Upparent Gift Guide: All-Time Best Gifts for Kids

Watch as your child gets completely absorbed in this fascinating kit for hours. Color-coded electronic components connect to create working gadgets like and alarm or a flying saucer, making it perfect for hands-on learning.

Kelly R said:  There are many different Snap Circuits kits to choose from, but they all give kids a fun and hands-on introduction to how electronics work. This is a great introductory set, and my kids have really enjoyed snapping together the real circuit components to create working electronic circuits and devices. Each kit can be used to create a variety of different projects, including doorbells, radios, alarms, and much more.

Marble runs are wonderful educational building toys for kids of all ages, with endless possibilities for creating structures of all sizes. The connectors in this Marble Genius set fit together snugly, ensuring a stable structure, and are easy for kids to put together.

The 3-wheel design of this scooter is perfect for younger kids who are still working on balance. No turning required - just lean the handles to steer.

Water table with toy accessories for kids to scoop, splash, pour and njoy plenty of water fun.

Got a creative builder who's dreaming of skyscrapers? This magnetic construction set features 100 colorful tiles that connect to form amazing 3D structures — from simple shapes to elaborate castles and towers.

Kelly R said:  The concept is simple, but this is probably the most versatile and often-used toy in my house. Our magna-tiles have become skyscrapers, racetracks, villages, mazes, and rockets. They are fun for all ages and will see many years of use. I recommend investing in the largest set possible, and you will still wish you had more. I love giving gifts like this because even if the kid already has a set, duplicates aren't a problem. They can just build bigger and cooler stuff!

This instant camera is instant fun! Its mini instant photos create lasting memories you can take anywhere. Comes in a variety of fun colors. Make sure to gift some extra film, too!

In this favorite cooperative board game for preschoolers, the goal is to get a family of owls back home before morning.

Jaclyn Keifer said:  My son is 5 and we love playing this together. I appreciate that this is a cooperative game and he’s learning that in this game, we work together to win!

Brittany Kozielski said:  My twins just turned 6 and guess what was on their wish list? Elephant and Piggie books. This Biggie volume collects five favorite Mo Willems Elephant and Piggie stories into one hardbound book. These stories are funny reads with a lot of expression. Piggie and Gerald entertain my kids and gave them confidence in their reading with expression. Win-win!

Kelly R said:  This has gotten many hours of play in my house! It's a marble run and brain teaser all in one, with 60 challenges of increasing difficulty. A step up in complexity from some of the other more basic logic puzzles, because kids have to think about what direction a marble will travel through the piece's unique shape to continue through the maze.

The Owala FreeSip water bottle features a unique built-in straw and wide-mouth opening in one, so kids can sip or chug without swapping lids. Its leakproof design, easy-to-use flip top, and fun colors make it practical for school, sports, and everyday hydration.

Kelly R said:  We loved these leakproof water bottles for kids so much when we bought them for back to school last year that we ended up buying them for the whole family. The spout is genius: you can drink from it upright like a super-comfortable straw, or tip the bottle back to chug. The lid and straw don't have any nooks and crannies to hold scary gunk, and get totally clean in the dishwasher. The 24oz size is plenty big for school or sports, but still fits in our minivan cupholders. My only complaint is that I wish the bottle was more durable. I made sure to add on a bottle boot when I had to replace my son's demolished bottle this year.

Kelly R said:  My kids both loved having a little tool set at age 3, and still played with it years later. Whenever my husband or I would fix something around the house, my son would grab the toolbox and come running to help.

Schleich animal figurines are highly detailed, hand-painted toys that bring the animal kingdom to life. They are crafted with precision and authenticity, making them both fun and educational for children.

Kelly R said:  Schleich animal figurines are so much more durable, realistic and beautiful than other brands, and our trusty T Rex still looks pretty cool in our tween's room years later! They are some of my favorite ideas for stocking stuffers that will get used for years and years. The reindeer is a perfect nod to Christmas!

This high quality puzzle is fun for teaching letter recognition and working on dexterity. The unique chunky design of the pieces makes them great for toddler hands, and allows them to stand up on their own for endless arranging and simple word spelling. The puzzle is crafted with child safe paint and wood sourced from sustainable forests.

Kelly R said:  

Alexandra F. said:  A good portable speaker will allow teens to enjoy their favorite tunes wherever they go. Perfect for hanging out with friends and family in the backyard, at the beach, at a sporting event, practice, etc!

This lawn mower toy releases tons of bubbles as toddlers push it around. No batteries required.

Vanessa M. said:  This is a great toy for 2-year-olds! This bubble mower makes realistic lawnmower noises when pushed, and has the option to blow bubbles as your little one mows the grass, making it even more fun! We use ours indoors sans bubbles in the wintertime, and outdoors with full bubble action when it is nice outside.