Make this holiday season magical with the best Christmas gifts for kids that they'll absolutely love!
We all love getting ahead of the game when it comes to holiday prep . If you’re looking to do some early Christmas shopping , just choose a few of these winners from our carefully curated list of Christmas gifts for kids .
I spoke with people on the ground ( kids ) about what’s new, wanted, and popular, and the answers are telling. Kids are amped about all things Inside Out , but they’re also really into karaoke , gaming , and pretend play . Crafting is seeing a big tick-up, with kids wanting tie-dye kits and fun coloring sets . And for teens, things like Nike Air Force Ones are a hot item they will love.
From imaginative-play toys like the Ada Twist Kit that encourage your kids to step away from their screens and get immersed into a new, magical world, to classic throwback toys created with an all-new audience in mind, we found all of the toys and games that your kid will want to get their hands on this year. Here are the best Christmas gifts for kids in 2024 that we guarantee they’ll love to play with (and will make you wish you were a kid again!).
1. OBTAIN Custom Neon Signs
With surprisingly fast delivery, you can get the kid on your list a fab custom neon name sign. Just fill out the form on Amazon, pick the color, and you’re off to the races. It’s a sweet gift with a big impact.
2. Coodoo Water Marbling Paint for Kids
Even if you’ve never heard of water marbling, I guarantee your kids have seen videos of people marbling everything from iPhone cases to Nikes. It’s a popular art form online, and kids are aching to learn how to do it. Indulge that desire with this all-inclusive kit from Coodoo.
3. Discovery Kids Space Projector
Planetarium projectors are not all equal. Discovery Kids proves that with their Space Projector. On top, it’s a space projector, similar to many others. But what makes it stand out is the viewer on the bottom, which has three different sets of slides that project images like planets, constellations, and galaxies. This gift for kids doubles as an interactive STEAM experience and a nightlight.
4. Mewaii Long Cat Plush Black Body Pillow
Axolotl amphibians are really having a moment — kids are super clued into their cuteness and darling personalities. However, not everyone has the space or patience to take care of one. The solution? Axolotl accessories for the win, like this adorable 28-inch long axolotl body pillow. All the cuteness of the animal, none of the responsibilities.
5. Plai Poe the AI Story Bear
Poe is our 2024 Toy of the Year winner. It's a storytelling teddy bear that delights children with its increasingly ridiculous stories. Maybe you want a monkey to rescue a princess from a chef's kitchen! Maybe you want to rescue a dragon from the tower! Poe will do just that. And don't worry, it's a completely closed system.
6. Pop-A-Shot Official Dual Shot Sport Arcade Basketball Game
Pop-a-Shot makes the best and most durable indoor basketball hoops. Our young testers positively love this setup, with the ability to go head-to-head with each other. It keeps score with pretty remarkable accuracy, and the whole thing takes 10 minutes to set up.
7. LEMATRIX Flying Orb Ball Toys Soaring Hover Pro
One of our senior managers bought this for his 8-year old and said that it's simply one of the most fun toys they've ever had. It's quite easy to operate by using your hand to guide it as it hovers and flies. It's rechargeable via USB-C cord, and it gets a good amount of play time between charges.
8. Squishmallows Archie The Axolotl Premium Cloud Slime
Squishmallows are perennially one of the hottest toys and gifts for kids of all ages. They've now made it into the softest, squishiest slime and put it in an adorable jar with a little axolotl on top.
9. JBL Tune 520BT Wireless On-Ear Headphones
You want good headphones at a good price that your kids won't kill? You want the JBL Tunes. They have everything you want in headphones for kids ; they're cute, durable, and the volume is easy to control.
10. National Geographic Volcano Bean Bag Toss Game for Kids
I got to play this game, and I can tell you that it is really fun. Imagine if you could make cornhole less like a chore and into an actual game you and your kids will want to play — that's this game. Similar properties, 100% more volcanic eruptions of laughter.
11. Hawaiian Shaved Ice Snow Cone and Shaved Ice Machine
Help your kiddos make shaved ice, snow cones , snowballs, slushies — and margaritas for the parents — with this Hawaiian Shaved Ice machine! It’s easy to clean, small enough to fit under your kitchen cabinet, and makes the most delicious cold desserts.
12. EXCECAR Wireless Charging DND Dice Set
And if you're going to get them the Player's Guide, you may as well get them some super cool dice to go along with it. This set is rechargeable LED dice with all six that you need to play!
13. JBL Tour Pro 3 True Wireless Noise Cancelling Earbuds with Smart Charging Case
We featured the older model, the Tour 2, in our guide to the best wireless earbuds , and our senior tech editor Stefan Vazharov praised its “game-changing case” as one of its many amazing features (see his full review here ).
It goes without saying that we’re super stoked for this year’s upgrade, which has more souped-up features like a bigger, more responsive touchscreen on the case, True Adaptive Noice Cancelling 2.0, head-tracked spatial audio, Auracast, and more ear tip options, to name a few. Look no further if he’s in the market for a sleek, tech-forward Android pair.
14. Lego Classic Medium Creative Brick Box
This is really the gift of imagination. A huge box of all different sizes of Lego, ready to build their own world — or just a bunch of square buildings like we did as kids. Get your little brickhead all they need to start their obsession.
15. Good Housekeeping Amazing Science Book
Embrace your child's inner Hank Green with this book from Good Housekeeping. This gift gives instructions for 83 different hands-on S.T.E.A.M.-based science experiments for maximum enjoyment, learning, and discovery for kids ages 8 to 12.
The directions are easy to follow, and most can be done with stuff you already have around the house.
