48 Creative, Cool Gifts for Kids They're Sure to Love

Know a pint-sized Picasso or an aspiring engineer? Make their day with one of these thoughtful presents for kids.

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Tea set on pink background
store.moma.org

Looking for something wonderful for your favorite kiddo? Whether your gift recipient has a passion for dinosaurs or adores a good tea party, these wow-worthy (and kid-approved) gifts for kids will make you the hit of the next holiday, birthday, or other gift-giving occasion.

Disney Marvel Spidey and His Amazing Friends 30-Piece Building Blocks Set

Marvel Spidey Wooden Blocks

Amazon

This charming set of wooden blocks feature Spiderman—alongside villains like the Green Goblin—along with cityscape pieces to let them dream up some creative adventures (and epic builds!).

Price at time of publish: $27

Best for Posh Picnic Fans

Crate and Kids Picnic Please Felt Picnic Kids Playset

Crate and Kids Picnic Playset

Crate and Kids

Upgrade their next tea party or indoor picnic with this sweet set, featuring felt and fabric details from cozy cushions to sit on to squeezable baguettes, fruit, and cheese.

Price at time of publish: $79

Best for Disney Fans

PlayMonster The Magical World of Disney Trivia Family Board Game

Disney Board Game

Amazon

Test their knowledge of all things Disney with this trivia game, which will be the perfect addition to the next family game night.

Price at time of publish: $35

For the Slime and Squishie Fan

Elmer's Squishies DIY Squishy Toy Kit

Elmer's Squishies DIY Squishy Toy Kit

Elmer's

Kids can mix up a colorful concoction (with sparkles, too!) to pour into the mystery molds and create four adorable squishie creatures like cute owls, dragons, and unicorns. (You can also buy refill kits to make even more creatures.)

Price at time of publish: $23

Best for the Unicorn Fan

Gap Unicorn Trapper Hat

Unicorn Trapper Hat

Gap

This sweet and super soft hat will make staying cozy for the winter weather a whole lot easier (and a lot more fun!).

Price at time of publish: $20

Best for Puzzle Fans

Galison Books Enchanted Nutcracker Puzzle

Enchanted Nutracker Puzzle

Barnes and Noble

This pretty puzzle makes the perfect group activity for a rainy or snowy day—especially for the budding ballet dancer.

Price at time of publish: $14

Best for the Imaginative Bather

Pottery Barn Kids Giraffe Baby Hooded Towel

pottery-barn-kids-giraffe-baby-hooded-towel

Pottery Barn Kids

Adorable, supersoft towels that let them dress up as their favorite animals make bathtime a lot more fun. (There are bears, dogs, dinosaurs, sharks, elephants, and more!) And bonus: You can personalize them, too.

Price at time of publish: $55

For the Budding Conservationist

Playmobil Wiltopia Family Treehouse

Playmobil Wiltopia Family Treehouse

Playmobil

The kid who's wild about animals will dig this super-set from Playmobil's new eco-friendly line, Wiltopia. Crafted of 80 percent sustainable materials, this grand treehouse comes with a family of four and everything they need to live comfortably in the wild, from a campfire and solar panel to a hammock for some serious relaxing. An array of animals also call the treehouse home, including monkeys, hummingbirds, parrots, a snake and an anteater. The collectible hummingbird card that's included uses AR to help them learn more about the hummingbird and its habitat (and even let them take a selfie with one).

Price at time of publish: $100

For a Space-Challenged Play Kitchen

Melissa & Doug Camp Stove Playset

Melissa & Doug's Camp Stove Playset

Target

Take their cooking show on the road easily with this ultra-portable toy. The wooden set mimics camp stove cooking, with a crackable plastic-and-felt egg and wooden bacon, spatulas and cooking utensils, and a sturdy pitcher for pouring. And when the cooking's done, all the pieces pack up easily into the camp stove, so it's super-portable and easily storable.

Price at time of publish: $35

For the Mobile Musician

MoMA Design Store Roll-Up Piano

Roll-up keyboard with rainbow colored keys

MOMA

This roll-up keyboard lets them take their show on the road—and the included songbook helps them learn to play tunes by color.

Price at time of publish: $60

For Your Favorite Kitchen Helper

Opinel Le Petit Chef Box Set

Opinel Le Petit Chef Box Set

Amazon

Help them stay safe while they're trying to build their cooking skills with this perfectly sized kid-friendly set that comes loaded with safety features. The blade on the chef's knife is rounded to help prevent injuries, and a finger guard is included to help protect tiny fingers. (And the set is made of sustainably sourced beechwood and high-carbon stainless steel blades, just like the grownup versions.)

Price at time of publish: $50

For the Kid Who Lives for Game Night

Exploding Kittens Hand to Hand Wombat

Exploding Kittens Hand to Hand Wombat

Courtesy of Amazon

There's a reason this cooperative game has appeared on many lists for top game of the year—it's a lot of fun! For the game, you build (or destroy) towers, all while keeping your eyes closed. And because it's fun for grownups too, don't be surprised if you pull it out once the kids have gone to sleep for an adult round or two.

Price at time of publish: $15

For a More Active Game Night Fan

Crate & Barrel Doorway Kids Bean Bag Toss Game

Doorway Bean Bag Toss Game

Crate and Kids

A charming take on the classic ball toss, this artfully designed canvas banner hangs over the doorway in seconds, and the kiddos can toss the beanbag birds through the openings to rack up points.

Price at time of publish: $59

For the Kid Who Usually Likes the Box More Than the Gift

Moluk Bilibo

Moluk Bilibo

Amazon

Let's face it: Cardboard boxes are super-cool. And if your kid's the kind to turn one into a fort/rocket/stage, they might love another multipurpose toy that'll allow them to let their imagination shine. This simple shell-shaped toy can be used as just about anything they can dream up—a turtle shell, a sand castle mold, a spinning chair, a helmet, and more. It's made of high-density polyethylene, so it's heavy-duty enough to stand up to the weather (and years of hard play), and comes in a rainbow of colors.

Price at time of publish: $30

For the Bath Resistant Kid

Dabble and Dollop Rainbow of Bubbles

Dabble and Dollop Rainbow of Bubbles

Dabble and Dollop

These all-in-one bubble bath, shower gel, and shampoo products come in a mix-and-match array of fun fruity scents, so you can have your bath-phobic kid concoct a custom scent profile for their perfect bath. (And the kit includes a little mixing bowl to ensure they don't use half of the bottle for every bathtime!)

Price at time of publish: $95

For the Beginner Bicyclist

Banwood First Go! Balance Bike

Banwood Bikes First Go!

Courtesy of Maisonette

Help your beginning bicyclist get two-wheel ready with this charming balance bike, a pedal-free ride that helps them learn how to balance and steer without training wheels. This bike features plenty of vintage charm, with soft, vegan leather hand grips and seat, a sturdy steel frame, and a too-cute wicker basket where they can store their treasures.

Price at time of publish: $195

For a Colorful Kid

Fat Brain Toys Montessori Woodwerks Lens Blocks

Montessori Woodwerks Lens Blocks

Fat Brain Toys

This colorful set of 250 blocks can make epic structures—and when stacked together, can help teach kids color lessons (like yellow and blue make green).

Price at time of publish: $200

For Twice the Good Time

LEGO Technic Ford Mustang Shelby

LEGO Technic Ford Mustang Shelby

Lego

First, have fun building this lime green Lego race car—then roll it back and let the motors rev so it can speed away. (It even comes with an app that lets you put the car through the paces on a virtual race track for even more fun.)

Price at time of publish: $40

For the Bouncy House Enthusiast

SMOL Bouncy House

SMOL Bouncy House

Pottery Barn Kids

If you're looking for a wow gift for your favorite kid, this may be it. This rainbow-shaped bounce house can be used inside or out, with up to three jumpers taking a leap. It blows up in seconds with the included pump, and folds down into an included carry bag so you can bounce wherever you go.

Price at time of publish: $589

For the Inspired Reader

‎Gift Republic 100 Kids Books Scratch-Off Poster

‎Gift Republic 100 Kids Books Scratch-Off Poster

Uncommon Goods

Encourage your favorite bookworm to try out some of the very best in kid-lit with this poster, where they can track their reading progress by scratching off the books as they complete them for the ultimate book-nook decor.

Price at time of publish: $15

For the Marvel Fan Who Roots for the Villains

Ravensburger Marvel Villainous

Ravensburger Marvel Villainous: Infinite Power Strategy Board Game for Ages 12 & Up - The Next Chapter of Villainous

Amazon

Players get to be the bad guys in this clever board game. Strategize and battle other villains (and the heroes) as Thanos, Hela, Ultron, Killmonger, or Taskmaster, to see if you can be the first to reach your goals.

Price at time of publish: $33

For the Future Entomologist

Carson BugView Bug Catching Tool and Magnifier

Carson BugView Bug Catching Tool and Magnifier

Amazon

Let your biggest bug fan catch, examine, and release (outdoors!) their latest insect finds with this clever tool. They can pop it over the bug, quick release the slider, and use the attached magnifier to get an up-close look at the bug before sending it on its way.

Price at time of publish: $12

For the Slime Freak

Copernicus Toys Glowing Slime Kit

Copernicus Toys Glowing Slime Kit

Uncommon Goods

Help them make wow-worthy slime to share (and squish) with this kit. They can make 15 different goodies with this kit, including fizzing foams and glowing gels, in addition to their standard slime.

Price at time of publish: $18

For the Droid Devotee

Star Wars Lola Animatronic Action Figure

Star Wars Lola Animatronic Action Figure

Target

Let them pretend they're an adventurer from a galaxy far, far away with the latest droid from Star Wars. Lola's an animatronic droid that responds to different background noises and interactions with one of 45 different noise, light, and motion combinations, so she can be the perfectly charming companion for their next game of pretend play.

Price at time of publish: $45

For a Little Learner

MoMA Design Store Wooden Stacking Shapes and Numbers Toy

MoMA Design Store Wooden Stacking Shapes and Numbers Toy

MOMA

This pretty wooden stacking set is a totally aesthetic gift for little kids, which lets them stack different fun shapes on pegs and match them up with the corresponding numbers. (And it looks gorgeous on the nursery or playroom shelf too.)

Price at time of publish: $45

For the Kid With a Lot of Passions

Bigjigs Toys Dinosaur Train Set

Bigjigs Toys Dinosaur Train Set

Fat Brain Toys

Dinosaurs and trains are commonly beloved by the preschool set—and if you're looking for the perfect kids' gift for someone who likes both, this charming wooden train set fits the bill. Tiny dinos can ride the tracks toward the big volcano, and kids can get creative with their tracks (and their play) with the set.

Price at time of publish: $115

For the Future Forager

PlayMonster Scavenger Hunt Potions

PlayMonster Scavenger Hunt Potions

Barnes and Noble

This nature-inspired gift for kids encourages them to scavenge in nature for ingredients for cool potions that they can concoct and store in the included vials. The included booklet offers recipes for a few great beginner potions—then let them run wild and create their own mixtures.

Price at time of publish: $20

For the Kid Who Puzzles Everything Out

David Weeks Milo Cubebot

David Weeks Milo Cubebot

Areaware

This artful toy, inspired by Japanese Shinto Kumi-ki puzzles, is like an old-school Transformer—it can be shifted into multiple poses for play, then closed up into a pretty cube.

Price at time of publish: $24

For the Pillow Fort Fan

Air Fort The Original Air Fort

Air Fort Starry Night

Uncommon Goods

Avoid the mess of pulling out all the pillows and blankets with this super-easy (and super-pretty) air fort. All you need is a simple box fan to inflate, and enjoy the star show with the glow-in-the-dark stars in the ceiling. It's roomy enough for grownups to join in on the fun too.

Price at time of publish: $60

For the Kids With a Competitive Streak

Ikea Lustigt Tag Game

lustigt-tag-game
Orange and green velcro vests with fuzzy balls to throw at them

Think paintball at home, but without the mess. The combatants don velcro vests and toss fuzzy balls at each other—and the first competitor to get all their balls on their competitor's vest wins. (At this price, you might even be able to grab a few more to make it a whole-family activity.)

Price at time of publish: $20

For the Rube Goldberg Machine Maker

Fat Brain Toys Trestle Tracks

Rainbow-hued marble-run building set

Get them started on DIY-ing their own fanciful marble run with this clever construction set, which comes with instructions for building a few clever runs before they let loose and build their own.

Price at time of publish: From $15

For the Fairy-Tale Fan

Forgotten Fairy Tales of Brave and Brilliant Girls

Forgotten Fairy Tales of Brave and Brilliant Girls

Amazon

Move beyond the Disney princesses yearning for the day their prince will come with these long-forgotten tales of bold heroines who saved the day.

Price at time of publish: $20

For the Bath Aficionado

SoapSox Jackson the Whale Bath Sponge

Jackson the Whale Bath Sponge
Target.com

Who says a bath toy can't be cuddly? This super-cute sponge whale is perfect for snuggling in the bath or shower. Put liquid or bar soap in the mouth to start the sudsing fun, and after bath time is done, you can run it through the washing machine and dryer to keep mold and mildew away.

Price at time of publish: $14

For the World Explorer

Shifu Orboot Interactive Globe

PlayShifu Educational Globe for Kids

Amazon

An interactive globe lets your kid explore more about the world from home. The globe's companion app lets your child scan the planet and learn fun facts about the cultures and ecosystems on the planet, and play games and go on scavenger hunts around the globe.

Price at time of publish: $55

For the Budding Sculptor

Hey Clay Monsters

Hey Clay Monsters

Fat Brain Toys

Help your favorite artist-in-training learn the basics of clay work with a Hey Clay set, which includes 3D, simple step-by-step video directions via app to help them make adorable creatures—and then launch out on their own to get creative. The kit includes 18 cans of nontoxic, wheat- and nut-free clay in a rainbow of hues, along with access to the apps for guidance.

(If monsters aren't their thing, there are kits for bugs, birds, dinosaurs, and aliens, too!)

Price at time of publish: $20

For the Paleontologist in Training

Great Pretenders T-Rex Play Cape

Tyrannosaurus rex dinosaur cape
Maisonette

Help a T-Rex fan channel their inner dinosaur with this adorable cozy cape they can pop on to get the fearsome face and teeth. (They also have triceratops, dragons, and dilophosaurus capes, if they favor a different dino.)

Price at time of publish: $35

For Your Favorite Acrobats

Foamnasium Tumblers

Foamnasium Tumblers
West Elm

These soft, vinyl-shelled cushions can be repositioned in a number of ways for play—pushed together as a cozy stool for reading, turned with curves up for a climbing surface, or with the curves down to be a rocking chair. There are other pieces and shapes in the collection, so kids can get creative and build forts, obstacle courses, and more.

Price at time of publish: $235

For the Kid Who's Moved Beyond Cranes

Origami: Inspired by Japanese Prints from the Metropolitan Museum of Art

Origami Paper Art Book from the Met Museum
MetMuseum.org

This clever book contains 45 colorful origami papers folded into the cover—and instructions for 36 origami pieces, with information and gorgeous photos of the artworks that inspire them.

Price at time of publish: $20

For the Kid Who's Wild About Animals

The Elephant Project Kiki

The Elephant Project Kiki

The Elephant Project

These sweet elephant plushies are not only fun for kids to play —the proceeds from their purchase go toward supporting elephant sanctuaries in Thailand.

Price at time of publish: $39

For the Pottery Fan

Sculpd Pottery Kit

Sculpd Pottery Kit

Sculpd

Get all the tools you need (including the clay) to create an array of pottery creations—including a sealant to make the air-dried clay waterproof.

Price at time of publish: $65

For the Cutest Little Dumpling

Gulnara Kydyrmyshova Little Dumpling Booties

Little Dumpling Booties in a Red Box
Uncommon Goods

For your teeny-tiniest gift recipient, these adorable dumpling-shaped booties will help keep their toes warm and cozy—and the cute red felt steamer box can be a part of their future play kitchen.

Price at time of publish: $28

For the Kid With a Lot of Different Interests

KiwiCo Kiwi Crate

KiwiCo Kiwi Crate

KiwiCo

Kiwi Crate's monthly subscription boxes work for every age range—from babies to teens—and offer fun ways to work on STEAM skills via crafts, experiments, and other activities. The subscriptions are easily shifted from one interest to another—so they can start out with a Yummy Crate, focused on the science of cooking, and move over to the Atlas Crate, which explores different cultures with crafts.

Price at time of publish: From $24/month

For the Pre Pre-Med Student

Sigikid ROSI The Little Patient

Little Patient Medical Doll
Uncommon Goods

This cuddly little doll zips open to show the liver, heart and other key organs in their places—along with a model of the skeletal system beneath. It's a great way to show what's inside in a more warm and fuzzy way.

Price at time of publish: $60

For the Kid Who Wants a Wow-Worthy Place to Make Fake Food

Pottery Barn Kids Farmhouse Kitchen

PB Kids Farmhouse Kitchen
PB Kids

This vintage-inspired play kitchen, crafted of sustainably sourced wood, is built to last, so it'll stand up to whatever your budding chef can dish out.

Price at time of publish: $449

For the Future Chef

Melissa & Doug Cutting Fruit Set

Melissa & Doug Cutting Fruit Set

Amazon

Upgrade their play kitchen skills with this cool set, featuring an array of fruits and a dull wooden knife they can use to slice and dice between the velcroed pieces.

Price at time of publish: From $15

For a Lovey Lover

Kind Culture Co. Shine Doll

Best gifts for kids - Kind Culture Co. Shine Doll
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.

Price at time of publish: $70

For the Pint-Sized Gardener

Gardenuity My First Garden

Cool gifts for kids - Gardenuity My First Garden
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.

Price at time of publish: $98

For the Street Artist

TWEE Rainbow Unicorn Horn Sidewalk Chalk

Rainbow Unicorn Sidewalk Chalk
tweemade.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).

Price at time of publish: $17

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