Key Takeaways
One clear gift
The main item was the Playgo ball tower from Action in the Netherlands (Europe): a colorful 37 cm toy with three rattling balls, marked suitable from ten months.
A simple reason
The gift was chosen as a quiet thank-you for a private family with a young child, after a personal kindness.
A neat finish
A gift bag matters with a tall box. The safest choice discussed was a bag that reaches or exceeds the toy’s height, with a larger bag preferred over a tight fit.
The practical add-ons
The same shopping plan also included a small WD-40 can, car mats, and interior cleaning wipes for a quick car refresh.
Story & Details
What this was about, right away
This is about buying a Playgo ball tower at Action in the Netherlands (Europe), wrapping it well, and pairing that quick gift run with a few useful car items.
The gift that feels right at this age
A toddler just over one year old does not need a big or complex present. A toy that invites simple, repeated play can be a perfect match. The Playgo ball tower does exactly that: a ball drops in, it travels down, and the child wants to do it again. It is easy to start, easy to repeat, and easy to enjoy.
Other toy ideas were also considered at Action, in the same “simple and sturdy” spirit: a soft-ring stacking toy, a wooden puzzle, a small wooden pull-back car, a wooden road track set, a plush bunny, and a box of wooden blocks that fits better when a child is older. The final choice stayed with the ball tower.
A shelf moment: giraffe and elephant
A bright giraffe toy and a matching elephant toy were also noticed on the shelf, both marked for ten months and up. The question was whether a single toy plus a bag feels too small as a thank-you. The answer is no. One well-chosen toy, presented cleanly, is enough. A short note can add warmth, but it is not required.
The gift bag decision, made by height
The ball tower is 37 cm tall, so the bag must comfortably fit a tall box. One strong option was a “Cadeautas” listed as 38 × 32 × 13 cm. Two other options discussed were a “Kerst cadeautas” listed as 26 × 12 × 32.5 cm, and another “Cadeautas” listed as 32 × 12 × 39 cm. The guiding idea was simple: if the box would sit too high, choose the bigger bag and avoid a fight at the top.
The car items added to the same trip
The shopping list also included WD-40 in the smallest size found on the Action site, a universal four-piece car mat set, and interior cleaning wipes. Two wipe options were identified: C&C wipes sold in a multi-piece pack with different variants, and ArmorAll wipes sold in a smaller-count pack. A trunk mat was also spotted as an optional extra.
A reminder was set for Sunday, December twenty-first, two thousand twenty-five, at 09:00 local time — 09:00 in the Netherlands (Europe), to pick up the WD-40, mats, and wipes.
A tiny Dutch aisle guide
These short Dutch phrases can make Action labels easier to read:
The phrase “vanaf 10 maanden” is an age marker on toys. In simple terms, it signals the earliest suggested age. Word by word: “vanaf” means “from,” “10” means “ten,” and “maanden” means “months.” It is neutral, standard store language.
The word “cadeautas” appears on gift bags. In simple terms, it signals a gift bag. Word by word: “tas” means “bag,” and “cadeau” relates to a gift. It is everyday, friendly retail wording.
The phrase “kerst cadeautas” is used on seasonal gift bags. In simple terms, it signals a Christmas gift bag. Word by word: “kerst” means “Christmas,” and “cadeautas” is the gift bag word. It is seasonal store language.
The word “kofferbakmat” appears on car items. In simple terms, it signals a trunk mat. Word by word: “mat” means “mat,” and “kofferbak” is the trunk area term in Dutch. It is practical catalogue language.
The phrase “40 stuks | diverse varianten” appears on multi-pack items like wipes. In simple terms, it signals the pack count and that there are different versions. Word by word: “stuks” means “pieces,” “diverse” means “various,” and “varianten” means “variants.” It is a common product label line.
Conclusions
Small, clear, complete
A good thank-you gift can be one item, chosen well, and wrapped without stress. The Playgo ball tower fits that idea, and a properly sized gift bag makes it feel finished.
One stop, many small wins
Adding WD-40, car mats, and interior wipes to the same Action trip keeps the plan tidy. It turns one errand into a clean sweep: a gift ready to give, and a car ready to feel fresher.
Selected References
[1] Action (Netherlands, Europe) — Playgo ball tower: https://www.action.com/nl-nl/p/3002059/playgo-ballentoren/
[2] Action (Netherlands, Europe) — WD-40 multispray (175 ml): https://www.action.com/nl-nl/p/3016935/wd-40-multispray/
[3] Action (Netherlands, Europe) — Car mat set (four-piece): https://www.action.com/nl-nl/p/2518509/automattenset/
[4] Action (Netherlands, Europe) — C&C car wipes (variants): https://www.action.com/nl-nl/p/3008948/c-c-vochtige-autodoekjes/
[5] Action (Netherlands, Europe) — ArmorAll car cleaning wipes: https://www.action.com/nl-nl/p/3215370/armorall-auto-reinigingsdoekjes/
[6] Action (Netherlands, Europe) — C&C trunk mat (120 × 80 cm): https://www.action.com/nl-nl/p/3207111/c-c-kofferbakmat/
[7] Action (Netherlands, Europe) — Gift bag (38 × 32 × 13 cm): https://www.action.com/nl-nl/p/3206059/cadeautas/
[8] Action (Netherlands, Europe) — Christmas gift bag (26 × 12 × 32.5 cm): https://www.action.com/nl-nl/p/3202419/kerst-cadeautas/
[9] UNICEF (YouTube) — Play Matters: Make every day a day for play: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qkTKgbQPetE
Appendix
Action: A discount retailer with a Dutch online catalogue used here for product names, sizes, and basic product details in the Netherlands (Europe).
ArmorAll: A car-care brand name used on a pack of car cleaning wipes listed by Action in the Netherlands (Europe).
Ball Tower: A toy format where balls travel down through levels, designed for repeated, simple play.
C&C: A brand label used by Action for car accessories and car cleaning items in the Netherlands (Europe).
Cadeautas: A Dutch retail word used by Action for a gift bag.
Diverse Variants: A Dutch catalogue phrase meaning the item comes in different versions or types.
Kerst Cadeautas: A Dutch retail phrase used by Action for a Christmas-themed gift bag.
Kofferbakmat: A Dutch catalogue word used by Action for a trunk mat.
Stuks: A Dutch word used on packaging to indicate a count of pieces.
Vanaf: A Dutch word meaning “from,” used in age guidance such as “from ten months.”
WD-40: A multi-use spray brand listed by Action in the Netherlands (Europe) in a 175 ml can.
My Diary - Leonardo Cardillo 