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

For the Budding Conservationist: Playmobil Wiltopia Family Treehouse

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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: $25

For a More Active Game Night Fan: Crate & Barrel Doorway Kids Bean Bag Toss Game

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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: $48

For the Kid Who Usually Likes the Box More Than the Gift: Moluk Bilibo

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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

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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: $80

For the Beginner Bicyclist: Banwood First Go! Balance Bike

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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

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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: $250

For Twice the Good Time: LEGO Technic Ford Mustang Shelby

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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: $13

For the Messy Monet: Arteza Watercolor Set

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This clever watercolor set comes with everything you need to get them started on their next masterpieces. And rather than an easy-to-spill water cup, just fill the brush's barrel with water and squeeze to release it, to help make water coloring a whole lot less messy.

Price at time of publish: $23

For the Slime Freak: Copernicus Toys Glowing Slime Kit

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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

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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: $57

For the Budding Baker: Williams Sonoma Bake and Create Cupcake Set

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Give them all the tools they need to craft incredible cupcakes with this high-quality set. The set includes mixing bowl, two cupcake pans and silicone liners, an offset spatula and whisk—and an apron to help them keep their clothes clean. The included confetti cupcake recipe will be a perfect first project.

Price at time of publish: $100

For a Little Learner: MoMA Design Store Wooden Stacking Shapes and Numbers Toy

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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

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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

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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

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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 Starry Night

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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 Kid Who Wants a Pet (But You're Not Ready Yet): Tamagotchi Original

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Yeah, it's not quite the same as a puppy, but if the kid on your list is focused on a pet, this old-school computerized companion could be a charming substitute. (And if you or another gift recipient grew up in the 1990s, it could be just as popular with the grownups too.)

And hey, if their Tamagotchi thrives, they might be responsible enough to manage a living, breathing pet next time around.

Price at time of publish: $30

For the Kids With a Competitive Streak: Ikea Lustigt Tag Game

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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

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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

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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

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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: $11

For the World Explorer: Shifu Orboot Interactive Globe

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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: $36

For the Budding Sculptor: Hey Clay Animals

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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!)

Price at time of publish: $20

For the Paleontologist in Training: Great Pretenders T-Rex Play Cape

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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 a Kid Who Literally Climbs the Walls: Climbing Monkey Rock Climbing Set

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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.

Price at time of publish: $50

For the Kid Who Wants a Wow-Worthy Place to Make Fake Food: Pottery Barn Kids Farmhouse Kitchen

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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: $399

For the Kid Who Always Leaves the Play-Doh Out to Dry: Mad Mattr Super-Soft Modeling Dough Compound

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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.

Price at time of publish: From $10 a color

For the Future Chef: Melissa & Doug Cutting Fruit Set

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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 $16

For a Lovey Lover: Kind Culture Co. Shine Doll

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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 Tea Party Host: Tender Leaf Toys Birdie Afternoon Tea Stand Set

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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.

Price at time of publish: $50

For the Pint-Sized Gardener: Gardenuity My First Garden

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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 Future Architect: Areaware Blockitecture Big Apple Building Blocks

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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.

Price at time of publish: $150