These toys will actually be better to play with than the boxes they come in.
A delightful spin and paint art set just like the ones we used to have back in the good ol’ days. You’re gonna have a blast watching your kiddos make colorful masterpieces…and maybe even while making your own after the munchkins have gone to bed.
This comes with everything you need to get started on your masterpiece — the paint and spin machine, a splatter guard, eight large cards, eight small cards, four round cards, five bottles of paint, four white crayons, and instructions.
Promising reviews: “Easy to clean. So far, it’s durable. I just recently got this for my granddaughter. Fun for kids and fun for adults, too. Definitely recommend. ✌️” —S.a.m
“This was a birthday present for my 48-year-old son; he and his kids had so much fun with it. They made so many memories together. And laughed while playing with it!!” —Gwen
Get it from Amazon for $19.95.
An InnyBin for the leetlee ones in your life who are evermore curious about the world around them. They’ll work on their fine motor skills while they drop the chunky shapes through the elastic bands and pull them back out.
Promising reviews: “This is the perfect size toy that will grow with your kid. My son (7 months) loves to play with the shapes and shake the box to make noise. We are still learning how to properly use it, but he finds it so fun!” —Logan Magnusson
“I gave this toy to my daughter for her first birthday. It didn’t take her long to figure out how to take things in and out. It challenges her mind, it’s almost a puzzle to her, and figuring out how things work is already a favorite activity. She absolutely loves this toy! Now, you never know what you’ll find inside… That missing binkie? Her favorite teether? An unopened applesauce pouch? The TV remote? Yupp, you’ll find it in this cube! We’ve only been playing with this toy for a couple of weeks now, but it seems quite durable. The bright elastic bands have the perfect amount of stretch. The colored shapes are bright and interesting. They’re made of hard plastic with different textures and almost a matte finish. I will probably buy this as a gift for other kids in the future. 10/10 definitely recommend!” —Frankie Garrett
Get it from Amazon for $31.95.
A 100-piece set of Picasso Tiles so colorful and mesmerizing to look at. Not to mention, reviewers say these are just as good as Magnatiles but a whole heckuva lot cheaper ($80, to be exact). Watch your kiddos play for hours as they construct elaborate castles, robots, or whatever else their imagination conjures up.
Promising reviews: “These tiles provide endless fun while encouraging creativity. We love using them to build tracks for Hot Wheels and my son builds amazing structures he can use to play with his action figures. 10/10 recommend these tiles for their excellent quality and price!” —Cara
“I wish I had known about these sooner! PicassoTiles are *exactly* like Magna-tiles but way more affordable. We just received the 100 tile set today — an early birthday gift for our soon-to-be-four-year-old. We have two sets of Magna-tiles — one with the grommets (purchased new last year) and one without (purchased second hand, no idea how old they are). The PicassoTiles are the same weight and size as the MagnaTiles and have the same exact magnets. They do not have metal grommets, but the old MagnaTiles are indestructible, so I know that these will be too. And PicassoTiles are much prettier in my opinion, because they are slightly more translucent and have brighter colors. They integrate into the collection seamlessly. I highly recommend this product. And if you are considering buying any kind of magnetic tile toy for your child, I recommend purchasing as large a set as you can for greater play versatility. Our son has played with these all day and night, off and on, every single day since we bought them last year. After integrating the new PicassoTile set, he hugged his enormous structure and declared it his favorite…twice. A wonderful toy!” —skater mom
Get it from Amazon for $39.99.
A Silly Poopy’s Hide and Seek game perfect for any kids who are ~obsessed~ with potty humor. This little guy gives silly clues and even has a fun reward song for the winner.
Promising reviews: “Bought for grandsons 2 and 6. They have so much fun playing with this. Easy to clean and great quality. Even though it has been dropped several times, it is still working perfectly. Never saw this as a game, but quickly gets their attention every time we play. Great winter or rainy day game.” —DONNA S Duggins
“This game is HILARIOUS. My kids love playing with it and taking turns hiding it. (8, 6, and 3 years). They all think poop is funny and run around yelling, ‘Silly Poopy, where are you?’ It keeps them busy for at least half an hour at a time, and they leave me alone. Also? It’s pretty durable. I found it outside in my garden in the 20-degree winter weather. I guess my 8-year-old left it out there for a few days. It also gets thrown down the stairs, and Silly Poopy just keeps on giggling and having fun.” —Adele
Get it from Amazon for $12.99.
A Tamagotchi Pix to bring back that ’90s nostalgia, but now in an even better version. It boasts futuristic features like a color screen, camera, and the ability to go on playdates by connecting to a friend’s device.
Promising reviews: “Daughter loves this toy! She had a blast taking pictures with it. Just make sure you have extra batteries on hand. Battery life is not the best.” —Candace
“First off, this is the cutest and coolest thing ever! Remember, it’s for 6+. If you’re over 20 and find flaws, I think we know how fun you are. It’s adorable! I’ve taken sooo many pictures and taken such good care of it, she’s so happy! I’m excited to have this by my side ’til the end of time! 🌈✨ There are other Tamagotchis out there, but none have a camera, which makes the Pix the coolest. 😇💖” —Gabii Webber
Get it from Amazon for $99.99+ (available in three colors and three versions).
An upgraded Lite-Brite similar to the one you might’ve had as a kid, but this has a bigger screen and more pegs so their imagination can really ~shine.~
It comes with six design templates, including a boat and a unicorn, but your kiddo can obviously use their imagination to create designs of their own! And don’t worry, the LED bulbs are designed not to get hot.
Promising reviews: ” Oh my gosh, he loves it! It’s durable and the same size as the originals, so it’s small and easy to pack and take with you. He has so much fun with this; it keeps him busy for at least an hour. Easy to use.” —toastedpeanut
“Y’all, talk about a throwback gift! I got this for my daughter for Christmas — and within the first day, she and I both played with it for hours! To say it’s her favorite might be an understatement. And it totally takes you back to your childhood. Get it, you won’t regret it!” —Danielle Lavender
Get it from Amazon for $14.99.
A unicorn slime kit because the only thing better than playing with slime is customizing your own. And over 34,000 people agree so much they gave it a 5-star rating.
This comes with everything you need to create the perfect slime — containers, stirring sticks, jelly cubes, a manual, clay, fishbowl beads, foam balls, inks, glitter, a tool knife set, pearl beads, slime activator, glue, scents, and snow powder.
Promising reviews: “The Original Stationery Unicorn Slime Kit is a dream come true for kids who love crafting and creativity, designed specifically to enchant girls aged 10-12 with the magic of making their own unicorn-themed slime. This comprehensive kit includes everything needed to create a variety of slimes, from glittery to glow-in-the-dark, ensuring hours of fun and imaginative play. Safe and easy to use, it’s an ideal gift for encouraging scientific experimentation and artistic expression in a whimsical and engaging way.” —Angela
“This is the best slime kit I’ve come across. I saw it last minute before my daughter’s birthday (11) and thought I’d get it as an add-on to her presents. It turned out to be her favorite gift! Her brother (8) joined in and made slime with her, and she still has enough to make more of all types.” —Elizabeth
Get it from Amazon for $21.99+ (available in four styles).
A pack of popping tube sensory toys that are super fun to stretch, shrink, and build into letters, numbers, shapes, and everything in between.
For ages 3+.
Promising review: “These are fun for kids of all ages. My grandbabies love them because they can hold them in their baby hands. They are brightly colored and flexible. Unlikely to hurt anything. Older kids like them for the noise they make when they are stretched or closing. They create long chains (they attach to each other) and wild, twisty things. All in all, a good toy for this grandma to have in her house.” —Katy
Get a four-pack from Amazon for $9.97+ (available in two sizes and two pack quantities).
The puzzle game Kanoodle Gravity to kick their brains back in gear instead of plopping down in front of a screen all day. They have to set up the board like the chosen card and then try to figure out how to solve the rest of it. They’ll love the challenge, and you’ll love watching the wheels turn in their heads.
Best for ages 7 and up. It can be played solo or with another person! And if you’re looking for similar puzzles of different challenge levels, check out all of the Kanoodle games.
Promising reviews: “My 10-year-old has several of these Kanoodle sets. This set is a bit different than the original sets. She thought it was fun and did many of these on her own. Good for a child who likes to be challenged!” —JHM
“Oh my gosh!! We bought one for each of the 12 grandkids. They have different games with different levels, all self-contained in their sturdy travel case!! Great, great gift…and they don’t need to ‘plug in’ to have fun!! Kids from 3–16…Every single one LOVED Kanoodles!!” —Jane M
Get it from Amazon for $15.99.
A giant bubble wands kit that’ll create some of the biggest bubbles they’ve ever seen. You’ll watch their eyes widen as the bubble continues to grow and ends up even bigger than they are!
The kit comes with the giant bubble wand, two pouches of bubble concentrate, and a booklet to help you become a skilled bubble creator!
Promising review: “Fantastic product!! My 8-year-old son played outside with them for two solid hours…unplugged…happy as can be! I definitely recommend and will buy again!.” —Pxysis
Get it from Amazon for $15.95+ (available in seven styles).
An outdoor explorer bug-catcher kit to get your kiddo to start learning all about bugs and insects without you finding real creepy crawlies inside your house at the end of the day.
This set includes binoculars, a compass, a butterfly net, a magnifying glass, a backyard exploration critter case, a whistle, tweezers, bug containers, a hat, and a backpack.
Promising reviews: “Oh my goodness I never write reviews but felt compelled to do so after gifting these to my two grandsons, ages 8 and 4. This kept them busy for hours, and seeing them walk around in those little explorer hats was the cutest thing ever. Everything seemed well-made, and hopefully, they will have many more hours of fun with these great kits. Highly recommend!” —L. Lovegood
“The binoculars are of great quality, as well as the awesome flashlight that doesn’t require batteries. It has everything you need for your little explorer. Cute camo hat that fits great. An awesome bag to hold all the items. The magnifying glasses are of great quality. Love that it includes fake bugs to play with. My son loves the small bug container and the larger netted one. He also loves the bug net and the little gripper tool that holds bugs. This could have easily been priced way higher, so it’s a great find for the price!” —Beth
Get it from Amazon for $27.99.
And a pair of GeoSafari Jr. binoculars so they can see all the creatures they’ve been studying in books up close in real life! Plus these are specifically designed for little ones so there’s no focusing and the eye pieces are much larger and more comfortable.
Designed for ages 3+.
Promising reviews: “I bought this product for my 3-year-old son, who absolutely loves it. He says they are fun to play with. You can actually see-through the lenses, just like in binoculars. They were reasonably priced, and they are a sturdy product we could get for Christmas for him, and they are a wonderful color!” —Amazon Customer
“These are absolutely the best for preschool-aged children. There is no need for adjustment. You just look into the binoculars and see a clear image. My son used these this past summer for getting a closer look at the hummingbirds at our feeder. We also took these with us on nature walks. He really enjoyed using them, and after a full summer’s use, they are still in great shape. Anything that makes a child curious about nature and the environment gets an A+ in my book.” —Rachael P.
Get it from Amazon for $12.79.
An LCD writing tablet that is basically the modern day version of those scratch to reveal drawing books from my childhood, except with this there is no mess AND the screen can be cleared with the press of a button.
Promising review: “This tablet has entertained my 4-year-old grandson for hours at a time. He loves that he can erase at will and that the drawings are multicolored. I highly recommend this item for 18 months old and up. I bought a pink one for our 18-month-old granddaughter, and she, too, is just enthralled with it and the ‘power’ she has to erase, create, erase, create! They loved them so much that we bought another set of two different colors so that they would have them at home as well as at ‘Grammy’s.'” —Kindle Customer Red Heart
Get it from Amazon for $15.99+ (available in four sizes and six colors).
Banzai Bump N’ Bounce Body Bumpers perfect for those kiddos who have soooo much built-up energy and always seem to want to wrestle someone. Now they can do it in a safe way (that also just so happens to be incredibly entertaining to watch.)
I’m gonna go ahead and recommend wearing helmets, too!
Promising reviews: “So so fun! Bought this for my kids and nephews, and it kept them entertained for hours. The kids ranged in age from 3 to 5, and, being all boys, it was a great way to let off steam while staying protected. Such a fun time!” —Christine B
“Absolutely hilarious to watch! I got these for my kids (7 and 8) because I thought it would be a perfect way to blow off steam and get some energy out…It was great! They ran at each other pretty hard, but it didn’t pop, and no one got hurt! If your kids do a lot of bickering as mine do…Get these! 😅” —Sky
Get a pack of two from Amazon for $22.99.
Emma Harrington
Ditching overcomplicated jargon to deliver real, practical value is my primary goal as a storyteller. I love tracking what’s happening in the digital space and packaging it into refreshing, easy to digest reads that add something tangible to your day.