We hope you love our recommendations! Some may have been sent as samples, but all were independently selected by our editors. Just FYI, BuzzFeed collects a share of sales and/or other compensation from the links on this page.
1. An itty bitty Baby Yoda Bluetooth speaker to clip onto their backpack or blast fave tunes in their room. But don't be fooled — reviewers say what it lacks in size, it makes up for with some serious out-of-this-galaxy sound.
Promising review: We wanted a small speaker that would fit while we ski and bike. This adorable speaker has great sound in a small size. Charges quickly and even will charge on our portable phone charger. We love this Grogu speaker!" —Justin Gerde
Get it from Amazon for $19.99 (available in 12 styles).
2. And light saber chopsticks perfect for the Star Wars fanatics in your life. These emanate a glow that'll turn a sushi or noodle dinner into an out-of-this-galaxy experience.
Promising review: "These were a gift and an amazing one! They are bright and fun and the kids love them! They are great for mini light saber wars, or sitting down to a bowl of Ramen or any other food. They are easy to clean and operate. the battery compartment on a couple was a little loose, but other than that they are great. Makes a great stocking stuffer or house warming gift for the Jedi in your life." —WorkingMamaAly
Get it from Amazon for $10.97+ (available in 10 colors and also in two-packs, three-packs, and four-packs).
3. A National Geographic geodes kit to blow any junior geologist's mind and give them an excuse to smash rocks with a hammer.
This science kit includes 10 natural crystal-filled geodes, one pair of safety goggles, three display stands, and one learning guide.
Promising review: "Kids enjoyed breaking them! They wore their goggles & it took quite a bit of pounding with a hammer, but that’s the fun!" —Laurie
Get it from Amazon for $29.99 (available in three sizes).
4. A glow sketch pillowcase so kiddos can create secret luminescent doodles under the blanket while pretending to be fast asleep.
Illuminated Apparel GB is a small biz based in the UK that has developed a bespoke luminescent ink to create unique interactive clothing and pillowcases for children.
The set includes a machine-washable pillowcase and a glow pen for drawing. Glow Sketch is an interactive pillow case that brings out creativity and imagination at night. Draw by charging up the unique luminescent ink on the pillowcase. Then as the glow fades the artwork will magically disappear leaving a clean canvas to create a whole new masterpiece — no mess, just fun!
Promising review: "Huge hit with my 11-year-old, noughts and crosses every night before bed!" —Victoria Henderson
Shipping Info: Ships 1 business days after ordering. Shipping fee of $12.96.
Get it from Illuminated Apparel GB on Etsy for $20.77.
5. A book of 642 Tiny Things to Draw packed with stimulating prompts to ensure young doodlers never run out of inspiration.
Promising review: "My 11-year-old daughter likes to draw. I was getting sick of her asking me what to draw, so I gave her this as a Valentine. She loves it! Some of the concepts get her thinking outside the box." —S. Dearolf
Get it from Amazon for $9.95.
6. A pack of Crayola Globbles so your mini whirlwinds can run around the house hurling these sticky globs at the wall or ceiling. Don't panic, parents, reviewers say they don't leave a sticky residue.
Promising review: "Hours of fun. Bought as a Christmas present for my 11-year-old son, he loved them. He loves to throw them up in the air, let them stick to the ceiling and try to catch them as they fall down. Easy to clean off, hours of fun. Great value too!" —Rebecca Tonnis
Get a pack of six from Amazon for $10.69.
7. A flying orb with flashing lights that'll cure cabin fever while the kids make it float in the air and boomerang back, leaving them wondering "what is this sorcery?"
Promising review: "Well, I got this BOMB BALL for my 11-year-old son and he absolutely loves this thing. It’s durable, and a good time for sure. Also, the brightness of it is amazing...definitely worth the money! 💯💪🏽💪🏽." —Cory Mackell
Get it from Amazon for $32 (available in seven colors).
8. A miniature baking set perfect for the aspiring Dominique Ansel in your life. It's true what they say, "good things come in small buttery, gooey, sugary packages."
The set comes with a storage tin, rolling pin, wee knife, pizza/dough cutter, mixing spoon, three wee spoons, mixing bowl, pizza/pie pan, pie server, sheet pan, silicone cake and cupcake molds, two silicone finger mitts, and 48-page recipe book.
Promising review: "I got this for my 11-year-old daughter. It is the most loved Christmas gift of them all. I actually bought a toaster oven to make it easier because she loves to use it so much! The mini items really work as intended, cutting, mixing, protecting your finger. And the recipes are good, too. We have enjoyed brownies, frosted mini cakes and a pie. Excellent product!! —Amazon Customer
Get it from Amazon for $23.68.
9. A Nintendo Switch Lite that'll definitely become their new fave thing EVER. (Especially after they play Animal Crossing!)
Promising review: "We got this for my 11-year-old for Christmas! He absolutely loves it!!" —whitney mcvay
Get it from Amazon for $197.99 (available in three colors).
10. A solar-powered DIY robot kit so young STEM enthusiasts can get the *gears* in their head turning as they build 12 different types of moving robots.
The kit includes 190 pieces, a solar panel, and detailed instructions.
Promising review: "My two boys, who are 9 and 11, were thrilled to get this STEM toy. They sit in school and study all day long and never have any interactions with projects or materials to tinker with. I am so glad I found this affordable project kit for them. I like them to read instructions and figure out where things go and how they work. Such great life skills to develop. I will update once we've done a project but I'm already thinking of buying more to have in my gift closet." —LIZZIE DONZIS
Get it from Amazon for $24.99 (clip the coupon on the product page to save $8).
11. A hilariously adorable Shrek-shaped toothpaste cap that'll actually have your kiddo begging to brush their teeth. 😂
Casual Chicken is a small business based in Irvine, California, that sells an array of unique 3D-printed items.
Promising review: "I highly recommend. I gave it to my little brother and he loved it!" —Country Pickle
Get it from Casual Chicken on Etsy for $9.99.
12. A screaming goat figurine because any kid will think it's absolutely hysterical to express themselves via this bleating sidekick. Just press the button and it lets out an "AAAHHHHHHHH!"
It also comes with a 32-page illustrated booklet all about goats. Not gonna lie, you're probably going to regret this purchase after listening to a few hundred bleats 😂.
Promising review: "My 11-year-old granddaughter loved this! She used it during conversations when she couldn’t think of anything to say. Our sides hurt from laughing so much" —Amazon Customer
Get it from Amazon for $9.95.
13. A Gravity Maze game to challenge kids to use spatial reasoning to solve the puzzles and figure out how to construct pathways to get the marble to drop to the final cube.
The game comes with 60 challenges that range from beginner to expert so it will hold their interest as they work their way up to the trickier ones.
Promising review: "Awesome toy/game! I bought it for my 11-year-old nephew for Christmas and it provided hours of non-electronic device fun! My own teenage sons (15 and 17) loved it too. They would come up with a solution and then video tape it in slow motion with their cell phones and watch it over and over again. Definitely a fun and stimulating brain teaser game!" —Amazon Customer
Get it from Amazon for $29.99.
14. A pack of Mini Brands mystery balls with five mystery compartments that open up to reveal mini replicas of your fave brands like Kool-Aid, Jell-O, Heinz ketchup and more! I mean, these are literally a TikTok phenomenon with 3 billion+ views and counting.
Promising review: "Awesome gift. I couldn’t find an advent calendar for my 11-year-old. She loves mini brands, so I purchased six circles (about the same amount of money I would spend on an advent calendar) and she gets to open one wedge each day until Christmas and I have an extra egg for her stocking! She’s super happy and it’s so fun to see what mini she gets each morning." —Candice P
Promising review: "I gifted it to my 11-year-old daughter for her birthday. Her reaction was definitely worth the money for it." —Tabbetha Sheler
Get a pack of two from Amazon for $14.97 (also available in series 1, series 3 and series 4).
15. A Melissa & Doug no-sew fleece quilt craft kit because you feel truly blessed to know an old soul in a young body who would love nothing more but to craft a quilt that fills them with warmth and pride.
Promising review: "Bought this for my 11-year-old granddaughter for Christmas. She had it put together that same day without any help from any of us. She was pleased, as was I. Cute gift and practical." —cathy
Promising review: "Very nice little project. My 11-year-old did it all by herself and was so proud." —Linda B.
Get it from Amazon for $32.64.
16. A remote-control stunt car that'll zip its way into any car-loving kid's heart with 360-degree spins and ability to maneuver through any situation — carpet, hardwood, grass, dirt, or gravel (even obstacles!).
Promising review: "I bought two of these for my 11-year-old son. Unlike past RC vehicles this one is awesome and it's as if it comes alive. My son enjoys this one a whole lot more and spend a lot more time playing with it than past RC vehicles. He quickly mastered how to do all kinds of tricks with it. He loved it so much the first night he took it to bed with him. He was so excited he took it to summer camp to show his friends the next morning . This RC car is definitely a good bargain for the price." —JO
Get it from Amazon for $20.94+ (clip the coupon on the product page to save an extra 30%; available in two colors).
17. A rainbow puzzle ball where the end *goal* is to match all eleven balls to their corresponding color rings by pressing and sliding the balls through the open slots. Basically, a heck of a workout for your kids' brains and hands.
Promising review: "I bought this for my 11-year-old son for his Valentine present. All of the kids played with it including my 16-year-old son and his 16-year-old girlfriend. They made a game of it to see who could solve it fastest. I enjoyed rearranging the balls inside the puzzle and making it harder for them. Worth the money!" —Timothy Mitchell
Get it from Amazon for $9.99.
18. A pack of clear jelly lipsticks with real flowers inside that leave a subtle tint. A luxe gift worthy of every future Insta influencer who keeps getting caught using their parent's expensive makeup.
Promising review: "I bought these for my daughters, they are ages 9 and 11. They absolutely loved these, especially since it leaves a light tint of pink after you apply them. I purchased these for their birthdays and all of their friends want to purchase some for themselves." —Lockett
Get a pack of six from Amazon for $11.59 (available in two styles).
19. A tortilla blanket perfect for the child with a weird sense of humor who may have outgrown the swaddle but will always say "yes, please" to being wrapped up like a cheesy *human burrito.*
Promising review: "My 11-year-old son absolutely loves this! He loves wrapping himself up like a burrito! Very soft, high quality material! When it came up as a deal of the day I had to pounce! Wish I had purchased two more." —Freddy Berowski
Get it from Amazon for $20.99+ (available in six styles and four sizes).
20. A Taco Cat Goat Cheese Pizza card game because it'll have your 11-year-old (and the rest of the fam!) in tears from *belly laughing* so hard.
Pass out all the cards to the players and keep all the stacks face down. Everyone takes a turn putting a card down in the middle, while saying "taco," "cat," "goat," "cheese," and "pizza," in that order. If the picture on your card matches the word that's said, everyone races against each other to slap their hand on the central pile of cards. Whoever is last must take the pile of cards and add them to their stack, and the person who runs out of cards first wins!
Promising review: "My 11-year-old son is obsessed with this game. He got it as a birthday gift and absolutely loves it. Our 14-year-old daughter loves it as well. We have played with younger kids as well as adult friends and everybody ends up laughing and having a great time. It is easy to teach, fast moving and a LOT of fun." —Surge
Get it from Amazon for $9.84.
21. A macramé dream catcher to keep nightmares away and inspire kiddos to ~reach for the moon or the stars~.
Harper and the Ry is a small biz founded by a mom of two that specializes in handmade farmhouse-style decor pieces.
Promising review: "My daughter bought this with her own money and was so happy to receive it. It is so pretty and she loves the soft glow of the lights at night when she's reading in her bed." —Erin Wardell
Shipping Info: Ships 4–5 business days after ordering. Shipping is free.
Get it from Harper and the Ry on Etsy for $22.50+ (available in nine styles).
22. A small sphere light to show any kiddo that you love them to ~the moon and back~.
Promising review: "A gift for my 11-year-old granddaughter! She loves the remote and color changing." —ScorpioGram
Get it from Amazon for $19.95 (available in four sizes).
23. A blob seal pillow that'll stare your kiddo down with its grumpy face, making them alternate between fits of giggles and an inexplicable need to cuddle it.
24. An Uno Minecraft card game if you've ever asked yourself "What is the appeal of Minecraft? TBH, this might not answer the question but the combo is sure to be a hit with diehard fans.
Promising review: "Cards hold up perfectly, images are awesome. My 11-and 9-year-old LOVE it and constantly ask to play it." —Christina Marrufo
Get it from Amazon for $5.99.
25. A pack of parachute toys ingeniously designed not to tangle despite being tossed excitedly from the top of the stairs or a balcony over and over.
Promising review: "Light years more awesome than the parachute guys made with clear plastic chutes and a little army guy! My 11-year-old asked about making one when I came across these on Amazon! Fantastic quality, so fun and reasonably priced!!! Don't hesitate to buy these! You will probably be surprised by the quality as I was!! :)." —C.T.S.
Get a pack of four from Amazon for $8.99 (available in two styles).
26. A Tamagotchi Pix, even cooler than the '90s version with futuristic features like a color screen, camera, and ability to *go on playdates* with your virtual pet by connecting to a friend's device.
27. A shark bath bomb for any kid on your list who is into recreating the bloody shark attack from Jaws in their tub. Should you be worried? Probably. Will you wish you had bought one for yourself? Absolutely.
Soft Skin Bubbly Sins is a small biz based in Collins, Georgia.
Promising review: "I can’t wait to see the face my lil' brother makes when I give this to him!!! It looks so cool and I’m in love with the Fruit Loop scent. Plus, they sent another one as a gift, so he will have two just like I got his sister. 😭💕 I’m hoping he finds this bath bomb as cool as I do so I have an excuse to buy more of them because if he won’t use them, I will. 100% recommend them to anyone with little kids or just a fun personality!!!" —Patricia
Get it from Soft Skin Bubbly Sins on Etsy for $6 (available in 59 scents).
For more toy and gift ideas for different age groups, check out these guides...
Best Toys And Gifts For 1-Year-Olds
Best Toys And Gifts For 2-Year-Olds
Best Toys And Gifts For 3-Year-Olds
Best Toys And Gifts For 4-Year-Olds
Best Toys And Gifts For 5-Year-Olds
Best Toys And Gifts For 6-Year-Olds
The reviews for this post have been edited for length and clarity.