1. A Craft-tastic "Make a Fox Friend" craft kit if your child wants to learn the basics of sewing while putting together a full wardrobe of clothes and accessories for this fantastic (and fabulous) little fox stuffie. No special tools or additional supplies to buy makes this a great all-in-one gift!
2. A Lego dinosaur set because your kid wants to bring Jurassic Park to life in their living room. It comes complete with an-easy-to-build airport, helicopter, buggy and T. rex figure that'll set the scene for their imagination to run wild as they go on a ~raw-ring adventure.~
Promising review: "Built this with my 4 year old sun, had a lot of fun. This is great value! For a set like this, you get a car, a dino, a dino egg and a helicopter, and boys love those!!! A lot of fun to play with that parents could have a lot of interesting conversation while playing. We had this set on our play table for more than a month. Definitely a parent saver!" —KindestFluffyBoar
Get it from Lego for $49.99.
3. A Hape Quadrilla Super Spirals building blocks set for all the marble madness and Rube Goldberg goodness a kid could possibly enjoy.
4. A Crayola Inspiration Art Case packed with 64 crayons, 20 colored pencils, 40 washable markers, and 15 large pieces of paper for creative kiddies to bring their art and imagination to the world. But why does daddy look like he's crying in all these drawings?
5. A set of handmade satin butterfly wings that any little lepidopterist can enjoy for hours of indoor or outside pretend play. A real fly gift if we do say so!
6. An updated Lite-Brite set that comes with more templates and pegs and is bigger and brighter than the classic 1980s version. This gift might be the most affordable time machine money can buy for kids and, in all likelihood, adults.
7. A Wiwiurka wood climber triangular rope ladder available in indoor (hung from the ceiling) or outdoor (hung from a tree branch) options that's capable of holding up to 175 pounds' worth of children (or possibly one immature adult).
8. A classic Lego set so your little one can build all kinds of things and let their imagination run wild.
9. A Melissa & Doug ice cream station that'll have them setting up shop, serving up plastic deliciousness, and politely asking eager beavers that scream for ice cream to quiet down and patiently wait in line. This is serious biz.
The set includes a wooden ice cream counter, eight ice cream scoops, six toppings, two cones, cup, scooper, tongs, wooden spoon, reusable menu card, and six pretend dollar bills.
Promising review: "My 5-year-old daughter has played with this non-stop for two days now. She easily hands out the menu and takes everyone’s orders. It took her a few tries but she can easily get the ice cream in the scoop and release it onto the cones. So much realistic detail. Just an overall fun and educational birthday present (memory practice, counting, money exchange, balance, social skills, etc.)." –Kat
Get it from Amazon for $41.99.
10. A wooden climber triangle set that'll blend in effortlessly with your farmhouse decor and entertain your budding climbing enthusiast for hours at a time. It also will make an excellent fort when they're a little older! Plus, it folds up for easy storage. Win-win-win-win!
11. A "Role Play Fingerprint Kit" so junior gumshoes can learn "how to detect and collect fingerprints" and finally solve the mystery of who ate the last cookie from the jar. J'accuse, papa!
12. An easy-to-use Melissa & Doug wooden multi-craft weaving loom to encourage the kids to make art that's "wearable, usable, and displayable." It's a gift that says, "Get lost, screen time, I'm making something!"
13. A super cool dinosaur pillowcase so your playful paleontologist can scribble some jurassic buddies to life and tucker themselves out with countless roars, all while having a convenient place to rest their head right at their fingertips!
The pillowcase comes with 10 washable fabric pens.
Promising review: "I bought this for my nephew who loves dinosaurs. It was a huge hit. He opened it at night and spent the next day filling out the whole pillowcase. The markers are vibrant and good quality." –Carolyn
Get it from Uncommon Goods for $22.
14. A rechargeable (for up to 10 hours of play), roll-up (for easy portability) electronic drum set for beginners ready to rock steady with some block rockin' beats (or any other kind of beats for that matter). The best part of this gift, other than it not being an actual drum kit, is the included headphones for quiet playtime!
15. A 6-pound combo pack of nontoxic National Geographic kinetic play sand that stays "wet" for all sorts of (easy-to-clean) building and shaping fun. Comes with six molds including castles and pyramids.
16. A magic bean garden kit that makes it super easy for kids to earn their green thumb — either from painting the pot or planting the seeds that reveal a "secret" message. Give the gift of horticulture!
17. A Play-Doh Kitchen Creations "Rising Cake Oven Bakery" play set that even Paul Hollywood might approve of (might) for aspiring young bakers. Plus you can give a firm handshake for a job well done as a bonus gift!
Includes five Play-Doh colors.
Promising review: "This is a great Play-Doh set. Super adorable, LOVE how you can fill the pan with 'cake batter,' then lock it into the stove and use the lever to make the cake 'rise.' The kids are thrilled with it. Couple of things to note: Make sure the cake pan is locked into the oven by sliding its lower edge under the notches. After pulling the lever, you need to put it back into its original position BEFORE trying to open the oven door. Don't force it or it could break. Also note that the set will need additional Play-Doh if you want to make any color of cake other than pink. It comes with enough pink Play-Doh to make a cake but not enough of any other colors to make a cake. That wasn't a problem for us, we have PLENTY of Play-Doh..." —elise
Get it from Amazon for $10.89.
18. A Grouch Couch game for teaching children the importance of never losing the remote control! But seriously, they're going to love this seat (get it, loveseat!).
19. A passcode-protected, electronic piggy bank (sans the swine) that eats cash like an ATM (and coins too) and is a great way to teach kids about saving. When giving as a gift, don't forget to include a couple of bucks.
20. An indoor/outdoor galaxy dome tent playhouse made of durable and breathable materials so little tykes (and little Tycho Brahes) can camp out under the shining stars in the sky or the glow-in-the-dark stars stuck to the ceiling.
21. An outdoor explorer bug catcher kit for taking the creepy out of creepy crawlies while teaching entry-level entomology. But we all know the toy insects will be used for practical jokes. This gift has it all!
22. A Learning Resources Botley The Coding Robot 2.0 activity set because it's never too early to get the kids into coding. Botley can be programmed to follow a sequence of up to 150 steps including following plotted courses and avoiding obstacles. The best part, it's all screen free!
23. A subscription to Little Spoon "Plates" balanced and preservative-free toddler meals (with plenty of hidden veggies) starting at under $5 a plate delivered directly to their door. What better gift is there than a well-fed child you didn't have to actually cook for?
Plates will launch with over 15 different recipes — from chicken pot stickers with quinoa veggie stir fry and edamame to broccoli bites with sweet potato carrot poppers and green beans. Yum!
Promising review: "We appreciate that the dishes are easy to warm up, the size and portion is right for the age group, and the plates can be recycled or reused. In terms of nutrition, I was very impressed with the ingredients, the lack of preservatives, and the mix of food in each plate. We loved the plates!" —Jenee
Get a subscription from Little Spoon: $120 (for 24 meals/delivery = $4.99/meal) to $52 (for 8 meals/delivery = $6.49/meal). Digital and physical gift cards are available in amounts from $50–$500.
24. A super-affordable LCD writing tablet doodle board that cuts down on paper waste and gives the kiddos their own tech to play with (re: destroy). Just make sure they write a nice thank-you note on it!
25. A Melissa & Doug wooden pirate chest pretend play set so would-be buccaneers can actually hide some of their most prized (albeit tiny) possessions in a hidden compartment! Yo, ho, ho! Avast! And other assorted pirate lingo!
26. A set of handmade, matte-finish vinyl dinosaur wall decals to Jurassic up any boring wall in a dino-loving child's room. Also, they're easy to remove and won't take the paint off with them.
27. A "Speak & Spell" electronic game that can only be described as a "retro-tablet from the '80s" for teaching kids how to spell. The best part is the old-school speech synthesizer that's been used in quite a few song samples (looking at you, Beck!).
28. A straight-out-of-an-'80s-sci-fi-movie Team Magnus "Incog" water blaster capable of holding 40 ounces of H2O and spraying up to 32 feet. Talk about a surprise!
Promising review: "This is a great water toy (gun? It doesn’t look like a gun!). But it is amazing and beats all of the water toys that I’ve purchased! I’m a die hard Super Soaker fan, and nothing on the market even comes close to what we used to get in the '90s EXCEPT this thing!!! I’m so excited for camping and our first water fight; the kids are GOING DOWN! The capacity is decent and the water pressure is amazing." —Jessica D.
Get it from Amazon for $24+ (available in three colors).
29. A Yogibo Star Wars Chewbacca reading pillow and backrest that'll make any little Padawan scream like a Wookiee when they open up this prezzie. Makes for a great Life Day gift, too!
30. A Tobi 2 Interactive karaoke machine for all the sing-alongs and cover versions of the Frozen soundtrack that the family can handle. Best of all, there's a built-in applause feature.
31. A remote-control Freestyle Force Grave Digger so every day can now be "Sunday! Sunday! Sunday!" at the Monster Jam. It's the gift that brings a monster truck rally into your home, without any of the mud or noise (so that's a win).
32. A marble run set that provides endless possibilities to build creative structures — all while developing their problem-solving skills. They'll be ~ah-mazed~ at the results when the marbles roll through the mazes they create.
33. A wooden puzzle equivalent to playing Tetris but in tactile form that'll ~exercise their brain~ without any screen time.
34. A Crayola light board so budding artists can see their imagination come to life just like an immersive Van Gogh exhibit.
35. A water bottle decorating kit they can bedazzle to the max with sparkly glitter gem stickers — basically the 5-year-old equivalent to J.Lo’s blinged-out Starbucks cup.
36. A set of 100% biodegradable water beads that soak up water to magically expand into bouncy jelly-like balls. Parent reviewers have used them for an at-home foot spa and filled balloons, pools, and water tables — the squishy fun is endless.
37. A blob seal pillow that'll stare the whole family down with its grumpy face, making them alternate between fits of giggles and an inexplicable need to cuddle it.
38. A flower building activity set — a STEM-based toy (literally and figuratively) to make the imagination of horticultural enthusiasts blossom while creating bouquets and gardens.
39. A glow-in-the-dark fort building kit to flex their future architect muscles by building huts, igloos, rockets, tunnels, and any other not-so-secret hiding spots.
Promising review: "My 4 year old grandson loves these. He can easily manipulate the parts putting together and taking apart. He is always making something with his. He loves that they glow in the dark." –Tracey R. Pierce
Get it from Amazon for $29.99+ (available in two styles).
40. Nontoxic Disney Princess nail polishes perfect for when little divas are in the mood for a mani-pedi day.
41. And, for matching bling, a Disney Princess necklace activity set with more than 30,000 5-star reviews (!!!) that'll make any child feel like true royalty.
42. A Hot Wheels garage that can park more than 100 cars and has a racetrack — BUT watch out for the hungry T-Rex looking to devour the cars. Heck yes, adding to cart now.
43. A set of Crayola Scribble Scrubbie pets that can be reused over and over again (unlike one and done sets). This will keep budding artists busy coloring the cute pets, scrubbing them, and coloring all over again.
44. A large castle tent with sheer drapes and starry lights for an enchanting hideaway that'll impress even the most hard-to-impress princess on your list.
45. A unicorn slime kit with over 30,000 5-star reviews (!!!) that prove kids + slime + glitter + beads = win.
46. A Tutu Du Monde alternative tulle dress with layers of ruffles to give any young royal that luxe look on their birthday without spending nearly $200 for a dress.
47. A Melissa & Doug magnetic calendar to help kiddos keep track of the week, date, weather, and special events. They'll look forward to updating it every morning.
48. A Magna-Tiles set because studies have shown it'll hold any kid's attention wayyyy longer than most toys. JK, but seriously, any parent who has bought this cool building set will attest that it's worth. every. penny.
49. A personalized superhero cape perfect for the spunky little superhero in your life who never ceases to amaze you.
50. A rainbow-colored saucer swing guaranteed to add a pop of color to any room and become the kiddo's fave ~hangout~ spot in the playroom or yard.
51. A wallet-friendly nerf blaster with more than 18,000 5-star reviews (!!!) perfect for declaring war on the parents or, you know, tormenting siblings...repeatedly.
52. A keepsake jewelry box with a unicorn that spins to the Somewhere Over the Rainbow tune and comes with a necklace and bracelet. It's basically all the precious stuff childhood dreams are made of.
53. A Razor scooter here to majorly upgrade their outdoor playtime, since they'll be able to zip across the driveway, sidewalk, or block in a fun little flash.
You, just trying to contain your excitement before the kiddo opens that gift...
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 6-Year-Olds
Best Toys And Gifts For 7-Year-Olds
Best Toys And Gifts For 8-Year-Olds
Looking for the perfect gift for any occasion? Check out all of BuzzFeed’s gift guides!
Some reviews have been edited for length and/or clarity.