29 Creative, Cool Gifts for Kids They’re Sure to Love

By Real Simple Editors
Updated October 16, 2020
Each product we feature has been independently selected and reviewed by our editorial team. If you make a purchase using the links included, we may earn commission.
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Most kids will probably have a wish list put together before any major gifting occasion, but sometimes you want to shop off-list. Sometimes, you want to give the little one in your life—your child, a niece or nephew, a friend’s child, whoever—a cool, creative, unique gift. Like gifts for teens or tweens, finding distinctive, good presents for kids for Christmas, birthdays, or another occasion can be tricky, but there’s a lot out there, and you can rest assured that your stand-out present will have a special place in the recipient’s memory for years to come.

Gift card ideas rarely fail, especially if the parents have big plans that those gift cards could contribute to. But if you take pride in your connection with your kid, you’ll want to give at least one cool Christmas gift or standout birthday present, something unique that they’ll truly treasure. These great gifts for kids might not even end up on their wish lists. They might be toys, clothes, accessories, and more that kids don’t even think to ask for, but once they unwrap them, they realize these gifts are items they’ve always wanted. (Aren’t those the best type of gift, anyway?)

These cool Christmas, birthday, and holiday gifts for kids (even if cool isn’t the coolest descriptor anymore) include challenging mind-benders, creative crafting supplies, engaging books, and more. If the kid is too young to truly appreciate them, the parents will love it—and some of these gifts have serious staying power, so the child can grow to appreciate them someday.

These gifts cover ages across the board, from infants to toddlers to school-aged children. They’re also great for boys and girls alike, so children of any gender can enjoy whatever type of toy they like. Whatever the kid’s interests, there’s something here to appeal to them, and prices include under $20 gifts and $100-plus gifts alike, so you can be sure to find something in your price range. Once your shopping and wrapping is finished, you’ll know that you’ve given something memorable. (Save those broad white elephant gift ideas for other occasions.)

Take a look at this list of great, cool gifts for kids and save yourself a trip to the toy store—you’ll thank yourself (and us) later.

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Britannica All New Kids’ Encyclopedia by Britannica Group

Credit: target.com
$28, target.com

This 424-page tome is the perfect gift for any curious kids. New this year and teeming with specially commissioned illustrations and gorgeous photography, the encyclopedia will allow them to explore science, history, and more all from the comfort of home.

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Bearaby Nappling Weighted Blanket

Credit: potterybarnkids.com
$149, potterybarnkids.com

Maybe they have a hard time falling asleep at night; maybe they experience anxiety about school or friends throughout the day. Help alleviate some of their stress with this child-sized weighted blanket, which is pretty enough for them to leave in the living room or their bedroom and filler-free, so there’s no uncomfortable bunching. The eight-pound weight is perfect for kids aged 4-14 to stimulate the gentle pressure of being hugged when you can’t be there to do it yourself.

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Birdie Afternoon Tea Stand Set

Credit: store.moma.org
$40, store.moma.org

With this adorable playset, kids will be enjoying high tea with the best of them. Encourage them to plan and host tea parties, serve their guests, and sample new treats (perhaps with a little culinary support from their parents), all with a beautiful toy that’s more decor than eyesore.

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Echo Dot Kids Edition

Credit: amazon.com
$60, amazon.com

Decorated for kids, this small speaker brings the power of Alexa to the playroom or their bedroom. It’s packed with kid-friendly content (your purchase comes with a year subscription of Amazon Kids+) including games, audiobooks, and educational skills. Easy-to-use parental controls means adults can make sure the activities are appropriate while still giving kids a little room to explore.

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Monkeybiz Bokkie Hand-beaded Figurine

Credit: monkeybiz.co.za
$80, monkeybiz.co.za

Hand-beaded by African artisans, this bokkie figurine is the perfect adornment for their bookshelf or dresser. Now, they’ll love a new piece of decoration to admire. In a few years, they’ll appreciate that this gift for kids helps support women and their families in another corner of the world through fair wages, training, and other aid.

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Candy Land, Nostalgia Edition

Credit: store.moma.org
$28, store.moma.org

Introduce little ones to this board game classic, with the original board and tin you remember. Whether you keep the tin on display to indulge your nostalgia or you pull the game out every night, the whole family will enjoy this great gift for kids.

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Discovery Kids Planetarium Projector

Credit: amazon.com
$26, amazon.com

See the stars from the comfort of your own home with this smart projector. It comes with a rotating night sky mode, plus stationary slides for looking at planets, constellations, and more. Even if the world feels small (and a trip to the planetarium isn’t doable), this clever tool is the next-best thing.

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Vtech Drill & Learn Toolbox

Credit: amazon.com
$15, amazon.com

Let little ones join in on the home maintenance fun—or let them mimic their parents’ handiness—with this clever toolbox, which contains a working toy drill, a hammer, nails and screws, and more. The box itself has buttons they can press to learn about the tools they’re using (plus fun songs).

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Parkland Edison Critters backpack

Credit: parklandmfg.com
$35, parklandmfg.com

Preschooler-sized, this sharp backpack has a playful design for them—and a water bottle pocket and writable name tag for parents. The exterior is made of 100 percent recycled polyester, too, so it’s as good for the environment as it is for little ones with a lot to carry.

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Gardenuity My First Garden

Credit: thetot.com
$98, thetot.com

Filled with everything little ones need to develop little green thumbs, this kit lets kids nurture vegetables and herbs, even if they don’t have a yard to work in. The growbag lets them work on a patio or balcony (or a larger space), and the fully rooted starter plants sets them up for success.

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Nike Adventure Club

Credit: nikeadventureclub.com
From $20 per month for four shipments a year, nikeadventureclub.com

This subscription box for kids delivers a new pair of Nike or Converse shoes to their door, complete with a set of activities to encourage them to go out and explore in their new kicks. Delivery options can be as frequent as every month or as spread out as four times a year, so it is truly the gift for kids that keeps on giving.

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Super Smalls ‘Dinner & a Movie’ Clip-on Earring Set

Credit: supersmalls.com
$27, supersmalls.com

For little ones with a passion for jewelry and shiny accessories (their parents’, usually) give this flashy earring set, which will give them the glamour they crave without risking valuables. For ages four and up.

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Love Bubby Speaker of the House shirt

Credit: shoplovebubby.com
$28, shoplovebubby.com

This short-sleeved tee is the perfect reminder that your little one is going somewhere. Whether they have political leanings or just a quick mouth, they’ll love sporting this shirt at school and everywhere else they go.

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Airfort

Credit: Courtesy of manufacturer
$49, amazon.com

This adorable playhouse quickly inflates to 77 inches wide and 50 inches tall with an ordinary box fan.

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Primo Ride-On Push Scooter

Credit: Ted + Chelsea Cavanaugh
$149, store.moma.org

Toddlers will ride in style atop this vintage-inspired push trike.

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Mason’s Planets Sidewalk Chalk for Autism Research

Credit: Brian Henn
$40, neimanmarcus.com

An out-of-this-world sidewalk chalk kit. A portion of every sale goes to the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia for autism research.

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Jon Klassen’s Hat Box

Credit: Brian Henn
$26, amazon.com

Get all the beloved picture books in Jon Klassen's hat trilogy (I Want My Hat Back, This Is Not My Hat, and We Found a Hat), along with a frame-worthy print.

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The Play Kit

Credit: Brian Henn
From $36, lovevery.com

Each box of educational books and playthings is tailored to a baby’s or toddler’s cognitive growth stage.

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Slumberkins Snuggler Bundles

Credit: Ted + Chelsea Cavanaugh
$44, slumberkins.com

Promote emotional learning by pairing snuggly toys with a book on a big topic, like authenticity or self-esteem.

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Quut Cana Watering Can

Credit: gretelhome.com
$18, gretelhome.com

This playful gardening tool has an easy-to-hold design that’s great for small hands. Available in two on-trend colors and made from BPA-free, recyclable plastic, this tool and toy combo offers fun for the garden, beach, and bathtub alike. It’s super practical, too, so kids can use it now and when they’re older.

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Fairy Tale Play: A pop-up storytelling book by Julia Spiers

Credit: barnesandnoble.com
$20, barnesandnoble.com

This illustrated storybook shares classic fairy tales with gorgeous images to pull in kids too young to read. Smaller readers will enjoy reading the stories anew (or having them read to them); bigger ones will like seeing their favorite tales presented in a fresh, colorful way.

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Areaware Blockitecture Big Apple Building Blocks

Credit: gretelhome.com
$150, gretelhome.com

Made from pine wood, this bright building block kit has 74 painted pieces that can be nested and stacked to build towers, homes, parks, and more inspired by the New York City skyline. This gift is recommended for ages six and older, but even older kids can get into the city-building.

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Kindle Kids Edition

Credit: amazon.com
$110, amazon.com

This updated version of Amazon’s best-selling Kindle line gives kids the gift of reading. Your purchase comes with a 10th generation Kinde, 1 year of FreeTime Unlimited programming, a kid-friendly cover (four styles are available), and a 2-year guarantee. With the free subscription, kids can enjoy top book titles and series, and included tools help kids learn new words as they read.

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Kind Culture Co. The Fair Doll

Credit: kindcultureco.com
$59, kindcultureco.com

This soft, 18-inch doll has a good message for kids: Be kind. Each Kind Culture Co. doll comes with a kindness kit, packed with tokens for kids to pass around reminding themselves and others to be kind, show gratitude, share love, and more. The doll itself is cute and cuddly, sure, but it’s also a sweet reminder to be fair to others.

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Rainbow Unicorn Horn Sidewalk Chalk

Credit: tweemade.etsy.com
$18, etsy.com

A whimsical writing instrument for your artistic kid and their creative pals to take to the streets. This trio includes two rainbow horns and one wrapped in gold (but writes white).

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Briarpatch I SPY Eagle Eye Find-It Game

Credit: amazon.com
amazon.com

How many times do your kids beg to play I Spy on long road trips? Now you can take this version of the timeless game, based on the best-selling book series, indoors for family game night. Pick a card and hunt down an item from the card on the game board. There are eight different game boards so your family can play over and over without repetition (a great bonus for your own level of enjoyment). Children don’t need to be able to read to play this game, so it’s a good choice for young children or siblings of different ages.

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Grocery-Cart Toy

Credit: Jonny Valiant
$69, potterybarnkids.com

He wants to be just like you—at least for now. Relish it while it lasts and gift a metal toy cart that looks just like the one he sees you pushing around at the grocery store. He will love loading it up with all the toy fruit and pantry items in his pretend kitchen; you’ll admire its sleek lines. The front of the cart features a chalkboard sign for writing his name, shopping list, or just making a pretty picture. Suitable for ages three and up, the cart measures approximately 18 inches long, 10 inches wide, and 18.5 inches high.

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Melissa & Doug Food Groups Toy

Credit: amazon.com
$17, amazon.com

We begin to form habits form earlier in life than you might think. Help kids learn to make smart choices when it comes to the food they eat at a young age with this sturdy wooden set, which features items from all five food groups. Not only does it make play time feel a little bit more real, but it also introduces new foods and fosters an understanding of the food pyramid. If you want to go the extra mile, opt for the set that comes with companion pantry products or canned goods. Suitable for ages three and up.

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