Birthdays are a time of celebration, right? Your kids probably cheer at the never-ending party invitations that appear in the mailbox.
But let’s be honest: With every party invite comes the stress of finding another cool gift for another kid. Instead of scrambling at the last minute, stock up on the fun and affordable goodies below.
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Infants to 2-year-olds and up
AppeTeethers ($9.99) at Amazon
The humor might be lost on the baby, but parents will love these food-shaped teethers, which are free of BPA, PVC, phthalate and lead. Disguised as chicken wings and broccoli, these chew toys will entertain onlookers and soothe babies’ sore gums.
Manufacturer’s suggested age: all ages
Playskool Stack ’n Stow Cups ($7.97) at Amazon
Tots can stack, sort, spin, stow—and chew!—these rainbow-color cups for hours. Once assembled, the toy hangs on your diaper bag or stroller for easy portability and playtime on the go.
Manufacturer’s suggested age: 9 months and up
Yookidoo Flow ’N Fill Spout ($24,95) at Amazon
This automatic spout attaches to the tub and has three interchangeable tumblers. Whether they’re making their own kid-size shower or filling the googly-eyed cups with water so they float, babies will have a blast at bath time!
Manufacturer’s suggested age: 9 months and up
American Plastic Toys Sand & Water Playset ($10.99) at Blain’s Farm & Fleet
This play set offers a lot of bang for your buck. It can be used in the tub, kiddie pool or sandbox, and it includes four boats, a flatbed truck and a rotating crane!
Manufacturer’s suggested age: 18 months and up
Sesame Street Elmo’s On the Go Letters ($15.99) at Kmart
Thanks to Elmo and friends, kids will have so much fun they won’t even know they’re learning. I love how the letters each snap into their own special spot, and that everything folds up neatly for travel or storage.
Manufacturer’s suggested age: 2 and up
Ages 3 and up
Minion Goggle Kickboard ($9.99 at Amazon) and Minion Pool Goggles ($11.99 at Toys R Us)
Give your favorite little fish this adorable kickboard and pair of goggles. The huge eyes on the goggles and the see-through lens on the kickboard will instantly hook them.
Manufacturer’s suggested age: 3 and up
Minions Movie Spinnin’ Stuart ($12.99) at Toys R Us
You can’t go wrong with a fabulous toy from the widely anticipated Minions movie! With the help of an easy–to-use crank, Stuart spins. Feeling too dizzy? Instead, press Stuart’s pocket to make him speak, play cool tunes and flash festive lights.
Manufacturer’s suggested age: 4 and up
Hog Wild Atomic Sword Popper ($19.99) at Amazon
Let them duel with this sword that shoots foam balls up to 20 feet. No matter the method of combat, this spongy weapon couldn’t hurt a fly!
Manufacturer’s suggested age: 4 and up
Shopkins So Cool Fridge ($17.99) at Toys R Us
This set will probably be sold out by the time you read this—a harsh reality with Shopkins, which are miniaturized cartoon replicas of foods and condiments like eggs and ketchup. If you have a kid who loves little toys, try to snag a Shopkins set before they sell out. Any set will probably do!
Manufacturer’s suggested age: 4 and up
Jurassic World Raptor Claws ($18.97) and Dino Head Hand Puppet ($13.39) at Amazon
With Jurassic World and the upcoming The Good Dinosaur, dino buzz is sure to reach a fever pitch this year. These foam claws and heads mimic those of the Velociraptors in Jurassic World. Who knows! Maybe your kid will be the next Chris Pratt.
Manufacturer’s suggested age: 4 and up
Curious Chef 11-Piece Chef Kit ($19.99) at Target
Stoke their interest in cooking with this mini chef’s set. With an apron, measuring spoons, whisk, spatula and more, they’ll be whipping up tasty treats in the kitchen in no time! The kit is available in pink and blue versions.
Manufacturer’s suggested age: 4 and up
Ages 5 and up
Mega Bloks The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge Out of Water Photo Booth Time Machine Building Set ($7.99) at Amazon
Our favorite absorbent, yellow and porous friend goes way back with this awesome time machine from the recent film SpongeBob: Sponge Out of Water. Give the dial a spin and modern-day SpongeBob becomes caveman SpongeBob.
Manufacturer’s suggested age: 5 and up
Little Live Pets Owl and Baby Bird ($18.72) at Amazon
Warning: Cuteness overload! This adorable baby and parent talk to each other, and the mom owl feeds her baby and teaches her to sing. In fact, the closer they are to each other, the happier they become, singing and talking even more. Kids can also record phrases, which the mother owl will repeat.
Manufacturer’s suggested age: 5 and up
The Magic School Bus: The World of Germs ($12.79) at Amazon
For budding scientists—or kids who appreciate an ick factor—this game features a number of crazy experiments like growing bacteria, testing antibiotics and using yeast to inflate a balloon.
Manufacturer’s suggested age: 5 and up
Poof Titan Torpedo ($19.35) at Amazon
Kids will love throwing this 29-inch soft-foam torpedo across the yard or at each other. Bonus: It won’t hurt at all if they hit their target.
Manufacturer’s suggested age: 6 and up
iHip Little Dude Bluetooth Speaker ($9.47) at Walmart stores
This tiny guy is a great companion for a tablet or smartphone. The speaker streams their favorite Pandora stations or iTunes songs via Bluetooth and has an unexpectedly good sound for the size and price. It will look awesome next to all of their other backpack key chains but will outshine them with its functionality and coolness. The speaker is available in Walmart stores in white, black, blue and purple.
Manufacturer’s suggested age: 6 and up
Paper Punk ($9.95 and up) at Paper Punk
Take origami and paper airplanes to another level with these modern paper-building kits. The graphics are so awesome that you might want a couple for your desk too. My favorites are the Ape and Fango the Snake. You can clearly tell which animals they are, but they have an edgy twist that creative kids will love.
Manufacturer’s suggested age: 6 and up
Compose Yourself Music Card Game ($14.99) at Amazon
I’ve got the scoop on this new game! Kids arrange the enclosed cards in countless configurations, scan them with the app and hear their compositions played by a symphony orchestra. They can also download MP3s and share their creations via social media.
Manufacturer’s suggested age: 6 and up
IQ Candy ($14.99) at Amazon
This portable game has 60 challenges that will really get them thinking while still having a good time. Plus, the colorful pieces look good enough to eat!
Manufacturer’s suggested age: 7 and up
Ages 8 and up
Hog Wild Camo Reel Roaster ($16.47) at Amazon
This fishing-pole-like roaster will make any campfire more entertaining. It has a rotating stainless steel skewer that you turn with a reel crank for a fishing and roasting experience all in one.
Manufacturer’s suggested age: 8 and up
Strand Bands ($17.34) at Amazon
The next generation of Rainbow Loom, Strand Bands are made of a unique material that allows kids to select a width and simply peel the strands apart. Strand Bands can be braided, woven, beaded—you name it. And they can be reused! The kit includes 360 feet of Strand Bands along with a styler, which holds the strands while the pieces are being made, and 76 beads and charms.
Manufacturer’s suggested age: 8 and up
Roominate 3-in-1 Helicopter Play Set ($14.79) at Amazon
Designed to encourage girls to construct and design, this set includes plenty of pieces and connectors as well as a screwdriver, battery pack, a doll and a pet. In other words, they’re all set to build any helicopter, airplane, submarine or vehicle that they dream up. The set requires two triple-A batteries, which aren’t included.
Manufacturer’s suggested age: 8 and up
Nerf Rebelle Secret Shot Blaster ($18.50) at Amazon
My 9-year-old daughter loves this toy. She even has her own theme music that she sings as she transforms from a “regular business lady” carrying a purse to a secret agent with a deadly weapon with foam darts that shoot up to 75 feet.
Manufacturer’s suggested age: 8 and up
Something a little different
If you’re the parent of the birthday boy or girl, it’s possible that you don’t have one more inch of space for stuff. As an alternative to a roomful of gifts, why not set up a registry at Deposit a Gift to raise funds for a bigger present, such as an intensive summer dance program or a new bedroom set? Or if your kid is altruistic, create a fund that will allow them to donate a substantive amount to a charity they care about. The basic registry is free to set up and has tons of features, and you only pay 4 percent of the funds raised to Deposit a Gift.
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