There are so many toys out there.
So. Many.
So just how do you know that this toy is the right toy for your beloved little son, daughter, niece, nephew, cousin, godchild, or grandchild?
Because we’ve done the work for you!
And the best part?
All these toys are 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. Some of these are “classic” enough that you may have played with them when you were a kid!
Editor’s Note: Also check out our other guides
Alright, here we go –
Gifts for a Child’s Self-Care
Fun Blanket!
What kid doesn’t want a blanket to snuggle up in? And why not make it awesome?! Literally become a burrito with this warm tortilla blanket, or you can opt for the pizza or waffle if that’s more your kid’s style!
Paint Pens
Art therapy is amazing, and having a cool set of paint pens that can give your child the (supervised) freedom to paint-draw on rocks, plant pots, containers or just paper brings out their independence and creativity.
Blanket Hoodie
This wearable blanket in hoodie form is warm, cozy and snuggly. Movie night, sporting events or late-night reading all could use this hoodie to enhance the moment.
Glow-in-the-Dark Stars & Moon
This might be the perfect DIY project for you to do with your child or preteen; let them enjoy the wonder of creating their own nighttime star mural with these. Charge them up with a decent light and enjoy the glow when they go to bed!
Squishmallow!
Do you have a Squishmallow in your home yet? They come in all different sizes, and the 16″ is so big, soft and squishy! I have at least ten in the house and all of them have endured years of being slept on, sat upon, thrown around and loved. They are amazingly cuddly and you can get practically any shape from dogs and cats to sushi and watermelon!
Alarm Clock
If your child resents the typical jarring tone of the standard alarm clock, you may want to offer them this little guy. With cheery sounds (and the options for a timer or night sounds/night light), this clock has made my kids slightly happier to wake up in the mornings!
Gifts that Encourage Creativity
GAN Cube
These magnetic cubes are like the Porsches of Rubix Cubes; if your child is into puzzles or “speedcubing” then you may want to gift them one of these.
Light Up Tracing Pad
Have a budding artist on your hands? These light-up tracing light boxes are fun to create and trace with. Kids can learn drawing, calligraphy, or design–whatever you can print out, they can trace!
Play Tents!
Let the creativity run wild! Tents can offer portals to another world to your child (in imagination of course); here are just two of many options available for your kid’s future hideout or fort.
Tinker Toys
The world is at your child’s fingertips with these. My kid has made windmills, flowers, cars, vacuums and all manner of kid-engineering projects. These are great for creative play and are a great spin off of an old classic.
Lego: Super Mario
This is a great gift for the child who games — it does pair with an app on a device you already own and the Mario Lego interacts with the environment. A great Lego set if you’re set up for tech and willing to download the app!
Doctor Play Set
Pretend play is fun, and this doctor’s kit has enough fun to go around. Kids can play to ease the stress that usually comes before a doctor visit, or playing can help strengthen your child’s empathy. Either way, it’s fun!
Schleich Horse Club Stables
Have a horse-crazy kid? If you do, you may already know about Schleich as they make excellent, durable and detailed animal figurines, many of which are horses. This Horse Club set is perfect for a horse enthusiast kid who may like similar sets such as Barbie or Calico Critters!
Crayola Inspiration Art Case
My youngest got this for his birthday from his aunt and now he carries it around with him like a briefcase. It has so many different things in it to create with. Crayons, markers, and colored pencils. Just add paper!
Basketball Guys
This is a cute set of 2-inch high figures that allows children to imagine their own basketball game. It comes with two teams, a court, a ball and two baskets. This company has other highly rated kits similar to this but focusing on football, soccer, hockey and more. So, be sure to get the one that resonates the most with your little ones!
Dress-up Costumes
Costumes aren’t just for Halloween! Kids love to play dress up at any time of the year (and day). They allow children to become someone they admire and to take on those strengths and handle their weaknesses. These are just two examples of all the costumes you can buy.
Clay Charms Craft Kits
I love these kits because they come with every thing you need to make your own jewelry. The clay comes in a ton of different colors and is soft enough to mold into anything you can imagine, and all the tools and instructions for making cute charms are included.
Moose Toys Chocolate Bar Maker
Cooking is a very creative activity. Some kids this age aren’t quite ready for making their own dishes, but they can make their own chocolate bars. This kit comes with the moulds, chocolate, fillings, and toppings that will ignite their creative side in a completely different way.
Rock Painting Kit
This is a great kit for a rainy afternoon. It even comes with the rock you want to paint! The bright and vibrant paints inspire kids to create their own rock friends. The paint is water-proof and so you can even decorate your garden with them.
Stepping Stone Kit
This isn’t just a toy kit, it’s a memory kit. You can use your child’s hand or foot to create a lasting childhood memory. This was recommended by one of my friends who has one of these from all four of her kids. They decorate her garden and make her smile every time she sees it.
Pottery Wheel Kit for Kids
Is your kid into textures? This pottery wheel might be the right gift for them. They can take clay and use the wheel to make their very own, very professional-looking bowls, cups, and vases. It’s great for improving hand strength while they use their imaginations.
Friendship Bracelet Kit
I see so many kids wearing these – especially during the summer. They can use so many different colors of embroidery thread to weave and tie them into really special bracelets. It also helps hone their fine motor control as well as exercises their empathy and the want to do something for others.
Weaving Loom Kit
Weaving takes a lot of concentration and dexterity. It’s also a fun, meditative, and creative activity. Kids can use yarn or even scraps of cloth from old shirts to create vivid wall hangings or tote bags.
Rainbow Loom + Refill Kits
There was a phase where my sons were constantly coming home with bracelets, key chairs, and other objects made from rubber bands. And they were so creative! Your child can figure out new patterns and combine the colors in any way they want. And when they run out of ideas, there are thousands of tutorial videos on YouTube that they can look up. Plus, it is awesome for honing their fine motor skills.
Felt Craft Kits
This is such a cute sewing kit. Kids can make their own little stuffed animals out of felt, which is such an easy fabric to cut and sew. Montessori schools use sewing to strengthen children’s fine motor control and to help the to express their creative sides.
ALEX Toys Undercover Spy Case Detective Gear Set
My oldest son got one of these for his birthday and he became obsessed with spies. He learned the science of different technologies and it inspired him to read books about kid spies. Plus he spent so much time in his room and in the toy room imagining he was a real secret agent.
Magnetic Poetry – Kids Story Maker Kit
Kids love to tell stories, but sometimes they haven’t learned how to write them yet. These ready made, magnetic words are just right for kids to put together the stories that are running through their heads. They can use their own metal board or the family and work collaboratively by putting them on the refrigerator.
Story Cubes
As a professional writer I love these. I actually have them to use myself when I get stumped while working on a story. This helps kids learn how to start writing their stories and encourages them to be as creative as possible. The whole family can play with these and build a story around the actions depicted on the cubes.
Fort Building Kits
My kids love to make forts. And they aren’t just forts. They are houses, train stations, dog kennels, and the Mines of Moria. The possibilities for what kids can invent are endless … just see the customer images!
Create Your Own Books
As soon as my kids could read they wanted to write their own books. This is a neat kit that comes with three blank books and all the marker and stickers they could need to create their own story. Plus they are hard cover books so they will last for years.
Decorate-Your-Own Wooden Train and Race Car
Sometimes it’s hard to find things that will spark a child’s creativity. If you have a kid like that I highly recommend one of these decorate-your-own kits. It allows them to customize their own train or car and really make it their own. Plus painting is really good for helping kids work on their fine motor skills. NOTE: if your child is not into trains or cars be sure to check out other kits by this company (butterfly magnets, princess wands and more) which are all highly rated as well.
Gifts that Encourage Learning
Lego Chain Reactions
If you already have basic Lego bricks and pieces, this add-on really ups the ante! Introduce your kids to engineering concepts with intructions on how to build 10 different moving lego machines.
Circuit Maze
This is great for a structured kid or a super creative one; the challenges are fun and increase in difficulty while the light up blocks make it instantly rewarding. It’s also great if your kid runs off with his imagination and creates a circuit on his own!
Roller Coaster Challenge
Here’s a similar game but with gravity instead of circuitry. It’s the same concept with challenges to try and figure out for your kid, or they can creatively build their own coaster. It’s a single-child adventure, but cooperative kids can play together.
Little Garden
