ThinkFun Gravity Maze
A marble-run logic game that teaches planning and spatial thinking.
Under $25View on Amazon
60 gifts
Glow in the dark rock painting kit
A quiet craft afternoon for school-age kids.
Under $25View on Amazon
QUNREDA 4WD stunt remote control car
A flipping, light-up RC car for kids who like to race and crash.
$25-50View on Amazon
Magic gel water pets kit
Kids make squishy gel animals that wiggle in water.
Under $25View on Amazon
1000x handheld digital microscope for kids
Gets curious kids exploring bugs, leaves and coins up close.
$25-50View on Amazon
Princess castle play tent with star lights
A cozy pretend-play hideaway for a young kid's room.
$25-50View on Amazon
JOYIN indoor arcade basketball set
Gives active kids a hoop game that fits indoors or out.
$25-50View on Amazon
Kids pottery wheel craft kit
Lets a young maker shape and paint their own clay pieces.
$25-50View on Amazon
National Geographic Magic chemistry set
Ten safe science tricks for curious kids.
Under $25View on Amazon
Kids smart watch with games and camera
A first smart watch with games, a camera, and a pedometer for young kids.
$25-50View on Amazon
STEM craft kit for kids
Hands-on building project for a curious 6 to 12 year old.
Under $25View on Amazon
150-piece magnetic building blocks
Open-ended building toy that lets kids stack, sort and create.
$25-50View on Amazon
Building blocks set with electric screwdriver
For kids who like to build with real tools and follow steps.
$25-50View on Amazon
The Hardest Hidden Pictures Book Ever
A tough seek-and-find book for kids who like a challenge.
Under $25View on Amazon
Crayola airbrush marker spray art kit
For the kid who loves to draw and wants a new way to color.
Under $25View on Amazon
LCD writing tablet 4 pack for kids
Reusable doodle boards that are good for car rides and quiet time.
Under $25View on Amazon
Maxx Bubbles wand set, 6 pack
Easy outdoor fun for a kid's party or summer afternoon.
Under $25View on Amazon
Kids STEM building toy set
For young builders who like snapping things together.
$25-50View on Amazon
Itopstar arts and crafts kit, 3000 pieces
A big box of supplies for a kid who is always making things.
$25-50View on Amazon
Nerf Vortex Aero Howler foam football
A whistling football for backyard games.
Under $25View on Amazon
Wooden dinosaur puzzles, set of 4
Chunky 20-piece puzzles for preschool fingers.
Under $25View on Amazon
Arts and Crafts Vault craft kit in a box
Hundreds of supplies for a creative kid.
$25-50View on Amazon
GeoSafari Kidnoculars
Chunky toy binoculars for a little explorer.
Under $25View on Amazon
JOYIN dinosaur carrier truck with 12 pull-back cars
For the dino-obsessed kid who likes things that roll.
$25-50View on Amazon
Kids karaoke machine with microphone
For a kid who sings all day and wants a stage.
Under $25View on Amazon
Hover soccer light-up ball
A gliding LED ball that lets kids play soccer indoors safely.
Under $25View on Amazon
Dinosaur road race track toy set
Build a dino track and race the cars.
$25-50View on Amazon
Bug catcher with 6x magnifier
For the kid who spends the afternoon looking under rocks.
Under $25View on Amazon
Simplay3 rock around wobble disk and climbing dome
Active indoor and outdoor play for toddlers, made in the USA.
$50-100View on Amazon
Toss and catch ball game set for kids
A simple backyard game for little hands.
$25-50View on Amazon
Let's Go Fishin' game by Pressman
A simple, noisy fishing game for little kids.
Under $25View on Amazon
Carl & Kay arts and crafts kit for kids
A big box of supplies for a rainy afternoon.
Under $25View on Amazon
Sunny Days jumbo sidewalk chalk set
Washable chalk and a tub for outdoor play.
Under $25View on Amazon
Dinosaur truck set with 15 figures and play mat
A play set that keeps a dino fan busy for hours.
Under $25View on Amazon
Kids backyard soccer goals, set of 2
Pop-up goals for kids' backyard games.
$25-50View on Amazon
Craft-tastic make a fox friend kit
A kid-sized craft project that is ready to start in minutes.
Under $25View on Amazon
Kid Made Modern sidewalk chalk bucket
For small artists who play outside all afternoon.
Under $25View on Amazon
Flybar My First Foam Pogo Jumper
A soft, safe pogo for toddlers to bounce on.
Under $25View on Amazon
National Geographic Kids Why?
Answers to more than a thousand questions curious kids keep asking.
Under $25View on Amazon
3Doodler Start+ 3D pen set for kids
A safe, low-temp 3D pen for young makers.
$50-100View on Amazon
leitait bracelet making kit, 3400 pieces
Beads and charms for a girl who loves making jewelry.
Under $25View on Amazon
JOYIN LED kids bow and arrow set
Soft suction cup arrows make indoor target practice safe for young archers.
Under $25View on Amazon
Transformable fidget spinners, 4 pack
A quiet fidget for restless hands, kids and adults.
Under $25View on Amazon
3 pack LED foam airplane launcher toys
Outdoor fun for active kids to fly and chase.
$25-50View on Amazon
Construction truck toy set with play mat
For kids who love diggers, trucks and floor-sized building sites.
$25-50View on Amazon
Fairy magic potion kit for kids
Lets a kid mix glittery potions in a pretend fairy lab.
Under $25View on Amazon
Stomp Rocket Ultra launcher
Stomp the pad and rockets fly, for outdoor kids.
Under $25View on Amazon
Take-apart dinosaur toy with drill
Lets a young builder screw and unscrew their own dinosaur.
Under $25View on Amazon
Play-Doh Fun Tub set
A tub of dough and tools for preschool crafting.
Under $25View on Amazon
Catch ball game with 24 discs
Backyard catching game for active kids.
Under $25View on Amazon
Melissa & Doug Super Smile dentist play set
Pretend-play kit that makes dentist visits less scary.
Under $25View on Amazon
WATINC felt sock puppet making kit
Lets kids make and then perform with their own puppets.
Under $25View on Amazon
Little Tikes Dirt Diggers excavator sandbox
A sandbox with a working digger for little builders.
$50-100View on Amazon
Mattel Magic 8 Ball
The classic fortune-telling toy that still gets a laugh.
Under $25View on Amazon
Magnetic wooden fishing game for preschoolers
Teaches letters and counting while kids play.
Under $25View on Amazon
Ninja Blast game activity cube
A rechargeable handheld cube with nine brain and memory games for kids.
Under $25View on Amazon
Kanoodle brain teaser puzzle game
A pocket puzzle with hundreds of challenges, fine for kids and adults.
Under $25View on Amazon
Bluey family figure 4-pack
The Heeler family as poseable toys for Bluey fans.
Under $25View on Amazon
Snap Circuits Explorer electronics kit
Snap-together electronics projects for a curious kid 8 and up.
$25-50View on Amazon
KRAFUN My First Sewing Kit for kids
A starter kit that lets kids sew their own animal dolls.
Under $25View on Amazon
How to pick a gift for a kid, by age
Age on the box is a guide, not a rule. A good gift matches what a child can do now with a little room to grow. Too easy gets boring fast, and too hard gets abandoned. Always check the age label on the listing, especially for anything with small parts.
Open-ended toys that can be used many ways, like blocks, art supplies and puzzles, tend to last longer than toys that do one thing. If the gift needs batteries or a charger, make sure someone will have them on hand.
Ages 3 to 5
Little kids like pretend play, big movements and simple making. A Princess castle play tent with star lights or the 150-piece magnetic building blocks suit this age, and the blocks are easy to use without reading instructions. LCD writing tablets keep hands busy on car rides. Skip tiny parts if there are babies in the house.
Ages 6 to 9
This is the sweet spot for kits and challenges. The Glow in the dark rock painting kit, the National Geographic Magic chemistry set, the Magic gel water pets kit and the Kids pottery wheel craft kit all give kids something to make and show off. Active kids will enjoy the JOYIN indoor arcade basketball set or LED foam airplane launcher toys.
Brain games such as ThinkFun Gravity Maze, Kanoodle and The Hardest Hidden Pictures Book Ever work well for kids who like puzzles.
Ages 10 to 12
Older kids want to feel capable. The 1000x handheld digital microscope for kids, a STEM craft kit for kids or a Building blocks set with electric screwdriver treat them like real builders. A QUNREDA 4WD stunt remote control car is a hit for racers, and a Kids smart watch with games and camera is a first step toward their own gear. Past this age, see our teens page. If the gift is for a birthday or Christmas, or you are also buying for a sister or brother, those lists have more ideas.
Questions about gifts for kids
Quick answers before you buy
What are good gifts for a 5 year old?
Think pretend play, simple building and making: a play tent, magnetic building blocks, a writing tablet or an easy craft kit.
What are good gifts for a 10 year old?
Kits that let them build or experiment, like a microscope, a STEM craft kit or a pottery wheel, plus strategy puzzles and an RC car.
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