We independently evaluate all of our recommendations. If you click on links we provide, we may receive compensation. Shopping Gifts The Best Gifts for Kids of 2024, Tested by Kids Including Legos, Squishmallows, and the viral Ms. Rachel doll By Kayla Kitts Kayla Kitts Kayla Kitts is a shopping editor for PEOPLE with more than a decade of experience writing, editing, and testing products in the home and lifestyle space. She previously worked as a managing editor at HGTV, covering shopping and home design trends. People Editorial Guidelines Updated on December 6, 2024 01:45PM EST In This Article View All In This Article Top Gifts for Kids Gifts for Toddlers Gifts for Preschoolers Gifts for Little Kids Gifts for Tweens Why Trust PEOPLE? What Is PEOPLE Tested? Photo: PEOPLE Shopping for kids can feel like an overwhelming and intimidating task, no matter their age. Kids’ interests can shift quickly, and trends seem to change overnight. Fear not! We combed the year’s hottest toy lists and recruited real parents and kid-at-heart shopping editors to test and curate the absolute best Christmas gifts for kids. From educational toys and family board games to beloved characters, these gifts are guaranteed to be a hit on Christmas Day and beyond. Top Gifts for Kids Sell-Out Risk: Ms. Rachel Speak and Sing Doll, $30; target.com Under $10: Educational Insights GeoSafari Jr. Kidnoculars, $8 with coupon (orig. $15); amazon.com Stocking Stuffer: Santa Cookie Elf Candy Snowman Game, $10; amazon.com Parent Favorite: Fisher-Price Rockin’ Record Player, $26; target.com Hot Wheels City Ultra Shark Car Wash, $45 (orig. $60); target.com Best Price: Bluey Cook with Chef Kitchen Playset, $48 (orig. $80); amazon.com Play-Doh Pizza Delivery Scooter Playset, $95; target.com New Release: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Technodrome Playset, $80; amazon.com The Best Advent Calendars We Tested, from Lego to Lancôme Gifts for Toddlers People The best gifts for toddlers are interactive and encourage creativity, exploration, and sensory development. These little ones are on the move, so consider toys that are stimulating and improve fine motor skills, like grasping and hand-eye coordination. And, of course, make sure they’re durable enough to withstand lots of play and contain no small, detachable parts. Bluey Cook with Chef Kitchen Playset PHOTO: Amazon $80 at Amazon If your little one loves the Heeler family, they’ll adore this interactive kitchen playset that allows them to cook breakfast, lunch, and dessert alongside Bluey and Bingo. The kitchen has over 20 sounds and phrases and includes over 20 play pieces, including a matching chef hat. The stovetop burners even light up! Ms. Rachel Speak & Sing Doll PHOTO: Target $30 at Amazon View on Hammacher.com View on Thepaperstore.com Bring Ms. Rachel’s soothing voice off the screen and into your child’s arms through this plush doll that plays over 15 signature phrases and four songs from her hit show. It will encourage little ones as young as six months old to build communication skills and aid in cognitive development. Casdon Mini Dyson Ball Replica PHOTO: Amazon $35 $30 at Amazon Does your little one love to mirror your movements? Help them dive into a world of imaginative play that will also help them develop coordination and improve their core motor skills. This mini Dyson Ball has a twist-and-turn mechanism and a clear cylinder that captures the essence of an actual Dyson vacuum. It even comes with a removable dustbin! Editors Say “My 5-year-old still pulls out this vacuum to ‘help out’ on house cleaning days. We’ve even noticed it actually sucks up tiny debris!” —Kayla Kitts, shopping editor More Gifts for Toddlers Melissa & Doug Wooden Work & Play Desktop Activity Board $28 $16 at Amazon Goliath Jelly Blox Creative Kit $20 at Amazon $20 at Barnesandnoble.com LeapFrog 100 Animals Book $20 $13 at Amazon $13 at Target $20 $15 at Walmart Mega Bloks First Builders Big Building Bag $20 $16 at Amazon $16 at Target $16 at Walmart Fisher-Price Hot Wheels Tricycle $59 at Amazon Melissa & Doug Dust, Sweep & Mop Set $43 $31 at Amazon $43 $25 at Walmart $34 at Wayfair Educational Insights GeoSafari Jr. Kidnoculars $15 $10 at Amazon $15 at Walmart $22 at QVC Fisher-Price Coffee Cafe Playset $30 $19 at Amazon Melissa and Doug Disney Wooden Peg Puzzle Set $30 at Amazon Jellycat Bashful Dragon $65 at Amazon Bluey Bob Bilby and Unicorse Plush Puppets $16 at Amazon Fisher-Price Jam & Count Panda $20 $14 at Amazon I’ve Been Gifting Jellycat Stuffies for 20 Years — Now They’re One of 2024’s Hottest Toys Gifts for Preschoolers People Preschool-aged kids are trying to understand the world around them. Consider toys that are simple for them to use on their own, offer educational value, and will keep them engaged through their current interests — but also allow them to be creative and imaginative. Think building sets, art supplies, dolls or action figures, and simple board games. Fisher-Price Rockin’ Record Player PHOTO: Amazon $40 $26 at Amazon $26 at Target $40 $26 at Walmart Introduce your child to the timeless beauty of vinyl with this fun musical toy that will have the whole family dancing. The adorable miniature player comes with five records that play 20 unique songs, from pop to hip-hop. They can even move the tonearm onto the record to make it play — just like the real thing. Play-Doh Pizza Delivery Scooter Playset PHOTO: Amazon $95 $49 at Amazon View on Target $74 $49 at Walmart Beep, beep! This ride-on scooter lets kids manage their own pizza delivery business, from creating fun Play-Doh pizza garnishes to delivering their pies across the house. The playset comes with everything they’ll need for hours of play, including 16 tools and 10 dough colors. Plus, all the accessories can be stored right under the seat for quick cleanup at the end of their shift. Hot Wheels City Ultra Shark Car Wash PHOTO: Amazon $60 $49 at Amazon $60 at Target This Hot Wheels set is great for helping children sharpen their problem-solving skills and fine motor coordination. It also opens the door to science concepts, such as the chemical reactions that cause toys to change color. This set can also connect with other Hot Wheels tracks for added fun. Editors Say “My son spent over an hour independently playing with this toy, so that’s a huge win in my book. Just a warning: The tubs of water and color-changing components make this a bit messy, so put it on a towel or use it somewhere you can easily clean up.” —Kayla Kitts, shopping editor More Gifts for Preschoolers Hanna Andersson Disney Frozen Elsa Tulle Dress View on Hannaandersson.com Color Wonder Bluey Activity Kit $20 $17 at Amazon $17 at Target $29 at Walmart Lego Duplo Town Buildable People with Big Emotions $50 at Amazon $50 at Target $50 $40 at Walmart Little Tikes Story Dream Machine $50 at Amazon $50 at Target $50 $46 at Walmart Care Bears Hello Kitty Cheer Bear Plush $13 $10 at Amazon $18 $10 at Walmart $15 at Macy's Magna-Tiles Space 32-Piece Magnetic Construction Set $50 at Amazon $50 at Target $72 at Walmart Seckton Upgrade Kids Selfie Camera $33 at Amazon $43 $25 at Walmart Lego Marvel Hulk vs. Rhino Monster Truck Showdown $20 at Amazon Educational Insights GeoSafari Jr. Talking Microscope $35 at Amazon $61 at Wayfair $55 at QVC Viahart Brain Flakes Interlocking Disc Set $17 at Amazon $20 at Walmart Hasbro Don’t Break the Ice Game $17 $14 at Amazon $14 at Target $16 $14 at Walmart Basic Fun Lincoln Logs Classic Set $50 $46 at Amazon Hasbro Gaming Marvel Spider-Man Chutes & Ladders $15 at Amazon Easy Playhouse Cardboard Coloring Playhouse Fairytale Castle View on Maisonette.com Pressman Charades for Kids $11 at Amazon $15 $11 at Walmart $26 at Wayfair Let Loose Moose Hover Soccer Ball $20 at Amazon Unique Gift Idea Looking for a unique and thoughtful gift in a pinch? Beloved characters like Elmo, Blippi, and the Paw Patrol crew are now on Cameo! Your child's favorite character can deliver a personalized animated message they'll cherish for years to come — all for just $25 per Cameo. Gifts for Little Kids People Kids ages three to five are developing critical thinking skills, so opt for gifts that may be more complex, like building sets, puzzles, and games. Help them expand their creativity and world of play with interactive, hands-on toys that dive into problem-solving and strategy to build on the skills they’re learning every day. Magic Mixies Pixie Supremes Magic Mirror PHOTO: Target $60 at Target Craft shimmery potions and recite the secret spell to free the enchanting Pixie Supreme from her magical mirror. The mirror has over 50 lights and sounds for exciting and mysterious interactive play during the reveal. Once Luna is free, kids can extend playtime with the mirror’s Fortune Mode to get answers to their burning questions about the future. Editors Say This magical mirror is great for little kids with big imaginations, but it's equally as fun for me, as an adult, to ask it questions and hear the mirror's evasive answers while my nieces snicker. This is something that could enchant pre-schoolers or school-aged kids in both group and solo play. —Erin Johnson, associate shopping director Transformers One Power Flip Optimus Prime Action Figure PHOTO: Target $50 $24 at Amazon $48 at Target Inspired by Optimus Prime from the Transformers One movie, this complex action figure can convert between four different modes, including a Cybertronian Truck and Orion Pax, and can grow up to 10 inches tall. Push its chest to activate lights, sounds, and phrases, with special effects for each mode. Conversions range from three quick steps up to 13 more complex sequences that will help little ones practice following instructions. Yoto Mini Player PHOTO: Yoto $70 at Amazon $70 at Target View on Yotoplay.com This adorable screen-free audio player puts kids in control of their listening, with easy-to-use knobs and physical cards that are inserted to play stories, music, sleep sounds, and more. The Yoto Card library has more than 1,000 options to choose from, from Kidz Bop playlists to Disney stories to the entire Harry Potter series, and the battery lasts up to 14 hours — perfect for long road trips. More Gifts for Little Kids Hot Wheels City Ultimate Garage Playset $130 $75 at Amazon $130 $75 at Walmart View on Booksamillion.com MGA Pixel Petz Interactive Digital Dog $30 $22 at Amazon $23 at Target $30 $22 at Walmart Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Mutations Station Playset $40 at Target Squishmallows Original Micromallows Ferris Wheel Set $80 $60 at Amazon Just Play HOLOBRITE Pixie Lantern $80 $71 at Amazon Moose Pickleball Blast $15 at Amazon Fingerlings Adopt Me! Dog Interactive Pet $16 $11 at Amazon $16 at Target Goliath Fidget Blox Set $15 $12 at Amazon Thames and Kosmos Dino Dig and Diorama $30 $23 at Amazon Lego Classic Medium Creative Brick Box $35 $25 at Amazon $25 at Target $35 $25 at Walmart LeapFrog LeapPad Educational Tablets $100 $84 at Amazon $90 at Target $100 $84 at Walmart Polly Pocket Mermaid 2-in-1 Seashell Purse Playset $25 $23 at Amazon 3Doodler Start+ Essentials 3D Printing Pen Set $50 at Amazon $50 at Target $50 at Best Buy Lego Super Mario Adventures Playset $50 $45 at Amazon Zen Laboratory Jumbo Slime Kit $27 at Amazon $25 at Walmart Lite Brite Super Bright HD Pokemon Edition $25 $20 at Amazon Bitzee Disney Interactive Toy $35 $24 at Amazon $49 $32 at Walmart $24 at Walgreens Amazon Echo Pop Kids Marvel's Avengers $50 at Amazon Gifts for Tweens People Tweens typically have their interests dialed in and are often immersed in what’s considered trendy or “in.” For this guide, we kept our gift suggestions a little broader and more gender-neutral to suit a variety of personalities. But if you want something more specific, check out our tailored gift guides for teens and teen girls. Rainbow Loom Wrap It Loom Bracelet Maker PHOTO: Amazon $22 at Amazon $15 at Michaels Taylor Swift’s long-running Eras Tour may be coming to an end, but friendship bracelets aren’t going anywhere. This bracelet maker allows kids to string more than just beads. The loom can create a variety of different bracelet styles, including knotted, macrame, and more. With hundreds of bead options, the design possibilities are endless The 15 Best Taylor Swift Gift Ideas for the Swifties in Your Life, Including Yourself Dolphin Hat Games Santa Cookie Elf Candy Snowman PHOTO: Amazon $10 at Amazon If they love the popular Taco Cat Goat Cheese Pizza game, they’ll find this holiday version just as much fun. The fast-paced card game is quick to learn and a perfect way to involve the whole family. Plus, it might just turn into a new holiday tradition. Nex Playground: The Active Play System PHOTO: Amazon $199 at Amazon $200 at Target View on Nexplayground.com Looking for a way to get the whole family involved? This innovative gaming console will get everyone moving and dancing in minutes. The system connects effortlessly to your TV and has a built-in camera that tracks motion, so you can play games like Fruit Ninja, Whac-a-Mole, and Party Fowl. Grab an Annual Play Pass to access even more fun games. More Gifts for Tweens Hasbro Monopoly Go! Board Game $20 $12 at Amazon $12 at Target $17 $15 at Walmart 4D Build Harry Potter Diagon Alley 3D Puzzle Model Kit $20 $16 at Amazon Big Joe Classic Bean Bag Chair $42 $36 at Amazon YLL Mini Karaoke Machine $40 $25 at Amazon Thames and Kosmos Planetarium Projector $35 at Amazon Where Did My Dog Go? $40 $30 at Amazon View on Bookofus.com $35 at Uncommon Goods Mattel Games Uno NFL Card Game $11 at Amazon Fazit Makeup Patches Silver Speckles $16 at Amazon Beats Solo 4 On-Ear Wireless Headphones $200 $130 at Amazon $130 at Target $200 at Apple Sega Sonic X Shadow Generations - Nintendo Switch $50 $40 at Amazon 3Doodler Start+ Essentials 3D Printing Pen Set $50 at Amazon $50 at Target $50 at Best Buy Lego Marvel Dancing Groot $45 $36 at Amazon Amazon Echo Dot 5th Gen Kids Edition $60 at Amazon $60 at Target $60 at Kohls.com Monopoly Wicked Edition Board Game $30 $19 at Amazon 3-Year-Old Playing with Hot Wheels City Ultimate Garage. People Why Trust PEOPLE? Kayla Kitts is a shopping editor at PEOPLE and the mom of a 5-year-old boy. Her son’s interests span from Bluey and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles to Lego and Harry Potter. She likes to think she has perfected Gen Alpha gift-giving after five years, especially after buying dozens of birthday gifts for her son’s friends. His favorite toys right now? The Yoto Mini and Hot Wheels Ultra Shark Car Wash. Both can keep him entertained for hours, which is always a parenting win. We also tested dozens of top-rated toys from Amazon and Walmart's 2024 holiday lists, and many of those made it onto this list, as well. Our Shopping Experts Alyssa Brascia is a shopping writer at PEOPLE who always had the best toys and activities on hand as a babysitter. This year, she’s on the lookout for fun gifts for her 3- and 10-year-old cousins, who love everything from monster trucker to Minecraft. Cai Cramer is a shopping writer at PEOPLE who worked with kids through high school, first as a nanny to a 6-month-old baby and a 2-year-old, and then as a sleep-away camp counselor to 8, 9, and 10-year-olds. Erin Johnson is the associate editorial director at PEOPLE and the coolest aunt around (according to her 2- and 4-year-old nieces). She’s also a former babysitter and the daughter of a kindergarten teacher. Erin is a big fan of toys that encourage imaginative play. Genevieve Cepeda is a shopping writer at PEOPLE whose mom is a preschool teacher, so she’s spent lots of time in her classroom with educational toys (and, in general, chatting with her about what kids like these days). Madison Yauger is a shopping editor at PEOPLE who, as the eldest, regularly babysat her group of cousins and was always coming up with creative ways to keep them entertained. Shalwah Evans is a senior shopping editor at PEOPLE who considers herself a big kid and will never pass up the opportunity to play with the hottest,new toys. She’s known as the “cool” aunt, with lots of nieces and nephews ranging in age from toddlers to twenties. What Is PEOPLE Tested? We created the PEOPLE Tested seal of approval to help you find the very best products for your life. We use our unique methodology to test products in three labs across the country and with our network of home testers to determine their effectiveness, durability, ease of use, and so much more. Based on the results, we rate and recommend products so you can find the right one for your needs. But we don’t stop there: We also regularly re-review the categories in which we’ve awarded the PEOPLE Tested seal of approval — because the best product of today might not be the best of tomorrow. And by the way, companies can never buy our recommendation: Their products must earn it, fair and square. In short, PEOPLE Tested provides recommendations you can trust — every day, every purchase.