Toys I Would Buy My Kids for Christmas This Year (If We Didn’t Already Own Them)
Looking for the best toys for kids this Christmas? These tried-and-true gift ideas are our family’s favorites after years of play. They’re toys your kids will love for years to come!
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Christmas is around the corner, and as I’ve been shopping for gifts, I can’t help but think about the toys my three boys have loved over the years! Because isn’t it the worst when you spend money on something that you think is going to be great, and then it just…isn’t. I’ve purchased plenty of flops over the years, but this is not that list.
These are the tried-and-true winners that have stood the test of time (and plenty of rough-and-tumble play). They’re the toys I have gifted repeatedly to friends and cousins, and the ones I’d happily buy again today if we didn’t already own them.
You don’t need a mountain of toys to make Christmas magical. But the right toys—the ones that encourage creativity, imagination, and hours of meaningful play—are worth every penny.
So whether you’re shopping for your own kids or another lucky kid, here are the toys I can wholeheartedly recommend this Christmas.
Our Family’s Favorite Toys for Kids
I’ve divided the list into broad categories to make it easy to find exactly what you’re looking for. Note: I’m a boy mom and this list is inspired by our family’s interests and experiences, so you won’t find many princesses or sparkly nail polish here. That said, many of these toys are kid-approved favorites that appeal just as much to girls as they do to boys. Enjoy!
STEM & BUILDING TOYS
Some of the best gifts are the ones that keep kids busy creating, learning, and exploring. Here are our must-haves:
Castle Blocks
I had no idea when my mom and I found these blocks at TJ Maxx many years ago that they would become one of my kids’ most beloved toys. They are gorgeous, made from sturdy wood, chunk blocks, and they have led to countless hours of building and imaginative play.
TUBELOX
This one is a big ticket item, but it’s absolutely worth the cost if your budget allows. This building playset allows kids to create all kinds of GIANT creations. My kids have used them to make forts, scooters, cars, swords, lemonade stands, and even their own version of Emmett’s double-decker couch! It is often the first toy the kids pull out when friends come over (they’re unique and impressive!), and they get used ALL. THE. TIME. Read my full review of Tubelox here.
Snap Circuits
These are a must if you have an aspiring engineer, like I do. They are real circuit components that snap together to create working electronic devices. So cool! We bought our first set when my son was five, and he’s been playing with them ever since! We also own the arcade set and the green energy set. All the sets work together, so it’s a perfect gift for curious minds!
Magnet Tiles
Magnet tiles are one of the absolute coolest building toys out there and have been the center of so many creative building sessions in our house. We own a large set of Picasso Tiles, and they get used all the time. We eventually added on the Picasso Tiles Marble Run, which has been a fun addition to the base set! Looking for a way to expand your set? Try these magnetic people or vehicles.
Gravitrax
This is the coolest marble run for big kids (recommended 8+). In this set, kids can design and build their own race tracks and experiment with gravity, magnetism, and kinetics to propel the metal ball to the finish. We loved the starter set so much that the next Christmas we bought the power function set and have added on a few special pieces since! I love that we can keep expanding the collection, and every time we do, the kids get excited about it all over again.
Brain Flakes
These little interlocking plastic discs are so simple, but they have infinite possibilities. My kids turn them into flowers, spheres, sea monsters, and more! One time, they even spent hours linking every single flake together in one loooong line to see how far it would reach (answer: the entire length of our kitchen, dining, and living room).
Lego Classic Brick Box
You can’t go wrong with Lego. It’s a classic for a reason. However, if you’re overwhelmed by the endless options out there and aren’t sure what to buy, I recommend a classic open-ended set. It still has plenty of ideas and instructions to help spark imagination, but it allows for lots of creative free-building too. Have a child who really wants a Lego set? Here are a few of my favorite affordable options:
Want more ideas? Check out this post: More building toys for kids who love LEGO
OUTDOOR TOYS
Sometimes kids need a little nudge to get outside and play. These toys might be just the motivation to get them out the door… and keep them there for hours!
Scooters
These light-weight, foldable scooters are perfect for taking a walk (or ride) around the block, and my boys like riding around our backyard and taking them to the skate park, too. They’re sturdy metal, and ours have been going strong for years. If you have older kiddos, this bigger scooter is great for kids ages 8+.
Playground Ball
This ball is just like the ones you played with at recess in elementary school. It’s tough, super bouncy, and perfect for games for four-square (my kids’ fave) and kickball. Note: It comes deflated, so you’ll need to have a ball pump to inflate it.
Plasma Car
This is by far the most coveted ride-on toy at our house whenver kids come over to play. Everyone loves the “wiggle car” (as we call it), from toddlers to tweens. It’s low to the ground, sturdy, easy to move, and so much fun! If I were to buy ONE ride-on toy, this would be it.
Water Table
We bought a water table for my oldest son’s second birthday (eleven years ago!) and it’s still going strong! We have used it for all kinds of outdoor play over the years, and it has been one of our most beloved toys. The one we have isn’t for sale any more (after a decade, go figure!), but this is the one I would buy today if I were replacing it.
TRAMPOLINE
I was anti-trampoline for years, but changed my tune as I realized the seemingly-endless amount energy my growing boys have. We bought our trampoline six months ago, and I have to admit: I LOVE it. It motivates the kids to play outside, and it’s great exercise. My husband did lots of research, and this is the one he decided on. It’s super sturdy and has been great so far!
Want more ideas? Check out this post: Best Outdoor Toys for Kids
VEHICLES
There’s so much you can do with things that go! We’ve bought and played with lots of vehicles over the years, and these are our favorites!
Dump Truck
I think every kid needs this dump truck. Bold claim? Yep, and I stand by it. It’s made by Green Toys, which means it’s simple (no annoying sounds!), super sturdy, and built to last for years. It’s my go-to gift for toddlers, but it also grows with kids as they get older. My boys have used this truck for everything: sandbox adventures, sensory bins, alphabet flash card games, and endless make-believe. It’s a true classic.
Mini construction trucks
When my boys were younger, we used these little trucks ALL the time with playdough or in our sensory rice bin. Our first set got loved to death after five years of near-constant use, and we loved them enough that we bought a new set to replace it. They’re inexpensive and so fun.
Wooden Train Set
Another classic. My husband and I both grew up with Brio trains, and our boys love playing with them, too. There there are tons of great wooden train options, most of them are compatible with each other. We have a mish-mash of several brands: IKEA, Thomas, Brio, and Melissa & Doug. Some people like to have a train table, but we prefer having the freedom to build a giant metropolis of train tracks all over the floor. Have wooden trains, but want something to add on to your set? Try these: Brio ferry, Brio drawbridge, electric train.
GAMES & PUZZLES
We are a game-loving family for sure! We own dozens of games, and these are our favorites! (If you want to see ALL our top games, check out these two lists: favorite family games, more favorite games).
Outfoxed
This is one of my favorite games to play with preschoolers. It’s a cooperative game, which is fabulous for kids who (ahem) struggle with losing. It’s a whodunit challenge (like the classic Clue, but without the murder) to find which of the 16 suspects stole Mrs. Plumpert’s prized pot pie. It’s recommended for kids 5 and up, but my kids played it around age four with just a little help.
Kingdomino
If you’re looking for a great beginner strategy game for kids, this is it. It’s like a simpler version of Carcassonne (if you’re familiar). In this version, players use domino-style tiles to build their own kingdoms to try to accrue the most points. It works well for 2–4 players, is easy enough for preschoolers (with a little help on strategy), and still fun for adults. Bonus: the scoring process is great for practicing multiplication skills.
Dragonwood
Of ALL the games we own, this is the one I choose when it’s my turn to pick for family game night. It’s not too long (most games take 20-30 minutes, and it has a great balance of strategy and luck. The basic premise: collect cards to roll dice and attempt to earn points by capturing creatures from Dragonwood. The illustrations are fabulous and it’s a great game for families with kids of varying ages. The box recommends it for ages 8+, but my kids started playing at age 5 or 6.
SEVEN WONDERS ARCHITECT
If you have big kids, this game is a great step up into the world of strategy games. It’s definitely more involved than the other games on this list, but my kids all love it! Games usually last under 30 minutes, it works well for 2–7 players, and it feels different every time you play. It’s recommended for 8+, but if you have an enthusiastic 6 or 7 year-old, they could definitely play with a little help.
Escape the room
Escape rooms are so fun, but taking the whole family can get pricey, so we’ve introduced our kids to the fun with at-home versions. Of all the ones we’ve tried, this was our favorite. We got it for Christmas last year, and it made for a great family activity on a cold winter evening. It’s a play-once, pass-it-on game with clever puzzles that we’re just challenging enough, but not too frustrating. In fact, we loved it so much, I bought another game from the same company for this year. Shhh!
Foldology
I was influenced into buying these Foldology origami puzzles before our spring break trip this year, and they were such a hit! Each puzzle starts as a flat sheet you fold to reveal a hidden design, and some of them are remarkably challenging! They easily fit in my purse and kept the kids busy in the hotel, airport, and car. They’re a great winter break activity for bored kids, and if you’re traveling over the holidays they might save your sanity.
Want more ideas? See ALL our favorite games here!
BOOKS
As a former English teacher, I’m a huge supporter of reading. One of the best ways I’ve found to encourage kids to read is simply to surround them with good books so they see them when they’re looking for something to do. Sometimes, though, it’s hard to know what books kids will love, and so gifting books can get tricky. Here are some of our favorites that would make great gifts for just about any kid!
Find YOUR WAY UNDERGROUND
This book has been a longtime favorite in our house. It’s a clever twist on search-and-find books, with illustrations laid out like a grid-style map. Kids practice coordinates, logic, and problem-solving as they help the gnomes complete their mission! My youngest loved it so much we read it every night for several months, and then bought several more books from the series. It’s a book that appeals to a wide variety of ages, from preschool on up!
Timmi Tobbson Mysteries
These fun mystery stories are each told in short chapters that each end with a puzzle the reader has to solve by finding the clues in the coordinating full-page, color illustrations. It’s a great challege (but not too hard) for kids who love brain teasers. We liked the first one so much we bought the whole trilogy! Recommended for ages 8+.
wonders of Nature
This is one of those books you can’t help but get lost in. It’s full of fascinating facts and gorgeous illustrations that bring the natural world to life for kids. Browsable encyclopedia-style books like this are such a fun way for kids to learn, and my boys (and I) love flipping through it together. We loved it so much, we’ve since added several more from the DK Anthology series to our home library.
Want more book recommendations for kids? Try these!
