30 Creative, Cool Gifts for Kids They're Sure to Love
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.
RELATED: 30 Great Gifts for Teens and Tweens That They're Sure to Appreciate
For the Bath Fan: Jackson the Whale Bath Sponge Box
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.
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Orboot Earth Interactive Globe
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.
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For the Budding Sculptor: Hey Clay Animal Sculpting Set
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 animals aren't their thing, there are kits for bugs, birds, dinosaurs, monsters, and aliens, too!)
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For the Paleontologist in Training: T-Rex Play Cape
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.)
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For Your Favorite Acrobats: Foamnasium Tumblers
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.
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For the Kid Who's Moved Beyond Cranes: Origami: Inspired by Japanese Prints from The Metropolitan Museum of Art
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.
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For the Future Pop Star: Hip-Hop Robot Vidiyo Beat Box
LEGO's Vidiyo minifigures let kids create and star in music videos—with their favorite minifigs in action by their side. The included BeatBits create cool augmented reality effects on their videos, which they can save and share in the safe, kid-friendly app.
You can add more characters—and elaborate stages—with additional sets, whether they like "K-Pawp" or Punk Pirates.
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For Your Snow Bunnies: Two-Person Snow Tube Sled
Adults can ride along with kiddos when they're younger on this easy-to-lug and surprisingly speedy sled—and they can bring a friend along when they get older.
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For the Kid Who's Wild About Animals: Elephant Plushie
These sweet elephant plushies are not only fun for kids to play —the proceeds from their purchase go toward supporting elephant sanctuaries in Thailand.
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For the Kid Who Wants to Have a Ball: DiPP!T Inflatable Ball Pit
This soft velvet inflatable ball pit is perfect for two to three kids (or one or two adults) to have a ball (500 of them, in fact). It inflates quickly with a blow dryer set to cool, so you can easily inflate (and then deflate) as the mood strikes.
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For the Budding Sculptor: Sculpd Pottery Kit
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.
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For the Cutest Little Dumpling: Little Dumpling Booties
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.
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For the Kids Who Always Ask "Are We There Yet?": Chalkboard Laptop
This slim-packing wooden chalkboard laptop is the perfect road trip companion. It comes with an indent to hold chalk—and could also be used as a tray to hold snacks or other toys.
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For the Kid With a Lot of Different Interests: KiwiCrate
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.
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For the Kid Who Dreads Baths: Lush Rainbow
This soft, sculptable soap in a rainbow of colors is meant to be played with—and can make bath time a lot more fun for a reluctant bather.
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For the Pre Pre-Med Student: Little Patient
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.
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For a Kid Who Literally Climbs the Walls: Climbing Monkey Rock Climbing Set
Yep, this will take a lot of assembly on the part of Santa, but as long as you have the wall space, setting up a climbing wall at home may just be the most epic kids' gift ever.
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For the Kid Who Wants a Wow-Worthy Place to Make Fake Food: PB Kids Farmhouse Kitchen
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.
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For the Kid Who Always Leaves the Play-Doh Out to Dry: Mad Mattr Super-Soft Modelling Dough Compound
Finding a fun molding compound that doesn't dry out or leave a giant mess (we're looking at you, Moon Sand), has been a big challenge. But Mad Mattr might be the perfect compromise—it can be left out without drying, and doesn't crumble or leave a big mess behind.
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For the Future Chef: Melissa + Doug's Cutting Fruit Set
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.
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For a Lovey Lover: Kind Culture Co. Shine Doll
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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For the Kid With a Lot of Questions: Britannica All New Kids' Encyclopedia by Britannica Group
This 424-page tome is the perfect gift for any curious kids. 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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For the Tea Party Host: Birdie Afternoon Tea Stand Set
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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For the Pint-Sized Gardener: Gardenuity My First Garden
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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For the Kid That's Growing Fast: The Play Kit
Give a gift that grows with them. Each box of educational books and playthings is tailored to a baby's or toddler's cognitive growth stage.
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For Your Future Leader: Love Bubby Speaker of the House shirt
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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For the Kid Who Loves to Snuggle: Slumberkins Snuggler Bundles
Promote emotional learning by pairing snuggly toys with a book on a big topic, like authenticity or self-esteem.
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For the Happily Ever After Type: Fairy Tale Play: A pop-up storytelling book by Julia Spiers
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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For the Future Architect: Areaware Blockitecture Big Apple Building Blocks
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.
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For the Street Artist: Rainbow Unicorn Horn Sidewalk Chalk
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).