A Trusted Friend in a Complicated World
Updated on Nov. 20, 2024
Our list of the best gifts for kids includes everything from learning gadgets and creativity-inspiring tools to the hottest toys of the year.
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There is no one-size-fits-all strategy when shopping for gifts for kids. Sometimes it can feel like they’re impossible to shop for! Every little human has unique interests and tastes, and the biggest toy fads change rapidly every year. That’s why we researched trends and poured over the best toy roundups to bring you a curated list of gifts for kids.
There’s something for every age group and interest, including one-of-a-kind Etsy gifts, STEAM-approved kits teaching about food science, coding and art and even the hottest Christmas toys sure to sell out.
Since these gift ideas range from small toys and cheap Christmas gifts to showstopper presents that’ll leave their jaws on the floor, you’ll find options to fit every budget. We have gifts for kids of every age and for every interest!
Chosen as one of the top gifts for kids and toys of the season, this fun first camera enables those as young as 4 to click, preview and print photos right away. It comes with enough paper for 80 images, and kids can add stickers, filters and borders to any pic. They can also turn their snapshots into drawings to color themselves. Buying for someone a bit older? These gifts for photographers are picture-perfect.
Since you might not be ready to buy your child their first phone, the latest KidiBuzz smart device will hold them over for a while. The smartphone-looking tech gift allows them to message parent-approved contacts, snap and share photos and play games with access to Learning Lodge and LeapFrog Academy.
This magical Hatchimals robot unicorn is full of fun surprises, including two eggs with twin babies, more than 60 lights and sounds, and flapping glittery wings for hours of imaginative play. Sparkly gifts for kids like this are bound to be an all-time favorite gift for girls.
These inflatable pals fill up with air in just seconds and offer a fun spot for toddlers to sit or bounce—and work their core muscles and fine motor skills at the same time. With free overnight delivery, file this under terrific last-minute Christmas gifts for kids.
Rather than clutter a playroom with multiple toys, this 3-in-1 walker grows with your baby. For infants still on tummy time, it works as a stimulating activity table. When they’re ready to take their first steps, it transforms into a walker with an easy-grasp handle and fun music that encourages baby to keep going.
Once you’ve got a confident walker, it turns into a table with a magnetic drawing board where they can scribble to their heart’s content. It’s also an Amazon Prime gift with free next-day shipping, so you can be sure it’ll arrive in time for the holidays!
This friendly interactive owl comes loaded with over 90 songs, sounds and phrases that help your little one learn the alphabet, counting, weather, days of the week, months of the year and emotions. His side-to-side dance moves and light-up eyes kids engaged, but the fun doesn’t stop there. This owl also interacts with other Linkimals! Collect all of these gifts for kids to make playtime a real hoot.
The best gifts for kids cater to their personality. HoneyBug’s custom boxes let you select from hundreds of best-selling items and rising stars for babies, toddlers and kids. Choose a cute outfit, add something creative and fun to play with to create a personalized gift. Add as many treasures as you like from each category (clothing, gear and toys), making it easy to stay within budget.
If you don’t want to overwhelm your new baby with a pile of toys, this chunky knit throw blanket is a gorgeous (and practical!) high-quality alternative. It’s made of a soft, breathable, hypoallergenic organic cotton yarn tightly woven for warmth and durability. It’s a Christmas gift for new parents that keeps them cozy for years to come.
Toddlers, preschoolers and even bigger kids can create a cozy space that’s all their own with this sturdy Tiny Land teepee. The tent is made from solid wood poles and thick cotton fabric, making it an eco-friendly gift you can feel good about. It measures 47 inches long, 47 inches wide and 60 inches tall, which means there’s enough space for everyone!
Instead of buying gifts for kids that’ll get tossed aside after Christmas morning, get a monthly subscription box tailored to their age and interests. Each KiwiCo crate focuses on STEM or STEAM and contains interactive enrichment activities for kids up to 100 years old! Choose one, three, six or 12-month options to best suit your budget, or opt for an individual crate instead.
Fire up kids’ interest and skills in the kitchen with this Sweetology cake decorating kit. It includes a ready-to-decorate fresh-baked cake, pre-filled icing pipping bags, stainless steel tools and step-by-step instructions. Creative sparks with these gifts for kids!
Techies as young as 4 can learn to code with this vehicle-based 46-piece interactive play set, which uses screen-free coding activities to introduce preschoolers to early STEM concepts. Kids embark on challenge-solving rescue missions using a programmable robot that transforms into a police car, fire truck and construction vehicle to help save the day!
This award-winning Magic Mixies toy enables kids to create an enchanting mist, which after a little hocus pocus reveals a “Mixie.” Your mini wizard can cast spells with their new furry fortune-telling pet and interactive cauldron. As an added bonus, the crystal ball doubles as a magical night light at bedtime. Read these magical realism books to really capture their powers.
Need gifts for kids who are constantly begging you for a pet? This Mama Surprise Little Live Pets set gives them four furry friends (a mom and three babies), without any of the mess. Kids can nurture and take care of their guinea pig by patting her, feeding her and brushing her hair while awaiting the arrival of her three little ones. If you get roped into buying a pet, consult our new puppy checklist.
Wizards and muggles alike will enjoy recreating their favorite Diagon Alley scenes in three Harry Potter hot spots: Weasleys’ Wizard Wheezes, Eeylops Owl Emporium and Florian Fortescue’s Ice Cream Parlour. This miniature play set includes posable three-inch Hermione Granger and Fred Weasley dolls, 21 accessories, furniture, owls and light-up Pygmy Puffs that clip on each figurine.
Bouncy houses aren’t just for kids’ birthday parties. This Bounceland inflatable house is made from a durable, puncture-proof material. It can be used indoors or outside and inflates in under a minute thanks to the included blower. Once they’ve tired themselves out (which is a gift for you), just turn off the blower, roll it up and store it in the included travel bag. It’s a super fun birthday game, and don’t forget these birthday freebies.
Minecraft fanatics will enjoy endless hours of play with this color-changing and sound-making Dragon set based around the mighty Ender Dragon, Minecraft’s ultimate boss. Buttons on the oversized figure activate light-up eyes, realistic sounds and the dragon’s misty breath. Need more inspo for gifts for kids? Here are the most popular toys from when you were born.
The Barbie three-in-one DreamCamper, a van with a swimming pool that transforms into a truck and a boat, is a sure-to-please gift idea for kids. Children love all the surprises and many functions it performs, and of course, bringing Barbie and her friends on a camping adventure.
The award-winning Kanoodle puzzle series just got more colorful with an illuminated game board and translucent stacking pieces designed to challenge kids’ critical thinking and problem-solving skills. The light-up, color-blending game offers hours of endless fun as players challenge themselves to solve 50+ brain-bending puzzles. With various difficulty levels, these portable gifts for kids keep them entertained just about anywhere.
Whether you’re shopping for a gift for a toddler, a teen or someone in between, you can’t go wrong with Squishmallows when it comes to gifts for kids. This mystery box comes with three eight-inch Squishmallows to grow their squad. There’s no telling which three you’ll get, but you can be sure they’ll be soft, squishy and absolutely adorable!
When it comes to gifts for kids, you’re never too old for Pokémon! This mechanized building set, which is designed for Pokémon fans ages 12 and up, contains a whopping 1,092 pieces! Once they’ve finished building, kids will delight in turning the hand-activated crank to make Pikachu’s legs, feet and tail move. Try out these Pokémon puns to make your kiddo laugh.
Fast load times and rich, dynamic worlds will delight gamers and you’ll appreciate that this system won’t break the bank. This all-digital Xbox console is compatible with hundreds of digital games via Xbox Game Pass. This gaming membership features tons of games with new ones added all the time. This bundle includes everything you need to get started: the Xbox Series S console, one Xbox Wireless Controller with two AA batteries, a high-speed HDMI cable and a power cable. Talk about a brag-worthy gift for teens!
Both Disney kids and adults will love these 11-inch dolls which are inspired by their favorite Disney movies. Each doll has two trendy outfits inspired by Bambi, Stitch, Ursula or Mickey Mouse, and a glittery Mickey head silhouette ring. Here are even more Disney gifts for every Disney lover on your list.
Kids can make 10 different batches of slime with this DIY slime factory. This affordable Amazon gift comes with 10 packets of slime powder, confetti, glitter, four surprise figures and three containers. All kids have to do is add the slime powder and water to the mixer along with some glitter or confetti, and voila! They’ve got a batch of homemade slime.
There’s no limit to how kids can play with these open-ended play stones from Stepelstein (German for stepping stones in case you were wondering). Babies and toddlers will love stacking, drumming, filling or balancing on these stones. Older children can use them to create minefields or islands or play an exciting outdoor game of Floor is Lava. The possibilities are endless!
A variety of textures and colors plus a removable battle, teethers, and a mirror will make this soft coral reef one of baby’s favorite toys. This toy is designed for babies up to 24 months, so as they grow, parents can begin teaching them about the different sea creatures and elements found on the reef.
Pokémon cards are always super popular stocking stuffers for kids, but this special Pokémon collection will delight your Pokémon enthusiast. It comes with five Pokémon TCG: Crown Zenith booster packs, one etched foil promo card featuring Pikachu VMAX, one foil promo card featuring Pikachu V and one giant promo card featuring Pikachu VMAX to add to their collection.
A string of burglaries at the Royal Star Casino have caused a stir. But who’s behind these crimes? That’s exactly what kids will figure out in this investigative crime game. They’ll have to carefully combine clues, comb through witness statements, and solve a series of codes and puzzles to put the burglars behind bars. But the game isn’t over once they’ve solved a case! There are multiple cases to solve, so the little detectives can play again and again.
Planning a family trip? Kids can pack everything from a change of clothes to their favorite stuffy in this stylish State Bags backpack. It features a spacious main compartment with tons of interior pockets for organizing all of their travel essentials plus a zippered front pocket, two side water bottle pockets and a luggage slip sleeve for easy travel. And the icing on the cake, or should we say backpack, is that it’s made with coated cotton, so it’s easy to wipe down after each adventure.
Kids of all ages can relax and paint on this special water painting board. As it dries, their artwork will fade away and the board will return to its blank slate without any flaws, bubbles or peeling. This set comes with an authentic bamboo water brush and a stand that has a roomy reservoir for water and separate grooves for holding both the board and brush. All you have to do to get started is add water. It’s a creative gift for any artist.
Kids will ditch their screens in favor of target practice with these toy Gel Blasters which blast non-toxic, eco-friendly water beads up to 170 feet per second. Unlike paintballs, these beads disintegrate on contact and won’t stain or leave a mess. The surge comes with one blaster and USB charging cable, safety glasses, 10,000 beads and a low-velocity barrel which reduces the intensity to 90 feet per second for younger players. Get competitive with these backyard family games.
Looking for fun gifts for kids to keep occupied on a long car or plane ride? These Paint by Sticker books are the answer. There are 10 mosaic pictures for kids to complete with perforated pages that can be easily removed from the book and hung on the fridge or given to a loved one. You can also stock up on these books and put them away for the next gift-giving event. They happen to make great Easter gifts.
Whether they prefer to draw, paint, color or cut and glue, this Crayola art case allows kids to unleash their inner artist. The kit has over 200 pieces including markers, watercolor paints, paintbrush, colored pencils, pencil sharpener, crayons, scissors and glitter glue all neatly packed into a convenient carrying case. Pair with a pack of construction paper and let their creativity flow. Even an adult would love this kit for their adult coloring book.
3…2…1…blast off! Kids will be over the moon when they see this four-foot-tall Little Tikes rocket ship that features realistic lights and sounds as well as a star viewer screen. It’s also equipped with a control center, telescope, crawl-through-escape hatch and outer maintenance panel. When it comes to playtime, the sky really is the limit with this toy. Add to the experience by using it as a game when camping.
A set of 70 heirloom quality, solid wood blocks comes in a Lovevery box that offers kids dozens of ways to play. They can use the colorful blocks to build, stack, thread, match, sort and even use the box to create a pull car. The block set even comes with four wooden people for even more imaginative play. For a more structured game, check out these classic board games.
This lightweight, electric Fender guitar is perfect for little hands. It has a “C”-shaped neck profile, and smaller frets that make this guitar comfortable to hold and easy to play. My mom gifted this guitar to my nine-year-old who was inspired to learn guitar after discovering Taylor Swift.
She paired this gift with a subscription to Fender Play, which teaches you how to play through a series of easy-to-follow lessons. Each lesson is only two to five minutes long, making them easy for kids to follow. Little music lovers won’t be able to put it down.
Nostalgia toys are always a great gift for kids and kids at heart. This year, Furby is back and better than ever! This interactive toy dances, sings, lights up, talks and is an accomplished fortune teller. There are over 600 responses in both English and Furbish to keep kids entertained for hours on end.
And when two of these furry friends are together, they’ll interact with each other for a whole new play experience. Feeling nostalgic? Rewatch these ’80s cartoons.
With over 75 accessories, a working elevator, pool, giant slide, outdoor swing and integrated lights and sounds, it goes without saying that Barbie’s dreamhouse got a major upgrade! There are 10 areas to play including some special pet accommodations for Barbie’s new puppy. And yep, her adorable puppy is included! And if you’re curious, here’s the price of Barbie’s DreamHouse today.
Toddlers will love having their very own ride-on tractor to help around the yard. It comes with a rechargeable 12-volt battery that allows your tot to drive at either 2.5 or 4.5 miles per hour. It features a working FM radio, adjustable armrests, an extra-large trailer and large wheels that provide traction on grass, dirt, gravel or pavement. Better yet, make it a fun game for boys that doesn’t include guns.
Foster their love of music early with this musical bath set. It includes one “dingray” xylophone with rust-resistant keys, a floating “octodrum” rhythm toy that doubles as a maze and two starfish shakers. Pick out a funny song and get ready for the cutest concert ever!
Speaking of bath toys, this viral elephant bubbler is a must for bath time. This adorable toy, which happens to be a great stocking stuffer for kids, has almost two million views on TikTok and will elicit the best toddler giggles. All they have to do is wet the cloth, add soap or shampoo and blow through the mouthpiece to create a stream of bubbles. And don’t worry, the mouthpiece has a one-way design, so kids won’t accidentally swallow soap or water.
Little artists will create one masterpiece after another with this deluxe art easel. It features a chalkboard, magnetic dry-erase board, paper feeder, paper clips and two wide shelves complete with two fabric storage bins to store their art supplies. It’s made from layered pine and is finished with child-safe, non-toxic paints. Have a messy painter? Here’s how to get those colors out of clothes.
Teething is no joke, but you can help ease their frustration with this teething toy. It’s large and easy to hold with textured surfaces that gently massage baby’s gums. It’s made from 100% non-toxic, food-grade silicone and free from BPA. It also features BioCote, a silver ion antimicrobial technology. Pro tip: stick this teether in the freezer for a few hours to further alleviate teething pain. Don’t forget to save baby’s teeth!
A cute pair of pajamas is a useful gift that kids and parents will appreciate. These jammies are made with 100% organic cotton and come in bright, fun prints like donuts, macarons, dogs, dinos and more. Available from 12 months through kid’s size eight, these PJs fit true to size, hold up well in the wash and won’t shrink in the dryer! We also think the colorful hearts pajamas make a great Valentine’s Day gift for kids.
Foster your little one’s creativity with this purposeful book and stuffed animal. This set, which was created by a therapist and special education teacher, teaches your little one that the sky is the limit. For more meaningful gifts for kids, here are more presents that give back.
Fidget toys just got an upgrade! These fluffy fidget toys offer kids three ways to play. First, they pull off the outer layer of fluff to reveal a new character underneath. Then place all of the fluff in the soft, squishy pouch for a whole new toy. Stuffiez come in two different sizes with six characters to choose from. Just help out a teacher and make sure it doesn’t slip into the back-to-school supplies!
Fans of Disney’s live-action The Little Mermaid movie will love this new Ariel doll. She features Ariel’s signature flowing locks and gorgeous ombre tail and glittery fin. Kids will love recreating their favorite scenes from the movie or directing all new scenes of their own. Can they recite these Disney quotes?
Fans of the hit Netflix show, which just entered its eighth season, can create their own play kitchen with this LEGO set. This sweet Lego gift includes a buildable small kitchen with a mixing bowl, ingredients, a chef-cat oven, a giant cupcake to decorate with tasty treats and a Gabby mini figure and Cakey figure.
Bluey fans can bring Bingo and Bluey home to this fun-filled playhouse. It offers three floors of fun including accessories, furniture, Bingo, Bluey, Chattermax and Nana figures, and even Bingo and Bluey’s favorite toys. More to love: It plays music, sounds and phrases from the show and has a moving dance floor. And while we’re talking about our favorite canine friends, check out these gifts for dog lovers.
Have a preschooler who demands that you read the same book over and over? The Little Tikes Story Dream Machine allows them to control what they listen to and when. Not only that, but the projector shines the storybook pages bright on the wall with colorful lights and sound effects to keep them engaged. This kit comes with three classic Golden Book stories that kids and adults will enjoy. Here are more children’s books to add to the evening lineup.
They’re never too young to elevate their style! This interactive purse pet will delight the most stylish kids as the multicolor, light-up cheetah spots respond to their touch. Not only that, but this adorable pet has over 30 sound and light effects, five new songs and actually holds all of their treasures. Pair with some Luxey Charms for two gifts for kids with an even cooler look.
No matter how old they are, fans of this holiday classic will love building and displaying the McCallisters’ Lego house. This set includes 3,955 pieces and features walls and a roof that opens for easy access. It also has Kevin’s tree house, the sticky bandits’ van and five minifigures. The bricks in this Lego set are split into 24 bags, and the building order follows the movie’s plot. From swinging paint cans and an iron-drop function, to a zip line from the attic to the treehouse, fans will delight in building a replica of this iconic home.
This adorable gift for Disney lovers allows them to bring their favorite characters wherever they go. And much like Stitch, don’t let this tiny speaker’s size fool you. At just 2 inches tall, this rechargeable speaker gives off some pretty amazing sound. It features Bluetooth 5.0 technology which allows it to wirelessly connect to all Bluetooth-enabled devices, and comes with a strap that your Stitch fan can use to secure it to any backpack or bag for on-the-go listening.
Kids will love having a special place to store their prized possessions. These storage lockers come in an array of fun, matte colors and can hold everything from books and toys to storage baskets, clothes and collectibles. There are cable holes in the back, so older kids can use the locker as a television console and store their video games and other electronics.
The entire locker is magnetic to personalize it with magnets and stickers. It also comes with two keys to keep their treasures out of the hands of their pesky siblings. If you have a larger space to fill, these gifts for kids come in two larger sizes that are perfect for the mudroom, basement or garage.
Move over, Mario Kart. Kids and adults looking for a little friendly competition will love breaking out this exciting racing game which features all their favorite DreamWorks characters. Race Shrek, Boss Baby, Puss In Boots and more through tracks inspired by hit DreamWorks movies. Each race is hosted by none other than the Trolls, who you can also collect to ride along with you for special boosts. Keep the fun going with these games you can play in the car.
