The holiday season is a time of magic, wonder, and Black Friday sales. And if you’re a parent—trying to figure out the perfect gifts for your kids, what to spend, and how many gifts to buy. I’ve written a gift guide for the best gifts for babies, toddlers, preschoolers and little kids, big kids, and teens. But today, I’d like to share what I think are the all-around best holiday gifts for kids. From board games and lego sets to art supplies and stem toys, I’ve rounded up the best gifts for kids of all ages. I have great choices for every age group and some of the top toys that I own and give as gifts. Whether you’re looking for iconic toys or a meaningful gift they’ll keep for years to come. Everything in this post is designed to keep kids engaged, and ideally, to last.
The Best Gifts for Kids: Holiday Gift Ideas for Kids
Choosing the perfect gift for someone is one of the great joys of my life. It’s a great way to show someone that you get them. I love finding the perfect meaningful gift, or something fun that I know they’ll love. When it comes to choosing the best toys for kids, quality, durability, and interest are important factors to consider. Toys that are designed to last not only provide endless hours of fun, but they also become cherished items that can be passed down through generations. Investing in well-crafted toys means less waste, fewer replacements, and more opportunities for creative play. Whether it’s a timeless wooden train set, a sturdy action figure, or a versatile building block set, toys that stand the test of time offer both longevity and value, allowing children to explore, learn, and grow through play for years to come. Here are my favorite gifts for kids.
I’m doing things differently this year and buying smaller Christmas gifts – so no big or expensive wow factor gifts this year. Sure, a few toys might withstand the test of time, but I’m caving in and buying a few annoying toys that don’t cost a lot of money or take up too much space.
The Best Gifts for Kids Under $20
Melissa and Doug
Melissa and Doug added some real gems to their line of toys this past year. This is a great gift for toddlers and younger kids and makes for a perfect birthday party gift. If your kids love play food and sweet stuff as much as mine, they will love this ice cream set.
Shop now
Vivi Tinta
I love giving gifts that don't add clutter to a home. Coloring books make a great gifts because they're something you don't keep once you're done with them.
Shop now
Zebra
I love these markers for coloring and other creative projects. My favorite thing about them is that when my kids color, there aren't caps all over the place. These are great for younger and older kids – even I love them.
Shop now
Melissa and Doug
I love when a toy is educational and multifunctional. Build fine motor skills and play pretend with these puzzle pieces.
Shop now
Mattel
Games are a fun way for the whole family to connect. I love spending time with my kids, and everyone loves Uno for family game night.
Shop now
Pop It
This sensory game has 3 game modes that will keep kids occupied for hours. With no pieces or parts, the self-contained durable design is perfect for travel. Put it in your bag and go!
Shop now
Amazon
These tablets are make great gifts and are the perfect travel and car toys. I keep one for each of my kids in the car and they use them all the time.
Shop now
Melissa and Doug
Little kids will love creating a little lollipop shop with these candy-themed shapes.
Shop now
Lol Dolls
I never ever ever thought I'd be buying LOL dolls but here we are. These look the least vixen-ish. My little girls really wanted them, and they're both super-affordable and tiny. They love them!
Shop now
Amazon
These have been a hit with all 3 of my kids. I love that they're simple wood cars, but they also make car sounds and light up when you push them. And inertia cars are the best - just push them and they go go go!
Shop now
Magnatiles
The most popular kids toy just got smaller and more portable! Magnatiles just came out with these smaller magnatiles that my kids love, and this set is perfect to bring on the go.
Shop now
Crazy Aarons
Slime is probably the worst thing ever invented, and I do not allow it in my home. But this stuff is non-stick and so much fun, and there are tons of options to choose from, so there's something for everyone.
Shop now
The Best Gifts for Kids Under $50
Melissa and Doug
Every play room needs this ice cream counter. We've had it for about 5 years, and my kids still use it at least a few times a week. The age range says 3+ but my kids all used it at around 2 without the play money, and they absolutely love it.
Shop now
Little Sleepies
Pajamas are always a fun gift and there are so many fun designs to choose from that any kid would love. We are big Little Sleepies fans - they are super stretchy and cozy.
Shop now
Staplestein
The board is great for active balance exercises, a balance chair, tossed like a disk, spun like a top, and to balance a large stack of Staplestein elements. We love our Staplestein set and the board is great as an addition or on its own.
Shop now
Amazon
The point of this gadget is to be able to see everything up-close on a screen - so it's a really, really strong microscope that's fun outside and around the house, too.
Shop now
Squishmallows
My girls have an ever-growing collection of plushies and never seem to not want more of them. Squishmallows are undoubtedly their favorites.
Shop now
Boden
A practical gift that's cute and fun, too.
Shop now
Danrie
This is a favorite because not only is it darling and the perfect size for toddlers and little kids to take on the go, but it's coated, so it will not get dirty and is easy to wipe clean. All 3 of my kids have them, and my older two them almost everywhere we go.
Shop now
The Best Gifts for Kids Under $100
Tonies
I didn't know where to put the Toniebox because it's my one of my favorite toys. It's the perfect gift for kids age 5 and under. This must-have toy is designed for ages 3 and up, but is great for both younger and older toddlers. My two younger ones used it before they turned a year old and my 6 year old still uses it all the time. Just place a tonie figurine on top of the Toniebox audio player and listen to different songs and stories. And I love that you can make it a part of your quiet time or bed time routine.
Shop now
Baublebar
This jewelry set comes with 625+ beads and is personalized with the recipient's name on it. It includes 10 sets of beads to spell their name plus 230 white alphabet beads for more names and phrases.
Shop now
Kidamento
The LCD screen makes it easy for kids to see their photos, and the picture quality is great! Its engaging design, ease of use, decent image quality, and great features make it a hit with both kids and parents.
Shop now
Tiny Easel
Craft kits always make a great gift, and this one has everything a budding artist needs to make a masterpiece.
Shop now
The Magic Playbook
This is one of those great gifts for people who don't like toys that take up too much space or don't like a lot of stuff in their home. My kids are always playing bakery or restaurant, and I just love that this is a toy they'll use, but ultimately use it and then discard the paper when they're done playing.
Shop now
The Best Gifts for Kids Over $100
Fat Brain Toys
This ball shooter is such a great toy for little kids and one of my favorite picks for 2024. Every kid that's been to our house seems to love this toy.
Shop now
Ponycycle
My girls got these for Christmas last year and use them so much more than I ever thought they would. This ride-on is powered by kids and is so much fun!
Shop now
This post contains affiliate links. If you purchase something using my links, I may earn a small commission at no cost to you.
