The Best Gifts for Kids and Toddlers
We love finding gifts that spark creativity, get kids moving, or just make them giggle, ideally without a thousand tiny pieces to step on. Here are our favorite gifts for toddlers and kids of all ages, from imaginative toys and games to craft kits and outdoor fun. Shopping for a specific age? Our birthday gift guide breaks it down year by year.
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The guides
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Frequently asked
What do you get a kid who has everything?
Skip more stuff and go for something they can do: a craft or science kit, a cool experience, a class, or a membership to a museum or zoo. Gifts that feed a current interest (art, animals, sports, cooking) also beat another toy. Find age-by-age picks in our birthday gift guide.
What are good gifts for kids who love to draw, cook or read?
Lean into the passion with a slight upgrade: better art supplies or a sketchbook set for artists, kid-safe kitchen tools or a cookbook for little chefs, and a series starter or book subscription for readers. Browse our DIY and handmade and kids picks.
How many gifts should kids get for Christmas?
There's no right number. Plenty of families use a simple framework like "something they want, something they need, something to wear, something to read" to keep things meaningful and manageable. Fewer, better gifts usually win.
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This guide contains affiliate links, which means we receive a small commission from some purchases to help support our team. All picks are determined editorially by our staff; there has been no compensation in exchange for our picks.
MEL Science Subscription (First Month 50% Off with COOLMOM50)
A monthly MEL Science subscription delivers hands-on chemistry, physics, or STEM experiment kits — a gift that encourages kids' curiosity and learning at home.
From: Wish your kids loved science more? This holiday, give them the gift of MEL Science and watch their interest grow.
Swap.com — Cleaned & Inspected Preowned Kids Clothes
A large online consignment store selling affordable, inspected kids' clothing and toys—practical for budget-friendly gift shopping.
From: A comparison of the best kids consignment shops online: Where to buy, and where to sell.
Fisher-Price Ted Lasso Little People Collector Set (6 figures)
A six-figure Little People collector set featuring iconic Ted Lasso AFC Richmond characters — a playful, displayable gift for fans and families.
From: Ted Lasso's new Little People Collector set: Believe!
BabyGate App (child-safe phone kiosk)
A child-lock/educational app that makes a phone safe for toddlers and provides simple learning apps to keep them entertained during travel.
From: 5 tips for flying with toddlers, from a mom who has flown many times, with many toddlers
Blue Lizard Kids Mineral SPF 50 Sunscreen Lotion
Gentle, mineral-based SPF 50 designed for kids—good gift for families who want high protection with minimal irritation risk.
From: The best sunscreens you can find at Walmart, according to the EWG
Primary Kids' Mix-and-Match Clothing
Simple, high-quality mix-and-match kids clothing designed for easy dressing and durable travel wear.
From: 13 things to make your summer travel with kids easier
SlumberPod Blackout Cover
A pop-up blackout pod that creates a dark, private sleep space for toddlers in hotel rooms.
From: 13 things to make your summer travel with kids easier
Inflatable Toddler Travel Bed
A lightweight inflatable travel bed sized for toddlers to provide a familiar, comfortable sleep surface on trips.
From: 13 things to make your summer travel with kids easier
Hand‑Sculpted Animal Wand by Fischtale Designs
A handcrafted paper‑clay wand with glitter glaze featuring adorable animal designs—whimsical and durable for imaginative play or dress‑up.
From: Bippity Boppity Ribbit
Apples to Apples Jr.
A kid-friendly edition of the classic party game with simpler prompts, suited for younger players and mixed-age families.
From: Clear the table for 10 of the best board games for older kids. (Hooray for outgrowing Candy Land!)
How to know how much of the eclipse you’ll see based on location
Printable/how-to DIY solar eclipse viewer tutorial using common household items (cereal box, foil, paper, tape) — a low-cost, hands-on gift idea for kids and eclipse watchers.
From: NASA's own tip for making easy, DIY solar eclipse glasses. Because no, you can't buy them anymore.
Her Right Foot by Dave Eggers and Shawn Harris (children's picture book)
A visually engaging, thoughtful picture book exploring the history and meaning of the Statue of Liberty—suitable for kids and families as an educational, giftable title.
From: Her Right Foot: Why Dave Eggers has written the perfect picture book for our times
LEGO NINJAGO Movie Theater Ticket
Give the gift of a theater experience—tickets to The LEGO NINJAGO Movie make an easy present for LEGO fans and families.
From: 7 reasons girls should see the new LEGO NINJAGO movie | Thinking : Parent
Personalized Clear Piggy Bank (Etsy)
A clear, personalized piggy bank that helps toddlers watch savings grow while learning coin and bill identification.
From: An age-by-age guide to teaching kids about money: Things we can do as parents.
DIY Thanksgiving Placemats Craft Kit for Kids
A kid-friendly placemat craft kit that keeps children entertained and adds festive table decor — great as a stocking stuffer or kids' activity gift.
From: The Big Last Minute Thanksgiving Help Guide: Recipes, printables, hotlines and more recipes. We're here for you!
Robot Turtles Board Game (ThinkFun)
A board game designed to teach young children the basics of coding through simple, cooperative gameplay suitable for early learners.
From: The best kids' toys, dolls, and games: Editors' Best of 2014
Pottery Barn Kids Play Kitchen
A classic pretend-play wooden play kitchen — great for encouraging imaginative play in young children.
From: The best Cyber Monday 2017 deals from around the web to help you shop big or shop small.
Nintendo Switch Console
Popular hybrid gaming console offering handheld and docked play — a high-demand tech gift for gamers.
From: Last-minute holiday gift ideas: Tons of options that let you skip the $$ shipping
Magnetic Me Matching Family Pajamas
Matching family pajamas with magnetic closures for easier dressing — great for photos, toddlers, and accessibility needs.
From: 2025 Holiday Gift Guide: Get a jump on holiday shopping with these great gifts!
Beat That! Party Game
A silly, slapstick challenge game with verbal and physical dares (like using chopsticks to transfer dice) that keeps kids laughing—good for younger players around 9+.
From: Game on! These 6 fun group board games are perfect for summer camp. Or just summer friends.
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From: 9 things we wish we knew when our kids were babies. Oh, do we ever.
Jonathan Borba
Baby images: Jonathan Borba + Juan Encalada + via Unsplash
From: 9 things we wish we knew when our kids were babies. Oh, do we ever.
My Talking Tom Friends (mobile game)
A free virtual pet mobile game featuring Talking Tom and friends — a kid-friendly app that encourages caregiving and shared family play.
From: 8 reasons why every family should have a virtual pet
Rainbow Water Beads Sensory Jar Kit (DIY tutorial)
A DIY sensory jar kit or tutorial makes a crafty, calming gift for toddlers and parents who enjoy hands-on projects.
From: Don't toss it yet! 7 brilliant hacks that give second life to your baby gear.