These are the gifts our kids actually played with, wore, and used all year long. Not the ones that got opened, set aside, and forgotten by New Year’s!
It’s that time of year when the wish lists start rolling in, and if you’re anything like me, you’re trying to figure out which gifts will actually get used past December 26th. So, I asked my team what their kids have loved the most. Between all of us, we’ve got kids from preschool to age 20, so there’s something for every age!
You’ll see notes from all of us throughout. Every gift on this list passed the real test: the kids are still using it!
Gifts for Little Kids (Ages 3-6)
SUPERSPACE BIG SET. Lindsay said this was a top splurge gift in her house last year! Think Magna-Tiles, but big enough to build forts and playhouses.
TONIES STARTER SET. Lindsay’s kids listen to their Tonies nonstop. During breakfast, quiet time, and even in the car with headphones!
YOTO MINI. Courtney’s 6-year-old uses this every single day, and she’s getting a second one for her 4-year-old this Christmas. It’s screen-free and doubles as an ok-to-wake clock! Merrick’s 10 and 13 year olds got theirs a few years ago and still use them every single day. They listen to Harry Potter on repeat mostly, and can hardly go to bed every night without listening to it.
AMAZON FIRE KIDS TABLET. Perfect for long car rides, doctor appointments, or sick days on the couch. You can download age-appropriate shows and learning apps, and it’s a great deal when it goes on sale. Lindsay also recommends grabbing a holder for the back of the car seat!
DISNEY PRINCESS MINIS. Lindsay’s daughter brings these EVERYWHERE.
LEGO CITY F1 TRUCK. A fun, age-appropriate LEGO set for little builders who love anything with wheels.
Gifts for Big Kids + Tweens (Ages 7-12)
GUARDIAN BIKE. Lindsay loves this company! If the bike doesn’t work for you or your kid outgrows it within a year, they’ll size you up for free.
MICROBRICK BUILDING SET. My boys love LEGO, but as they’ve gotten older, even the biggest sets only take them a couple of hours. These mini brick sets are way less expensive, have way more pieces, and are WAY harder to build. My 10-year-old gets one or two every birthday and Christmas, and they take him weeks to finish. He still loves a real LEGO set, but these are such a fun addition that don’t break the bank!
MAGNA-TILES SPACE SET. Lauren’s 7-year-old loves LEGO, and this space set is a fun way to switch up the building. Magna-Tiles are one of those toys that grow with them!
CD PLAYER. Lauren’s son keeps this in his room so he can check out audiobooks from the library. Such a sweet, screen-free way to get kids excited about books!
RC BUMPER CARS. Remote control cars that crash into each other on purpose. Every 7-year-old boy’s dream!
LASER TAG SET. This gets used all the time, just with my boys and with friends too! It’s been a top reccomended gift year after year
NINTENDO SWITCH. Courtney is NOT a video game person, but they got the Switch last Christmas to connect with cousins, and it’s become so fun to play with the kids on Friday nights. Mario Kart and Mario Party Jamboree are their favorites!
KIDS CRAFT KIT. Courtney said this was by far the best gift she got her craft-loving kids last year. They’ve used every single piece!
GUI GUI MEGA SLIME HAUL. Kristy’s 7-year-old LOVES slime. She usually buys the small containers, but this year she’s going big, and it’ll probably be the favorite gift.
DOT ART MARKERS. A great pick from Lauren for tween girls who love to create. Easy, mess-free, and so satisfying!
POSCA MARKERS. Lauren says these are perfect for decorating tote bags, shoes, and pretty much everything else. Creative tweens will go nuts for them!
HARRY POTTER YOTO CARDS. If your kid already has a Yoto, these are such a fun add-on. Hours of Harry Potter, no screen required! Merrick’s 10 and 13 year old boys listen to these on repeat – seriously, I think we’re on round 20 of the series.
OWALA WATER BOTTLE. The water bottle every tween wants right now. It goes to school, practice, and everywhere in between.
Gifts for Teen Girls
KIDS DIGITAL CAMERA. Kristy’s daughter wanted a camera for trips, and it’s been the best purchase. It takes great pictures, fits easily in a small bag, and uploads easily to her computer.
LEVI’S XL TRUCKER JACKET. An oversized denim jacket she’ll wear with everything for years.
RHODE POCKET BLUSH IN SLEEPY GIRL. According to Katy (who has twin teen girls!), this is the blush every teen girl wants right now, and the shade is so pretty and natural.
ENEWTON GOLD BRACELETS. Pretty, dainty, and so fun to stack. A great first “real” jewelry gift!
UGG COQUETTE SLIPPERS. Cozy, cute, and they’ll live in these all winter, a perfect hit for Katy’s teens!
BAGGU MEDIUM CRESCENT BAG. A lightweight everyday bag that holds everything and goes with every outfit. Plus, Katy says teen girls LOVE Baggu!
NINJA CREAMI. Homemade ice cream, protein ice cream, sorbet. Teens LOVE making their own treats!
Gifts for Teen Boys
SEPHORA COLOGNE SAMPLER. I bought this for my 13-year-old, and he spent the whole year wearing and testing all the different colognes. It comes with a certificate for a full-size bottle, and he FINALLY decided which one he wants. I love that he had months to try them out, and he said it was his favorite gift last year!
YEEZY SLIDES. My son begged for these, and after buying knock-offs that fell apart in a few months, he finally got the real pair. They’ve held up so well and he wears them almost every day.
LULULEMON JOGGERS. I got these for my oldest last year and they’ve been worn SO much. A million wears and washes later, they honestly still look brand new!
ALARM CLOCK WITH WEATHER. Lauren does no phones in bedrooms, so this helps her son wake up AND decide what to wear based on the weather. Such a smart gift if you have the same rule!
HOLLISTER NCAA HOODIE. Soft, cool, and repping his favorite college team.
ETHIKA SPORTS UNDERWEAR. Teen boys are obsessed with these, and they’re the perfect stocking stuffer.
NIKE SOCKS. Lauren says these are ALWAYS on the list. You can never have too many, I agree and always grab quite a few for my boys’ stockings!
BEATS STUDIO PRO HEADPHONES. Kristy and her husband love their Bose, but didn’t want to spend that much on headphones for the kids. All of her kids have these for daily use and travel, and they’ve lasted for years. Great for her 7-year-old and her 18-year-old!
GOLD ROPE CHAIN. Kristy’s boys both wear chains, and she buys them here instead of Amazon. They’re a little more expensive but such better quality, and they look way more expensive.
BIRKENSTOCK BOSTON CLOGS. Katy says this is the shoe every teen boy wants right now, and the soft footbed makes them so comfortable.
AUDIO-TECHNICA SOUND BURGER. A portable Bluetooth record player for the teen who’s getting into vinyl. So fun and so retro!
STATE FLAG. A heavy-duty embroidered flag from his home state (or the one he’ll go to college in) is such a fun dorm or bedroom decor piece, Katy grabbed one for her boys last year!
GAP VINTAGESOFT ZIP HOODIE. A gray zip hoodie he’ll wear constantly. Simple, soft, and goes with everything, Katy grabbed this for her teen last year and he still uses it all the time.
CINEMARK MOVIE CLUB MEMBERSHIP. A monthly movie ticket is such a fun gift for teens who love getting out with friends!
My Gift Formula for Kids
If you want to keep it simple, here’s what I’d do:
ONE thing they’ll play with every day
Think Yoto, Tonies, or a building set.
ONE thing they’ll wear
Think joggers, slippers, or slides.
ONE “experience” gift
Think a movie membership or laser tag.
ONE bigger splurge
Think Superspace, a bike, or headphones.
Final Thoughts
The best gifts for kids aren’t always the biggest ones. They’re the ones you pull out again and again. Every gift on this list has earned its spot in our homes. I hope this list makes your shopping a little easier this year!
