This year, kids have plenty of toys that'll help them explore their interests, get in touch with their creative sides and help them sharpen their skills, all while having loads of fun. For budding scientists, there are STEM toys that'll help them learn to code, perform experiments or find out more about the world around them. For artistic types, there are toys that will let them design and create their own fashions or make art they can display in their rooms. For budding influencers, there are gifts that will help them create "content" that expresses their unique personalities. And for the littlest ones, all play is learning, since it helps them get their imaginations working and their bodies moving.
With all that in mind, every year, the Good Housekeeping Institute evaluates hundreds of new and popular toys looking for the best gifts for kids, from stocking stuffers to big-ticket items. You can trust our picks, because each item is tested for quality and safety, then handed over to kid testers to make sure they are toys and gifts kids actually want. We use those testing notes and feedback to inform all of our toy gift guides, which denote the best toys for every age, from toys for 1-year-olds and 2-year-olds to teen gifts and stocking stuffers for teens and every age in between. We add those to our bestsellers, Toy Award winners, editors' picks and all-around, year-after-year favorites to come up with this list of the best gifts for kids 2021:
Take your blanket forts to the next level with this construction set, which allows families to make forts that look like towers, domes or castles. It comes with rods and balls, but you have to provide your own blankets and sheets. Ages 5+
Open this magical jar, and fairies can't wait to fly in! There are more than 30 fairies to discover, and they can even be "traded" between friends. Kids can feed the fairies and play games with them, and testers loved hunting for tricks like holding the jar upended to catch an upside-down fairy. Ages 5+
Get the kids started on learning to code at an early age with this awesome robot. Artie 3000 will draw whatever kids program, which is a creative and fun way to learn and practice a key STEM skill. Ages 7+
Kids who are interested in learning how to play the Pokémon Trading Card Game can get step-by-step instructions and strategies from this board game, which breaks down all the rules for them. It also includes three decks they can play with right away. Parent testers reported this helped kids really absorb the rules and understand the strategy behind the game. Ages 6+
Illuminate their rooms with the light of the moon! This lamp is 3D-printed to look like the lunar surface, and it comes in four sizes and glows in 16 colors. No age recommendation given
It's a stacking game with a Disney twist: The whole thing takes place on a tipsy table, and different cards tell players what kinds of teacups to stack and where. The game ends when a player gets rid of all their cards, so the game continues even if the teacups come tumbling. Good Housekeeping testers say this is a good one to play with a mixed-age group, from kids up to grandparents. Ages 5+
Your sous-chef today may just be the next Top Chef tomorrow. This cookbook, packed with more than 100 easy (and delicious!) recipes, will encourage them to practice their kitchen skills — and feed their loved ones. Ages 8+
Frozen fans will be pleased to know that this play set comes with both Anna and Elsa. They can have adventures across three levels of play, and hear "Let It Go" whenever they use the working elevator. There are other lights and sounds, too. Ages 1+
This isn't your grandmother's globe. The Shifu Orboot augmented reality globe pairs with an app, loaded with over 1,000 regional facts, to allow kids to take an educational trip around the world while they play. All they have to do is scan over an area of the globe and they're off on an AR adventure. Ages 4+
Poor Aunt Agatha has passed away, and friends, relatives and even a cat are anxiously awaiting the naming of her beneficiary. Players have to survive the house's many traps and try to "knock out" their opponents to win the inheritance. Ages 8+
Kids can entertain themselves while creating new DIY projects to decorate their rooms. You can choose from 12 different designs, including a unicorn, a turtle, a bee and a butterfly, and also a few different yarn color combos. Ages 4+
Kids can now make music videos set to their favorite songs, starring their favorite LEGO figures. Kids can use the VIDIYO app to form a LEGO band and choose the music, then use collectible pieces called BeatBits to add in cool effects, like costumes, backgrounds or slo-mo. Ages 7+
With all the focus on at-home learning over the last year, the littlest kids might want to get in on the act. This desk has lots of fun little features like a station to keep track of the weather, a calendar for days o the week and a clock to tell time. But it really shines when kids turn on the projector, which illuminates pictures for them to trace. Ages 2+
When they look at the slides under this microscope, they'll get to see up-close images of wildlife. Then, the voice of Bindi Irwin offers facts about the plants and animals. They can also use it in Quiz Mode and see if they've retained any of the information. Ages 4+
We know kids love playing heroes, but sometimes it's more fun to the the villain. In this strategy board game, plays choose to be either Loki, M.O.D.OK. or Madame Masque, and they have to each accomplish their own nefarious goals, while a shared fate card deck affects the gameplay for all. Ages 12+
Now even the littlest ones can learn very basic coding, with these cute animals who play fetch, hide and seek and more on command. You can get them as a cat, dinosaur, dog or bunny — and, new this year, unicorn and dragon. Ages 4+
Finally, a LEGO figure you can hug! Good for any LEGO fan, young or old, this stuffed astronaut comes in red, pink, blue or white. It's part of the LEGO Collection x Target line, which also includes clothes, accessories and home decor items with a LEGO theme.
This car wash doesn't just clean the vehicles, it changes their colors! Kid testers were amazing when a Color Reveal car, when sent through the wash, unveiled the car's design — and then a burst of cold water from the octopus changed the colors again. Ages 4+
Kids love creating their own videos, and this camera makes it easy for them to add cool effects like animated backgrounds. Plus, parents can feel safe knowing that it doesn't connect to the internet on its own, so they have ultimate control over who gets to see the final products. (It can connect via a USB cable if you do want to share.) Ages 5+
This block set may be pricey, but they'll be able to use it from toddlerhood into the elementary years. Not only does it have shapes to stack, there's a ramp, a sorter, magnetic pieces, threading pieces and sticks so they can built out horizontally as well as vertically. It also comes with information on how kids use blocks at different developmental stages. Ages 18 months+
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STEM Activities From the Good Housekeeping Institute
Budding scientists will thrill to the 83 hands-on experiments in this book, which are led by the scientists from the Good Housekeeping Institute. The book goes from room to room in the house and explains the scientific concepts behind the phenomena you might find there, like why bathroom mirrors get foggy or what makes sweaty sneakers so stinky. Then, the experiments let them dive deeper into the concepts. Ages 7+
Put stories and songs at their fingertips with this easy-to-use system. Kids activate it by placing a figurine on top, from Tonies originals to licensed Disney characters, and it starts to play. Then they can use the ears to control the volume, tap it to change chapters or tilt it to fast-forward or rewind. Ages 3+
Kids will be amazed as this race car drives up the walls and even onto the ceiling! It can drive over any smooth surface (without damaging walls!), and it's guided by a laser that kids can use to direct its path. It also comes in blue. Ages 8+
Not only will they be comfy in these warm, cotton PJs, they'll look as adorable as Baby Yoda himself. If they aren't Star Wars fans, Hanna Andersson has matching holiday pajamas from Elf, the Grinch, Peanuts, Mickey Mouse, Frosty, Spider-Man and other characters. They come in sizes from baby to adult, if you want to take a photo in matching family holiday jams.
The kit comes with over 100 traceable images that kids can mix and match to make their own designs, and the backlight makes tracings easy to see no matter the setting. It comes with a graphite pencil, 12 colored pencils, 10 tracing sheets and 10 blank sheets. Ages 6+
This bundle comes with 10" plush versions of Saraswati Devi, Baby Ganesh, Baby Hanuman and Baby Krishna. They don't just look cute — they play mantras sung by child artists based in India. You can also get them personalized, with a name embroidered on the leg (in any language) — or you can swap out a Bluetooth speaker for the voice box to further customize the mantra. Ages 1+
Brain-teasers, word play and historical riddles make up the puzzles in this book, which kids will stretch their minds trying to solve. If they get stuck, there are hints that will help them along. Ages 9+
This set comes with lettuce leaves to mix, dressings to pour and toppings to add, along with fruits, veggies and meats to "slice" before mixing in. Kids can work on their fine motor skills while serving up some imaginary play. Ages 3+
Fans of books like Darth Vadar and Son can see how Vadar, Luke, Leia and all their pals celebrate the holidays. Who likes listening for Santa's tauntauns on the roof? Ages 3+
Pour water into the tops of these pipes and fun things happen: Wheels turn, water changes direction in unexpected ways and the stream divides into two or three smaller streams. As they do their cause-and-effect experiments, then won't even notice you scrubbing their hair. Ages 1+
Made with young bakers in mind, this baking book offers 100+ baking recipes, everything from layered chocolate cakes to gooey cookies, that kids can easily whip up on their own (with parental supervision, of course). Ages 8+
Get their creativity flowing! These egg-shaped crayons are perfect for toddler hands to grasp, so they can start making masterpieces for your fridge. Ages 1+
Flipslide is the Rubix Cube of today. Players have to quickly flip the colors to match flashing lights in this addictive, fast-paced puzzle game. Ages 8+
If you know a kid who loves playing detective, this book is full of solvable mysteries that'll have them sharpening their logic, deductive reasoning and critical thinking skills. There are 20 mysteries to crack, and detectives can lift a flap to reveal the answers. Ages 8+
Crafty kids would love to have this stash in a closet for a rainy day, or have on-hand when inspiration strikes. It comes with more than 1,000 pieces, including craft sticks, pom poms, googly eyes, pipe cleaners, beads, jewels and tools. Ages 8+
If you give them the option, they'll seize your phone forever to play the "Baby Shark" song on repeat. Instead, get them this toy tablet, which plays the song and also helps kids practice letters, numbers and identifying instruments. Ages 3+
With this early coding toy, kids can do more advanced activities as they get older. They can start by "coding" a path for the robot to take. Then, they can use the Kinderbot to solve different challenges. Finally, a "secret code" level lets them unlock more learning, like how to make shapes and turn the Kinderbot into different characters. Ages 3+
This buggy converts from a ride-on toy to a push toy as kids improve their gross motor coordination. There are plenty of other features that'll keep them entertained, too, like gears to spin, wheels to turn, a horn to beep and more. You'll love that it also has some storage under the seat. Ages 1+
This robot has some pretty cool tricks up its sleeve: You can use it to tell jokes, spy on family members, send messages or prank people with sound effects. You can use his tray and remote control to get him to carry things for you, too. Ages 5+
Let the imaginative play begin! This large play set comes with 70 intricately detailed pieces, including toy horses, horse riding dolls and horse accessories. In our testing, parents loved how sturdy everything was, and kids loved rearranging the house and stable. Ages 5+
Not only does this look great on a shelf, kids can play with it in a bunch of different ways: It can be a stacking toy, a teether or, since it's made of silicone, it can even be a bath toy. It also comes in pastel shades. Ages 0+
Spike is simple: Kids can stick colorful quill pegs into the holes, helping them with their fine motor coordination. That's all there is to it, and yet it's so satisfying. If they become Spike fans, there are other toys featuring the cute hedgehog, including a fidget toy, a stacking toy, a peg puzzle and a sensory set. Ages 18 months+
State's bestselling cross-body fanny pack is now available in kids size — aka the perfect size for them to bring on a day trip. It comes in three colors: rainbow, a green/navy color block design and a pink design.
Tweens love to keep secrets, pass notes and come up with hidden in-jokes, so a book that teaches them to make up their own languages could be right up their alley. David J. Peterson, who made up languages for Game of Thrones and the Marvel MCU, leads them through making their own languages, codes, ciphers and hidden messages. Ages 10+
Stylish and comfy, these rainbow-covered sweatpants are sure to please. It's made from 100% cotton, and it comes in sizes 2y – 14y. You can also get a matching hoodie to complete the look.
Get kids started on their imaginative play in a sweet way. These wooden donuts, a perfect addition to any kitchen set or tea party, are each decorated in a different, adorable design. Ages 2+
With her vivid blue hair, Skylar really stands out among the other fashion dolls out there. Skylar comes from The Fresh Dolls line of dolls, which is known for dolls with realistic face sculpts, real hair textures and many points of articulation to make lots of poses. Ages 3+
Part of the Untamed line of interactive toys, this guy comes from the makers of Fingerlings, but he's much more ferocious: This untamed dino will respond to your touch and hiss, growl or roar until you pet it to calm it down. (But watch out! It even passes gas.) Ages 5+
Taking the mantle from avocados, pineapples are the new "it" fruit, and even the littlest kids can get in on the trend. This soft plush even has a handy strap on the back so babies and toddlers can get a better grip on it. Ages 0+
This DIY nail kit is great for kids who love to switch up their styles. The Go Glam Nail Stamper makes it fun and easy to create custom manicures in minutes, and our testers reported it working on all sizes of nails. Ages 8+
This is a timed board game, taking at most 20 minutes to complete a round — perfect for an after-dinner, pre-bed family bonding activity. Players have to work together to save the world from various threats — alien invasions! spider robots! — by rescuing scientists and collecting tools before the clock runs out. Ages 8+
Kids can actually plant seeds and grow flowers around this play set. It also has just the right amount of play features, including a water wheel that really pumps water and spins, a fairy house that lights up and plays sounds if you blow on it and a fairy and unicorn figure to play with. The bridge can connect it to other My Fairy Garden play sets, too. Ages 4+
The best part about this toy is that it's reusable: Kids can color in these snow-white pets, wash them and then color them in all over again. (You might need to soak them to get past scribbles off.) Each set includes four pets and six markers, plus a scrub tub and brush. Ages 3+
The shirts from Piccolina's children's line celebrate people and causes they care about, including climate change, voting rights, Black Lives Matter, and trailblazers like Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Katherine Johnson. The designs also come as wall art.
This is the perfect puzzle for kids who want their puzzles to be more challenging. At 48 pieces, it's just enough to test their skills, but because it's so big (21" x 14"), they'll definitely feel accomplished when it's all put together. Ages 4+
It's hard not to be charmed by this dragon, which makes lifelike movements, roars and has an LED that lights up, making its ice-breathing skills feel even more real. It also comes in a fiery red. Ages 3+
Get them ready for their own version of Project Runway with this kit, which takes them through the steps of fashion design. First, they can sketch and plan their designs, and then use real tools to make a a sample version of them for the mini mannequin. It comes with 5o pieces, including fabrics samples, swatches, trims, ribbons, tools and embellishments. Ages 9+
Qai Qai made a splash on social media as the favorite doll of Olympia Ohanian, daughter of Serena Williams and Alexis Ohanian. (Qai Qai even has her own Instagram and TikTok accounts.) If you know child who's smitten, you can get a Qai Qai to take home. The 14.5" tall doll stands on her own, and comes with a two-piece removable outfit that includes a GOAT bodysuit and a six-layer pink and purple tutu. Ages 3+
Warm up those pipes, because every night is karaoke night with this machine! You can get songs from anywhere — including CDs or devices you can connect to with Bluetooth, AUX cables, USB cables or RCA jacks — and LED lights make kids really feel like they're center stage. No age recommendation given
Robotics fans will be delighted at the number of projects this kit will let them build, code and program with the LEGO Boost app. The star of the show is Vernie, a robot who dances and cracks jokes (and even passes gas). But it can also be used to make an interactive cat, a guitar, a rover and an automated machine that can build other LEGO models. Ages 7+
Marisa LaScalaSenior Parenting & Relationships EditorSenior Parenting & Relationships Editor Marisa LaScala covers all things parenting, from the postpartum period through empty nests, for Good Housekeeping; she previously wrote about motherhood for Parents and Working Mother.
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