🎁 The Tidy Dad Gift Guide: Play with Purpose

Our family recently got to attend the Toy Insider’s Sweet Suite and Holiday of Play events, basically a kid’s dreamland come to life. Our girls tested, built, squished, doodled, and giggled their way through row after row of toys, while Emily and I tried to keep track of all the things they declared must-haves.

By the end, we left with a few clear favorites. What stood out weren’t just the toys that looked good on the shelf, but the ones that sparked imagination, invited creativity, and made us want to play together.

In this year’s Tidy Dad Gift Guide, we’re sharing 10 of our family favorites, tested and approved by three very enthusiastic toy experts:

1. Smart Games: Cats & Boxes and IQ Circle
Cats & Boxes (a one-player puzzle game) and IQ Circle (a one-player logic game) turn problem-solving into play. These clever brain games challenge spatial skills in a fun, engaging way. Perfect as a quiet morning activity, after homework, or before dinner. Explore the full collection of Smart Games here!

2. Connetix Magnetic Tiles: Magnetic Ball Run and Glitter Unicorn Pack
Our girls spotted this magnetic ball run and made a beeline for it. Instant hit! They also fell in love with the sparkly glitter unicorn pack, which has all the pieces to build a colorful unicorn (or whatever their imaginations dream up). A 3D construction toy with endless, open-ended play. Sold at Target!

3. Diamond Art Club: Diamond Art Kit
Our girls could sit for hours making sparkly diamond art, placing one gem at a time onto the adhesive canvas. It’s like paint-by-number with rhinestones! It’s great for focus, fine motor skills, and so satisfying. Use code TIDY20 to save 20% on your first kit, and don’t blame me if you get hooked too!

4. Our Generation: Baby Dolls with Accessories
Imaginative play with baby dolls is still alive and well in our home. These 18″ dolls (and their 8″ baby sisters) fit right in, turning our playroom into a full-service daycare. The 8″ dolls come with a bathtime set with a tub and toilet, or a mealtime set with a high chair and play food. Sold exclusively at Target!

5. 3Doodler: Candy 3D Pen
Our family loves baking shows and decorating cookies and cakes, so this was a hit from the start. This Candy 3D Pen lets kids design their own edible candy art! It’s safe, simple and easy to use. It’s a sweet and unique twist on creativity and cooking: part craft, part baking, and 100% fun for the whole family.

6. DoodleFace: Drawing & Writing Boards
These reusable drawing and writing boards let kids draw, color, or write, and then just wipe clean to start again. The play sets come with stands, so kids can color them and then use them for imaginative play. I also love the speech bubble design and the dog lapboard for early writers. And no paper scraps!

7. Silverlit: Robot Dog
This is the toy our youngest can’t stop talking about! It’s an interactive robotic puppy that responds to voice commands and hand gestures. It barks, fetches, chases its tail, and never leaves fur on the couch. The dream pet, basically. Perfect for kids who want a pup, without the mess.

8. Squishyverse: Squishy-Making Kits
Our girls love anything related to slime or squishy toys, so they loved these make-your-own squishies kits to mix, create, and customize their own! It’s a sensory, creative, and satisfyingly squishy activity. They are currently only available at neighborhood toy stores, so be sure to check your local ones!

9. Clixo: Dino Adventure Pack
We’ve been fans of Clixo sets for years! The magnetic pieces snap together to build 3D designs that are lightweight, flexible, and stackable. It’s a small-space and travel favorite. The NEW Dino Adventure Pack adds a fun prehistoric twist, perfect for kids who love inventing creatures and stories.

10. Tree Town Toys: Invisible Ink & Latte-Inspired Painting Set
These brought back my childhood nostalgia. The “Yes & Know” Invisible Ink Trivia Game Books are great for travel. It’s retro fun that still feels fresh! And the latte-inspired painting sets? Turn the kitchen table into an art café, and use a “pour & pull paint technique” to create swirly one-of-a-kind designs.

Every pick in the Tidy Dad Gift Guide invites kids to build, imagine, or explore! They spark curiosity, creativity, and connection. They’re the kind of playthings that don’t just take up space, they make room for imagination, laughter, and wonder. This holiday season, try to choose gifts that make creativity part of everyday life, and inspire play that lasts all year!

If you’re also shopping for Stocking Stuffers for Kids, we put together this list with 100 stocking stuffer ideas under $10 on our Amazon storefront. Sometimes the littlest gifts bring the most joy!

Want to check out past year’s gift guides? Explore them all HERE!