I teach people to be better parents & there’s 5 gifts I’d never buy my kids for Xmas and a ride-on anything is a big NO

ALTHOUGH the festive season is all about spending time together, for many parents Christmas also comes with panic over one thing in particular - what to put under the tree.

The stores, of course, are full of different gift ideas for each age group and preferences - from plushies to UGG boots, tablets and puzzles, there's one for all.

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But with so much choice, how to know which pick to go for? And more importanly - which popular choices will assist the child's development?

Here to help fellow parents is expert and mum-of-two Kirsty Ketley, who shared the five common items you'd never find in her home during Christmas.

Kids Motor Ride-On Toys

While the ride-on trucks, jeeps, convertibles, scooters are most certainly fun, they do all the work instead of your child.

Kirsty, also known as Auntie K., explained: ''Your child doesn’t pedal and they don’t use any type of hand-eye coordination or bilateral coordination with their feet or arms to get their bodies moving. 

''E-scooters are becoming increasingly popular, but are are only legal on private land and classed as motor vehicles.

''It is currently not possible to get insurance for them, which means it is illegal to use them on the road or in public spaces.''

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Phones for older children

A recenty study found that it's between the ages of eight and 11 when more kids are allowed to have their own mobile, with 39 per cent of kids in this age group owning their own phone.

But is this a safe choice? And what does Kirsty, who's been in the childcare industry for over two decades, make of it?

The expert advised: ''Phones have a use for children who are off out and about independently, but rules and boundaries need to be in place for usage.

''Not only to protect children from the darker side of being online, but to help them keep vital social skills, spend more time with their family and to sleep better.''

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Violent toys should be avoided

According to the mum-of-two, from Surrey, there has been plenty of research to suggest that violent toys can lead to a number of issues.

''Studies have shown that toys that involve shooting make children more aggressive.

''Even angry faces on the logo or other weapons in the form of toys should not be given to small children.''

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Tablets for younger children

Tablets may be an easy solution to keep your tot entertained and quiet as you're trying to find a moment for yourself.

But whilst it's an instant fix, Kirsty warned parents to really reconsider forking out for a new tablet for their children, especially the younger ones.

The whizz, who also shares her advice on Instagram, said: ''Too much swiping with a finger doesn’t allow your child to strengthen their hands, fingers, wrists and arms needed to write and staring at a screen for too long.''

''[It] doesn’t give your child the opportunity to cross the midline with their body, which is important for tracking words across a page, reading sentence-to-sentence and paragraph-to-paragraph.''

Piles of toys

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There's nothing wrong with toys - however, where many parents go wrong is showering their kids in dozens and dozens of plushies, dolls and figures.

''Firstly, kids don't need lots of toys. Particularly younger children can become overwhelmed if they are faced with a room full of toys, meaning that they don't end up playing with them,'' noted the parenting pro.

''They will also struggle to tidy up, so it's something to be mindful of. 

''It's best to select a wide range of all types of toy, to support all areas of their development, however, it's good to bare there few thing in mind.''