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The kit comes with five dinosaur skeletons, clay, and googly eyes (duh).

Promising review: "Bought this National Geographic clay set as a birthday gift and it was a huge hit! I love that it’s a STEM toy — educational while still being super fun and creative. Definitely recommend for a unique and engaging present!" —TomP

Promising review: "This book has officially become a household staple, mostly because my daughter goes through these things like Taylor goes through eras. It’s packed with more stickers than I thought possible, and somehow she’s managed to use every single one on the pages, the furniture, and occasionally the dog. The outfits are fun, the artwork is cute, and it keeps her busy long enough for me to drink a coffee while it’s still hot. I’ve already ordered backups because, at this point, running out of Swiftie sticker books would be a family emergency." —Josh M

Promising review: "If your kid likes Batman, buy this. Like NOW. My son has been OBSESSED with Batman since he was two years old. He's now almost five and still is. We just found this. Projects perfectly in the half light and dark a huge bat signal!!! It also came with this really cool Batman comic backstory my kid has been carrying around with him all week. Buy it!!!!" —Amazon Customer

It's magnetic liquid! Learn more about ferrofluid here or watch a cool video of it here.

Promising review: "Very cool 'toy.' Had no idea what it was, but my son asked for it for Christmas. I was expecting something cheap, but it comes in a nice, little glass bottle that is securely sealed. It's fun to watch the black liquid move around as it is drawn toward the magnet." —JLB

Promising review: "I’ve bought these years ago and decided to buy them again for me and my son. He really enjoyed making the candy/gummies. He was proud of his candy sushi once they were assembled, and of course, he loved eating them. He said they were very yummy. The flavor for all the different little things wasn’t bad but my favorite was the 'seaweed,' it tastes just like grape Hi-Chew (my favorite flavor). I recommend buying these at least once for the kids. It’s fun and a tasty treat. We will look into the other kinds in the near future." —Blythe

Get it from Amazon for $5.39 (also available in a three-pack).

Promising review: "This rug is a little more expensive than other car-themed play mats, but I think the raised texture and the quality of the product makes it worth it. The details are just right to match popular small toy car brands." —Jackie

Get it from Amazon for $59.95+ (available in four sizes and two styles). 

Promising review: "I got this as a stocking stuffer for my girlfriend, and it now lives on her desk at the nurses' station to amuse her and her coworkers on slow days or when they need a break from the seriousness of the hospital. Even the non-cat people loved it!" —Alex G. Gann

The book comes with a fold-out map that looks like a board game. By rolling the die, the reader can help the main character, Briar, recover the Jewel of Everlasting Life. 

Promising review: "Got this as a gift for my niece, and she absolutely adored it!!! The number of options for each roll of the die will ensure that she can read it again and again! It's a game and a story-building tool all in one." —Liz

Ships in 2–3 business days — expedited shipping available.

Promising review: "Bath time fun! Love the potion bottles. My son loves filling and emptying out the bottles while taking his bath. The product doesn’t leave a hard-to-clean film in the tub." —Kristen

Get a pack of four from Amazon for $13.88. 

Fair Play is a kid's store in Minnesota. 

The kit comes with a blank brush, decoden cream, a frosting tip, charms, and beads. Grab extra charms here.

Promising review: "This Shrek blanky is unbelievably soft and snuggly. I used it as part of a diaper cake for my daughter, and it turned out absolutely adorable. It's the perfect size for a baby — cute and cuddly." —C Rodriguez

Promising review: "This was absolutely the best stocking stuffer of all this past year! Everyone, young and old, loved it! The laughs were many and the cotton candy inside was so good! Awesome product! I will buy again." —Peggy N

Promising review: "Great product. The build quality is solid and holds up well. We have four children with two teenagers, and they can be hard on products. We've had the product for a little over a week, and they just love building different designs. The first night we had the product, they got so overwhelmed with the number of design options they could build, so they just built a large rectangle that they could all fit in. Since then, they have built various designs and have been building more interesting designs. It's sturdy, and the connectors are made of a heavy, dense foam that helps hold the pieces together." —C. Morrisette

Get it from Amazon for $114.99+ (available in three pack sizes).

Promising review: "Bought a six-pack for my neurodivergent family. We are all either ADHD or autistic. I struggle with compulsive hair pulling and bought these to help keep my hands busy. They are the perfect size, more satisfying than a stress ball, clean easily, fun to hurl at the wall or ceiling, and so far have lasted very well. I did test the durability of one and did break one when I pulled it as hard as I could — the inside looked something like shaving cream and didn’t smell or anything. But if you have a kid who is an aggressive chewer, perhaps keep an eye on them." —Amazon Customer

Get a set of six from Amazon for $9.99. 

It's just the original Uno game except with Attack cards. When one is drawn, the dinosaur is activated, and it spits out 1–5 cards.

Promising review: "I love playing with my grandson. Very well made and great bonding time with the kids." —irene

Get it from Amazon for $30.23 (also available in two other styles). 

Promising review: "I bought this as a present for my niece, and she absolutely loved it! Smells really nice and doesn't irritate her skin. She said it made her skin feel soft, which she's never said about any other soap before." —serena r.

Get it from Dojo for $18 (available in four scents/colors).

Orders typically ship within 1–2 business days. 

Relatable is a small business that sells card games/toys, plushies, and pool floats.

Promising review: "My 6- and 3-year-olds are OBSESSED. They play for an hour at least! Played with daily since we got it. When it’s my turn to hide, I make it tricky enough that I can actually be productive until it’s my turn again." —Cara Lentz

Get it from Amazon for $11.99 (also available in three other shapes).

Promising review: "So cute! My niece is a big fan of Cam the Cat and loves this lip balm. It has a mild vanilla scent and is not too oily. The cat is made of a squishy foam material, making it super fun for kids. I’ll try to find the other characters to get all of the lip balms in this collection." —N. Aco

Get it from Amazon for $5.99 (also available in four scents/shapes).

You can pick the color and style, but the face will be totally random and unique.

Corporeal Creatures is a queer-owned small business based in New York that sells blind-box creatures, plus geeky pins and stickers.  

Promising review: "So cute. I love his tiny face! This little guy is going on my desk! Thank you! 💚🌿" —Bethany

Get it from Corporeal Creatures on Etsy for $10+ (available in 17 colors and five styles).

The kit comes with two landscapes and one portrait of Bob.

Promising review: "I have to admit I was skeptical because of the price and size. However, I got these for my husband for his birthday (he loves Bob Ross) and What a find!! We had so much fun mixing colors and painting. Would definitely recommend. The fact that they are small makes them even more special. I wish there were more to paint!" —slb m

Promising review: "I picked up this Skee-Ball game because my daughter-in-law loves the game. Well, the game itself was sturdy; the kids kept on sticking their heads through the holes and climbing on the board itself. It was a fun game and withstood all of the winds and kids and adults playing with it. Very happy with this game, definitely worth it." —Amazon Customer

Promising review for Monopoly: "This is, hands-down, the coolest Monopoly game ever made! It has every piece and detail that the full-size version has and the quality exceeds my expectations. 😊 Can't wait to play it!" —Andrea

Promising review for Bananagrams: "This is adorable! I was worried the tiles would be too small to play with (and they are indeed tiny!) but I've actually had no trouble playing with them at all. I'm using it to practice my Spanish vocabulary. It is amazingly portable (fits in my small purse without issue) and looks just like the larger version. Also, it doubles as a cat toy! (at least according to my cat, who keeps trying to steal the zipper pouch)." —Elise

Get it from Amazon for $7.95+ (available in 15 games) or see even more tiny toys here.

Promising review: "My daughter LOVES her Disney Crystal Surprise. She says the characters are cute and loves the slime and sand that came with her surprises. She loves playing with the accessories that came with each character. As a mom, I love this collectible toy. It’s something different and I see the value in it. The slime and sand are great, easy to play with and to clean up — no mess. We both like that everything fits back into the ball when she’s finished. I will definitely be using this for birthday gifts from now on." —RD

Promising review: "The chopsticks are very durable, and the glow is bright. They're a bit bigger that I expected — but very pleased nonetheless with the product because it serves the purpose and is entertaining for kids, right up to adult Star Wars nerds. It also made the perfect gift for my fellow Star Wars nerds. I've been too busy playing with them rather than using them to eat food — but hopefully that will eventually happen before the batteries need changing." —Anthony

Get it from Amazon for $10.97 (available in two styles).

Promising review: "I broke up the three-pack and gave one pen as a gift for a class gift exchange and put the other two in a stocking for Christmas. Good quality and approved by both the 8-year-old and 49-year-old husband, who is a kid at heart! Definitely recommend." —Kindle Customer

Get a set of three from Amazon for $14.44. 

Promising review: "AWESOME ITEM. My 11- and 12-year-old have played with this NONSTOP. The movies they create are so cool. Adult help is required at first but once they get the hang of it, watch out because you'll find numerous story lines and little Lego scenes set up around your house. Whoever came up with this item is a genius. I'd even go as far as saying it's the best toy I have ever purchased for any of my five kids. Worth every penny." —Brandy Lynn

Promising review: "I bought this for my daughter's eighth birthday and she LOVES it! It actually works way better than I expected! It makes a perfect 3D sticker every time and the sticker choices are great! I love that you can put sprinkles, confetti, or stars inside the sticker... My daughter likes shaking it around and thinks it's really cool. :) For this price, I am surprised at how awesome this thing is! I highly recommend!! Kid AND mom approved, lol. :)" —KBrick216

Unsure how many to buy? Use this handy calculator. And grab a ball pit here and slide here. 

Promising review: "I purchased for my children’s ball pit. They love them. I like the vibrant colors, and it's a great size for toddlers (they can’t fit the balls in their mouths). They're super easy to clean and very durable. Two years later and they are still intact!! Highly recommend. Good amount and priced well!!" —Yokasta Disla

It comes with six colors and can make up to 43 balls. 

Promising review: "This kit really works! It is easy, and it took me and my 6-year-old grandson less than an hour from set up to finish. We made four. The instructions are short and cleanup is easy. There is a powder that gets poured into a mold, then it's submerged for two minutes. After 20 minutes, the mold is opened to reveal the ball. It is sticky at first, but then not. It will not mark floors or walls. No smell and enough ingredients for many different balls. This is definitely giftable!" —Gail

As a fun surprise, the front swings open to reveal a secret mini toy store. 

Promising review: "THIS is the greatest build since beginning my collection. Lego must be jealous because this is so great! Bricks clicked together so smoothly, and inside has the little toy shop that pulls out to get your ‘tokens’ back for another toy surprise! It even comes with the little containers, toys to build, and paper quotes to make the build even more enjoyable! Pictures don’t do this one justice, it’s just GREAT!!!! ❤️" —Jeanene

It comes with a pump and is recommended for ages 18 months–4 years. 

Promising review: "It was super easy to inflate, came with an extra 'plug,' and is cute enough to give a T-rex a cavity. The material is VERY sturdy…reminds me of what you would make an inflatable raft with…really tough! My granddaughter loves it, even just to sit on and watch TV. The cover is easy to clean (by hand, allow to air dry) and not difficult to put back on and zip. I’m pretty sure it will be around for a long time!!!" —Athena L.Stallman

Get it from Amazon for $28.79+ (available in four animals).

This set includes four rechargeable guns, four rechargeable vests, and one charging station. You can play approximately eight games per charge. The little LCD screens on the vest keep count of how many lives you have and the vest vibrates when you get shot/tagged. You can play with up to four teams and have to eliminate your enemies to win the game. 

Promising review: "I am the aunt of five nephews (ages 3, 4, 8, 11, 21) and mother of a 3-year-old boy. I was hesitant to purchase this item as the price is a bit steep. It came almost fully charged so my 11-year-old nephew and I were able to test out it immediately. Upon opening the package the guns and vests were securely encased in foam. My nephew thought it looked great. Instruction were quick and easy to read and understand. We powered up the vest, then the gun as instructed — everything synced nicely. When the gun spoke my nephew's mind was completely blown.🤯 I strapped a vest to my nephew when my 3-year-old son came in the room so of course I had to suit him up as well. Guns and vest were lightweight and size went well on the 11-year-old as well as the 3-year-old. So easy to use, my 3-year-old had no problem reloaded and shooting. The accuracy and distance for gun to target IS GREAT! My son and nephew and myself had such a great time with this set, I got online and purchase another four-player set!" —Rebeccah Walker

See this bubble machine in action on TikTok here.

This bubble maker includes: bubble gun, two bottles of bubble solution, a rechargeable battery, a charger, and a plate to place the bubble solution. 

BuzzFeed editor Heather Braga has this bubble maker and says: "My sister got it for my son for his birthday and we've been using it through all the seasons — bubbles don't discriminate! We broke it out during a Labor Day BBQ with a bunch of toddlers present and they all were bursting with excitement! I mean, just look at the GIF above — the bubbles really come atcha!!" 

Promising review: "I ordered this for my daughter's birthday, and she has always loved bubbles! So when I found this bubble gun on TikTok, it was a no-brainer. The amount of bubbles that you get out of that is so fun and it lights up. It's easy to use and pretty inexpensive for what we wanted. Even the adults enjoyed it." —Tina

Get it from Amazon for $23.99+ (available in five colors).

Promising reviews: "If you think that you are buying a toy for your pet dinosaur, you will be mistaken. Don't let the description fool you! It's a TOY DINOSAUR train set. (I feel quite foolish now.) My grandson loves it. You can rearrange the track to lots of different configurations, and it is relatively sturdy. I don't expect this to last 50,000 years or so, but with care a good 5-10 should do it. Needs batteries. (Unlike REAL dinosaurs.) But it's also cool that, when you push it on the ground, the eyes light up even without batteries! (Teach your kids about generating electricity from dinosaurs, without having to go through the tedious oil to power station connection!)" —Fisack

"My son received this set as a gift for Christmas and he really loves it. I asked the gifter where they got it and I have since bought the same set two times as a gift to other toddlers my son's age. And each time it's a huge hit! Kids are just obsessed with this. Even myself had fun playing this with my son. I like how versatile the tracks are. Totally worth it!" —olive

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Plus, options for anniversaries, baby showers, newborns (or new parents), wedding guests or new grads, and finds from The Disney Store and Uncommon Goods.

Reviews have been edited for length and/or clarity. 

BuzzFeed Shopping is service journalism first: our writers and editors spend all day shopping so you don’t have to, vetting products, fact-checking brand claims, and surfacing what actually helps in real life. We center readers over revenue, recommend products with authenticity (using real experiences, not ad-speak), and reflect our diverse audience, inclusive of a variety of price points, people, and needs. We cut through fake deals, favor useful info over glossy fluff, and recommend both budget and splurge options with context so you can decide what’s right for you — and still have a little fun along the way.

Rebecca O'Connell is a BuzzFeed Shopping editor with over 10 years of experience finding and vetting new products, having personally tested hundreds of products, sifted through tens of thousands of consumer reviews, and met with countless brands to expand her breadth of recommendations.