If you don’t have children, it’s really difficult to know what to get your nieces and nephews. As an uncle or aunt, you need to step up to the plate to be crowned the best one out there, so getting the right gift is tres important.

But guess what, guys, the trendiest gifts you can get for children this year are, in fact, nothing new – just think dolls, building blocks, and skateboards.

However,  just as fashion, music, and lifestyle choices ride the rollercoaster of trends, so do children’s toys, so they are very different to what you might have had when you were younger.

Luckily this year Claire Cobbledick, Marketing Head for Gumtree SA, analysed the trendiest gifts available online and gave us a breakdown. Check it:

Reborn doll

These dolls have an incredibly realistic appearance and there are only 20 000 of them available worldwide. While they are not yet as big in South Africa as they are in some other countries, the trend is still catching on, explains Cobbledick.

Joelle is the name of the most expensive Reborn doll so far, selling for over R310 000 via eBay – but the ones available in South Africa don’t go for that much. Although there are only thirty Reborn dolls showcased locally on Gumtree, prices range from R2 000 to R4 000.

Hover Boards

The self-balancing two-wheeled boards reach speeds of up to 10km/h and, surprise, they remain all the rage, with the rider controlling the board through their feet on a gyroscopic sensor pad.

First introduced in China in 2014, they haven’t been around long enough to go out of fashion just yet, says Cobbledick, and you can definitely find some good ones for only R4 500 on Gumtree.

LEGO

Lego was created in Denmark in 1932 and the name comes from the Danish words “leg godt” which means “play well”. And prepare to play well indeed.

A timeless classic, LEGO is more popular than ever especially as it keeps kids busy and creative for hours on end – and even adults can join in on the fun.

Cobbledick says Gumtree has plenty of Lego sets on offer from complete and complex ones for R1 000, to basic kits for younger children as cheap as R75.

Just don’t stand on a piece while they’re lying around – you will howl in pain.

You don’t always have to fork out massive sums of money to keep the laaities happy – just pop on Gumtree and have a snoop around, you might even find a little something to buy for yourself.