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. A rechargeable flying orb to blow their little minds. Adorned in flashing lights, this high-tech take on a classic ball can float in the air, hover over their hand, and even boomerang right back to them for loads of magic-making fun.
Promising review: "My kids have everything you could think of in the toy department but when I came across this toy I knew I had to get it. I did debate at first because buying three added up quickly and things usually don't measure up to the expectation from the description but I don't regret buying/paying what I did because it keep my boys entertained for hours. My boys are seven, eight, and 12, and they all love theirs. My sons are extra rough with everything they own but this flying toy is still going strong and the battery life is amazing. My husband even plays with them. I would recommend them for anyone of any age. This is also a good gift for someone's birthday or holiday." —Crystal Clark
Get it from Amazon for $37.99+ (available in seven colors).
2. An at-home scavenger hunt so when bad weather prevents that (vital) energy-burning trip to the park, you and your nibbling will still have a fun and engaging way to play, as they track down objects commonly found around the house.
Mollybee Kids is a family-run small business creating high-quality toys that promote learning, staying active, and most importantly, fun!
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
Get it from Amazon for $12.99.
3. Otrio — a more strategic twist on the classic tic-tac-toe that can accommodate up to four players so the whole family can get in on a fun-filled game night.
To win, players must get three circular pieces of their color in a row in either ascending or descending order; get the same-sized pieces in a row; or get three concentric pieces in the same space, but beware of other players attempting to block you!
Recommended for 2–4 players ages 8+.
Promising review: "Perfect game for all ages. My 8-year-old daughter, 12-year-old son, and 70-year-old mother enjoyed playing together for hours." —A. Rosen
Get it from Amazon for $39.95.
4. A set of magnetic building tiles because kids of all ages (and a lot of adults too) will have a blast becoming the architect of their own colorful creations.
PicassoTiles is a small business developing creative toys that encourage open-ended play.
Promising review: "A friend bought these for my son when he was 2 and he played with them more than anything else for a couple of years solid. We loved them. Perfect thing to take a few to a restaurant or family gathering to help keep the kids entertained. As he’s gotten older we found tons of ideas online for things to build too. I just bought a set for a friend’s daughter’s birthday." —rae malm
Get a 60-piece set from Amazon for $25.99.
5. A Bitzee for gifting them the best pet alternative to the puppy they reeeaaaally want. Inside this one case are 15 virtual pets that react to touch, tilts, and swipes. The more they play, the more pets they'll unlock!
Batteries included!
Promising review: "I have to admit, when I received it, I couldn’t figure it out. But…my granddaughter wanted it for her birthday so I bought it. Within seconds, after opening, my granddaughter had a giant smile on her face and knew just how to operate it! She loves it and didn’t put it down all afternoon. It comes ready to go and well-packaged. A really neat toy!" —Steve Chambers
Get it from Amazon for $24.97.
6. Or a Tamagotchi Pix if you want to share a piece of your childhood with them via this modern update on a classic. Plus, you're curious to see if they succeed at keeping their virtual pet alive when you never could.
Promising review: "It works like a charm to me. I like how they change the games in the arcade every day. The explore function allows me to find new meetable characters by pointing the camera to different backgrounds. Cooking and customizing furniture also are new unique features for the Pix. QR code communication is a really good way to connect during this pandemic situation. I really hope there will be new version of Pix in the future." —Fairuz Takumi
Get it from Amazon for $39.95+ (available in six colors).
7. A LeapFrog 100 Words Book to help brainiacs-in-training expand their English *and* Spanish vocab. Don't worry — this book is no snooze-fest with touch-activated sound effects, songs, and fun facts. I certainly wish my old textbooks had been this interactive!
8. A too-cute "Make a Fox Friend" kit so they can get creative, add a new plushie to their collection, AND learn some sewing basics all with one superb gift.
Craft-tastic is a woman-owned small business based in Michigan. All their products are focused on teaching kids new skills and limiting screen time.
Each kit comes with six garments, eight accessories, kid-friendly plastic needle, thread, a fox, and easy-to-follow instructions. For ages 5+.
Promising review: "My niece was obsessed with this. I thought of this as a minor gift that I gave her (5 years old) with a bunch of other fun things, but this ended up being her favorite. My sister-in-law now buys this as a gift for all the kid parties they go to." —Amy
Get it from Amazon for $19.99 (also available in mouse, bunny, and koala versions).
9. A TikTok-famous 1,000-piece Mystic Maze puzzle that's a whole lot more than meets the eye. While working to complete, they'll be treated to over 50 easter eggs, small details, optical illusions, and a twist (designed by magicians) that's only revealed when the puzzle is complete!
Promising review: "Love this puzzle, my nieces and I enjoyed putting this puzzle together and enjoyed the secret at the end as well. The different rooms were so fun to look at individually and the art is wonderful. We even enjoyed the 'I spy' section after finishing the puzzle and the fact that it told a story. A great spin on a classic pastime." —Takirah Griffin
Get it from Amazon for $22.99.
If you've given this puzzle in the past, or they're already a fan, don't fret! They've released several series of puzzles — you can shop them all on Amazon.
10. A National Geographic geodes kit for junior geologists itching to get their hands dirty. This kit comes with everything they'll need to start cracking open geodes and discovering the crystals inside.
This science kit includes natural crystal-filled geodes (quantity depends on the size you choose), a pair of safety goggles, geode display stand(s), and a learning guide.
Promising review: "My daughter is 10 and this kept her busy for HOURS! She had so much fun and was excited every time she got a glimpse of what might be inside. A couple of them were pretty cool, while the rest were just white. She didn't care, she loves them all. She was so proud to gift them to her grandparents." —Michelle
Get it from Amazon for $19.99+ (available in four sizes).
11. A realistic mini Dyson vacuum if your favorite little tyke's current obsession is copying everything the adults do — chores included. This bite-sized vacuum actually works (there's even a tiny debris tray to empty) so they can "help" with household cleaning and gain some valuable motor skills along the way.
You'll need four C batteries.
Promising review: "Easily my 15-month-old grandson's favorite toy. He's learned how to press the buttons to turn the motors on and off and really enjoys pushing this around, just like the big people do with their vacuum :) It's well-made, durable, and survives frequent drops. No small or sharp parts. It really does vacuum, there is a small dirt container to empty lol...but it's not really that powerful. It's a great toy though. Your kids/grandkids will get a lot of enjoyment out of it." —Chuck over in Wisconsin
Get it from Amazon for $24.99+ (available in three colors).
12. A colorful wooden puzzle to bring Tetris-like delight out into the real world after they've hit their parent-mandated screentime limit and you're out of entertainment ideas.
Reviewers say this is a great toy for a wide range of ages — from 3 to 12.
Promising review: "My toddler is obsessed! The construction is solid, pieces are well-finished (no splinters or uneven cuts), and I love that this particular type of puzzle will allow him to make different arrangements each time. Currently, he loves to assemble the same 20–30-piece puzzles over and over again, and I wanted to find him something that would present a little challenge with critical thinking as well as variety." —Alex
Get it from Amazon for $9.99.
13. A logic puzzle Gravity Maze so you can trick them into STEM learning and hands-on problem solving with 60 multi-level puzzles they'll actually have so much fun completing.
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: "My 10-year-old son is obsessed with this game. He loves figuring out each maze. It makes him use problem-solving skills and logic. This is a great toy for an only child whose parents can't entertain the child every minute. He chooses this over video games! Now that is saying something." —Amy P.
Get it from Amazon for $33.99.
14. Or a colorful marble run set that comes with everything they need to build elaborate tracks to send marbles racing down. Pieces quickly snap together so they can easily build a course, tear it down, and build another one whenever inspiration for a new design strikes.
Promising review: "I bought this for my grandsons for Christmas. It was hit. As a matter of fact the whole family has enjoyed playing with it. They have spent hours playing with it. I was amazed as how stable it was and how easy it was to put together. They have learnt if top heavy it will fall. They have had no trouble building with it. Pieces fit together easily. Problem is I am constantly looking for marbles. They roll under the couch and chair This is just a given with marbles. I'm so glad I bought this set. It uses regular marbles which can be replaced easy ( most of the other brands did not). Also, the company sells marbles and extra add on pieces, which we will be buying soon." —Janet Cunningham
Get it from Amazon for $34.99+ (available in four styles).
15. A Lego flower bouquet because real flowers die, and these will never. Plus, you two can work on it together for some serious familial bonding.
The bouquet includes 15 stems with a mix of flower and leaf varieties, including roses, snapdragons, and poppies, and it uses elements made from plant-based plastic.
Promising review: "We got this set to give as a gift to a teenage girl that still loves Lego. They were a huge hit! How nice that Lego is putting out stuff for older 'kids.' :)" —Uggwearingmom
Get it from Amazon for $47.99.
16. A Taylor Swift Little Golden Book with beautiful illustrations for sharing in the thing you two have in common — being a ride-or-die Swiftie.
17. A sprinkle whale bath toy with colorful flashing lights if you want to help make bath time the best time of the day. This *whaley* cute toy is rechargeable and can keep the water spraying fun going for 80 minutes straight.
Promising review: "We got this for our 5-month-old since he loves to try and hold/catch running water. He LOVES this! In the tub it gets him sooo excited. We have even taken it outside in his small, shallow splash pad, and it still works. He loves catching the water and picking it up. And in the tub likes to try to sneak a sip haha. He is now almost 8 months old and is still obsessed. There are sensors on the bottom that when it hits water will turn it on, and when it needs to be charged, the water does not go very high or will just shut off. A definite bathtub fave for sure!" —Jo Edith
Get it from Amazon for $14.99+ (available in six styles).
18. A DIY Disney necklace activity set so they can get started designing their future jewelry collection while letting everyone know exactly where they stand on the best princess debate. (Correct answer: all of them.)
Promising review: "My 4-year-old is so obsessed with this particular product that she has made me five or six different things already. She really loves what she's doing. Great product for the price. Especially if your child loves to be creative." —John Bartley
Get it from Amazon for $12.99 (available in 12 others styles).
19. A programmable pixel art display that's a great gift for the artistically inclined and does a lot more than just look cute. It's also a Bluetooth speaker that functions as an alarm, notification center, gaming console, and more!
The speaker pairs with an app where you can select from pre-made pixel art designs or create your own to display on the programmable LED screen.
Promising review: "This was bought as a last-minute Christmas gift for my teen daughter. She absolutely loves it! I was a bit taken back by the price, but after seeing it in action — totally worth it! The speaker quality is great, and it has a ton of unique features that set it apart from similar products. Also, it comes in super cute packaging!" —jjwhray
Get it from Amazon for $79.92 (available in five colors).
20. Silly Poopy's Hide and Seek because it's exactly what it sounds like, and it sounds pretty darn fun already. Take turns hiding this rainbow-colored gadget around the house — it'll shout clues, eventually playing a song when it's finally found. Now who's ready for another round?!
Relatable is a small business that sells card games/toys, plushies, and pool floats.
Promising review: "My 6- and 3-year-old are OBSESSED. They play for an hour at least! Played with daily since we got it. When it’s my turn to hide, I make it tricky enough that I can actually be productive until it’s my turn again." —Cara Lentz
Get it from Amazon for $12.99.
21. A miniature baking set with a 48-page recipe book for the junior pâtissier so they can make teeny tiny versions of real dishes and learn all about food science without the usual big kitchen messes.
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 a 48-page recipe book.
Promising review: "My 9-year-old daughter LOVES this — OK more like is obsessed with this! Everything holds up and is durable. The recipes are so simple to follow. She takes over the kitchen and does everything by herself. Cooks things in the toaster oven. She makes us delicious cinnamon rolls, apple pies, pizzas…everything! Everything is written and geared to have a child be able to do it. We have told all her friends, and now they all have this, too! The kids on the street all come to our house just so they can tiny bake! Every kid needs one of these!" —Summer
Get it from Amazon for $27.73.
22. A dimmable sad duck night-light if they could use a goofy bedside companion to guard them from dark corners and spooky sounds while they sleep. They can even use it like a portable lantern on midnight field trips to the bathroom or their sibling's bedroom.
Promising review: "Kids love it. Got this as a nightlight for when the grandkids sleep over. It dims so they can have it on all night. Cute too!" —Jeffrey kintzler
Get it from Amazon for $19.99.
23. A lightweight LCD writing tablet to provide mini Picassos of all ages with an endlessly reusable canvas for their creations. It's SUPER easy to travel with, so don't be surprised if they challenge you to a riveting game of tic-tac-toe in the car.
Promising review: "I purchased this gift for my just-turned-2-year-old daughter, and she is obsessed — and so am I! It is mess free, nontoxic, endless coloring fun! She will scribble to her hearts desire, and with one push of a button, she has a clean slate. This clearing function also has a locking feature to prevent erasing, but she hasn’t used it yet! Highly recommend!" —Helen
Get it from Amazon for $19.99 (available in four colors).
24. A set of Globbles so they can join the legions of TikTokers already loving this stress-relieving fidget toy. These colorful balls are not just fun to squeeze and stretch, but they also stick to pretty much any flat surface without leaving behind messy residue.
Promising review: "A huge hit with my children. We bought them for one child with autism, and he’s obsessed with these. Christmas morning has been pure joy for him playing with these, and all of us joined in on the fun. They are not exploding on us nor are they 'peeling' our ceiling paint or plaster off. Overall, I would absolutely buy these again and recommend them to anyone else. Especially anyone who has a special needs child or child with sensory issues." —SamSurgany
Get a set of six from Amazon for $10.69 (also available in a pack of 16).
25. A game of Taco Cat Goat Cheese Pizza that's super simple to learn, great for all ages, and anything but boring. Play this fast-paced party game once and they'll be begging to bring it out at every future game night.
The rules are simple. Deal the deck out to all players (works with three to eight players). Everyone keeps their mini deck face down and goes around the table flipping a card face up and saying one of the five key words (taco, cat, goat, cheese, and pizza — in that order). Once the card played matches the word said, it's a race to slap that center card. Whoever taps in last has to take the center stack, and the round starts over. Whoever gets rid of all their cards first wins!
Promising review: "This game is a hit! My 5-year-old is obsessed, and my teenage sisters were fighting over who got to bring it to camp, so I had to buy two copies! It's such a fun party game, it is guaranteed to bring the laughs." —Jennifer Simms
Get it from Amazon for $9.84.
26. An at-home laser tag set because it's practically guaranteed to earn their home top status as the "cool" place to hang out, with guns and vests that seamlessly pair together and keep track of hits and scoring even in the heat of battle.
You'll get four guns, four vests (front and back), and one charging station.
Promising review: "This set was perfect for my grandkids ages 7, 11, 14, and 17. Even we adults played. They had so much fun. We set up obstacles to hide behind, such as: patio furniture, foldable table, ice chest, etc. Very easy to set up and play. Was definitely worth it." —Debbie L.
Get it from Amazon for $199.99.
27. A set of satisfying tempera paint sticks for transforming craft time from a big hassle into a regular source of fun. These easy-to-hold pens deliver all the rich, creamy color they'd expect from regular paint, but without the risk of spills and other major messes, since they're washable and dry in just 90 seconds!
28. Or a custom paint-by-number pet portrait that'll turn their best (furry) friend into a hand-painted art activity that'll be fit for framing.
Promising review: "This was so much fun! I tried three different photos in the tool they give you and chose this one. It shows you a preview of each painting, which is really helpful when deciding which image to go with. Not every picture came out as good, so definitely try a few! Easy to use, and fun to paint — excited to frame it! I actually have some paint left over and will try to do another one!" —Jonathan Kebert
Get it from Amazon for $39.99
29. A mini Waving Inflatable Tube Guy if the backseat of your car explodes with excitement whenever they spot one of these wacky noodles out in the wild. Now they can have one of their very own to fire up whenever an impromptu dance party is in order.
Promising review: "My youngest loves seeing these guys everywhere we go. When we drive around and she sees one outside, she yells, 'Look, it's a (color) guy!' So we got her this little one. She is just obsessed with how she has one of her own! It is so cool. Made of awesome material. The fan is strong, and it waves around just like the larger ones you can put in your yard." —Joe H
Get it from Amazon for $8.58.
30. Pixicade Pets to transform their screen time into an exercise in imagination by drawing their very own imaginary pet on paper that will come alive once scanned into the Pixicade Pets app. There they can interact and play with their latest creation on any mobile device.
Device not included.
Promising review: "We gave our 8-year-old who loves drawing and animals Pixicade Pets for Christmas, and it’s been a big hit. It was easy to set up an account for her and scan the QR codes to add tickets to her account. She loves creating the pets, thinking up names, and deciding on treats and toys to make for them. The app is relatively intuitive and seems to work well. After a few times helping her go through the steps of adding a new pet (taking photos, etc.), she’s been able to confidently do all of it on her own. I think this is a great gift for artistic kids and a fun way to bring their creativity to life." —Diana
Get it from Amazon for $24.99.
31. An adorable mini microphone so they can make sure the whole house can hear their latest concert set, spoken-word poem, or stand-up routine. Becoming a star takes practice after all!
32. A pack of tangle-free parachute toys that kids will love tossing from on high (i.e. the second floor) and watching as these colorful little guys float on down to safety.
33. A bestselling Take Along Tunes toy with volume control for a portable and surprisingly not annoying musical distraction that plays 10 different classical melodies.
Promising review: "I have a son who is almost 2-years-old. If I could only have one toy for him, this would be it. He has been obsessed with this toy since he was old enough to hit the button on his own, and he still loves it now that he's almost 2. I never would have thought that this toy could be so essential or important. It seemed neat and popular, so I got it along with a lot of other stuff before he was born. I had no idea how endlessly entertaining such a simple toy could be. If I ever have another child, I will probably buy a new one just because the sticker has become so worn with use." —JHev
Get it from Amazon for $8.88.
The reviews for this post have been edited for length and clarity.