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Some toys get pushed aside the moment the wrapping paper comes off. The ones below keep little hands busy long after the box has gone out with the recycling.
You will find art sets, building tiles, puzzles, outdoor kits and more. Under each pick, we share what real buyers say about it, along with the price and a link to Amazon.
A Spinning Art Studio for Young Painters
This is a throwback spin art machine, and it brings back the fun of watching paint fly into swirly, colorful designs. Kids get to make bright masterpieces. Grown-ups may be tempted to make a few of their own once bedtime rolls around.
The set includes the spin machine, a splatter guard and written instructions. You also get five bottles of paint and four white crayons. For paper, there are eight large cards, eight small cards and four round ones.
One buyer found it easy to clean and sturdy so far. They picked it up for a granddaughter and said it is fun for kids and adults alike.
Another reviewer gave it to a 48-year-old son as a birthday present. He and his kids had a wonderful time, laughed a lot and made plenty of memories together.
It costs $19.95 on Amazon.
A Shape-Dropping Cube for Curious Babies
The InnyBin suits the youngest explorers, who want to figure out how the world works. Kids drop chunky shapes through stretchy bands and then pull them back out. Along the way, they practice their fine motor skills.
One parent described it as the right size to grow along with a child. Their son, who is 7 months old, loves the shapes and enjoys shaking the box to make noise. They are still learning the best way to use it, but he finds it great fun.
Another buyer gave it to a daughter for her first birthday. She quickly worked out how to put things in and take them out. For her, the cube is almost a puzzle, and she already loves discovering how objects behave.
Now the family never knows what will turn up inside. It could be a missing pacifier, a favorite teether, an unopened applesauce pouch or even the TV remote.
After a couple of weeks of play, this buyer finds the cube quite durable. The bright elastic bands have just the right amount of stretch. The colored shapes are hard plastic with different textures and an almost matte finish.
They will probably buy it as a gift for other children in the future, and they rated it a full 10 out of 10.
You can get it for $31.95 on Amazon.
Magnetic Tiles for Castle and Robot Builders
This 100-piece set of PicassoTiles is bright and fun to look at. Reviewers say it holds its own against Magna-Tiles for far less money ($80, to be exact).
Kids can snap the tiles together into castles, robots or anything else they imagine. Many of them will happily play for hours.
One parent said the tiles encourage creativity and keep the fun going. They use them to build tracks for Hot Wheels, and their son makes amazing structures for his action figures.
The same parent gave the quality and the price a full 10 out of 10.
This reviewer wished they had discovered PicassoTiles sooner. They had just received the 100-tile set as an early birthday gift for a soon-to-be four-year-old.
The family already owns two sets of Magna-Tiles. One was bought new last year and has metal grommets, while the other was bought secondhand and has none. The reviewer says the PicassoTiles match the older tiles in weight, size and magnets.
They lack the metal grommets, but the buyer expects them to last, since the old Magna-Tiles have proven indestructible. In the reviewer’s opinion, the PicassoTiles also look nicer, thanks to slightly more see-through plastic and brighter colors. They blend right into the existing collection.
The buyer advises getting the biggest set you can, because a larger set gives kids more ways to play. Their son has played with the family’s tiles at all hours, on and off, every single day since last year. After the new set arrived, he hugged his huge creation and named it his favorite, twice.
The set is $39.99 on Amazon.
Silly Poopy, the Giggling Hide and Seek Pal
Kids who find potty humor hilarious will go wild for Silly Poopy’s Hide and Seek. This little character gives out goofy clues. The winner even gets a fun reward song.
One grandparent bought it for two grandsons, aged 2 and 6. It is easy to clean and well made, and it still works perfectly after several drops.
They had never thought of it as a game, yet it grabs the boys’ attention every time. In their view, it is a great pick for a winter or rainy day.
Another buyer called it hilarious. Their three kids, aged 8, 6 and 3, take turns hiding it. They run around asking where Silly Poopy is, because they all think poop is funny.
Each round occupies them for half an hour or longer, so the parent gets some peace. The toy is tough, too. The buyer once found it in the garden in 20-degree winter weather, after the 8-year-old left it outside for a few days. It has also been tossed down the stairs, and it just keeps giggling.
It sells for $12.99 on Amazon.
A Tamagotchi With a Camera
The Tamagotchi Pix brings back ’90s nostalgia in an even better version. It has a color screen and a camera. Kids can even set up playdates by linking it with a friend’s device.
One parent said their daughter loves it and had a blast taking pictures. They do warn that battery life is not great, so keep extra batteries nearby.
Another reviewer called it the cutest, coolest gadget ever and has already taken lots of photos. They point out that it is made for ages 6 and up, and they joke that adults who go hunting for flaws are missing the fun.
This reviewer says other Tamagotchis exist, but none has a camera, which makes the Pix the coolest of the bunch. They also plan to keep it close for good.
It starts at $99.99+ on Amazon, with three colors and three versions to choose from.
A Glowing Peg Board With a Bigger Screen
This is an upgraded take on the Lite-Brite you may have owned as a kid. The screen is larger, and there are more pegs, so imaginations have more room to shine.
Six design templates come with it, including a boat and a unicorn. Kids can of course dream up designs of their own. The LED bulbs are made so they do not get hot.
One buyer said the person who received it adores it. It matches the size of the originals, so it is small and easy to pack and bring along. They called it durable and simple to use, and it keeps the recipient busy for at least an hour.
Another buyer gave it to a daughter as a throwback Christmas gift. Within the first day, the two of them played with it for hours.
They said calling it her favorite might even undersell it. It also takes you straight back to your own childhood, and the buyer urges others to try it.
You can pick it up on Amazon for $14.99.
Build Your Own Unicorn Slime
Playing with slime is fun, but mixing your own is even better. That is the idea behind this unicorn slime kit, and more than 34,000 people have rated it five stars.
Inside, you will find containers, stirring sticks, jelly cubes and clay. There are also foam balls, fishbowl beads, pearl beads, inks, glitter, scents and snow powder. Glue, slime activator, a tool knife set and a manual finish off the contents.
One reviewer called the kit a dream for kids who love crafting. They noted that it is aimed at girls aged 10-12 and lets them make many kinds of slime, from glittery to glow-in-the-dark.
They also described it as safe and easy to use. They add that it makes a good gift for encouraging science experiments and artistic expression.
Another buyer called it the best slime kit they have come across. They spotted it at the last minute before an 11-year-old daughter’s birthday and added it to her gifts. It ended up being her favorite present.
Her 8-year-old brother pitched in too, and the two of them made slime together. There is still enough left for them to make more of every type.
It starts at $21.99+ on Amazon, in four styles.
Stretchy Popping Tubes for Busy Hands
These popping tube sensory toys are made for stretching, squeezing small and snapping together. Kids can shape them into letters, numbers, shapes and nearly anything in between.
They are meant for ages 3 and up.
One grandmother said the tubes are fun for kids of every age. Her grandbabies like that the tubes fit in their little hands, and they are bright and flexible. She thinks they are unlikely to hurt anything.
Older children enjoy the noise the tubes make when they are stretched or closing up. The tubes attach to each other, so kids can build long chains and wild, twisty creations. All in all, she called them a good toy to keep at her house.
A four-pack runs $9.97+ on Amazon, with two sizes and two pack quantities available.
A Brain-Teasing Puzzle for Screen-Free Time
Kanoodle Gravity gets kids thinking instead of sitting in front of a screen all day. Players set up the board to match a chosen card and then work out how to solve the rest. Kids love the challenge, and you will enjoy watching the gears turn.
It works best for ages 7 and up, and it can be played alone or with a partner. If you want similar puzzles at other difficulty levels, take a look at the whole Kanoodle collection.
One parent said a 10-year-old at home owns several Kanoodle sets. This one differs a little from the originals. She found it fun and solved many of the puzzles on her own.
In the reviewer’s view, it is a good pick for children who enjoy a challenge.
Another buyer bought one for each of their 12 grandkids. Each set comes with different games at different levels, all packed in a sturdy travel case. Kids from 3 to 16 loved them, and none of them needed to plug anything in.
It is available for $15.99 on Amazon.
Giant Bubbles That Outgrow the Kids
This giant bubble wand kit makes some of the biggest bubbles kids have ever seen. You will watch their eyes widen as a bubble keeps growing, until it is even bigger than they are.
The kit includes the giant wand, two pouches of bubble concentrate and a booklet. The booklet helps kids become skilled bubble makers.
One buyer called it a fantastic product. Their 8-year-old son spent two solid hours playing with it outdoors, with no electronics in sight and a big smile on his face. They plan to buy it again.
It starts at $15.95+ on Amazon, in seven styles.
An Explorer Kit for Little Bug Hunters
This outdoor bug-catcher set gets kids excited about learning how insects live. Best of all, the creepy crawlies stay outside, so you will not find real ones in your house by the end of the day.
The set comes with a hat, a backpack, binoculars and a compass. It also includes a butterfly net, a magnifying glass, tweezers and a whistle. For bugs, there are containers and a backyard exploration critter case.
One grandparent never writes reviews but felt compelled to after giving these kits to two grandsons, aged 8 and 4. The kits kept the boys busy for hours. The little explorer hats were the cutest part, and everything seemed well made.
Another reviewer praised the great binoculars and the flashlight that works without batteries. They also liked the camo hat that fits well, the bag that holds everything and the quality magnifying glasses. The fake bugs for playing are another bonus.
Their son loves the small bug container, the larger netted one, the net and a small gripping tool for holding bugs. The reviewer added that the set could easily have cost much more, which makes it a great find for the price.
The kit costs $27.99 on Amazon.
Binoculars Sized for Preschoolers
With GeoSafari Jr. binoculars, kids can see the creatures from their books up close in real life. These are built for little ones, so there is no focusing to deal with. The eye pieces are also much larger and more comfortable.
They are designed for ages 3 and up.
One buyer got them for a 3-year-old son who absolutely loves them. He says playing with them is fun, and you can really see through the lenses, just like real binoculars. The buyer found them reasonably priced, sturdy and a wonderful color, so they made a good Christmas gift.
Another parent called them the best choice for preschool-aged children. Nothing needs adjusting, because a child simply looks in and sees a clear image.
Their son used the binoculars last summer to get a closer look at the hummingbirds at the family feeder. They also came along on nature walks. After a full summer of use, they are still in great shape.
This reviewer gives top marks to any product that sparks a child’s interest in the natural world.
You can get them for $12.79 on Amazon.
A Mess-Free Doodle Tablet With an Erase Button
This LCD writing tablet is a modern stand-in for the old scratch-to-reveal drawing books. It makes no mess at all. The screen also clears at the press of a button.
One grandparent said the tablet has kept a 4-year-old grandson entertained for hours at a time. He loves being able to erase whenever he wants, and the drawings come out in several colors. The reviewer recommends it for ages 18 months and up.
They also bought a pink one for an 18-month-old granddaughter. She is thrilled with the power to erase and create, again and again.
Both children loved their tablets so much that the buyer ordered a second set in two different colors. That way, each child has one at home and one at Grammy’s.
You can order one for $15.99+ on Amazon, with four sizes and six colors to pick from.
Body Bumpers for Kids With Energy to Burn
Banzai Bump N’ Bounce Body Bumpers are perfect for kids with endless pent-up energy who are always itching to wrestle. These bumpers let them tussle safely. The show is also incredibly entertaining for onlookers.
We suggest pairing the bumpers with helmets, too.
One parent bought them for their kids and nephews, all boys between 3 and 5. The bumpers kept the whole group entertained for hours. The bumpers gave the boys a protected outlet for all that extra energy.
Another buyer found them hilarious to watch. Their kids, aged 7 and 8, ran at each other pretty hard, yet nothing popped and nobody got hurt. If your kids bicker a lot, the reviewer says these are worth getting.
A pack of two costs $22.99 on Amazon.
Choosing the Right Fit
These toys cover a wide range of ages, from baby-friendly shape cubes to puzzle games meant for ages 7 and up. Check the age notes in each section before you buy.
Whichever one you choose, each pick is designed to get kids moving, building and laughing.
Emma Harrington
Ditching overcomplicated jargon to deliver real, practical value is my primary goal as a storyteller. I love tracking what’s happening in the digital space and packaging it into refreshing, easy to digest reads that add something tangible to your day.