Over 20,000 5-star reviews on Amazon
Bananagrams
Amazon reviewers call this "the best game ever." It's like Scrabble, except players race each other to see who can can finish their grids first with the tiles they have. Ages 7+
Fun Family Game
Taco Cat Goat Cheese Pizza Card Game
Credit: Dolphin Hat Games
When it comes time to gather the brood for family game night, reach for this easy-to-pick-up card game. Each player has to say "taco," "cat," "goat," "cheese" or "pizza" while playing a card, and if the spoken word and the picture on the card match, all the players have to race to slap the pile. The last one to slap has to take all the cards, and the player who gets rid of all their cards first wins! Ages 8+
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For DIY Kids
Klutz Paint & Peel Jelly Stickers Craft Kit
Credit: Klutz
Collecting stickers is one thing — making your own is even better! Crafters can use the included paint to trace different sticker designs, then add embellishments rhinestones or googly eyes. Once the paint is dry, they have their own sticker. Ages 6+
Best Comeback Toy
Furby Furby
Even if you've had a Furby in the past, you haven't truly had the Furby experience until you've tried the newly revamped version. Feet make it dance, the colors are brighter and it has even more sounds and interactions. Ages 6+
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Popular on TikTok
Kanoodle Extreme
Credit: Educational Insights
This game has gone viral for its brain-boosting properties: Challenge cards will start players off with a pattern that they have to re-create — and then finish with the remaining pieces. This extreme version offers bigger and more complicated challenges, but if they like it, you can gift them other Kanoodle variations, like Kanoodle Head-to-Head, Kanoodle Pyramid and Kanoodle Genius. Ages 7+
Now 19% Off
Credit: Moose ToysPart "science" experiment, part action-figure creator, this play set has kids going through an interactive series of steps to conjure up a beastly toy. It has a big "wow" factor as the beast is summoned — and mad scientists don't know if they're going to get a Toxic Tiger or a Primal Panther until the very end. Ages 5+
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Single-Player Game
ThinkFun Gravity Maze
Credit: ThinkFun
Marble runs and logic puzzles combine to make one, great game that encourages kids to use their spatial reasoning and logic skills. The pieces combine to make a 3D maze, and players have to figure out how to flip and turn the different sections of the track to get the marble into the red trophy cup to win. Ages 8+
Fun Fidget Toy
Shashibo Shape-Shifting Box
Credit: Shashibo
This toy might seem like it doesn't do all that much — just folds and unfolds into different shapes — but trust us, is it mesmerizing. Kids can flip it into more than 70 different configurations, revealing different patterns within, and they can try and form it back into a cube again. Ages 8+
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Great for Toddlers
Playmobil 1.2.3 Mickey's & Minnie's Cloud Home
Now 37% Off
Credit: PlaymobilIn addition to encouraging imaginative play, this toy also fosters fine motor coordination as kids stack the rainbow pieces, slide the dream planes, insert the raindrops into the cloud, open and close the door and more. It's part of Playmobil's new line with Disney, which also includes a smaller Mickey and Minnie cloud set, a Winnie the Pooh treehouse set and more. Ages 1+
Cool Art Toy
Crayola Light-Up Tracing Pad
They'll add new depth and dimension to their artwork with this set, which lets them layer different traceable elements on top of each other to create new scenes. When they're done, they can color in the whole thing with the included colored pencils. The board even lights up to make the tracing easier. Ages 6+
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For Nintendo Fans
Bowser Action Figure with Fire-Breathing Effects
Now 14% Off
Credit: Jakks Pacific Think Bowser is scary in The Super Mario Bros. movie? Wait until you see him in real life! This impressive figure has a mouth that glows red and actually emits smoke. (Don't worry, it's not hot.) Unfortunately, the mouth does not sing "Peaches" — you have to supply that on your own. Ages 3+
STEM Toy
GeoSafari Jr. Kidnoculars
Now 32% Off
Credit: Educational InsightsGet kids looking closer at the world around them with these kid-sized set of binoculars. They're perfectly suited for them because they don't have to be focused, and the eyepiece is designed to be comfortable for little ones to look through. Ages 3+
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Toddler Counting Toy
LeapFrog Number Lovin' Oven
Now 13% Off
Credit: LeapFrogThis talking oven will have them counting up a storm — two cupcakes, three slices of bread, four pieces of pizza, five levels of heat and more — through catchy songs and phrases. In addition, kids can use it for imaginative play since it also makes sounds like the frying of an egg or the ticking of a kitchen timer. It also comes in blue. Ages 2+
Portable Play Set
Polly Pocket Pineapple Purse Play Set
Credit: Mattel
This play set is small, but it's still big enough to hold a Polly Pocket doll, a Lila doll, some animals and a boat that holds two figures. When they're finished playing with it, it folds up into a pineapple that can be worn as a purse. So cute! Ages 4+
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Great Ride-On
Fisher-Price Harley-Davidson Tricycle
Credit: Fisher-Price
Are the little ones in your life born to be wild? Get them a trike that matches their vibe, like this one, which has lights and makes realistic motorcycle noises. You can also get a more affordable version in the Harley-Davidson style without the lights and sounds. Ages 2+
Sensory Toy
Just Play Comfy Cozy Monster Hugs Cookie
Trends come and trends go, but one thing that stays constant is that kids love Cookie Monster. This plush is designed to give "monster hugs" with extra-long, weighted monster hands. The whole thing weighs two pounds! Ages 18 months+
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DIY + Collectible
MGA's Miniverse Make It Mini Pizza Party
Credit: MGA's Miniverse
This toy adds a cute DIY component to the miniature collectible trend. Instead of unboxing whole dishes, the ball is filled with "ingredients" for a fun pizza party. Kids can arrange them however they like, then leave them in UV light (like the sun) to "cook." Then, the resin solidifies, freezing the dish the way they had arranged it. In addition to the pizza party set, there are tons of collectible dishes and items to choose from. Ages 8+
Amazon Exclusive
Wild Republic Amazon Exclusive Holiday Fox Plush
Credit: Wild Republic
This little fox with a scarf makes it feel perfect for the season. At 12 inches, it's a lot to cuddle, and adults can appreciate that it's made from recycled plastic water bottles. Ages 0+
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Blind Collectible
Disney Doorables Squish’Alots
Credit: Just Play
Kids can try to collect squishy versions of all their favorite Disney characters in this blind, house-shaped package, and then they can use the figures in imaginative play. Each package comes with either four, five or six characters, so there's a good chance of getting a fave in each box. In addition, Disney superfans can get the Disney Doorables Disney100 Celebration of Wonder Figure Set, which is also on Amazon's list. Ages 5+
Trendy Collectible Plush
Squishmallows Band Leader Mickey Mouse Plush
Now 41% Off
Credit: KellytoyNot surprisingly, there are a bunch of Squishmallows on Amazon's list, including Rosie, the pig with a flower crown; Diane, the rainbow-haired bigfoot; the Gryffindor Lion plush (or any of the other Hogwarts house emblems); the 10-packs of fun shapes like cacti and mushrooms and the always alluring mystery three-pack. But our favorite is Mickey because, at 14 inches, he's a lot to hug. Ages 3+
Marisa (she/her) has covered all things parenting, from the postpartum period through the empty nest, for Good Housekeeping since 2018; she previously wrote about parents and families at Parents and Working Mother. She lives with her husband and daughter in Brooklyn, where she can be found dominating the audio round at her local bar trivia night or tweeting about movies.
Rachel Rothman was the chief technologist and executive technical director of the Good Housekeeping Institute for over 15 years, overseeing testing methodology, implementation and reporting for all GH Labs. She also managed GH's research division and the analysis of applicants for the GH Seal and all other testing emblems.
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