45 Minutes
Best for: Teenagers who like puzzles, and parents who want a regular game with them.
Azul Duel rebuilds the tile-laying game Azul for exactly two players. Over five rounds you take tiles, lay them to decorate a palace dome and stack them to tempt your opponent into a bad trade, in games of about 45 minutes. It is labelled 10+. It looks good on the table and rewards concentration, which is why it works for a teenager and a parent, or two friends. You give up the crowd: it is strictly a two-player game.
Pros
- Genuine strategy that teenagers can win at
- A different board each game, according to the maker
- Good-looking resin tiles
Cons
- Two players only
- Rewards concentration more than chat
LEGO Technic Koenigsegg Jesko Absolut Super Sports Car in Grey, 801 Pieces (42173)
Best for: Car-mad builders aged 10 and up.
For a teenager who would otherwise be playing a racing game, this 801-piece Technic hypercar teaches how a car works as it goes together: builders assemble a V8 engine and a differential, check the steering turns the front wheels, and finish with dihedral doors that swing out like the real thing. It takes longer than most children’s sets and looks the part on a bedroom shelf. You give up any motor or remote control: it is a model, not a toy to drive. For a smaller budget or an F1 fan, the Speed Champions Ferrari below is a one-evening build.
Pros
- Real mechanisms: engine, differential and steering
- A long, absorbing build
- Costs much less than the big Technic supercars
Cons
- No motor or remote control
- Pin-heavy Technic building can frustrate a first-timer
LEGO Speed Champions Ferrari SF-24 F1 Race Car with Driver Minifigure, 275 Pieces, Ages 10+ (77242)
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Check price on Amazon.ieMore ideas for teens
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Fujifilm Instax Mini 12
An instant camera with no screen at all: you point, shoot and get a credit-card-sized print. Film is usually sold separately and every shot costs money, so add a film pack.
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Posca paint markers
Paint markers that work on paper, canvas, stones, phone cases and trainers, popular with teens who draw or customise. A sketchbook makes it a full present.
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Beginner ukulele
A cheap, portable first instrument with only four strings. A kit with a clip-on tuner and a printed chord chart means they can play a song on Stephen’s Day.
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Skulduggery Pleasant by Derek Landy
Dublin author Derek Landy’s Irish-set series about a wisecracking skeleton detective, with plenty of books to work through; the later books get darker, which suits teenagers.
A low-screen compromise for readers. A Kindle has a screen, but an e-ink one with no app store, games or video, so for a teenager who reads a lot the Kindle Paperwhite is a reasonable middle ground (it cannot borrow BorrowBox ebooks from Irish libraries). See our Kindle vs Kindle Paperwhite comparison.
Screen-free alternatives by budget
| Budget | Ages 3–5 | Ages 6–8 | Ages 9–12 | Teens |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Under €15 | Pop-Up Pirate, Water Wow! pads | A small Hama bead set, a Dog Man book | An Artemis Fowl paperback | A Skulduggery Pleasant paperback |
| €15–€30 | Cluedo Junior | Exploding Kittens | Galt science kit, Ticket to Ride Paris, Game of Life | Azul Duel, Speed Champions Ferrari, Posca pens |
| €30–€60 | LEGO Classic box | LEGO City Air Ambulance | LEGO Creator 3in1 T. rex | LEGO Technic Koenigsegg, a beginner ukulele kit |
| €60 and up | An audio player starter set (Yoto or Toniebox) | A scooter and helmet | A LEGO set plus a strategy game for Stephen’s Day | An instant camera with film |
A good pattern for a main present is one thing to build or make, plus one thing to play together: a LEGO set and a card game, or a science kit and a strategy game. It often costs less than a new console game and a second controller, and it covers both Christmas morning and the long days after.
If a screen is still on the list
Sometimes the console or tablet is the right present. The way to keep it from taking over is to set it up properly before it goes under the tree and to pair it with something screen-free. Our Switch to Switch 2 upgrade guide, Switch 2 accessories guide and tablets and e-readers guide cover the hardware.
The originals: search Amazon.ie stock
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Nintendo Switch 2
The free Nintendo Switch Parental Controls app sets daily play-time limits and restricts games by PEGI rating, and Nintendo Account settings can limit spending. Check the seller line on bundles, and set it up before wrapping.
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Amazon Fire Kids tablet
Amazon’s children’s tablets come in a protective case with built-in parental controls for time limits and content. Check exactly what is included for Ireland on the listing, and that it is sold by Amazon.ie.
Balancing screen time over Christmas without a row
- Agree the rules before the day. Decide when screens are on and off over the holidays before the presents are opened, not halfway through Christmas afternoon.
- Play the game with them. Screen-free presents get used when someone sits down with the child. Plan Stephen’s Day around the new board game or the LEGO build.
- Phones away for the game, adults included. Children notice when the grown-ups are scrolling during family game time.
- Keep devices out of bedrooms at night. A charging spot in the kitchen keeps late-night gaming and scrolling down without a nightly argument.
- Put some presents away. If a child gets a mountain of toys, keep a few back and bring them out on a wet weekend in January or at the February mid-term. They feel new again.
- Don’t present it as a punishment. "We got you this instead of a tablet" sets the present up to fail. Pitch it as the thing they wanted to do.
- For the youngest, know the guidance. The World Health Organization’s guidelines for under-fives recommend no screen time for babies under one, no sedentary screen time for one-year-olds, and no more than an hour a day of sedentary screen time for two- to four-year-olds, with less being better. If you are worried about your own child, talk to your GP or public health nurse.
Common mistakes with screen-free gifts
- Ignoring the age label. Ages on toys are about safety as well as ability: a set marked 4+ can have parts a toddler could choke on. Keep LEGO, game pieces and bead sets away from younger siblings.
- Buying the wrong language. Some board games sold on Amazon.ie are German, French or multilingual editions. Check the language in the title or product details; our board games guide explains what to look for.
- Forgetting the extras. Audio players need cards or figures, instant cameras need film, and science kits can need household items. Read the listing so the present works on the day.
- Buying from a UK seller. Toys dispatched from the UK can arrive with import VAT and a handling fee, and a delay. Check that the listing says sold and dispatched by Amazon.ie; here is why we only list Amazon.ie stock and how customs charges work.
For more on LEGO by age and theme, see our LEGO sets guide; for more family, party and two-player games, see the board games guide. Browse all our kids’ and toys guides, the Christmas gift guide, or the Toys & Games category. If something isn’t right, our Amazon.ie returns guide explains how to send it back.