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.
What a year! The holidays are finally here! And while we’re doing our best to make sure the products we feature will arrive in time, shipping times are especially tricky this year, so we suggest shopping as early as you can.
Stock and shipping times can vary depending on where you live, which product you purchase, and more. So order earlier than you think you need to and be sure to double-check the retailers’ websites for shipping information to ensure that your gift will arrive in time for when you need it.
1. A transforming octopus, which is deceptively simple but will keep them mesmerized for days. They can even use the plushie to let you know what kind of day they're having without saying a word.
2. Hope the Healing Husky, because playing veterinarian with their real pet is probably not a great idea. The included medical bag comes with everything they need to get Hope the Husky back to their energetic self if they're having a bit of a "no bones day."
3. A Leapfrog learning pot — which is basically a toy version of the ever-popular Instant Pot. The "choppable" Velcro veggies will keep them occupied long enough for their parents to prepare a real meal, and for that they'll be forever grateful.
4. An adorable hedgehog toy so the tiny tot on your list can build their fine motor skills while they stick the peg-shaped pieces into Spike's back. They'll be having way too much fun to even realize it's educational.
5. A Blue's Clues play kitchen set, which their millennial parents will secretly want to steal from them. It makes sounds and lights up as they pretend to whip up the perfect lunch with Blue — and it even comes with Mr. Salt and Mrs. Pepper!
6. A talking microscope featuring the voice of Bindi Irwin for the aspiring scientist who's curious about all things nature. It comes with 20 slides to peek through, each with their own interesting facts.
7. Taco Cat Goat Cheese Pizza, which is about to become their new favorite card game. It takes only about a minute to learn, and each fast-paced game lasts around 10–15 minutes.
Here's how to play: You deal all the cards out to your two to four players, and everyone keeps their mini deck face down. Everyone takes a turn putting a card down in the middle of the table, saying one of the words "taco," "cat," "goat," "cheese," and "pizza," in that order. If the picture on your card matches the word that's said, everyone slaps their hand on the card in a pile as quickly as possible. The last person on the pile has to take the stack and add them to their cards, and whoever runs out of cards first wins!
Promising review: "Ridiculous in a good way! I was skeptical about how much I may enjoy this game being in my mid-thirties. But it's a lot of fun! Easy to learn, easy to play, my 8-year-old has lots of fun with it. Its a great family game with the potential to be a late-night more adult-oriented event if you’re picking up what I'm throwing down. Cheers!" —Amazon Customer
Shipping info: Available on Amazon Prime with two-day shipping, non-Prime shipping options will still arrive by Christmas (see Amazon's full shipping information here).
Get it from Amazon for $9.99.
8. A 5 Second Rule board game with a fun Disney twist for the kid who watches Frozen, Moana, and Cars on a never-ending loop. So, basically every kid ever.
9. A Hatchimals Crystal Flyer Pixie that actually flies around the room with a few waves of their hand. It's the closest you can get to gifting them magical powers.
10. A Monster Jam Megalodon Monster Wash with a tiny monster truck that changes colors as it makes its way through the play set. They're bound to be mesmerized by this for at least a few hours.
11. An interactive Galactic Snackin' Baby Yoda (sorry, I mean Grogu) who comes with his own snacks, so he'll be nice and full by the time The Mandalorian season 3 finally rolls around.
12. A surprisingly sturdy indoor slide that's made entirely of cardboard, so their parents can fold it up and store it under the bed when not in use. It's perfect for those restless rainy days when the playground is a no go.
13. A deceptively simple and surprisingly mesmerizing fidget cube that can transform into over 70 shapes, so it's perfect for the child on your list who needs a little less screentime and little more creative time.
14. The 2021 Holiday Barbie with a shimmery silver gown that basically looks like a winter wonderland in dress form. Plus, you can start a tradition and just keep gifting them Holiday Barbies every year until they grow out of them, which will basically be never.
15. A tiny desktop TV that actually works! It plays some of the best moments from Friends — and seriously, could that little remote be any cuter?!
16. An upgraded Tamagotchi with a full color screen and digital camera, which proves the '90s are back and truly better than ever. Let's hope today's generation is better at being virtual pet parents than we were.
17. Or a Digimon virtual pet monster if you want to gift them that true '90s pixel-perfect experience. Better yet, buy one for yourself so you can both battle your little digital creatures.
18. OR! A virtual Fairy Finder, which combines the cuteness of Tamagotchi with the "gotta catch 'em all" spirit of Pokémon Go. Just carry the jar around the house and close the lid when you find one of the magical fairies!
19. A transforming Paw Patrol fire truck with an extendable ladder and water canon so they can save the day with their favorite heroic pooches.
20. An interactive Purse Pet, which is exactly what it sounds like: a purse that doubles as a pet! It may not be designer, but it does have blinking eyes and plays fun games, so it's honestly way better.
21. A VTech KidiGo basketball hoop with an interactive scoreboard so the sports star (swish!) on your list can get their Michael Jordan on and practice scoring some hoops right in their bedroom. Actually, go ahead and add on a copy of Like Mike while you're at it.
22. Pixicade mobile game maker, which is this year's ultimate educational toy. This nifty set lets kids essentially draw their own video game, so they can channel their creativity and get their gaming fix at the same time.
23. A Leapfrog animal book that's frequently on the Amazon bestsellers chart. The interactive book will teach kids fun facts about their favorite creatures and sing songs in both English and Spanish.
24. The unlikely surprise hit of the year: fidget popping toys. They're basically like a never-ending piece of Bubble Wrap, so it's no wonder these things have kids (and adults) in a total trance.
25. And a unicorn slime kit with over 23,000 5-star reviews — because this is one viral trend that isn't going away any time soon.
Looking for the perfect gift for any occasion? Check out all of BuzzFeed’s gift guides!
