We hope you love our recommendations! Some may have been sent as samples, but all were independently selected by our editors. Just FYI, BuzzFeed and its publishing partners may collect a share of sales and/or other compensation from the links on this page.
1. Pixicade mobile game maker in case the child your gifting is not only into video games but also interested in making their own. They can draw a photo, take a picture of it, play, and share their game. They can build 1,600 video games! 🤯
Promising review: "Man I love this thing, but my 8- and 6-year-old sons love it even more. We’re those parents who are a little fanatic about 'screen time' with our kids. Let me tell you something, MOST of the time is spent with the kids building their game. The markers, paper, and most importantly their imaginations of drawing new games are 90% of the fun because they know that their drawing will eventually ~come to life~ on the iPad. It sounds unbelievable, but it’s true. The different colors are used to create different things that the game automatically recognizes on paper — e.g., use 'red' to draw hazards; use 'green' to make your character that can move, etc. My boys draw anything and, like magic, the screen brings it to life and the remaining 10% blows their little minds (and the parents minds, too). Not really sure how it works, but we have a giant notebook full of different drawings and games, two boys who can’t stop using it, and two parents who are totally OK with this kind of 'screen time.'" —Lil
Get it from Amazon for $19.79.
2. Or, the new Pixicade pets edition that'll allow them to create their own virtual pet universe. They've always wanted to have their own pet dinosaur, now they can!
Get it from Amazon for $22.49.
3. A Leapfrog cleaning set because your little always wants to do their part when it's time to tidy up the house. The mop even spins when they press the lever on the bucket. They might even come to enjoy cleaning as they get older. One can only hope.
4. A fashion fidget perfect to use as a stocking stuffer. Fidget toys can be great for reducing anxiety and stress and believe it or not, kids get stressed, too. They can attach them on their backpacks or connect them to their belt loop.
Promising review: "We got three of these and we love them! Both my 4-year-old and 7-year-old are occupied with them. They like the addition of the poppers on their cheeks! My 7-year-old likes that she can attach them to her book bag for school. My 3-year-old loves the colors and that their skirts move!" —Laura
Get it from Amazon for $18.99.
5. A Legend of the Nine Realms video game inspired by the Dreamwork's original series for the kids looking for an epic dragon-filled adventure.
In this game, it's 1,300 years after the events of How to Train Your Dragon. Players can play as Night Light, Thunder, Plowhorn, Feathers and Wu & Wei as they join forces to defeat gigantic dragon bosses. The dragons' unique abilities can be upgraded throughout the game and there's different modes to play in, for our dragons that like a challenge.
Get it from Amazon for $49.99.
6. A squirkle you can buy in a three- or five-pack with tiny little details and fidget points that'll keep kids entertained. They're good for adults, too!
Promising review: "Love these toys. I am an adult who needs and loves fidget toys. These are by far some of the best fidget toys out there. Of the five animals, my favorites are: 1) curly chameleon — its tail makes for a good, silent fidget toy. 2) Clickety Cat — its feet have a nice twist motion and sound but the tail and ears are satisfying too. 3) Cheeky Pop Monkey — the bubble pop butt is hilarious and using the ears to make the inverted bubbles pop is great! I am very happy with all the fidget animals. They are all good quality, cute, and functional for my needs. Now I want to find the scorpion, jellyfish, and hedgehog. Maybe I am late to the game but these toys are hard to find. I hope they release more someday." —Jill
Get a 3-pk from Amazon for $12.99 (available in three styles and in a five pack).
7. A Vtech DJ Beat Boxer ready to help your future music mogul mix and make their own beats. They can create their own melodies and fun tunes through different interactions with the dog.
8. An interactive Black Panther plush — with Black Panther: Wakanda Forever coming soon, Black Panther toys are sure to be flying off the shelf. Your young warriors will be excited to have a piece of the Black Panther with them.
When you press the plush, the eyes light up and the plush says one of the heroes catch phrases. This toy doesn't sound exactly like the T'Chala from the film but it's still a great piece of memorabilia of our Black Panther and the legacy he left behind.
Get it from Amazon for $37.99.
9. A Baby Alive doll that actually grows! As your child cares for Princess Ellie, she'll start to grow little by little.
10. A Bluey dance and play doll so they can dance and sing with Bluey even after their favorite episodes are over. Bluey makes more than 55 phrases and dances to four songs. They can even play one of three games with Bluey: statues, dance mode, and copycat.
Promising review: "For the price, I was really hesitant to invest in a toy I didn't know my 2-year-old would play with longer than 10 minutes. He was obsessed with Bluey in the store and wanted to play with her every time we visited. Finally, we picked her up. I'm shocked with how good of a buy she was for a toddler. She plays a bunch of themes from the show besides the big ones, like the Lollipop Song, the song from Circus, and Dance Mode. My son chats back to her constantly. He just started talking so this is exciting for me! He understands and copies her in the Musical Statues game (red light/green light). It's been an absolute, unexpected joy. I would buy her at full price now knowing the result." —Ashley
11. A Captain Barnacle toy in case you've got a few Octonauts fans on your holiday shopping list. They can imagine that they, too are on a mission to explore, rescue and protect!
Promising review: "I got this my son’s birthday. I thought the figurine was a little cheap feeling but it looks just like the character and is holding up well! My son wants to play Octonauts every day now!" —Stephanie Craig
Get it from Amazon for $16.99.
12. Or, an Octonauts transforming playset reviewers say looks like it was plucked straight out of the TV series. The seven-piece set comes with the Octoray, removable mini-ray vehicle, a Captain Barnacles figure, and three creatures. It also works with other Octonaut figures, Gups and Terra-Gups
Promising review: "It has two modes, in the closed state (manta) it rolls around like a vehicle and in the open state it becomes a really cool playset! It's an easy one-step transformation for my five-year-old. My kids love playing rescue missions with it. They'll roll it around the house and when they get to the injured animal, they'll open up the playset. The handle actually transforms into a cute little manta ray which they like flying around to pick up the little yellow fish (my kid says it is a salamander?) that comes with the set. They then bring it down the elevator and into the infirmary for treatment! They're like cute little sea life doctors :D All the items are very high quality too! The chubby panda has a nice weighty feel to it and barnacles is articulated and can sit down. I'm always afraid that big transforming playsets might close down on my kids' hands if they put too much weight on them, but I've tested it and it is super safe! There is a red platform behind the monitor screen that keeps the set from collapsing as long as it is deployed. 10/10 would buy again! Would recommend for kids who love Octonauts or playing rescue/doctor!" —ToyLover
Get it from Amazon for $69.
13. A glow in the dark Crayola coloring set that'll let them color in the dark! They might just be rushing to bedtime. Once activated, their drawings will glow for up to four hours!
Get it from Amazon for $15.73.
14. Doozy Dice, a dice and matching game that's all throwing the right combination in the least amount of tries. It's an easy game to learn so younger players can enjoy. It's a strategy game that brings a ~doozy~ of twists and turns with 26 combinations and more than 50,000 ways to play.
Promising review: "I bought this game because I enjoy games that include an element of chance and skill. Very quick to learn. There is definitely an element of strategy that can make one player better than the other though. There are little nuances that you have to keep track of- for example you can’t roll a one on a white die because it has a doozy face instead of a one. I realized this the first time I played after rolling four times in one turn, so I had to pick up all the dice and re-roll again because the combination would not be possible with the track I was on. It also keeps other people engaged when it is not their turn because you have to mark down dots whenever a doozy face is rolled. People young and old can enjoy this game. A round takes about 15 minutes. Living in Wisconsin I’m sure I will find a way to make a drinking game out of it if doozy games doesn’t release a drinking version of it first! “Boozy Dice” has a nice ring to it!" —Amazon Customer
Get it from Amazon for $21.99.
15. A Magic Mixies crystal ball ideal for your budding wizards to test their magical powers to create their very own magical pet. They even have to go to wand school before mastering their spell!
The Magic Mixies Magical Misting Crystal Ball comes with an interactive 8 inch plush toy and has more than 80 sounds and reactions. Don't worry, it's not a one and done toy, the crystal ball can be used over and over again.
Get it from Amazon for $76 (available in two colors).
16. Akedo Powerstorm — it's a three-on-three fight to the finish! The triple strike tag team allows them to switch between warriors during the battle. It comes with two warriors, more than 40 sound effects and a light up scoreboard.
Promising review: "My 8-year-old son loves this thing. It’s of good quality and makes all kinds of super annoying sounds that kids love. He was very excited about it and plays with it all the time. Like, to the extent that I had to start taking the batteries out for my sanity." —Natalie S.
Get it from Amazon for $49.99.
17. A Gabby's Dollhouse kitchen because last season Gabby's Dollhouse toys were impossible to find. If your kid missed out on merch from their favorite Netflix show, it's time to go all out with a play set inspired by the show.
This interactive kitchen set makes more than 20 sounds and phrases: nine cooking sounds, three musical numbers, and 11 Cakey Cat phrases. It's stands over 3' feet toll and has a stove, sink, dish rack, 10 kitchen accessories, nine play food pieces, and a toy refrigerator!
Promising review: "I got this for my daughter’s 3rd bday since she is obsessed with Gabbys Dollhouse, and she loved it!! It came with cute cat themed accessories🐱💕and was fairly easy to set up. It doesn’t knock over and is narrow enough for small spaces👍🏻" —Emily
Get it from Amazon for $116.99.
18. And, this Gabby's Dollhouse play microwave since you're going all out with the interactive kitchen set. What if after a long day of school, the kids don't feel like cooking? Having this microwave in their kitchen setup is great for a quick ~play~ meal solution.
19. A Lightyear spaceship featuring a Buzz Lightyear figure they can place inside the spaceship while they sail to infinity and beyond. The spaceship has motion-activated sounds that make pretend play feel more real as they fly their ship. If they run into trouble, they can launch their two projectiles at the enemy.
Promising review: "The kids love it. Be prepared — it is LOUD LOUD LOUD but there IS an off switch. Just don’t teach the kids how to use it. 😂" —Amazon Customer
Get it from Amazon for $36.99.
20. A pet chameleon — well not a real one, but if they've been wanting a pet, this little cutie is pretty darn close. Sunny responds to touch and sounds and comes with two modes of play: nurture or party. With more than 30 sounds and emotions, this pet and your little will become fast friends.
Promising review: "My daughter has autism. Sometimes it's hard to buy toys because it's a 50/50 shot if she is going to like it or if it's out of her comfort zone. She loves it. It's one of her favorite toys" —Carrie Olson
Get it from Amazon for $14.39.
21. A healthy roots doll — this is Zoe, a beautiful and unique Black doll who has learned to love their hair. These healthy roots dolls are designed to help other children love and care for their own hair, too.
Promising review: "We got Zoe for our daughter’s 8th birthday…what a HIT! She plays with her every day. She loves her and Zoe’s matching bonnets, and the styling kit keeps the two of them busy most evenings. What a wonderful find, just perfect for our daughter!" —Steve A.
Get it from Healthy Roots for $84.99.
22. A Jurassic World Inflatable T Rex, a massive find for a dinosaur fan. This T Rex is as big as it looks and inflates in a matter of seconds. But the fun doesn't stop there, it comes with a remote so you can move it around the house as it turns, spins, stomps and ROARS!
Promising review: "This is one of the coolest RCs I have ever had. It inflates quickly and drives really easily. Because of the size, it is best in a room with some space to move around. However the soft material of the body is fine if/when it bumps into something. It is great fun to chase your friends or the family pet around with. It is a must have for fans of Jurassic Park or dinosaur fans in general. I can’t wait to have it out for Halloween as well." —Chris
Get it from Amazon for $91.
23. Herd Mentality, a party game the whole family can enjoy where thinking like the ~herd~ wins you points. But, being the odd one out wins you...a pink cow?!
How to play: Someone reads a question. For example: “What's the largest fruit you could get in your mouth without chopping it up?” Then everyone writes down an answer. If the majority of the people playing wrote down the same answer as you, then you win cows. But, if you're the odd one out, you win a pink cow, which means your herd is worthless. The goal? Earn as many cows and try not to get the pink cow. ~Think like the rest of the herd.~
Promising review: "This game is super fun and can be adapted for large groups! I used it as an ice breaker during the first week of class and it was so fun. It’s a great way to show how people think differently and set an inquisitive tone for the semester." —Kara Stone
Get it from Amazon for $17.
24. A Digimon X virtual pet monster that'll let you raise and train your own pet monster and battle them against friends. It's the same nostalgic toy of the '90s with a few upgrades, ready to entertain a new generation.
Promising review: "I used to have one of the original Digimon when I was a child and loved it. So when I saw they had come out with these I was ecstatic. Once I explained what they were and that you could battle them, of course my son and daughter both wanted one of their own. Since then, they have added a lot more Digimon to them. Just figuring out the evolution paths is a rabbit hole in itself. I can't say much about the battery life since I'm still using the stock batteries, but we've already got a couple of days of fun out. I don't expect them to last forever, but replacements are really easy to find nowadays. If you are looking for some childhood nostalgia, I can highly recommend this." —jnich87
Get it from Amazon for $11.49+ (available in 15 colors).
25. A FurReal pony just begging to be loved by your tiny equestrians. Cinnamon — the pony — comes with 26 styling accessories and more than 80 sounds and reactions to provide hours of imaginative play.
Promising review: "Cinnamon arrived today! I am an adult who likes toys especially electronic ones. This pony is adorable! Her movements are realistic and she makes the cutest sounds. She can be posed in several ways for play and cuddling. Her accessories are great!! I love the little horse shoes. The accessories come in a little cardboard trunk. I love that she has nighttime mode. Her cheeks light up and she plays forest noises or plays a soothing melody. Overall shes a great companion and I highly recommend her." —Jessica
Get it from Amazon for $84.
26. A Stuart Minion bot from the Minions: The Rise of Gru film that has super cool noon-chuck action, a banana launcher, and a mini Stuart figure, too.
27. A Got2Glow Fairy Pet Finder in case the child you're shopping for is enamored by the magic of fairies. This jar will allow them to collect fairy pets! Once they catch the fairy pet, they can feed, play, and care for it. There are more than 80 fairy pets to collect in total. Friends can trade fairy pets they collect, too.
Promising reviews: "Its a cute toy that will keep my daughter busy for a while. You lift up the top to catch a fairy pet. Then once the top lights up you close it and your virtual pet shows up. You can catch many different pets. It comes with a little holder to carry the toy around. It's great and interactive where you can pretend to feed the pet. Very cute!" —Melissa Racelis
Get it from Amazon for $34.99.
28. A purse pet, a purse that's actually...alive? Yes! They get a 2-in-1 combo with this animal bag. Not only can they keep their tiny treasures safe inside, but their bag is also a pet with more than 30 sounds and reactions including eyes that really blink.
Promising reviews: "I bought this for my granddaughter and she LOVES it and carries it around all the time!!" —napolifred
"I have bought three and the girls loved it. The eyes open and close as they walk and it makes different sounds." —Mildred Lopez
Get it from Amazon for $19.97+ (available in three styles).
29. Beat That! — a fun game for kids and adults with more than 160 challenges that test how much confidence they have in their own abilities.
Promising review: "This game is like minute to win it but more playful and can be enjoyed in the most boring setting. It has absolutely everything you need. Simple concept but surprisingly fun ideas! My husband and I are 30 and we played with our 18-year-old cousins and my dad several times—everyone enjoyed. It's even fun for the audience." —Jillian Onisick
Get it from Amazon for $24.99.
30. Beat the Parents — a fun family game where both the parents and kids place a wager at the start of the game. Reviewers advise that you wager carefully, you don't want to be the one stuck on dog duty for the next three months.
Promising review: "Our kids love to play this game. Their favorite thing is to come up with the wager. The questions and challenges can be hard for the kids (we just skip them if we don’t think they will get it) We also just gifted this to by brother and his family." —Kymberly B.
Get it from Amazon for $9.74 (also available with bonus pack).
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