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We’ve updated this piece for 2021, including replacing some recommendations due to availability issues.

The best gifts for kids help them navigate the world, discover new passions, and show kids that you care about them, just the way they are. Over the past several years, we’ve interviewed experts, talked to parents and kids, and researched and tested hundreds of toys, games, and other gear to find special gifts for toddlers through teens.

Here, we’ve rounded up all of our gift guides for kids ages 1 through 10, and for tweens and teens. You’ll also find our favorite stocking stuffers for kids of all ages. Dive deep into our age-based guides to the best toys and gifts for kids, or look for inspiration from our list of the 100 most popular kids gifts, chosen by Wirecutter readers.

The best gifts and toys for 1-year-olds are those that engage their rapidly developing motor skills, sensory exploration, and boundless curiosity. Open-ended toys that encourage exploration with shapes (such as geometric stacking toys), with colors (like a brightly hued wooden rainbow), or with textures (like this silicone cube sorter) are great choices for babies because these toys engage their hands, eyes, and, often, their mouths in learning and play. Toys that offer surprises tend to be hits with curious babies, such as the classic Playskool Poppin’ Pals (which has levers, switches, and buttons that make adorable animals pop up) or a carton of a half-dozen plastic eggs that open to reveal different colors and faces.

See all of Wirecutter’s recommendations for the best gifts for 1-year-olds.

It can be tough to keep up with a 2-year-old as their curiosity and boundless energy send them chasing after new fascinations and discoveries. Kids this age are often learning to manipulate objects in more-precise ways, so look for toys that challenge their fine motor skills, such as this interactive toy piggy bank or this stackable peg board set. Any toy that runs, rolls, or chugga-chugga-choo-choos is likely to delight a 2-year-old, be it a classic dump truck or a fire truck (both durable and dishwasher-safe) or a build-your-own rolling LEGO Duplo train. And since 2-year-olds are beginning to enjoy group play with friends, toddler-appropriate board games—like the cooperative game First Orchard—help teach them how to take turns, make choices, and work toward a goal.

See all of Wirecutter’s recommendations for the best gifts for 2-year-olds.

At age 3, many kids are beginning to know who they are—and what they want. They’re using their imaginations in more-complex ways, so role-playing toys like a multi-story wooden dollhouse, a mini tool bench, or a mix-and-match cupcake set can inspire a lot of make believe and fun. Kids this age often latch on to a favorite animal; a furry hand puppet or a cozy stuffed critter can provide a playmate both for storytelling and cuddling. And never underestimate the power of a preschooler with a great set of superhero capes.

See all of Wirecutter’s recommendations for the best gifts for 3-year-olds.

Four-year-olds are often full of questions, and the best toys and gifts help them discover answers. Consider toys that encourage 4-year-olds to explore STEM skills, such as interlocking gears that twirl and whirr or magnetic tiles that click and clack. With the addition of electronic smart tunnels that allow kids to automate the trains, a classic wooden train set can offer new challenges. Seek out gifts that inspire 4-year-olds to be creative, such as a kid-size wooden easel, a set of uniquely shaped crayons, or a monthly subscription craft box packed with ideas and activities.

See all of Wirecutter’s recommendations for the best gifts for 4-year-olds.

At age 5, many kids are starting to develop the patience for projects and an interest in hobbies. Ready-made kits like starter gardening tools (with seeds), an experiment-filled lab set (with safety goggles), or a grow-your-own butterfly farm (with caterpillars) allow 5-year-olds to explore their passions safely and independently. Five-year-olds may also be ready for more serious (albeit still kid-appropriate) gear, such as a starter guitar or a beginner bike. And they continue to love silly stuff, whether that’s building a big blanket fort or browsing a boxed set of the beloved Elephant & Piggie books.

See all of Wirecutter’s recommendations for the best gifts for 5-year-olds.

Six-year-olds are navigating their worlds both at school and at home, and they’re deepening their passions as well as developing an awareness of what’s cool among their peers. At age 6, many kids can follow instructions and work independently, so look for projects and activities that challenge them to be both precise and creative. Examples: a mechanical robot crab that can skitter across a table, clay-modeling kits with app-based instructions for sculpting a range of animals and other creatures, or the Perler Beads Pet Parade Kit, with more than 5,000 beads that can be meticulously fused together into the shape of dogs, cats, and horses. Gear and toys that get 6-year-olds outside and moving around are also great choices, such as an upgraded scooter, a super snow tube, or (if you’re willing to break out some tools) an at-home rock-climbing wall.

See all of Wirecutter’s recommendations for the best gifts for 6-year-olds.

By age 7, kids have fully transitioned into elementary school, and they are usually developing more-complex thinking and problem-solving skills. Seek out games that combine strategy and fun, like Ice Cool, a zany, fast-paced game that involves shooting and spinning penguins around the board, or Invasion of the Cow Snatchers, a one-person magnetic puzzle game that gets trickier as you play. Gifts that encourage self-expression—a journal with prompts or a whimsical rock painting kit—can be excellent choices for kids who are leaning into their growing writing and artistic skills. Increasingly independent 7-year-olds may also be ready for kits that require some patience and perseverance, like a cool box of geodes you have to pound and chisel open to discover the sparkling crystals within.

See all of Wirecutter’s recommendations for the best gifts for 7-year-olds.

Many 8-year-olds have developed the dexterity, independence, and interest to take on more-complex projects. STEM toys—like an electronics kit with real circuits or a multi-project robotics set—offer a greater challenge and more engagement than one-and-done activities. But don’t disregard the simple stuff: A bean-bag juggling set or a classic friendship-bracelet weaving kit can help an 8-year-old develop a fun, new skill—and the confidence boost that goes along with it. Eight-year-olds are also curious and concerned about themselves, their peers, and the world around them, so consider books that tackle big topics, like Jyoti Gupta’s Different Differenter: An Activity Book About Skin Color. They may also have the maturity and appreciation for higher-quality (but age-appropriate) gear, like a pair of great-sounding Bluetooth headphones (sized for kids and designed to keep the volume at safe levels for developing ears).

See all of Wirecutter’s recommendations for the best gifts for 8-year-olds.

Many 9-year-olds are beginning to look toward more grown-up roles and responsibilities, and they may be ready to graduate from the “kid” versions of tools and activities. For a budding baker, consider sturdy, stainless steel cookie cutters, a cake decorating kit, and professional-grade food dyes; for a kid who loves art, look into a 60-color set of vibrant, artist-quality acrylic paints. Strategy-heavy board games, like Kingdomino (an updated take on the classic tile game) or Blokus (a geometry-based puzzle game that gets devilishly tricky) will engage a 9-year-old’s nimble mind. But even though they are definitely big kids, 9-year-olds are still likely to appreciate a cute, plush snuggle buddy.

See all of Wirecutter’s recommendations for the best gifts for 9-year-olds.

Ten-year-olds are on the cusp of becoming teens, growing into themselves and their passions. Look for entry-level gear that will push them beyond the familiar. An instant camera can encourage a selfie-loving 10-year-old to try their hand at shooting on film. A drawing tablet could be an entry point into digital art and design. And a build-your-own computer kit can teach them the basics of computing and programming. Many 10-year-olds may be ready for  board games with adult-level challenges and more grown-up themes, such as Exit: The House of Riddles, a complicated, escape-room-style mystery game. Or tickle their funny bone with the laugh out loud sketching game, Telestrations.

See all of Wirecutter’s recommendations for the best gifts for 10-year-olds.

Many so-called tweens (ages 9 to 12) straddle the line between wanting to be grown up and still enjoying kid stuff. Finding the right gift that checks the tween boxes—fun and challenging without seeming babyish or boring—can be tricky. Simple, stylish accessories (like a classic pair of sunglasses) and indulgent but kid-appropriate self-care items (such as sparkly nail polish, color-changing lipstick, and animal-themed sheet masks) can be great gifts for a tween. Grown-up tools like a powerful hand mixer, a useful screwdriver, or a real hammer are items that can show a tween you recognize their transition toward adulthood. You may soon find yourself asking to borrow their gear.

See all of Wirecutter’s recommendations for the best gifts for tweens.

Many teens know what they love and are old enough for investment-quality gear: a turntable for a music lover; a drawing stylus for an artist. It can also be fun to introduce teens to classic, high-quality staples, like a sleek metal water bottle, well-made and flattering sweatpants, or tinted lip balm. But keep in mind that plenty of teens are also grappling with friendships, school, and greater responsibilities and pressures—not to mention concerns about climate, inequity, and other worldly issues. Self-care items like fizzy, rainbow-hued bath bombs, a soothing scent diffuser, or a comfortingly hefty weighted blanket can help a teen carve out an oasis for themselves in a stressful world. And a gently rousing sunrise alarm clock can help them face a new day.

See all of Wirecutter’s recommendations for the best gifts for teens.

Never underestimate the power of a little something special tucked in a stocking to bring delight, whether it’s for a toddler or a teen. Stocking stuffers can be tons of fun, but they are also a shopping challenge, because there are so many options. Classic throwback toys like a Slinky or Silly Putty can put a smile on a kid’s face. If you hew toward the traditional, stock up on wooly socks, well-made underwear, or a cozy cap (with a built-in headlamp). And you can’t go wrong with tasty treats: chocolate-covered marshmallow trees, miniature maple candies from Vermont, or a good-old fashioned orange. (Slip in an electric toothbrush upgrade, too.)

See all of Wirecutter’s recommendations for the best stocking stuffers for kids.

by Ellen Lee and Wirecutter Staff

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