Gifts for Kids
Toys and surprises that get opened first and played with longest.
How to pick
- Check the age on the box. A toy that's too young gets ignored and one that's too old gets frustrating.
- Open-ended toys, like building sets and art supplies, get played with longer than one-trick gadgets.
- Ask the parents first if a gift is loud, messy or has small pieces and there's a toddler at home.
42 gift ideas
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Crayola Art Kit with Neon and Metallic Supplies
Markers, crayons and colored pencils in bright neon and metallic shades, all in one case. For ages 5 and up.
- Best for
- Kids who draw every day and like bright colors
- Skip if
- You need it to be totally mess-free
Typical price: Under $25
Check price on Amazon for Crayola Art Kit with Neon and Metallic Supplies (opens in a new tab) -
LEGO Classic Medium Creative Brick Box
484 bricks in 35 colors in a storage box. Endless building for ages 4 and up.
- Best for
- Kids who like building their own ideas, not following instructions
- Skip if
- There's a toddler at home who puts things in their mouth
Typical price: $25 to $50
Check price on Amazon for LEGO Classic Medium Creative Brick Box (opens in a new tab) -
Squishmallows 12-Inch Ilene the Unicorn
A super soft, squishy unicorn plush that's perfect for hugging and collecting.
- Best for
- Kids and teens who collect plush or want a cuddle buddy
- Skip if
- They want a toy that does something
Typical price: Under $25
Check price on Amazon for Squishmallows 12-Inch Ilene the Unicorn (opens in a new tab) -
Magna-Tiles Classic 32-Piece Set
Colorful magnetic tiles that click together into towers, houses and anything they imagine.
- Best for
- Young builders, and as a first set that you can add to later
- Skip if
- They already have a big tile set, since 32 pieces goes fast
Typical price: $25 to $50
Check price on Amazon for Magna-Tiles Classic 32-Piece Set (opens in a new tab) -
UNO Card Game
The classic family card game for 2 to 10 players. Cheap, quick and always a hit.
- Best for
- Families and friends who want a quick game anyone can learn
- Skip if
- They already own a deck, as most families do
Typical price: Under $25
Check price on Amazon for UNO Card Game (opens in a new tab) -
Fisher-Price Baby's First Blocks and Rock-a-Stack
Two classic baby toys in one set: chunky blocks to sort and rings to stack.
- Best for
- Babies starting to grab, stack and sort
- Skip if
- The child is past the baby stage
Typical price: Under $25
Check price on Amazon for Fisher-Price Baby's First Blocks and Rock-a-Stack (opens in a new tab) -
Mario Kart 8 Deluxe for Nintendo Switch
The racing game the whole family can play together, for ages 6 and up.
- Best for
- Families and friends with a Nintendo Switch
- Skip if
- They don't have a Switch
Typical price: $50 to $100
Check price on Amazon for Mario Kart 8 Deluxe for Nintendo Switch (opens in a new tab) -
Wilson NFL Super Grip Football
A grippy, durable football for backyard games.
- Best for
- Backyard and park games of catch
- Skip if
- They already have a good football
Typical price: Under $25
Check price on Amazon for Wilson NFL Super Grip Football (opens in a new tab) -
Play-Doh Modeling Compound 10-Pack
Ten cans of bright dough for squishing, rolling and building whatever they dream up.
- Best for
- Young kids who love squishing and shaping
- Skip if
- You don't want to pick crumbs out of the carpet
Typical price: Under $25
Check price on Amazon for Play-Doh Modeling Compound 10-Pack (opens in a new tab) -
Melissa & Doug Deluxe Standing Art Easel
A two-sided wooden easel with a chalkboard, a dry-erase board and a paper roll.
- Best for
- Kids who love to paint and draw big
- Skip if
- Floor space at home is tight
Typical price: $50 to $100
Check price on Amazon for Melissa & Doug Deluxe Standing Art Easel (opens in a new tab) -
Snap Circuits Jr. Electronics Kit
Snap-together parts build more than 100 working gadgets, from alarms to a flying saucer.
- Best for
- Curious kids who like to know how things work
- Skip if
- The child is too young to follow a diagram
Typical price: $25 to $50
Check price on Amazon for Snap Circuits Jr. Electronics Kit (opens in a new tab) -
National Geographic Gemstone Dig Kit
Chip away at a brick to uncover real gemstones, with a guide to what each one is.
- Best for
- Kids who love rocks, digging and treasure hunts
- Skip if
- You want a toy they'll play with over and over, since it's mostly a one-time dig
Typical price: Under $25
Check price on Amazon for National Geographic Gemstone Dig Kit (opens in a new tab) -
Kinetic Sand Sandbox Set
Moldable sand that never dries out, with a tray and tools that keep the mess contained.
- Best for
- Kids who love sensory play indoors
- Skip if
- You don't want sand on the floor
Typical price: Under $25
Check price on Amazon for Kinetic Sand Sandbox Set (opens in a new tab) -
Yoto Mini Audio Player
A screen-free speaker that plays stories, music and podcasts from cards kids pop in themselves.
- Best for
- Kids who love stories and songs without a screen
- Skip if
- You don't want to buy more story cards later
Typical price: $50 to $100
Check price on Amazon for Yoto Mini Audio Player (opens in a new tab) -
Jellycat Bashful Bunny
A famously soft, floppy-eared bunny that quickly becomes the bedtime favorite.
- Best for
- Babies, kids and adults who want a very soft, classic plush
- Skip if
- They want a toy that talks or moves
Typical price: $25 to $50
Check price on Amazon for Jellycat Bashful Bunny (opens in a new tab) -
Fujifilm Instax Mini 12 Instant Camera
Prints credit-card-size photos in seconds, with automatic exposure so shots come out right.
- Best for
- Teens and party-goers who love printed photos
- Skip if
- You'd rather not keep buying film, since each print costs money
Typical price: $50 to $100
Check price on Amazon for Fujifilm Instax Mini 12 Instant Camera (opens in a new tab) -
Stomp Rocket Ultra Launcher
Kids stomp the pad and send foam rockets flying high into the air.
- Best for
- Active kids with a yard or park nearby
- Skip if
- You don't have outdoor space
Typical price: Under $25
Check price on Amazon for Stomp Rocket Ultra Launcher (opens in a new tab) -
Razor A Kick Scooter
The classic foldable aluminum scooter for zipping around the neighborhood.
- Best for
- Kids ready to ride around the neighborhood
- Skip if
- They don't have a helmet yet, so add one
Typical price: $25 to $50
Check price on Amazon for Razor A Kick Scooter (opens in a new tab) -
LEGO Creator 3-in-1 Mighty Dinosaurs
Builds a T. rex, a triceratops or a pterodactyl, so one box makes three toys.
- Best for
- Dinosaur fans who like building three models from one set
- Skip if
- They want a big, long build
Typical price: Under $25
Check price on Amazon for LEGO Creator 3-in-1 Mighty Dinosaurs (opens in a new tab) -
Melissa & Doug Water Wow! 3-Pack
Mess-free coloring pads that reveal pictures with water, then dry to color again.
- Best for
- Toddlers and road trips, with no mess at all
- Skip if
- The child has outgrown simple coloring
Typical price: Under $25
Check price on Amazon for Melissa & Doug Water Wow! 3-Pack (opens in a new tab) -
Klutz Clay Charms Kit
Everything kids need to sculpt, bake and string their own tiny clay charms.
- Best for
- Crafty kids who like making jewelry and small figures
- Skip if
- There's no adult to help bake the clay in the oven
Typical price: Under $25
Check price on Amazon for Klutz Clay Charms Kit (opens in a new tab) -
Rubik's Cube
The original 3x3 puzzle that keeps hands busy and minds working.
- Best for
- Puzzle lovers who like a challenge
- Skip if
- They get frustrated easily
Typical price: Under $25
Check price on Amazon for Rubik's Cube (opens in a new tab) -
Exploding Kittens Card Game
A fast, silly card game that's easy to learn and loud to play.
- Best for
- Families and friends who like silly, fast card games
- Skip if
- They prefer longer strategy games
Typical price: Under $25
Check price on Amazon for Exploding Kittens Card Game (opens in a new tab) -
Ticket to Ride Board Game
Collect train cards and claim routes across the country in this family favorite.
- Best for
- Families who want a strategy game that's easy to learn
- Skip if
- They want a quick game, since a round takes about an hour
Typical price: $25 to $50
Check price on Amazon for Ticket to Ride Board Game (opens in a new tab) -
Botley 2.0 Coding Robot
A screen-free robot that teaches kids to code by programming its moves with a remote.
- Best for
- Young kids starting to learn coding, with no screen needed
- Skip if
- The child already codes on a computer
Typical price: $50 to $100
Check price on Amazon for Botley 2.0 Coding Robot (opens in a new tab) -
JLab Go Air Pop Wireless Earbuds
Light, colorful wireless earbuds with a pocket-size charging case.
- Best for
- Kids, teens and the gym, at a low price
- Skip if
- They want noise canceling or top sound
Typical price: Under $25
Check price on Amazon for JLab Go Air Pop Wireless Earbuds (opens in a new tab) -
Sophie la Girafe Teether
The soft rubber giraffe babies have happily chewed on for generations.
- Best for
- Teething babies and baby showers
- Skip if
- The baby already has a favorite teether
Typical price: $25 to $50
Check price on Amazon for Sophie la Girafe Teether (opens in a new tab) -
VTech Sit-to-Stand Learning Walker
A push walker with a removable play panel full of buttons, lights and songs.
- Best for
- Babies learning to pull up and walk
- Skip if
- The child is already walking well
Typical price: $25 to $50
Check price on Amazon for VTech Sit-to-Stand Learning Walker (opens in a new tab) -
The Very Hungry Caterpillar Board Book
Eric Carle's classic in a sturdy board book with holes little fingers love to poke.
- Best for
- Babies and toddlers, and a classic for baby showers
- Skip if
- They likely already own it, as many families do
Typical price: Under $25
Check price on Amazon for The Very Hungry Caterpillar Board Book (opens in a new tab) -
Govee Smart LED Strip Lights
Color-changing lights for a bedroom that sync to music and run from a phone app.
- Best for
- Teens and gamers who want colorful room lighting
- Skip if
- They rent and can't use the sticky backing on walls
Typical price: Under $25
Check price on Amazon for Govee Smart LED Strip Lights (opens in a new tab) -
Hape Pound & Tap Bench
Toddlers pound the balls through and they roll out across a little xylophone.
- Best for
- Toddlers who love music and banging things
- Skip if
- You want a quiet toy
Typical price: $25 to $50
Check price on Amazon for Hape Pound & Tap Bench (opens in a new tab) -
Hot Wheels Track Builder Unlimited Set
Track pieces, a launcher and a car for building wild stunts again and again.
- Best for
- Kids who love cars and building their own tracks
- Skip if
- Floor space is tight
Typical price: $25 to $50
Check price on Amazon for Hot Wheels Track Builder Unlimited Set (opens in a new tab) -
Spirograph Deluxe Design Set
Gears and pens that draw endless swirling patterns, the same fun parents remember.
- Best for
- Patient kids and adults who like drawing patterns
- Skip if
- The child gets frustrated with fiddly tools
Typical price: Under $25
Check price on Amazon for Spirograph Deluxe Design Set (opens in a new tab) -
Spalding NBA Street Outdoor Basketball
A durable rubber ball made for driveway and park courts.
- Best for
- Driveway and park courts
- Skip if
- They mostly play indoors
Typical price: Under $25
Check price on Amazon for Spalding NBA Street Outdoor Basketball (opens in a new tab) -
Xbox Wireless Controller
The official controller for Xbox and PC, with textured grips.
- Best for
- Xbox and PC gamers
- Skip if
- They play on PlayStation or Switch
Typical price: $50 to $100
Check price on Amazon for Xbox Wireless Controller (opens in a new tab) -
PlayStation 5 DualSense Controller
Sony's controller with haptic feedback and adaptive triggers.
- Best for
- PlayStation 5 gamers who need a second controller
- Skip if
- They play on Xbox or Switch
Typical price: $50 to $100
Check price on Amazon for PlayStation 5 DualSense Controller (opens in a new tab) -
HyperX Cloud II Gaming Headset
A comfortable gaming headset with clear sound and a detachable mic.
- Best for
- Gamers who chat with friends while they play
- Skip if
- They want wireless, since this headset plugs in
Typical price: $50 to $100
Check price on Amazon for HyperX Cloud II Gaming Headset (opens in a new tab) -
Kala Learn to Play Ukulele Starter Kit
A soprano ukulele with a tuner, a bag and online lessons to get started.
- Best for
- Beginners who want to learn an instrument
- Skip if
- They already play and want a better instrument
Typical price: $50 to $100
Check price on Amazon for Kala Learn to Play Ukulele Starter Kit (opens in a new tab) -
Crayola Ultimate Light Board
A light-up drawing tablet for tracing and drawing with special markers.
- Best for
- Kids who love drawing and tracing
- Skip if
- You don't want to rebuy its special markers later
Typical price: $25 to $50
Check price on Amazon for Crayola Ultimate Light Board (opens in a new tab) -
CATAN Board Game
The trading and building strategy game families play for years.
- Best for
- Game nights with three or four players who like strategy
- Skip if
- They usually play with two, or want a short game
Typical price: $25 to $50
Check price on Amazon for CATAN Board Game (opens in a new tab) -
Bluey Talking Plush
A soft 13-inch Bluey that says nine phrases from the show.
- Best for
- Young Bluey fans
- Skip if
- They don't watch Bluey
Typical price: Under $25
Check price on Amazon for Bluey Talking Plush (opens in a new tab) -
Super Mario Party Jamboree
Board-game-style party fun for up to four players on Nintendo Switch.
- Best for
- Switch owners who host family game nights
- Skip if
- They don't have a Nintendo Switch
Typical price: $50 to $100
Check price on Amazon for Super Mario Party Jamboree (opens in a new tab)