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. Crayola Globbles when getting them to sit down for an activity is not in the cards. They can squish 'em, sling 'em, stretch 'em, and more! These will lead to endless fun *and* reviewers say they don't leave a sticky residue behind.
Promising review: "I waited over two months to write my review! My 4-year-old daughter plays with these DAILY! YES they do attract dirt and hair. HOWEVER, they are so easy to rinse off, it's not a big deal! We took these to a family gathering and ended up giving two away because they were SO loved! The two we gave away went to a 12-year-old and my 19-year-old brother. They discovered throwing them at the ceiling fan and watching them shoot across the room, which was pretty entertaining! None of them have busted or ripped and they are definitely NOT gentle with them! I will definitely be buying more!" —Heather Hambrick
Shipping info: Free expedited Prime shipping available for Prime members, and non-Prime shipping options will still arrive by Christmas (see Amazon's full shipping information here).
Get a six-pack from Amazon for $10.69 (also available as a 16-pack).
2. A ~brilliant~ Lite Brite that'll be a blast from the past for parents and an absolute joy for kids. It comes with over 200 pegs for creating several colorful pictures — they can use their imagination or follow one of the six included templates.
Promising review: "A great old-fashioned toy for my high-tech grandkids. It has been so fun introducing my grandkids to some of the classics. In the age of computer games, it is so cool to make glowy pictures from pegs. They love it. It's great for shaping hand-eye coordination." —SEA57
Shipping info: Free expedited Prime shipping available for Prime members, and non-Prime shipping options will still arrive by Christmas (see Amazon's full shipping information here).
Get it from Amazon for $11.99.
3. A kids selfie camera for the little ones who are always trying to use their parent's phone to take photos. Now they'll have their very own camera and be busy snapping shots for hours!
Promising review: "Hours of fun! This was a hit! There are games to play with the camera... so it makes a great gift for the kids traveling." —Linda Martinez
Shipping info: Free expedited Prime shipping available for Prime members, and non-Prime shipping options will still arrive by Christmas (see Amazon's full shipping information here).
Get it from Amazon for $35.99+ (available in five colors).
4. A one-of-a-kind wooden kaleidoscope with a DIY twist adventurous kiddos will love — they can fill it with things from nature or inside the home and get a closer look at all the mesmerizing patterns it creates.
Mix Gift Lab is an Etsy shop based in New York that specializes in unique gifts for kids.
Promising review: "What a wonderful way to use nature and interest to have instant feedback and enjoyment! Love this kaleidoscope — great price and quality!" —Carole Parker
Shipping info: Standard shipping typically arrives in 3–10 days. Check the listing for estimated shipping time to your area.
Get it from Mix Gift Lab on Etsy for $64.42 (also available in other designs).
5. An LCD writing tablet so the little genius can perfect their writing skills and feel like they've *finally* got their hands on the ever-elusive iPad without actually using the iPad.
Promising review: "This tablet has entertained my 4-year-old grandson, for hours at a time. He loves that he can erase at will, and that the drawings are multi-colored. I highly recommend this item for 18 months old and up. I bought a pink one for our 18-month-old granddaughter, and she too is just enthralled with it, and the 'power' she has to erase, create, erase, create! They loved them so much, that we bought another set of two different colors, so that they would have them at home as well as at 'Grammy's.'" —Kindle Customer Red Heart
Shipping info: Free expedited Prime shipping available for Prime members, and non-Prime shipping options will still arrive by Christmas (see Amazon's full shipping information here).
Get it from Amazon for $19.99 (available in four colors).
6. A Silly Poopy's Hide & Seek game if their silly sense of humor includes finding anything poop related hilarious. Hide the rainbow-colored poo and it'll give clues about its hiding place until they find it. Hours of (fake) poopy fun await!
Promising review: "Let’s be honest... I have never thought I’d be writing a review for a rainbow poop product in my life. That said I’m so glad for the makers who thought of this game. 😆 💩 🌈 I purchased this for my 4-year-old daughter and 3-year-old twin boys. It has been a huge hit. It's perfect for their age & attention span but really it's fun for the whole family and for us to play with them as well. They love looking for it and listening for the clues it gives while they are searching for it. They also love the silly poopy song it plays and they get to dance to it once they find it!" —Kali
Shipping info: Free expedited Prime shipping available for Prime members, and non-Prime shipping options will still arrive by Christmas (see Amazon's full shipping information here).
Get it from Amazon for $12.99.
7. A Disney Princess necklace activity set, a dream come true for kids who are fascinated by jewelry and want to try their hand at making some, featuring their fave princesses from the movies!
Promising review: "This was loved by both my girls! Very cute set. Easy for them to figure out. Cute project idea to keep them busy. My girls made all the necklaces and mixed/matched all the beads. Overall, a fun activity with easy cleanup." —Kaitlin
Shipping info: Free expedited Prime shipping available for Prime members, and non-Prime shipping options will still arrive by Christmas (see Amazon's full shipping information here).
Get it from Amazon for $12.99+ (available in 14 styles).
8. A craft supplies kit so the lil' aspiring artist has everything they need to create their next masterpiece — and parents will be armed and ready for the next "I'm bored" tantrum that occurs.
The kit includes 20 feathers, 10 pipe cleaners, 20 metallic color pompoms,
25 standard pompoms, one jar of sequins with mixed shapes like butterfly, snowflake, leaf, heart, and flower, 30 googly eyes, two large pompoms, 64 mixed foam letters, 1 crystal diamond sticker, 30 mixed colors buttons, 50 colorful wooden popsicle sticks, four containers glitter glue (white, blue, green and gold), a pair of safety scissors, and five sheets of thick construction paper (red, orange, blue, yellow, green).
Promising reviews: "This is the perfect activity box to order for your little one while in quarantine. Definitely get what you pay for and more! There's even added construction paper for your little ones. Highly recommended. My 4-year-old loves EVERYTHING that was included. We’ll for sure order this item again in the future." —Cindy
"Great way to get a lot of different craft items to ignite your kiddo’s imagination and love of crafts! Opened this up and my 4-year-old immediately started making a fire-breathing dragon out of the supplies!" —Matt
Shipping info: Free expedited Prime shipping available for Prime members, and non-Prime shipping options will still arrive by Christmas (see Amazon's full shipping information here).
Get it from Amazon for $16.98+ (available in four sizes).
9. And for a less messy option, a scratch paper art set that'll keep 'em busy *and* never get old. It'll remind parents of their own childhood when scratching the surface and seeing the artwork underneath felt like magic.
Promising review: "Love it! Love it! My 4-year-old was glued to these for a day and a half and that meant this mommy could finish her work deliverables. My kid is not into painting, crafts, drawing, and all but loved this product so much! It’s very easy to use and creates very little mess (scratching off) and looks nice too. ❤️" —Ana
Shipping info: Free expedited Prime shipping available for Prime members, and non-Prime shipping options will still arrive by Christmas (see Amazon's full shipping information here).
Get it from Amazon for $6.99 (also available in a mini size).
10. A Tamagotchi to bring back memories for parents who used to walk around with one of these in their pocket at. all. times. Plus, it's a great way to bring kids in on the fun their parents used to have back in the day.
And for anyone who's looking for a slightly bigger gift, check out the Tamagotchi Pix, an upgraded 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.
Promising review: "I bought one of these for nostalgia purchases, and it was the best decision. It was just fun to play and invest time into a little trinket I remember from my childhood. Would definitely recommend it as a gift for young kids today and even adults and older kids who can also remember when they were more popular." —MK B.
Shipping info: Free expedited Prime shipping available for Prime members, and non-Prime shipping options will still arrive by Christmas (see Amazon's full shipping information here).
Get it from Amazon for $19.99+ (available in 45 styles).
11. A LeapFrog 100 Words Book — a fun activity for inquisitive toddlers to interact with while learning new words in the process (in English and Spanish)!
Find out why this parent calls it "one of our favorite toys for our son" on TikTok.
Promising review: "This was a recommended product I saw off Facebook and again on TikTok — so I had to see if the hype was worth it. IT IS WORTH IT! My toddler (almost 2) loves the book for the sounds and names of all the categories in the book. This is a great book to gift others with toddlers or to help your little one develop. I love this!" —Megan C.
Shipping info: Free expedited Prime shipping available for Prime members, and non-Prime shipping options will still arrive by Christmas (see Amazon's full shipping information here).
Get it from Amazon for $13.99.
12. A two-pack of Playfoam Pals for fans of slime who might like to try a new type of sensory activity that involves squishing, pulling, and kneading! Each one has a cute lil' animal pal inside for them to play with, too.
Promising reviews: "These are amazing for creative sensory play! I love that the foam is non-toxic and that it doesn't stick to everything. My kids have left it out numerous times and it never, ever dries out. And the little pet pals are just the cutest. The kids were so excited to see which ones they got and literally spent hours playing with them and the foam. These would be perfect for stocking stuffers!" —NYMommy
"Great stocking stuffers. Bought these as gifts for my daycare kids for Christmas. They were a huge hit! Kids loved the foam inside and were pleasantly surprised to find the animal deep within." —K. Stuewer
Shipping info: Free expedited Prime shipping available for Prime members, and non-Prime shipping options will still arrive by Christmas (see Amazon's full shipping information here).
Get a two-pack from Amazon for $13.30+ (also available in packs of six or 12).
13. A Melissa & Doug sticker book they can dive into pretty much anywhere and keep themselves occupied. It's filled with pages of different scenes and comes with stickers they can add to it. Parents can bring it on roadtrips, long flights, or just use it in the living room to keep kids content.
Promising review: "My 2-year-old granddaughter loves stickers! This is a great activity to satisfy children's love for stickers without the mess everywhere and having to purchase copious amounts of stickers. It encourages creativity and imagination. Great for developing fine motor skills when peeling off the small stickers." —Andrea K.
Shipping info: Free expedited Prime shipping available for Prime members, and non-Prime shipping options will still arrive by Christmas (see Amazon's full shipping information here).
Get a set of three books from Amazon for $16.47.
14. And a Melissa & Doug activity book complete with some child-safe scissors so kids can work out their pent-up energy by focusing on a project that motivates them to use their motor skills. Everybody wins!
Promising review: "Scissor skills are important both in and of themselves and because it strengthens the hand muscles to be used for learning to write. My 4-year-old LOVES this book. We received it this week and she has used it for a couple of hours each day. Many of the pages are cutting things out and putting them together (four-scoop ice cream cone, pizza with pepperonis, the components to build a house or a car, puzzles). We've used tape or glue to put the components together. This book is interesting enough to have caught the attention of my older children as well, although I make them let her do the cutting. :D Would make a great gift as it is so unique." —Mom of 7
Shipping info: Free expedited Prime shipping available for Prime members, and non-Prime shipping options will still arrive by Christmas (see Amazon's full shipping information here).
Get it from Amazon for $7.99.
15. A precious ice cream counter play set if they can always be found in the kitchen trying to participate in chef duties. They'll love having a counter of their own, and parents will love that they can get back to their counter and finish cooking.
This set includes: a wooden ice cream counter, eight ice cream scoops, six toppings, two cones, a cup, a scooper, tongs, a wooden spoon, and six pretend $1 bills.
Promising review: "What a great toy! This is a very sturdy, well-made, creative toy. Both my older grandkids and toddler grandkids enjoyed playing with this for a long time. The colors are bright, and the click-on toppings of sprinkles were so realistic and a big hit. The toolbox-looking carrier was such a good idea. The carrier holds everything and stores the pieces well. There are not an enormous amount of pieces, so it is easy to clean up." —Mpulsbyer
Shipping info: Free expedited Prime shipping available for Prime members, and non-Prime shipping options will still arrive by Christmas (see Amazon's full shipping information here).
Get it from Amazon for $34.97.
16. A set of highly satisfying tempera paint sticks everyone will love — yes, even parents! These no-mess sticks are fun for kids because they deliver rich, pigmented colors. As a bonus, adults won't have a huge nightmare to clean up.
Promising review: "Best invention almost ever (there’s still sliced bread). I mean how can you go wrong with paint in a stick?!! I mean certainly a toddler can go wrong with it. A toddler can go wrong somehow with a spaghetti noodle!!! But seriously, I saw these paint sticks at one of our local art galleries and it was an immediate MUST HAVE!!! Vibrant colors and they fit in little hands SO well!!! My kiddo loves them and so does her Momma!!" —RNinMD70
Shipping info: Free expedited Prime shipping available for Prime members, and non-Prime shipping options will still arrive by Christmas (see Amazon's full shipping information here).
Get a pack of 24 pens from Amazon for $22.48+ (also available as a two-pack).
17. A vibrant flower-building activity set to captivate their attention for the foreseeable future — and they said it couldn't be done! Kiddos will be able to create a stunning garden with a variety of petals, leaves, stamens, and more.
Promising review: "This idea is great. My 3-year-old granddaughter loves playing with these and creating a little garden. They were so easy for her to learn. Great product." —52gthompson
Shipping info: Free expedited Prime shipping available for Prime members, and non-Prime shipping options will still arrive by Christmas (see Amazon's full shipping information here).
Get it from Amazon for $14.98+ (available in two sizes).
18. A bestselling Baby Einstein Take Along Tunes Musical Toy that'll play classical melodies (think Mozart, Chopin, etc.) and display twinkling lights to help keep youngsters occupied for a while!
Promising review: "The best baby distractor EVER! Every person with a child must have this toy! I had about five tucked in various places in case one got lost. My son loved them from basically birth and sometimes it would distract him for hours of non-crying! (heaven for a new mother) Of course in the beginning you have to keep pushing the button for them but compared to swinging him in his car seat that was easy! Then when he got older, he would spend entire car rides just playing with this one toy. I give it to everyone I know who has a baby." —NH-Mommy
Shipping info: Free expedited Prime shipping available for Prime members, and non-Prime shipping options will still arrive by Christmas (see Amazon's full shipping information here).
Get it from Amazon for $9.99.
19. Animal Island's "Sit & Play" preschool learning system for parents would prefer an educational solution to curing their child's boredom. It's preloaded with 60 stories, over 20 sing-alongs, and 20 lullabies that are ready to use.
Promising review: "This was a Christmas gift for my 13-month-old. I bought this blindly and I’m so glad I did. We have used the tablet a dozen times for 30–60 minutes a day and it may just be chance, but I feel my son is comprehending the material. Also, my son has never been a fan of long car rides until we started traveling with the learning tablet. It’s a game changer." —Amazon Customer
Shipping info: Free expedited Prime shipping available for Prime members, and non-Prime shipping options will still arrive by Christmas (see Amazon's full shipping information here).
Get it from Amazon for $219+ (available with or without a book).
20. Washable dab and dot markers so the kids can have fun without leaving parents with the stress of an irreversible mess. You'll only wish you discovered these sooner!
The set comes with eight paint markers and a downloadable 101 Easy Dot Marker Activities PDF.
Promising review: "We really like these dot markers! My 3-and 6-year-olds have used them a lot. I have to get them started for my 3-year-old, but once I get the ink to the tip she is able to use them easily on her own. I really like that they are less messy than dot markers we have used in the past. They are great for crafts and fine motor skill activities. I would definitely recommend this product and would purchase again. 🙂" —Amazon Customer
Shipping info: Free expedited Prime shipping available for Prime members, and non-Prime shipping options will still arrive by Christmas (see Amazon's full shipping information here).
Get an eight-pack from Amazon for $16.99.
21. Or a set of Crayola Scribble Scrubbie pets because some kids are soo over coloring on paper. This will get their creative juices flowing because they can color the animal to their liking, *and* it washes out so they can start fresh at their next art session.
The set includes two washable animal figures, scrub brush, three washable colored markers, and an instruction sheet.
Promising review: "My kids loved these so much, we bought them as birthday gifts for other kids. They worked really well. I was amazed how well the color washed off." —Dblackn
Promising review: "We really like these dot markers! My 3-and 6-year-olds have used them a lot. I have to get them started for my 3-year-old, but once I get the ink to the tip, she is able to use them easily on her own. I really like that they are less messy than dot markers we have used in the past. They are great for crafts and fine motor skill activities. I would definitely recommend this product and would purchase again. 🙂" —Amazon Customer
Shipping info: Free expedited Prime shipping available for Prime members, and non-Prime shipping options will still arrive by Christmas (see Amazon's full shipping information here).
Get it from Amazon for $10.99 (available in three styles).
22. A 3-in-1 wooden learning tower for children who just want a piece of the action — now they can take part safely! It has the added benefit of transforming into a desk or slide, too.
Weco Store is a small biz based in Latvia that specializes in building handmade wooden home decor and furniture.
Promising review: "This is SO PERFECT for NYC small space living! We use every position every day. We needed something that could do double (triple) duty as to not clutter our loft with baby gear. The quality is great, and the shipping was SO FAST. We love it. Thank you!" —Melissa LeMieux
Shipping info: Standard shipping typically arrives in 8–12 days. Expedited shipping is available at checkout for an additional cost. Check the listing for estimated shipping time to your area.
Get it from Weco Store on Etsy for $158.47+ (originally $198+; available in four colors and with or without the slide).
23. A scavenger hunt kids won't be able to get enough of once they've played. It keeps them occupied by sending them on a hunt to find certain treasures, like books, toys, clothes, and other objects around the house.
Promising review: "A must-have. My 2-year-old son is obsessed. Always asks to play the 'find you' game LOL. Then we play it and every option on the game he actually thinks really hard then says 'come on mommy' and runs me through the house to find the object. Highly recommended from a mom of four." —Britney bansley
Shipping info: Free expedited Prime shipping available for Prime members, and non-Prime shipping options will still arrive by Christmas (see Amazon's full shipping information here).
Get it from Amazon for $12.99.
24. GeoSafari Jr. binoculars when the lil' explorer needs to be entertained at all times to prevent them from getting into trouble. This will give them a better look at things that interest them — whether that be wild birds, the neighbor's dog, or creatures in the backyard.
Promising reviews: "MUST HAVE. Baby K is only a year & a half and she was so excited to look out the windows and see the birds, up close! I wasn't sure they would work for her little face, but once she focused in, it was all over, hahaha!" —Brenda Richmond
"My 3 1/2 year old loves these! Perfect for toddlers wanting to explore. He uses them for bird watching, plane watching, checking out bugs, just about anything! Great for learning!" —JillS
Shipping info: Free expedited Prime shipping available for Prime members, and non-Prime shipping options will still arrive by Christmas (see Amazon's full shipping information here).
Get it from Amazon for $9.59.
25. A classic pop-and-catch game to encourage them to get outside and throw the ball around. Remember when that was a thing? It's also safe for indoor use on rainy days, and they can play by themselves or with friends! The set comes with four launcher baskets and six balls.
Promising review: "I took this game with us when we went camping. It is lightweight and the kids loved it. It is fun and easy to play. You can play solo or with another person. It seems durable. We have used it multiple times. It includes some extra balls. The balls are very lightweight and allows for this toy to be enjoyed indoors as well as outdoors." —Amazon Customer
Shipping info: Free expedited Prime shipping available for Prime members, and non-Prime shipping options will still arrive by Christmas (see Amazon's full shipping information here).
Get it from Amazon for $12.91.
26. A wooden maze that'll shine a light on their incredible problem-solving skills while keeping them busy *without* a screen in their face. Don't worry – the ball is enclosed so you don't have to worry about it getting lost.
Drapela Woodworks is small business based in Houston, Texas that sells handmade wooden toys, decor, gifts and more.
Promising review: "This maze toy was worth every penny. It was very well made, shipped quickly, and was a big hit with the kids and adults! Highly recommend." —Catrina
Shipping info: Standard shipping typically arrives in 3–10 days. Expedited shipping is available at checkout for an additional cost. Check the listing for estimated shipping time to your area.
Get it from Drapela Woodworks on Etsy for $39.95+ (originally $53.27+; available with or without personalization).
27. A magnetic shape-shifting puzzle cube if they're not easily amused and need something *really* cool to pique their curiosity. This cube can be manipulated into more than 70 shapes with tons of patterns to keep them busy, so it'll be a hit with parents too.
You can also collect all nine puzzle box designs to connect multiple magnetic cubes to build even larger structures and sculptures.
Promising review: "Fun for older teens. I bought one each for my 16- and 19-year-old son and daughter for Christmas. It made a great stocking stuffer. It was very intriguing and they enjoyed linking them together for new shapes. The boxes were sturdy enough for teens to manipulate without breaking and the magnets are strong. Not sure if younger hands would be too rough. If forced to move in the wrong direction they could break. The designs were beautiful. I plan to buy a few more for a bigger variety of shapes!" —Shellbug99
Shipping info: Free expedited Prime shipping available for Prime members, and non-Prime shipping options will still arrive by Christmas (see Amazon's full shipping information here).
Get it from Amazon for $25 (available in 22 designs and in packs of two or four).
28. A musical dance mat for the tiny dancer who would get a kick out of being able to practice their moves anywhere. There are six modes to choose from, so they can use it to have fun and burn some energy or to work on enhancing their hand-foot coordination. It folds away for easy storage when not in use, which parents will love!
Promising review: "Very cute and not too expensive, worked right out of the box and it was actually very easy to understand how to play with it. The instructions aren't even necessary, the little control box at the top lights up where it wants you to step next, and it senses where the player's feet are. This will make a very cute birthday gift, and I can see kids enjoying it at a slumber party!" —Annie
Shipping info: Free expedited Prime shipping available for Prime members, and non-Prime shipping options will still arrive by Christmas (see Amazon's full shipping information here).
Get it from Amazon for $42.99+ (available in two styles).
The reviews for this post have been edited for length and clarity.