The Ultimate List of 34 Gift Ideas for Kids | Your 2024 Guide

Are you looking for unique gift ideas for your kids to bring smiles to their faces without stretching your budget? In the oversaturated toys and gadgets market, getting gifts for kids can be tricky. You’ve got several factors to consider: their age, gender, development stage, and, most importantly, your budget. 

With all these factors, finding budget-friendly gifts that match their playtime can be a real challenge! The good news is that the process doesn’t need to be that confusing. As long as you have a comprehensive guide to plant some ideas in your head, you should be fine!

In this article, we’ll go over 34 gift ideas for kids of different ages, from infants to high schoolers. Moreover, we’ll take a look at some gifts for girls and boys, as well as unisex gift ideas for kids. So, no matter if you’re looking for the perfect Christmas gift or a last-minute birthday present, we’ve got you covered! 

Stay tuned and find out the best items!

Best Gift Ideas for Babies

Pretty much any toy could be a learning opportunity for babies. They’re at the peak of their development. With curious eyes and grubby hands, they’re looking for every little chance to explore and learn more about the world. 

1- A Breathing Plush Toy for a Comfy Sleep

Breathing plush toys are a great gift for babies to cuddle with when they nap. Their design is even more soothing, with a tummy that moves up and down as if the doll is breathing. Additionally, these plush toys feature small LED lights inside their tummies, which act as a built-in nightlight. 

If you, too, feel like breathing dolls are a genius gift idea for kids and even pets and adults, check out these baby otter and Teddy bear breathing plush toys.

Breathing Plush Toys for Ultimate Comfort

2- A Cute Nightlight to Keep Them Company

One of the greatest baby gift ideas is adjustable nightlights to keep your little ones company day and night. Whether your little one’s favorite animal is a cute bunny, a squishy panda, or a tiny piggie, the various designs of this night lamp collection have got you covered. 

They are portable, adjustable, and super adorable. All it takes to recharge them is a USB-C cable. And just like that, you can count on these trendy night lights to brighten up your little one’s room.

3- A Teether to Help Soothe Tender Gums

One of the most important milestones of every baby is growing their first set of teeth. As exciting as it is to watch your little one grow each day, the gum tenderness from teething can be pretty uncomfortable for babies. 

So, one of the first baby gift ideas that we suggest is a good baby teether. Invest in a good teether that is safe and BPA-free, can be washed in the dishwasher, and, most importantly, features a lot of interesting patterns for your little one to chew on. 

Baby Teether to Soothe Tender Gums

4- A Baby Gym Set to Help Develop Motor Skills

One of the greatest gifts for kids under 1 is a baby gym set. They may come with different toys, light effects, and fun tunes to play while your little one is having fun. They provide a wide variety of sensory simulations and encourage babies to enhance motor skills during fun tummy time sessions. 

Baby Gym for Motor Skills

5- A Walker for Their First Steps

On our list of the top 5 gift ideas for babies, you can’t miss baby walkers. They are a great option to help your little one further grow their walking skills. Aside from helping babies with their first steps, they can also come with additional features, such as speakers to play fun tunes and toy trays. 

You would typically want to start using baby walkers at around 6 months old. Depending on the development stage, you can get activity walkers or walk-behind walkers for them.  

Baby Walker for First Steps

Best Gift Ideas for Toddlers

Toddlers mainly develop through creative activities. As a result, items that spark their creativity would make for great gift ideas for kids. So, we should be thinking of puzzles, learning toys, crafts toys, etc for toddlers!

1- 3D Puzzles to Keep Them Stimulated

3D puzzles are one of the best gift ideas for toddlers. They help your little ones better understand different textures, shapes, colors, and concepts. You can even use these puzzles to start teaching your little ones the alphabet when they’re as young as 12 months old. 

Puzzles to Keep Them Stimulated

2- A Bike to Have Their First Ride With 

Bicycles and tricycles are great gifts for your toddlers because they enhance several of their key motor skills, including balance, steering, and coordination. They are lightweight, easy to control, and an amazing confidence booster for toddlers. Additionally, they help kids build the family bonds and the muscles they need to grow up in a healthy way. 

Bikes for Their First Rodeo

3- A Fun Indoor Activity Game to Build Countless Memories

If you’re looking for a gift for your toddlers, then you might want to invest in some fun indoor activity gear. Some great options include tents, baby tunnels, and ball pits. While each of these options can keep your little one entertained for hours, a mishmash of all three will truly elevate their experience and create some of their best core memories as a toddler.

Fun Indoor Activities for Memories

4- A First Piggy Bank to Learn Personal Financing Basics

It’s a good idea to get your toddlers started with their personal financing skills early on. You don’t need to give them real money, as most piggy banks come with coins that can teach children numbers and colors as well. Nonetheless, piggy banks can help your little ones better learn how to allocate their resources, which ultimately builds important life skills and confidence.

Personal Finance 101 with Piggy Banks

5- A Learning Toy to Help Them Understand the World

A wide variety of best toddler gifts fall under the same category of learning toys. A popular option among parents are sorting games, where children categorize and sort items into different groups. 

For example, they can be cars, foods, or fruits of different colors, which your little one will match based on their color, etc. These games are especially good for expanding children’s vocabularies and teaching them all sorts of new words.

Learning Toys to Understand the World

Best Gift Ideas for Kids Under 5

Gift ideas for preschoolers can be a bit tricky. Kids grow fastest during their first 5 years, so toys can become too old too soon. Taking these factors into consideration, we have prepared a list of gifts for kids under 5 below. 

1- A Cool Night Light to Teach Them About Space

You can get a cool galaxy night light for your little ones, as it will not only keep their rooms lit when they sleep but also provide a wide range of learning opportunities. 

These night lights feature several effects of different galaxies, stars, and nebulae. The night lamp can rotate to give a more realistic, stellar view, and its colorful LED lights make them even more adjustable. 

2- Kinetic Sand to Build Fine Motor Skills

If you’re looking for cool gifts for kids under 5, you shouldn’t miss Kinetic Sand. It can help children build their fine motor skills, as well as strengthen their imaginative play. 

The sand itself is soft and crumbly, providing a great sensory experience for younger children. However, it can also be pressed and formed into certain shapes, such as castles, towers, etc. 

Kinetic Sand for Fine Motor Skills

3- Alphabet Learning Toys to Get Started On Spelling

Alphabet learning toys are also among the most popular gifts for kids. You can go the traditional route and get your kids physical puzzles of the alphabet, or you can go the modern way and get them gadgets. 

However, we recommend you get something that offers both. That way, not only are you simulating your child’s senses, but also keeping them up-to-date so they’re better prepared for school.

Alphabet Learning Toys for Spelling

4- A Doodle Tablet to Let Their Imagination Run Wild

Following the alphabet learning toys, you can get your kids a doodle tablet to write and draw on. They are one of the best gifts for kids because of how they help them learn and create. 

You can use these tablets to teach your little ones the alphabet, different shapes, colors, animals, and objects. They can also release their inner Picasso and draw the world on these boards. The best part? They are totally mess-and-hassle-free, so you don’t have to worry about your walls and furniture getting ruined with all sorts of coloring tools.

5- DIY Craft Toys to Spark Craftsmanship Skills

If you’re looking for kids’ gift ideas to really boost their imaginative and motor skills, then DIY craft toys are a great option. They come in different forms and encourage craftsmanship skills in both children and adults. 

A great example is beading toys. They come with different templates, helping your little one’s fine motor skills, all the while encouraging them to be creative and make their own thing. With these kits, your children can bead keychains, backpack charms, and so much more. 

DIY Craft Sets for Craftsmanship Skills

Best Gift Ideas for Kids Under 10

As your children grow older and older, they start to think about the footprint they want to leave in this world. They are more aspirational and their ambitions are starting to form. So, it’s the best time to get them started on reading, and toys to improve their critical thinking and problem-solving skills.

1-  A STEM Project to Enhance Critical Thinking

One of the best gifts for kids under 10 is STEM-themed toys, activities, and subscriptions. They involve various experiments, which will not only introduce your little ones to the basics of science but also encourage them to think critically and improve their problem-solving skills. 

These kits can help your kids find their passion and start to work on it early on. It will teach them the basics of experiment conduction, as well as the safety measures they need to take.

STEM Projects for Critical Thinking

2- A Tie-Dye Kit for Bonding Time

If you’re looking for a gift idea for kids which will also be a fun activity to help you bond as a family, then tie-dye kits are a great option. You can get all sorts of them nowadays. They’re easy to use and come with instructions. 

On top of that, they’re among the more personalized gift ideas for kids as they can be curated into their personal style and interests.

A Tie-Dye Kit for Bonding Time

3- Books to Keep Them Company

Some of the best gifts for kids of any age are books. They keep the children educated and stimulate their minds to think critically and learn more about the world and their interests. You could introduce your children to fiction, starting with books such as Diary of a Wimpy Kid and working their way up to more complex children’s books.

Books to Learn More

4- A Rock Tumbler to Help Them Start a New Hobby

If your little ones end up liking their STEM laboratories, you can go a step further and get them a rock tumbler. Not only will it immerse your children further in the world of science, but it also enables them to create beautiful gemstones out of rough rocks. This concept alone makes for a great example of how they can shine too, if they put their mind to it. 

Rock Tumbler as a New Hobby

5- A Rubik’s Cube to Challenge Their Mind

Rubik’s Cubes are one of the best gifts for kids who like to solve problems or be challenged. They provide great development opportunities as they improve skills, such as speed, coordination, concentration, and critical thinking, ultimately improving logical thinking and pattern finding as well. They are also considered to be great fidget toys to provide sensory relief for children and adults as well.

Rubik’s Cube to Challenge Kids

Best Gift Ideas for Girls 

While there are really not any gifts exclusively meant for girls, there are some toys that are more appropriate for individuals who are more feminine. However, most gifts can be used by all kids, not just girls or boys. 

1- Self-Stirring Coffee Cups to Keep Them Warm During the Winter

A self-stirring coffee cup is a great option if your daughter regularly drinks coffee, protein shakes, matcha, or tea. As the name suggests, these cups can stir whatever drink is inside of them without needing any manual assistance. Some of them work with magnetic forces, while others have literal whisks. Find the one you think your girl will love the most and get it for them. 

2- A Terrarium to Grow

Terrariums are one of the greatest gift ideas for young girls to grow their passion for everything STEM and science. Terrariums are miniature gardens in a jar. They can teach girls about how life works and how things grow in real time. So, if your daughter has a knack for biology, then a terrarium might be your perfect option.

Terrariums to Grow

3- A Journaling Kit to Keep Their Thoughts Straight 

One of the best gifts for girls are journaling kits. They contain journaling books, stationery supplies, and even instructions on how to build a journal. Not only are they a great tool to simulate one’s imagination, but they are also amazing for mental health and saving important memories!

4- Makeup Bags to Store Their Skincare and Makeup

If you’re looking for personalized gifts for kids and girls specifically, you shouldn’t miss personalized makeup bags. They are a great option if your daughter is just getting started with their makeup and skincare routine and needs a place to store it all without creating a mess. These bags can also be personalized with your daughter’s initials or favorite characters, making them even more memorable. 

Makeup Bags for Storage

5- Advent Calendars to Keep Them on Their Toes

Advent calendars come in different themes, for example, toys, makeup, skincare, Christmas, Halloween, etc, and can keep your little ones excited for a long time. They are particularly popular Christmas gifts, as they count down the days until Xmas. So, if you’re looking for a big, memorable surprise, you can invest in advent calendars. 

Best Gift Ideas for Boys

Just like the previous section (gifts for kids girls), boys also don’t have any hardcore toys that are specifically made for them. However, if your child has more masculine traits than feminine, they might like the gifts below. 

1- A Cool Water Bottle to Keep Them Hydrated

You can get your son a cool water bottle to make sure they are hydrated anywhere, anytime. For example, you can check this astronaut-themed water bottle. The bottle’s wide mouth makes it perfect for a wide variety of drinks, such as water, juices, and even protein shakes. It has a pop-up lid and features a large capacity to bring ultimate convenience to kids. 

Cool Water Bottles to keep Them Hydrated

2- A Musical Boxing Machine for At-Home Practice

A great gift idea for super energetic or boxing-obsessed boys is musical boxing machines. They can either come with a stand or be mounted on your walls. Moreover, your child can connect his phone to the machine and box to the rhythm of his favorite songs. There are also built-in LED lights in these machines to set the mood.

3- A Dino Egg Night Light to Shine Like Stars

Another cool gift idea for boys is a dinosaur egg night light, shining the secrets of space, galaxies, and nebulae onto the walls. These night lights are designed like dino eggs, with lights shining through their cracks. They have several space-themed visual effects, different LED lights, and adjustable rotation speeds. Sometimes, they can even be connected to phones and play music or white noise via their built-in speaker.

4- A Chemistry Set for STEM Training 

Another boyish gift idea for kids is STEM-related toys. You can get the chemistry sets, containing simple yet elaborate experiments to boost their curious experimental spirit. Make sure to purchase a kit that has been tested and proven as safe for children though. 

Chemistry Kit for STEM Training

Best Unisex Gift Ideas for Kids

Most toys fall under this category. Your child doesn’t really need to be a girl or boy to play with their favorite toys. You can always get animal-themed gifts for kids. There are plenty of plush bunnies, Teddy bears, and puppies, and you just have to find the right one for your child. 

That said, some popular unisex gift ideas for kids include:

1- A Lego Kit to Build Their Empire With

We can’t give you a list of gifts for kids without mentioning Lego. They provide gender-inclusive, unisex toys for all children. You can get a Lego house, a Lego car, a Lego tower, or even Lego pet animals for your little ones to build and play with. It’s a great option for children of different ages, from toddlers to high school teenagers.

Lego Kits to Build and Create

2- A Job-Related Gift for Future Aspirations

A great unisex gift idea for kids is job-related sets and toys. If your little one has shown interest in becoming a doctor, you can get them a doctor’s costume, with a stethoscope and all the other items. On the other hand, if they like firefighters, you can get them the appropriate costume and toolkit. 

Job-Related Toys for Aspiration

3- A Crafty Kit to Get Handsy

Again, crafts subscriptions or crafty kits are among the best unisex gifts for kids. They spark imagination and creativity, enhance fine motor skills, and build confidence in your little ones. You can get super elaborate kits for your children, that way, their creations can further evolve as they develop more and more. 

Crafty Toys to Get Handsy

4- Air-Dry Clay for Fun Creations

Another unisex gift idea for kids is air-dry clay, which can be formed into different, fun creations. Children will have a fun time getting to know different animals, cars, foods, fruits, and objects while building them for themselves. You can get these clays in comprehensive sets with different clay colors, shaping tools, etc. 

Air-Dry Clay for Creations

5-  A Gift From Their Favorite Cartoons

You can also get them gifts from their favorite cartoons. For example, these Mike Wazowski and Sullivan plush toys from the Monsters Co. are an exciting option for the fans. 

Plush Toys from Their Favorite Cartoons

Bottom line

Finding gifts for kids shouldn’t be a difficult task in 2024. In fact, if you’ve finished this comprehensive guide, you know how to shop for kids. You’ve learned how to pick gifts for infants, toddlers, preschoolers, or even older children. 

This article was dedicated to the best gift ideas for kids of different ages and genders. It’s designed to help you find the perfect gift for your perfect child. If you would like more insights on kids’ toys, how you should choose them, and what to look for next, you can always check out our blogs!