43 Creative, Cool Gifts for Kids That Feel Special

store.moma.org

Most kids will likely 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 gifts for kids 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.

Harry Potter gifts are a pretty safe bet, especially if your little recipient is just starting to enjoy the books or movies; 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 gift, 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 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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Vtech Drill & Learn Toolbox

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); pair with Energizer Ultimate Lithium AA batteries—the #1 longest-lasting AA battery—for hours of smart fun.

To buy: $15; amazon.com.

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Parkland Edison Critters backpack

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.

To buy: $35; parklandmfg.com.

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Crayola Scribble Scrubbie Safari Tub Set

target.com

Encourage creative coloring with this animal set, which has figurines and washable markers that let little ones color as much as they want, then wash and start again. (The markers will also wash out of skin, most clothing, and most painted walls.)

To buy: $20; target.com.

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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.

To buy: $98; thetot.com.

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Sh*t That I Knit The Kitten Balaklava

shitthatiknit.com

This precious balaklava is hand-knit with Peruvian Merino Wool: Sized for children aged two through six, it’ll keep little ones cozy and cute.

To buy: $80; shitthatiknit.com.

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Nike Adventure Club

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.

To buy: From $20 per month for four shipments a year; nikeadventureclub.com.

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

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.

To buy: $27; supersmalls.com.

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Love Bubby Speaker of the House shirt

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.

To buy: $28; shoplovebubby.com.

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Airfort

Courtesy of manufacturer

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

To buy: $49; amazon.com.

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Primo Ride-On Push Scooter

Ted + Chelsea Cavanaugh

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

To buy: $149; moma.store.org.

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Mukikim Rock and Roll It Drum

Ted + Chelsea Cavanaugh

This roll-up drum pad has a headphone jack so your little musician can jam without giving the whole house a concert.

To buy: $70; amazon.com.

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Mason’s Planets Sidewalk Chalk for Autism Research

Brian Henn

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

To buy: $40; neimanmarcus.com.

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Jon Klassen’s Hat Box

Brian Henn

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.

To buy: $26; amazon.com.

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The Play Kit

Brian Henn

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

To buy: from $36; lovevery.com.

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Slumberkins Snuggler Bundles

Ted + Chelsea Cavanaugh

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

To buy: $42; slumberkins.com.

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Quut Cana Watering Can

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.

To buy: $18; gretelhome.com.

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Rifle Paper Co. Dachshund Little Kid Double Decker Slip-On

riflepaperco.com

This collaboration with Keds offers quality, cute shoes any kid will love wearing. Infant and little kid (5-10) sizes are available, and the easy slip-on style gives bigger kids a little footwear independence.

To buy: $45; riflepaperco.com.

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

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.

To buy: $19; barnesandnoble.com.

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Fire HD 8 Kids Edition Tablet

amazon.com

For kids capable of caring for their own tablet, try this top option, which comes in a kid-proof case (available in three color options) and has enough storage and battery life to keep up with any screen-savvy kid. Purchase of this tablet comes with a 1-year subscription to FreeTime Unlimited, which offers games, books, videos, and more, and built-in parental controls make screen-time management simple.

To buy: $80; amazon.com.

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Jungle Bingo

laurenceking.com

Younger kids will love playing lively rounds of bingo with this gorgeously illustrated game, which features jungle creatures and eight bingo cards.

To buy: $20; laurenceking.com.

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Areaware Blockitecture Big Apple Building Blocks

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.

To buy: $150; gretelhome.com.

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Personalized Wooden Vet Set Toy

etsy.com

With a slew of veterinarian-inspired wooden tools, this handmade gift is appropriate for children three and older. The bag can be personalized with the recipient’s name (up to eight characters), too, and can inspire little ones to get more involved in caring for the family cat or dog.

To buy: $51; etsy.com.

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Kindle Kids Edition

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.

To buy: $80; amazon.com.

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Kind Culture Co. The Fair 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.

To buy: $59; kindcultureco.com.

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Wool Felt Night Sky Mobile

rhbabyandchild.com

Why not teach them to reach for the stars when they’re still in the crib? This sweet mobile will please parents and baby alike.

To buy: $45; rhbabyandchild.com.

26 of 43

Jetpack Backpack

sfmoma.org

The next Buzz Aldrin or Mae Jemison will blast off to school thanks to this stellar backpack. This junior jetpack is a cool gift for any kid.

To buy: $50; sfmoma.org.

27 of 43

Yeti Tracker Snowshoe Package

llbean.com

Amuse your kids with these stabilizing snowshoes that leave Sasquatch-sized footprints in their wake. The quirky set also includes aluminum poles and a bag to stow away the shoes when it’s time to head inside.

To buy: $100; llbean.com.

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E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial by Kim Smith

amazon.com

A sweet retelling of the 35-year-old film plot, stripped down to the story of a boy and his intergalactic friend.

To buy: $14; amazon.com.

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Purse Teether

roseandrex.com

Know a mom with a handbag obsession? Gift her little one this all-natural, stylish teether and give mom a good giggle.

To buy: $18; roseandrex.com.

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Rainbow Unicorn Horn 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).

To buy: $18; etsy.com.

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Mermaid Duvet and Pillowcase Set

uncommongoods.com

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More

43 Creative, Cool Gifts for Kids

1 of 43

Vtech Drill & Learn Toolbox

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2 of 43

Parkland Edison Critters backpack

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3 of 43

Crayola Scribble Scrubbie Safari Tub Set

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4 of 43

Gardenuity My First Garden

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5 of 43

Sh*t That I Knit The Kitten Balaklava

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Nike Adventure Club

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

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Love Bubby Speaker of the House shirt

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Airfort

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10 of 43

Primo Ride-On Push Scooter

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11 of 43

Mukikim Rock and Roll It Drum

11 of 43

12 of 43

Mason’s Planets Sidewalk Chalk for Autism Research

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13 of 43

Jon Klassen’s Hat Box

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The Play Kit

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15 of 43

Slumberkins Snuggler Bundles

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Quut Cana Watering Can

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17 of 43

Rifle Paper Co. Dachshund Little Kid Double Decker Slip-On

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

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Fire HD 8 Kids Edition Tablet

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Jungle Bingo

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Areaware Blockitecture Big Apple Building Blocks

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Personalized Wooden Vet Set Toy

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Kindle Kids Edition

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Kind Culture Co. The Fair Doll

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Wool Felt Night Sky Mobile

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Jetpack Backpack