A Buyer’s Guide Gift Cheat Sheet: Gifts for Kids

There’s no tougher critic than a kid. If they don’t like a gift you bought them, they don’t have much of a poker face about it. Uncool clothes won’t be appreciated, and if you’re shopping for electronics, you need to know what’s hot and trending or they’ll end up disappointed.

It’s time to put a little research into your gift selection so you can look like the rock star you are. If you need some help or inspiration, the following items have been a big hit with kids this year.

Clothes

Kids generally aren’t excited to get clothes unless they have fun patterns, are cool, or are something they’d pick out for themselves. Boden checks all those boxes. Whether you have a baby, teenager, or anywhere in between, Boden offers well-made clothes that kids seem to love. This company has everything from leggings for girls to cargo pants for boys. Plus, their clothes stand up to the rough-and-tumble lifestyle many kids have.

Puzzles

It’s hard to go wrong if you buy a puzzle for a kid. If they are a toddler, they’ll love putting that puzzle together hundreds of times, expecting their parents to praise them for how quickly they can do it. Even teenagers get into the fun with more complex puzzles that can take weeks of steady work to assemble.

The Met Store has unique, art-inspired puzzles for all ages. There are puzzles that will appeal to curious younger children as well as older kids who are looking for more of a challenge.

Weighted Blankets

Adults tend to forget how stressful it can be to be a kid. Kids can struggle with anxiety from school, friendship drama, family issues, and a myriad of other problems. When a kid is feeling down or unsettled, a weighted blanket could help. Weighted blankets are heftier than the typical blanket and can feel like a warm, reassuring hug when used, which can be great for soothing and calming down after a long, stressful day.

Hoverboards

Kids can’t drive cars around, so they rely on other types of transportation. Having a hoverboard to ride, while not only fun, can give them a taste of freedom and independence.

Hoverboards vary quite a bit from brand to brand, though. You want to make sure you’re not buying one that moves too slowly for an older kid or one that moves too quickly for a younger kid. You’ll also want to check out other key features, such as how many miles the hoverboard can travel before it needs a charge and whether it has add-ons like LED lights or Bluetooth speakers.

Tablets

Giving the gift of a tablet to a kid is highly satisfying because they get so excited over them. Unless you’re used to dealing with the ins and outs of technology, it can be hard for adults to know which tablet features kids need and want.

You’ll want to look to see if the tablet you’ve found has accessories like a kid-proof case. At some point, it’s likely a kid will drop their tablet, so a case is essential. You’ll also want to compare screen size, storage capacity, and if it has parental controls.

Language Learning Programs

If you’re sold on an educational gift, especially one that opens up other worlds and cultures to a child, how about giving the gift of learning a second language? It will be the gift that keeps giving for the rest of that child’s life, as long as they remain dedicated to practicing and learning the language.

Parents, librarians, teachers, and kids have been using Muzzy to teach and learn a second language for more than 30 years. Choose between several different languages, including Spanish, Korean, Chinese, Italian, and more.

Find the Gift that Brings a Smile to a Child’s Face

Kids will remember those special gifts they received for decades to come, and sometimes even for a lifetime. By shopping well ahead of time and using any help you can find along the way, such as in our expertly curated lists, you can make sure the gift you choose is something truly spectacular.