The holiday season is a great time to gift your kids a few new items, but what are the best gifts for kids? How can you choose quality open-ended items that they will actually play with for years? This roundup features 12 of our best gifts for kids. These are items that our three girls (ages 4, 7, 9) love using, and we have made space for in our 2-bedroom NYC apartment. Here are our ideas for the best gifts for kids!
12 of the Best Gifts for Kids
Building Toys
We love to use gift-giving occasions as an opportunity to inspire creativity and problem-solving with building toys for our girls. This could include wooden blocks for open-ended play, LEGO sets for imaginative builds, or magnetic tiles for creating 3D structures. These types of gifts encourage hands-on learning, whether they’re building castles, cars, or cities, and these toys offer hours of engaging play.
LOVEVERY – The Block Set
The Block Set is a beautifully designed collection of wooden blocks that provides endless opportunities for building and imagination. The set includes lots of different shapes, tools, and even a storage box that doubles as a pull car. Great for ages 1+ and fun for siblings to build and play together – this set truly grows with them! Pair it with a Play Kit or Reading Skill Set for older kids.
LEGO – Classic Set
This LEGO Classic Set includes colorful bricks and fun extras like windows, wheels, and eyes, to inspire hours of open-ended play. Plus, it comes in a sturdy storage box — ideal for keeping all those bricks tidy. Great for ages 4+, this set is compatible with any LEGO collection, so the building possibilities are endless. Pair it with a design book and a few baseplates for more fun!
Magnetic Tiles
Magnetic Tiles are another excellent, open-ended building toy, and designed for ages 3+. These colorful, durable tiles are great for creative 3D building and STEM learning. They’re another one that can provide hours of imaginative play. Pair it with a magnetic road set or magnetic dinosaurs!
Audio Player
We also love to use gift-giving occasions as a chance to inspire curiosity and a love for stories with engaging audio options like the Yoto Audio Player. Our girls love listening to these every day!
Yoto Audio Player
The Yoto Audio Player is a kid-friendly device that offers hours of screen-free fun, with a wide range of stories, music, and educational content. From classics to interactive learning games, it keeps our kids entertained and engaged and fuels their imagination. It’s ideal for quiet time or long road trips and is a gift that definitely grows with them. Pair it with wireless headphones and you’re set!
Pretend Play
Gift-giving occasions are also a great time to spark imaginative play and creativity with pretend play sets. This could include toy food for make-believe cooking or doll picnics, or a play cash register for setting up their own store or restaurant, or a 3D playhouse rug for dolls. These types of gifts encourage hands-on role-playing, letting kids explore real-world scenarios, practice social skills, and unleash their creativity.
Wooden Play Food
We recently passed our beloved play kitchen to another family to create more floor space in our playroom, but we kept most of our play food so our girls could continue having “picnics” with their baby dolls. One of their favorites is a wooden play food set with a bunch of fruits and veggies they can “cut” apart with a little wooden knife. It’s so fun and realistic and also a great fine-motor toy.
Calculator Cash Register
This play cash register is used often in our home, whether they’re running a café or checking out groceries. We love that it has a real working calculator, so they can practice their math skills while they play, adding numbers together, and making change with the play money and coins.
3D Playhouse Rug
This 3D playhouse rug is thoughtfully designed and a fun addition to a kids bedroom or playroom. Our girls love playing with their small dolls, but didn’t like being crowded around a dollhouse. This rug allows them to spread out and sit on the floor to play, and the unique 3D design has slightly raised elements that create a mini playhouse! (Also available in city, beach, and farm designs)
Gross Motor Play
You may also want to encourage active play and build gross motor skills with movement-focused toys. We love stackable stepping stones for balancing and jumping, a scooter kickboard for coordination and outdoor fun, a soft play mat for tumbling, and versatile pieces like a play couch and play ottoman that kids can use to build and climb. These kinds of gifts inspire movement, helping kids build strength, balance, and confidence while keeping them happily active, even on days when they need to play inside.
Stapelstein Original Rainbow set
The Stapelstein Original Rainbow set is such a fun, colorful addition to playtime! It comes with six lightweight, eco-friendly pieces that our girls use to stack, balance on, sit on, or even use outside. Super durable and safe, they’re perfect for all sorts of active play, indoors or out. Pair it with a board for fun balance and spinning games! We also have the mini set which is great for stacking, rolling, pouring, color/number games, and more!
Micro Kickboard Scooter
This Micro Kickboard Scooter is perfect for little riders, available in two sizes: Mini for ages 2-5 and the Maxi for ages 5-12. With its lean-to-steer design, it’s great for building balance and also coordination. The foldable frame makes it easy to carry or store. Our girls use them to commute on the NYC sidewalks. The LED wheels also light up, and don’t forget a helmet for safe riding!
Foldable Exercise Mat
A foldable exercise mat can also be perfect for kids! Our girls love using theirs for tumbling and gymnastics practice. It’s thick and cushioned, giving them the support they need, and the foldable design makes it easy to move around and store. It is also durable and easy to wipe clean!
Nugget Play Couch
The Nugget is a super fun play couch that kids can turn into just about anything. With four foam pieces – two triangle pillows, a base, and a cushion – they can create forts, obstacle courses, or just a cozy spot to relax. The soft, durable, machine-washable cover makes it easy to keep clean. It’s built to handle all kinds of active play. This was an excellent addition to our playroom!
Chunk Play Ottoman
The Chunk is a versatile play ottoman that can be used for active and imaginative play. Kids can use it for building, jumping, creating obstacle courses, or as a little table with cushion seats. Then the four sturdy foam pieces nestle together into a neat round shape that can be in a living room. It’s very durable, machine-washable, and super fun!
I hope this list inspires you to think about creative gift ideas for the kids in your life, that they will actually play with for years! Choosing quality, open-ended toys is a great place to start!
Thanks for pinning: 12 of the Best Gifts for Kids
This post contains affiliate links. We may make a small commission for purchases made through these links. We hope it inspires your shopping as you choose quality holiday gifts for kids.
STILL LOOKING FOR MORE GIFT IDEAS FOR KIDS?
Our Amazon Storefront has gift ideas for kids 0-3, gift ideas for kids 3-6, and gift ideas for kids 6-10.
NEED MORE GIFT IDEAS? CHECK OUT LAST YEAR’S GIFT GUIDES:
Hi, I'm Tidy Dad!
Tyler Moore is the creator of the “Tidy Dad” Instagram, TikTok, and website. A public school teacher in New York City, husband, and father of three young daughters, he has been featured on Good Morning America and in The Washington Post, The New York Times, New York Post, Better Homes & Gardens Secrets of Getting Organized magazine, Apartment Therapy, and many podcasts including HGTV and Minimalist Moms. During the school year, he lives with his wife, Emily, a pediatric occupational therapist, and three daughters in Queens, New York. In the summer, they spend as much time as possible in their small but tidy cottage in the Poconos.
November 19, 2024
Best Gifts for Kids
The holiday season is a great time to gift your kids a few new items, but what are the best gifts for kids? How can you choose quality open-ended items that they will actually play with for years? This roundup features 12 of our best gifts for kids. These are items that our three girls (ages 4, 7, 9) love using, and we have made space for in our 2-bedroom NYC apartment. Here are our ideas for the best gifts for kids!
12 of the Best Gifts for Kids
Building Toys
We love to use gift-giving occasions as an opportunity to inspire creativity and problem-solving with building toys for our girls. This could include wooden blocks for open-ended play, LEGO sets for imaginative builds, or magnetic tiles for creating 3D structures. These types of gifts encourage hands-on learning, whether they’re building castles, cars, or cities, and these toys offer hours of engaging play.
LOVEVERY – The Block Set
The Block Set is a beautifully designed collection of wooden blocks that provides endless opportunities for building and imagination. The set includes lots of different shapes, tools, and even a storage box that doubles as a pull car. Great for ages 1+ and fun for siblings to build and play together – this set truly grows with them! Pair it with a Play Kit or Reading Skill Set for older kids.
LEGO – Classic Set
This LEGO Classic Set includes colorful bricks and fun extras like windows, wheels, and eyes, to inspire hours of open-ended play. Plus, it comes in a sturdy storage box — ideal for keeping all those bricks tidy. Great for ages 4+, this set is compatible with any LEGO collection, so the building possibilities are endless. Pair it with a design book and a few baseplates for more fun!
Magnetic Tiles
Magnetic Tiles are another excellent, open-ended building toy, and designed for ages 3+. These colorful, durable tiles are great for creative 3D building and STEM learning. They’re another one that can provide hours of imaginative play. Pair it with a magnetic road set or magnetic dinosaurs!
Audio Player
We also love to use gift-giving occasions as a chance to inspire curiosity and a love for stories with engaging audio options like the Yoto Audio Player. Our girls love listening to these every day!
Yoto Audio Player
The Yoto Audio Player is a kid-friendly device that offers hours of screen-free fun, with a wide range of stories, music, and educational content. From classics to interactive learning games, it keeps our kids entertained and engaged and fuels their imagination. It’s ideal for quiet time or long road trips and is a gift that definitely grows with them. Pair it with wireless headphones and you’re set!
Pretend Play
Gift-giving occasions are also a great time to spark imaginative play and creativity with pretend play sets. This could include toy food for make-believe cooking or doll picnics, or a play cash register for setting up their own store or restaurant, or a 3D playhouse rug for dolls. These types of gifts encourage hands-on role-playing, letting kids explore real-world scenarios, practice social skills, and unleash their creativity.
Wooden Play Food
We recently passed our beloved play kitchen to another family to create more floor space in our playroom, but we kept most of our play food so our girls could continue having “picnics” with their baby dolls. One of their favorites is a wooden play food set with a bunch of fruits and veggies they can “cut” apart with a little wooden knife. It’s so fun and realistic and also a great fine-motor toy.
Calculator Cash Register
This play cash register is used often in our home, whether they’re running a café or checking out groceries. We love that it has a real working calculator, so they can practice their math skills while they play, adding numbers together, and making change with the play money and coins.
3D Playhouse Rug
This 3D playhouse rug is thoughtfully designed and a fun addition to a kids bedroom or playroom. Our girls love playing with their small dolls, but didn’t like being crowded around a dollhouse. This rug allows them to spread out and sit on the floor to play, and the unique 3D design has slightly raised elements that create a mini playhouse! (Also available in city, beach, and farm designs)
Gross Motor Play
You may also want to encourage active play and build gross motor skills with movement-focused toys. We love stackable stepping stones for balancing and jumping, a scooter kickboard for coordination and outdoor fun, a soft play mat for tumbling, and versatile pieces like a play couch and play ottoman that kids can use to build and climb. These kinds of gifts inspire movement, helping kids build strength, balance, and confidence while keeping them happily active, even on days when they need to play inside.
Stapelstein Original Rainbow set
The Stapelstein Original Rainbow set is such a fun, colorful addition to playtime! It comes with six lightweight, eco-friendly pieces that our girls use to stack, balance on, sit on, or even use outside. Super durable and safe, they’re perfect for all sorts of active play, indoors or out. Pair it with a board for fun balance and spinning games! We also have the mini set which is great for stacking, rolling, pouring, color/number games, and more!
Micro Kickboard Scooter
This Micro Kickboard Scooter is perfect for little riders, available in two sizes: Mini for ages 2-5 and the Maxi for ages 5-12. With its lean-to-steer design, it’s great for building balance and also coordination. The foldable frame makes it easy to carry or store. Our girls use them to commute on the NYC sidewalks. The LED wheels also light up, and don’t forget a helmet for safe riding!
Foldable Exercise Mat
A foldable exercise mat can also be perfect for kids! Our girls love using theirs for tumbling and gymnastics practice. It’s thick and cushioned, giving them the support they need, and the foldable design makes it easy to move around and store. It is also durable and easy to wipe clean!
Nugget Play Couch
The Nugget is a super fun play couch that kids can turn into just about anything. With four foam pieces – two triangle pillows, a base, and a cushion – they can create forts, obstacle courses, or just a cozy spot to relax. The soft, durable, machine-washable cover makes it easy to keep clean. It’s built to handle all kinds of active play. This was an excellent addition to our playroom!
Chunk Play Ottoman
The Chunk is a versatile play ottoman that can be used for active and imaginative play. Kids can use it for building, jumping, creating obstacle courses, or as a little table with cushion seats. Then the four sturdy foam pieces nestle together into a neat round shape that can be in a living room. It’s very durable, machine-washable, and super fun!
I hope this list inspires you to think about creative gift ideas for the kids in your life, that they will actually play with for years! Choosing quality, open-ended toys is a great place to start!
Thanks for pinning: 12 of the Best Gifts for Kids
This post contains affiliate links. We may make a small commission for purchases made through these links. We hope it inspires your shopping as you choose quality holiday gifts for kids.
STILL LOOKING FOR MORE GIFT IDEAS FOR KIDS?
Our Amazon Storefront has gift ideas for kids 0-3, gift ideas for kids 3-6, and gift ideas for kids 6-10.
NEED MORE GIFT IDEAS? CHECK OUT LAST YEAR’S GIFT GUIDES:
November 19, 2024
Best Gifts for Kids
Hi, I'm Tidy Dad!
Tyler Moore is the creator of the “Tidy Dad” Instagram, TikTok, and website. A public school teacher in New York City, husband, and father of three young daughters, he has been featured on Good Morning America and in The Washington Post, The New York Times, New York Post, Better Homes & Gardens Secrets of Getting Organized magazine, Apartment Therapy, and many podcasts including HGTV and Minimalist Moms. During the school year, he lives with his wife, Emily, a pediatric occupational therapist, and three daughters in Queens, New York. In the summer, they spend as much time as possible in their small but tidy cottage in the Poconos.
welcome to the tribe!
i'll be sending you an e-mail soon!
so be on the lookout in your inbox!
