By Holly Pevzner
Shopping for kids seems like it would be a total blast, but it’s a tough job. A lot of the stuff that you swoon over (Hand-crafted wooden dolls! Woolen finger puppets!) leaves kids thinking, “Um, no thank you”. And some of the toys that kids are 100-percent obsessed with can give you a headache just by looking at them. But here’s the thing: It’s not about you. You want to make a child’s head explode? These are the top 15 gifts that everyday kids actually love to play with. They may not top a Developmental Expert’s list, but these gifts–and a healthy stockpile of trusted Duracell batteries–will have you winning the season.
Best Pretend Play Toys
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KidKraft Ultimate Corner Play Kitchen with Lights & Sounds, $163
If you can emotionally handle a play kitchen that looks better than your real one, this is the toy to splurge on. “Ours was consistently used by my three kids for 10 years,” says Julie Schwetlick in Shelburne, Vermont. While, yes, there are a couple of higher ranked kitchens on Amazon, this is the #1 wooden kitchen, for those who want their playsets to blend with their home’s decor. Kids heart the stove and icemaker with realistic lights and sounds—and the phone for ordering pretend pizza when pretend dinner sucks.
Don’t forget the Duracell! 9 LR44 batteries required
Melissa & Doug Fire Chief Role Play Costume Set, $24.99
Feed the innate preschool need for costume-play-lite with a getup from Melissa & Doug, who have four out of the top 11 most wished for costumes in preschool role play on Amazon. “My son is all about costumes right now. He’s dressed up about 40 percent of the time,” says Marny Kinrys, mom of two in Los Angeles. “And we both love Melissa & Doug.”
LeapFrog Musical Rainbow Tea Set, $21.99
Nevermind that dainty tea set you’ve been eyeing. Rock a kid’s world with this one that lights up with six colors and sings seven songs. “It comes with matching tea cups and a 6-piece cake that fits on a puzzle-like tray. My 2-year-old adores it,” says Alli Wittbold in Amherst, Massachusetts. “Surprisingly, I’ve actually grown to love it, too. It encourages so much open-ended, imaginative play.” It’s currently 5-stars strong on Amazon and—bonus—it has an off switch.
Don’t forget the Duracell! 4 AAA batteries required
Best Get-Your-Wiggles-Out Toys
Munchkin Mozart Magic Cube, $24.99
Before plastic maracas and kid-size harmonicas beat a parent down, there was the Munchkin Mozart Cube. “Both of my kids loved it. Each side plays a different instrument,” says Emily Farrell in New York, New York. (Sounds include the harp, French horn, piano, flute, and violin.) “It’s loud and heavy, but it made my kids dance so much,” she says. Even though the cube has been out for years, it’s holding strong as the #10 best-seller among Amazon’s baby musical toys and it boasts a 4.5 out of 5 star rating.
Don’t forget the Duracell! 3 AAA batteries required
Little Tikes First Slide, $34.93
This hunk o’ plastic brings the fun to toddlers, as long they’re nimble enough to slide down and climb up without needing you to hold their hands “This is such a big hit with my two kids. I know it’s supposed be an outdoor toy, but it lives in our dining room where the kids are on it every single day. They can’t get enough,” says Sara Wells, a mom of two in San Francisco. It’s a great way for kids to burn off energy that doesn’t involve jumping on your couch. No wonder it’s the #1 best-selling slide on Amazon.
DribbleUp Smart Soccer Ball Training, $99
Got an ants-in-the-pants sports-lover to buy for? Score big time with this app-enabled soccer ball that tracks kids’ fancy footwork in real-time, using the data to e-coach ’em. While it’s definitely more pricey than a standard ball, it’s still the second most popular ball on all of Amazon, garnering lots of love with an average 4 out of 5 stars. It’s perfection for long, cold, snowy, I’m-bored winter days.
Best Build-It Toys
Magna-Tiles 32-Piece Clear Colors Set, $49.99
Not only are Magna-Tiles an across-the-board 5-star hit on Amazon, you get to pat yourself on the back for selecting a STEM toy that’s nabbed over 20 awards for awesomeness. Plus, kids for-real love these things—and continue to for a long while. “Both my kids have been playing with Magna-Tiles since preschool and—much to my delight—an additional set is at the top of my 8-year-old’s wish list this year,” says Kelly Rupiper in San Diego, California.
LEGO Harry Potter and The Chamber of Secrets Hogwarts Whomping Willow, $64.89
The gift of Lego—Duplo, Friends, Creator, movie-themed, whatever—will always be a massive win. “I’ve got an 11 and 9 year old, and Lego is still going strong,” says Chiara Milott in Brooklyn, New York. “They’ve requested a set for every Christmas and birthday since the age of 5.” While the classic brick will never be out of style, know that three out of the six most wanted sets on Amazon are all about Harry Potter.
Marble Genius Marble Run Super Set, $36.99
“My son loves the marble run so much,” says Yoojin Grace Wuertz in Oradell, New Jersey. “It’ll keep his attention for a full hour—and he’s three!” (No choking-hazard finger-wagging; Mom supervises.) Amazon buyers echo Wuertz’s attention-keeping raves—adding that it’s super-fun for grown-ups, too. And while this 100-piece run is technically the #2 best selling run on Amazon, we’re going to go ahead and call it #1, since the top dog is actually a board game. (Oh, algorithms.)
Best Toys That Vroom and Zoom
Playmobil Rescue Ambulance, $19.87
“My 5-year-old loves Playmobil. She’ll spend hours carefully setting the pieces up and acting out scenes,” says Lindsay Curtis in Toronto. “One of her favorites is the ambulance; she’s really into toys related to doctors and nurses.” This set comes with three figures, a stretcher and accessories—and the top lights work, which comes in pretty handy when trying to get the Barbie Glam Convertible to pull over.
Don’t forget the Duracell! 2032 lithium metal batteries required (included)
Top Bright Wooden Race Track Car Ramp, $19.99
It’s a scientific fact that kids love cars. Okay, it’s maybe not research-backed, but spinning wheels and racing is pretty flippin’ fun. Enter this sweet intro-to-car-obsession ramp set that just so happens to be super cute. And kids really do dig it: It scores a 4.5 out of 5-star rating on Amazon and is among the best-sellers in vehicle playsets. The bright wooden cars roll beautifully along the wooden track–here’s hoping driving lessons go half as smoothly in 15 years or so!
Epoch Air Rc Cars for Kids Remote Control Car, $23.99
This bad boy climbs walls, lights up, and is super affordable. “My kids—9, 12, and 15—love remote control cars,” says Nikki Barnes in Winter Park, Florida. “And I love that they can be played indoors and out, so there’s always a fun element of adventure in the driveway, sidewalks, or in the house.” Buckle up: The stunt opportunities are endless.
Don’t forget the Duracell! 3 AAA batteries required
Best Dolls and Animals
Little Live Pets My Kissing Puppy, Rollie, $44.82
Real talk: 99 percent of kids want a puppy under the Christmas tree. For most, that ain’t gonna happen (sorry, kids!). The best consolation prize that requires zero wee-wee pads and only four AAA batteries is Rollie, the smooching, licking, wagging pup that an impressive 83 percent of folks on Amazon gave 5 stars. “My girls love Little Live Pets and I like that it's interactive without them looking at a screen,” says Rachel Bender, a mom of two in Palo Alto, California.
Don’t forget the Duracell! 4 AAA batteries required
L.O.L. Surprise! Glam Glitter Series Doll with 7 Surprises, $9.99
To the untrained eye, L.O.L.s look like bubblegum-machine toss-aways. To kids between the age of 4 and tween, however, these are legit fun. “My daughter is obsessed with these darn things,” says Danielle Faust, a mom of two in Loxahatchee, Florida. Here, a tiny doll and accessories are encased in layers and layers of plastic that need to be unwrapped. “She loves the surprise of it. I think it makes her feel like a YouTuber as she opens it and describes everything to me,” says Faust. No wonder this series has such a following.
Gund Baby Animated Flappy The Elephant Plush Toy, $29.35
There are a lot (like, a lot a lot) of horrid musical animals that babies and toddlers flip over. While Flappy the Elephant for-sure has that flip factor, he’s anything but horrid. “My son plays with Flappy over and over and over again. He comes back to it all day long,” says Linnea Covington, a mom of two in Denver. “Flappy sings ‘Do Your Ears Hang Low’ and wags his head and plays peek a boo. My son loves it.” He’s not the only one: Flappy is a golden 5-star toy according to Amazon reviews. This pachyderm is quite the pick!
Don’t forget the Duracell! 3 AA batteries required (trial batteries included)
