There are few better gifts for little ones than Lego Duplo. More fun – and educational – than giving them a new iPad game, the screen-free toys encourage active minds and screen-free time.

While I might not have kids myself, I’m near-constantly buying presents for other people’s children. And trends in the youngest generation are, quite simply, a flash in the pan.

Thankfully for me, every kid in my extended family, from four-year-old Rex to seven-year-old Judel, is more than on board with the Duplo agenda.

In fact, their mum told me: “I buy it for all of the kids for their birthdays – it’s so good for little hands. Mine are so imaginative, and once you’ve got some of the big boxes of it, they can do anything with it really – whether it's a themed box or otherwise.

“Jails, restaurants, castles; it really is the best thing for their creativity. Plus, you can keep adding to it for every new obsession that comes along.”

According to my sample size of ten under-10s, the below are the very best that Lego Duplo has to offer, all the while growing their empathy, creativity and fine motor skills through play. The fact that Very is currently offering 25 per cent off all Lego Duplo only seals the deal.

Let’s start simple. This is the entry-level kit for Lego Duplo, as I’m sure anyone with children will know. A versatile building set suitable for ages 1.5 years and upward (my sweet 10-year-old cousin Cooper still goes back to his Duplo), this is arguably the most inspiring, creative set of the lot, with no dictation or instruction, little ones are free to engage with the colourful blocks however they like. Simply put, the options are endless.

While this Disney Anna and Elsa’s Frozen Castle set is six-year-old Daisy’s absolute favourite, I’d be surprised if Cooper wasn’t pretty interested in it too. Designed for storytelling and creative play, this set comes with Disney characters Elsa, Anna and Olaf as well as a press-down light brick (batteries included) that recreates the northern lights.

If little Rex doesn’t already have this set, I will most certainly be buying it for him. Obsessed with elephants and sharks, he’d adore the 3-in-1 Wild Animal Families Toy Set. Including tiger, turtle, elephant, deer and panda figures, this set is packed with educational features, promoting fine motor skills, sorting, matching and comparing skills.