The 15 Best Gifts for Kids of Any Age

Gifts

$130

$106

Shop

$110

$75

Shop

$21

$17

Shop

$136

Shop

$17

$10

Shop

$150

$116

Shop

$38

Shop

$65

$55

Shop

$64

Shop

$82

Shop

$45

$36

Shop

$15

Shop

$70

$60

Shop

$25

$20

Shop

$65

Shop

By Korin Miller

As a mom of four, I’m well aware that toys are an amazing asset. They help your little ones learn, keep them occupied for solid stretches of time and even make it easy for you to join in on the fun.

But as we all know, some toys capture kids’ attention and imagination, while others end up collecting dust in a closet. For a short list of the true kid-pleasers, we tapped top experts to find the standouts for the toddler to teen years. Whether you’re shopping for your own child, a loved one or for a birthday gift, these are the kid-tested toys that are sure to be a hit.

$106 at Amazon

$130 Save $24

$158 at Walmart

Tegu's wooden block set comes highly recommended by several experts. Pediatrician Robert Keder, M.D., developmental behavior specialist at Connecticut Children's Medical Center in Hartford, Conn., reports that out of all the toys in his office, this is the one kids play with the most. The wooden blocks are magnetic and easy to grip, so they make building easy for young kids. This particular set includes wheels for creating vehicles too. Educational consultant Wendy Levey, based in New York City, likes that the set "improves motor skills and teaches organization by stacking, sorting and problem-solving." Plus, it's perfect for keeping kids entertained on the road or at a restaurant.

$75 at Amazon

$110 Save $35

$75 at Macy's

$100 Save $25

This animal care station has a little of everything to keep kids coming back, says New York City-based Christopher Byrne, aka The Toy Guy. Byrne appreciates that this set inspires imaginative play, thanks to an "animal clinic" with enclosures, an exam area and even a heat lamp that lights up. Knowledge cards sync up with the Wiltopia app, where kids can learn more about the animals they’re caring for. "It's a great line, all about nature and environmental play," says Byrne, noting the kit is made with more than 80% sustainable materials.

$17 at Amazon

$21 Save $4

$17 at Walmart

You get a lot for a little with Brain Flakes—namely, bright colored discs that interlock to create anything from rainbows and planes to robots and ferris wheels. It's a favorite of Mandy Merrell and Mel Craig, toy researchers and founders of the Toy Testing Sisters in Salt Lake City, Utah, because "kids love using their imaginations and problem-solving skills to build incredible objects." Worth noting: The set of 500 pieces is under $20, making it a great go-to for all those friend birthday parties. Plus, it comes in a plastic reusable tub, so parents don't have to stress about the discs ending up everywhere.

$136 at Amazon

$139 at Walmart

The Nighthawk is unlike anything most kids have seen. It's a 12-volt electric ride-on toy they can zoom around outdoors (wearing a helmet, naturally), reaching speeds of up to 7 miles per hour. Merrell and Craig point out that besides being a load of fun, this ride-on gets kids outside in the fresh air. Riders steer it by leaning, making it easy for children over 6 to operate. With a max weight capacity of 110 pounds, most kiddos can enjoy this thing well into their teens. It gives 120 minutes of runtime before needing a recharge.

$10 at Amazon

$17 Save $7

$17 at Dick's Sporting Goods

Playing catch with a football is a great pastime, but it can be tricky for kids to get the form right. The lightweight Aerobie Sonic Fin football has a special hollow design to help it go higher and farther than a regular ball. It is also soft and has fins that make it easy to catch. "Even kids who aren't good at sports can throw a great spiral," Byrne says. The end result, per Dr. Fisher? Kids gain confidence and are able to easily play with siblings of different ages.

$116 at Amazon

$150 Save $34

Thrill-seeking kids (ages 8 and up) will get a serious kick out of this home zipline kit. It "literally transforms your backyard into an adventure park," Merrell and Craig say. All you need is two sturdy trees spaced 20 to 55 feet apart. The zipline can hold up to 250 pounds, making it usable by most kids, teens and even some adults. Everything you need—including materials to protect your trees—is included in the kit. Just make sure everyone understands they need to keep their fingers away from the ball bearings to avoid pinched fingers, Dr. Fisher says.

$38 at Amazon

The Buddha Board is an Amazon best-seller, and Dr. Keder says it's a hit with families as well. "I’ll give it as a gift to friends and they’ll give three more to friends," he says. To use this creativity enhancer, kids (and adults) make art simply by using water. Once the water evaporates, they can paint again. Parents will appreciate that they don't need to restock tubs of paint—or clean up this painting project: "It's just water. It makes no mess," Dr. Keder raves.

$55 at Amazon

$65 Save $10

$65 at Macy's

Melissa & Doug is known for making engaging wooden toys. Merrell and Craig particularly praise the brand's Scoop and Serve ice cream counter, which includes everything kids need to create yummy ice cream treats for their customers. The pretend play set has 28 pieces, including cups, a scooper that fits into a hole on top of the "ice cream" scoops, toppings, tongs, pretend money and cups. It even has a menu, so customers can order custom desserts. "Our kids love to set up their station and serve lots of yummy ice cream treats," Merrell and Craig say.

$64 at Amazon

Hugimals weighted stuffed animals are a great addition to playtime, and they can also be used to soothe anxiety and help kids get ready for bed. The 4.5-pound stuffed toy comes in a variety of animal shapes, including bears and elephants, and can be used like a weighted blanket for stress relief for kids 2 and up. An extra convenient touch: the exterior is removable and washable.

$82 at The Creative Learning

For kids who want their works to last, this double-sided acrylic easel is an innovative answer; it's designed to allow two artists to create at the same time. One side has space for markers or pencils and the other has room for paint cups. "Kids can paint on it directly, or you can add paper," says Merrell. A nice perk: It comes apart quickly for easy storage.

$36 at Amazon

$45 Save $9

$36 at Walmart

Dr. Keder is a big fan of this "fun and engaging" board game for the 10-and-up set, which he points out "involves some teamwork" to help kids try to win. The game features a board that's covered in icons that can represent a lot of things. Players have to work together to get people to guess a word or phrase. Board games like Concept are "so important in a child's development," adds Danelle Fisher, M.D., chair of pediatrics at Providence Saint John's Health Center in Santa Monica, Calif. "They teach teamwork and strategy."

$8 at Amazon

$15 Save $7

$17 at Fat Brain Toys

Consider this the little kid version of Jenga. Michael Bauer, M.D., pediatrician and medical director at Northwestern Medicine Lake Forest Hospital in Lake Forest, Ill., lists it as one of his tried-and-true favorites. Games like Yeti in My Spaghetti "can really help promote taking turns and the ‘thrill’ of competition," he says. The rules are simple enough for even preschoolers to understand: You place the "noodles" on top of the bowl and set the Yeti toy on top. Then, players take turns removing the "noodles" while trying to keep the Yeti in place. If the Yeti falls, the game is over—and it's time to play again.

$60 at Amazon

$70 Save $10

This 85-piece science kit, which Byrne calls "very engaging," is packed with features budding scientists will love, including hands-free virtual reality goggles that hook up to your phone for an immersive learning experience. It's all led by Bill Nye "The Science Guy," teaching kids about space and the universe in a fun and interactive way. Kids work on the books, then put on VR goggles to see how it all comes together.

$20 at Amazon

$25 Save $5

$22 at Walmart

Practicing counting can be tedious, but Hand2mind's Numberblocks are tied to an award-winning BBC show, allowing three- to eight-year-olds to do one of 30 different math activities they see on TV. The blocks are linking cubes that make stacks of 10 to encourage easy counting. Levey calls this toy—with 100 cubes, 11 character cards and 15 write and wipe activity cards—"a fantastic way for children to learn number concepts like adding and subtracting." It makes math fun, she adds, because "the numbers are different characters."

$65 at Parchie Pal

For kids learning to tell time, their first watch is the perfect present. Parchie's colorful watches come in a variety of colors, including bright purple, deep green and bold yellow. Each watch features a 32-millimeter aluminum case, an adjustable nylon strap and different colored hands for minutes and hours to make telling time easier. It's also water-resistant up to 100 feet, so your child can bathe and swim without needing to remove the watch.

Blog