I don’t know about you, but it seems like lately I spend half my time searching Amazon for the perfect gift for my kids, or nieces and nephews, or my kids’ friends. It is enjoyable, but I have one major problem.
My problem is, I get sucked into hopping from one popular toy to another and looking at the reviews forever.
Suddenly two hours are gone from my day and I still don’t know what to buy.
So we at AFineParent.com decided to do the work for you!
Here is a list of the most popular gifts for your little ones, their friends, nieces, nephews, grandkids and more.
And the best part?
They are all from Amazon, they all have a 4+ rating from tons of reviews and most are available through Prime shipping, so even if you are shopping at the very last minute, you might still be able to get them in time!
Many of these I gave to my own children. A lot of them I specifically picked because we use them in the primary class of my Montessori preschool. Some of these are “classic” enough that you may have played with them when you were little!
Editor’s Note: Also check out our other guides
Alright, here we go –
Toys that Encourage Creativity
Pirate Ship
ARR, Matey! This pirate ship is sure to delight ye little swashbucklers! But seriously: no batteries needed, lots of fun buttons, dials and features that fire missles and cannon balls or activate the shark-chompin’ action. One of the top-rated toys a few years running!
Pet Vet Set
Fun for a day of pretend play! This set comes with a dog and cat stuffed animal and a whole kit full of vet equipment that provide hours of interactive and imaginative playtime.
Bluey Mega Home
If you love Bluey, then this is a great toy for the kids. You get the whole Bluey family and some furniture — plenty enough to encourage creative play without having too many pieces roaming around the house!
Kid’s HD Digital Camera
Get your kid a camera of their own! This one takes pictures, videos and selfies while also offering some fun extras including borders, hats and moustaches and a few games.
Squishmallow!
Have you experienced these wonderfully, squishy pillows yet? They are delightful and come in all kinds of different shapes and sizes! From dogs to unicorns, sushi to penguins, there’s a squishmallow for everyone. I have at least ten of these in my home and they all have become loveys, sleeping pillows or buddies for a tea party on a regular basis.
Ice Cream Shop Pretend Play
An amazing set for little hands, this ice cream setup stores neatly inside the wooden display case when you’re finished playing! It comes with a menu and a few play dollar bills so the kids can really feel like they’re running an ice cream shop.
Lego Duplo Action Train
This is such a cool upgrade from the regular Lego Duplo sets! Now, with the “action” block, the train can do all kinds of different things as it runs over certain blocks: make sounds, turn on lights, stop–and there’s a bluetooth app if you want to use it to control the train (but you don’t have to!). It’s the newest and most interactive Duplo set!
Wobble Board
Have an active kid with a vivid imagination? Not only are these boards great for physical activity and getting out the wiggles, but they also can be used as bridges, seats, tunnels, car tracks or anything your kid can think up.
Paw Patrol Metal Cars
If you have a Paw Patrol fan, these metal cars are great for creative play! Since they’re made of metal they are hardier than their plastic counterparts. And these are just slightly bigger than Hot Wheels!
Finger Puppets
Some more Paw Patrol (there are other sets too)! These little puppets are great for creative play, on-the-go, in the bath, with a friend or however your child wants. Easy to clean, these would make a great and compact addition to the toy box!
Butterfly Wing Costume
Let your child’s imagination take flight with this awesome costume, sure to delight any kid who wants to live the dream of life with wings. These are lightweight and vibrantly colored, perfect for creative play anytime of the year.
Dino Race Track
These are a variation on your typical cars and race tracks; the track on this is completely bendable and can be made into any shape and can be completely taken apart and rebuilt. The cars are fast and light up (they look great in the dark!) and the bridge is a great exercise for a child’s dexterity.
No-Mess Art
Now you can have art without the worry! The markers only work on these papers, not your walls, floors or siblings. They come in fun designs with a pack of special markers to delight any budding artist.
Play Doh
Play Doh is one of those classic toys that will probably be around forever! It comes in so many colors that it makes it easy for kids to unlock their creativity. And Doh is fun for little hands to squish and mold.
- Builds muscles for fine motor control
- Allows for right-brained creative development
Kinetic Sand
- Development of fine motor control
- Creative development
- Tactile stimulation
Costumes
- Builds self-esteem
- Develops problem solving techniques
Water Color Paints
- Develops creativity
- Builds fine motor control muscles
- Builds self-esteem
EMIDO Building Block Kits
- Develops fine motor control
- Develops problem solving skills
Wooden Building Blocks
- Develops fine motor control
- Develops problem solving skills
Dinosaur Toys
- Creative play
- Manipulative aid in learning bigger concepts
Musical Instruments and Drum Set
- Develops gross motor skills
- Develops pattern recognition and creation
Safari Animals
- Builds their self-esteem
- Develops problem solving techniques
VTech Little Apps Tablet
- Develop fine motor control
- Develop pattern recognition
Lincoln Logs
- Promotes focus
- Develops fine motor skills
- Builds problem solving skills
Lego Duplo Blocks
- Develops fine motor skills
- Allows creativity to flow
- Starts a love of engineering
Washable Dot Markers
- Develops fine motor skills
- Empowers creativity
Little People House
- Develops self-esteem
- Develops a wider sense of the world
Toy Cars
- Develops self-esteem
- Empowers creativity
Hand Puppets and Puppet Theater
- Teaches story building
- Allows for creative expression of their world view
- Builds self-esteem
Lemonade Stand / Grocery Store
- Builds self-esteem
- Develops a sense of how the world works
Pretend and Play School Set
- Build self-esteem
- Develops a sense of how the world works
Reusable Water-Reveal Activity Pads
- Develops fine motor skills
- Engages creative activities for learning
Busy Box
- Develops fine motor skills
- Allows sense of touch to play a part in creativity
Toys that Encourage Learning
Osmo: Little Genius
Zingo! For Pre-Readers
GeoSafari Talking Microscope
This is a fun way to play and learn! With Bindi Irwin’s voice talking, your child can view images through their microscope (like a viewfinder) and listen to facts or get quized on the slide’s 60 different animals and plants.
ABC & 123 Interactive Wall Chart
Matching Game
Pattern Blocks Puzzle
- Develops problem solving skills
- Builds pattern recognition skills
- Introduces children to rudimentary math concepts