Santa may have already made his list and checked it twice, but have you? To help guide parents on their holiday shopping journey, we’ve taken the guessing out of gift-hunting by curating a list of the season’s coolest toys for kids of all ages (newborn through tween) and interests. Prepare to be enchanted!
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For Newborns: Organic 34th Street Rattle Baby Toy
Organic and hand-made by artisans in Peru, this 100 percent cotton rattle by Estella NYC will make a perfect holiday gift for any NYC baby. The festive red and green colors will delight any mini cosmopolitan! $16, estella-nyc.com -
For Newborns: Organic Lion Rattle
For Newborns:Hand-printed in Brooklyn, this rattle from My Brooklyn Baby is crafted with non-toxic and water-based ink and organic cotton fill. This adorable and baby-safe rattle features a cute lion’s face in the front and a lion’s tail in the back. Can we hear a roar? $18, mybrooklynbaby.com -
For Newborns: Elephant Egon Mobile
Let Egon the elephant and his friends on this cute mobile by HABA lull your newborn baby to sleep as they dance the night away. Babies will be entertained in their cribs or while laying on their changing tables and stimulated by the colorful, moving animal crew made from wood and polyester. $24.99, habausa.com -
For Newborns: Tambourine and Maracas Gift Set
Fisher-Price’s Tambourine and Maracas gift set is a perfect present for babies ages 3 months and up. The tambourine has a roly-poly base which makes it easy to play with and a mirror in the middle for peek-a-boo games. The maraca has easy-to-grab handles and soft fabric pom-poms. This interactive toy will strengthen sensory and gross motor skills while providing an abundance of joy. $14, fisher-price.com -
For Newborns: Crinkly Raccoon Travel Toy
Meet Crinkly Raccoon from Tiny Love! This smiley critter is designed specifically for babies, as its crinkly body helps to stimulate newborns’ tactile sense and to develop their fine motor skills. It’s lightweight and has a clip, so you can attach it to your stroller as a new take-along friend! $6.99, tinylove.com -
For Ages 0-3: Rocking Owl Stacker
Local brand Skip Hop’s Rocking Owl Stacker will be a hoot of a gift for your growing kiddo! Little ones can practice motor skills and hand-eye coordination as they stack up the parts of their new buddy. The beads and detachable parts entice the baby to shake and roll, building dexterity. $16, skiphop.com -
For Ages 0-3: Lion Drum
Your budding musician (age 19 months and up) will enjoy this colorful wooden Lion Drum by PBS KIDS and Whole Foods’ new holiday toy collection. Not only will the drum inspire youngsters to keep the beat, but 100 percent of the profits received by PBS go back to their non-profit work, and all PBS holiday products give 1 percent to the Whole Kids Foundation. $24.99, shop.pbskids.org -
For Ages 0-3: Rocking Sheep
Your child (ages 12 months and up) will cherish this super-soft, woolly rocking sheep from JoJo Maman Bébé (a popular UK-based retailer which recently launched in the States). It has a padded seat for a comfortable ride and a sturdy wooden frame and handles. The sweet sheep will surely become your kiddo’s new favorite friend. $139, jojomamanbebe.com -
For Ages 0-3: Jiggypotamus
The Jiggypotamus toy by Kiddopotamus will make any little one smile and giggle! Your toddler will love how this toy can shake across the floor and make noises when tapped or if you clap in its presence. Plus, the sound and motion features are designed to engage babies to crawl. $19.99, buybuybaby.com -
For Ages 0-3: Crawl N Go Snail
The Crawl N Go Snail by Yookidoo is an interactive toy with lots of different activities for babies to enjoy. Activate the seven-piece stacker toy by pressing on its tail—then watch it turn and spin as it rolls along. This fun, all-in-one toy will help develop motor skills, teach cause and effect, improve eye-hand coordination, and more! $24.99, babiesrus.com -
For Ages 3-5: Circus Magnetic Playset
This circus-themed set by Sevi (one of Europe’s oldest wooden toy manufactures) includes 45 magnetic pieces with everything from different scenes to clowns, acrobats, and all kinds of circus animals. The set comes in an easy-to-carry box and can be easily stored on a bookshelf or packed into a backpack to go! $30, bonjourpetit.com -
For Ages 3-5: Play-Doh Cupcake Celebration Playset
Young bakers can make their mark on the dessert scene with the most colorful cupcakes made with Hasbro’s Play-Doh Cupcake Celebration Playset. When the pretend sweet treats are prepared, kids can put them on a ferris wheel for friends and family to marvel at. All ingredients are included; just add some personality and creativity! $19.99, hasbrotoyshop.com -
For Ages 3-5: Worry Eaters - Saggo Large
The Saggo plush by Worry Eaters will give your youngster peace of mind and give parents a clue to what their child’s is thinking or worrying about. This softie pal is cute enough to be taken to bed while its zippered mouth will chow down on “worries” written on a piece of paper by children. Kids can feed their worries away to this striped companion and forget all about their fears when they head to bed. $22.99, haywiregroup.com -
For Ages 3-5: Magnetron FUTURE Set
Travel into the future with Tegu’s Magnetron FUTURE Set! The set comes with 32 pieces (including 14 unique shapes, a charging plug, solar panels, and magnetic wheels) featuring print graphics and beautiful hardwood eco-friendly panel blocks. This simple yet exciting toy will last in the family for generations and unlock your child’s imagination and conceptualization skills. $100, tegu.com -
For Ages 3-5: Marcello the Alligator Pull Toy
Hand-made in Italy (without using screws or glue) by Studio delle Alpi, this sweet wooden ‘gator features neon silk-screen graphic prints with a water base finish. The eye-catching look will delight kids, while its elegant simplicity and quality craftsmanship will be a treat for parents. This toy is available locally at ABC Carpet and Home. $65, studiodellealpi.com -
For Ages 5-8: Fox Pocket Doll
Embroidered on 100 percent linen fabric and stuffed with polyfil, this sly fox toy by Coral & Tusk comes with a trading card describing his character: He loves to ride his bike, take pictures with his camera at the seashore, and snack on strawberries. This Brooklyn-made fellow will become your child’s best friend on outdoor adventures and indoor journeys of imaginative play! $70, coralandtusk.com -
For Ages 5-8: NHL New York Rangers Goalie
The new NHL New York Rangers Goalie figure from Playmobil is a great gift for any young Rangers fan! It can bend, stand, turn its head, and of course, score! Kids will enjoy hours of playtime bringing pro hockey to life in their Playmobil universe. The toy includes one goalie figure with an authentic Rangers jersey, a hockey stick, player number decals, a face mask, and protective gear. $7.99, playmobil.us -
For Ages 5-8: Distressed Canvas Pitch Tent
Stenciled with a US Air Force-inspired logo, RH Baby and Child’s (Restoration Hardware’s line for little ones) distressed cotton canvas tent looks like vintage WWI surplus gear. Young troops will enjoy endless camping adventures from the comfort of their own living room. Plus, collapsible aluminum poles make it easy to assemble and store. $299, rhbabyandchild.com -
For Ages 5-8: Kidizoom Action Cam
The Kidizoom Action Cam by VTechlets young videographers capture their adventures with videos and photos on the go, as it is durable and waterproof. The camera features a 1.4-inch color LCD screen that can take stop-motion videos and time-lapse photos. Plus, your child can play around with fun effects, frames, and photo filters. Afterwards, download photos and videos to a computer using the included micro USB cable and share them. $49.96, vtechkids.com -
For Ages 5-8: Paper Ninja
Ideal for ages 5 and up, Paper Ninja—from Brooklyn-based powerHouse Books—is one part ninja adventure story and one part DIY project! Featuring 13 ninja designs to make that are pre-cut, scored, and perforated (making them easy to punch out and build), as well as a paper dojo design, the book puts the focus on making detailed and engaging creations with no scissors or glue needed. Plus, each ninja design has a name and a cool backstory to discover. $14.95, itspapermade.com -
For Ages 8-12: Gizmos & Gadgets Kit
Unleash your child’s inner inventor with the Gizmos & Gadgets kit, new from buzz-worthy local brand littleBits. Taking instructions and manuals out of the picture, this problem-solving set will teach your kids to rely on their creative instincts and invent anything from DIY gadgets and smart vehicles to interactive games and home hacks. Your engineer-in-training will gain modern skills in science, technology, art, and math. $199.95, littlebits.cc -
For Ages 8-12: Needle Felting Whale Kit
Available at Park Slope, Brooklyn’s, independent toyshop Norman & Jules, this sustainable Woolbuddy kit lets children create their own handmade felt animals (we love the whale). The kit includes two felting needles, wool, and photo instructions to make up to two Woolbuddys. Recommended for kids starting at age 12. $24, normanandjules.com -
For Ages 8-12: “Wynd” Pegasus
Build your own winged mythical creature with Yoxo’s “Wynd” Pegasus! This majestic winged horse will make your youngster’s imagination soar with its 20-inch wingspan. The kit includes all the necessary pieces to assemble the Pegasus—and each piece is durable, sustainable, and made in the USA from recycled wood pulp. Up, up, and away! $29.99, yoxo.com -
For Ages 8-12: ZIP IT
This two-player crossword race game comes from the family-owned, Rhode Island-based company behind Bananagrams, and it can be played anytime and anywhere due to its compact size! Bring it to an afterschool playdate, on a plane, or play it during a family road trip. ZIP IT comes with 24 letter cubes in a cloth pouch. A round can be played in as little as 20 seconds as the first to “zip” to 10 points wins—you can even track your scores with a clever scoring zipper! $12.99, bananagrams.com -
For Ages 8-12: DIY Thirsty Plant Kit
From the super-cool UK-based company Technology Will Save Us—whose mission is to provide families, educators, and young people with new opportunities to learn and create using technology—comes this unique kit to make a solar-powered moisture sensor. Using plaster and electronic components, kids can create a system to check up on when houseplants (and what’s an NYC apartment without a jade tree or some succulents?) need to be watered. $32, techwillsaveus.com
