It's hard finding the perfect gift for any loved one, but especially so when there are multiple generation gaps between you. Grandparents shopping for grandchildren may easily feel overwhelmed by the excess of toys, both old and new, available online and in stores. Here are a few of your best bets, from coveted toys to high-tech games to classic favorites.
Prices and availability are subject to change.
$47 from Amazon
Nerf toys are hot holiday toys year in and year out. This motorized launcher can hold up to 100 soft foam "hyper rounds" and launch them at speeds of up to 100 feet per second. Safety goggles and a starter pack of 80 rounds are also included.
$20 from Amazon
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Kids are sure to love this Hasbro family game that will have them dodging “poop” while blindfolded. A plastic mold is included so that the obstacles look realistic.
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$40 from Singing Machine
Your grandchild is never alone on stage with a Sing Along Crew. Choose from Lil’ Rex, Uni-Queen, or Big Pand — stuffed animals equipped with a microphone, built-in speaker, two pre-loaded songs, and two sound effects. Singers can slip into the backpack straps while their fuzzy friend supports the mic with a mic holder (and serves as their biggest fan, of course).
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$400 and up from Target
Last year, PlayStations were impossible to find because they were the hot new gaming console. Bad news: They're still hard to find due to ongoing computer chip shortages and other supply issues. If you can find one (and that's a big if), grab it before it's gone.
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$54 from Amazon
Any budding young artist would love this set of 72 fine- and ultrafine-tipped permanent markers, which includes six metallic and five neon hues.
$40 from The Adventure Challenge
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This book has 50 fun family challenges to make the most of quality together time. Scratch-off entries reveal activities that run the gamut from outside adventures to kooky and creative projects. Each spot also includes a place to include a photo, so this will become a keepsake that your grandkids will cherish even after the challenges are long-completed.
$17 from Amazon
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You don't need a fancy camera to create a photo-like print. All you need is some sunlight, water, and imagination.
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$40 from Amazon
Kids love making (and playing with) "slime," a glue-based concoction that's safe to play with. This kit from Elmer's contains everything needed to make slime in a variety of fun colors, including glittery and metallic shades.
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$13 and up from Amazon
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The Rocketbook Everlast Mini has pages that can be erased with a moist cloth and written on over and over again. Young scribblers can easily send their notes or sketches to a number of productivity apps, including Dropbox, Slack, and Evernote, to share them or keep them for posterity.
Related: The Best Gifts for Writers (and Not One Pen — We Promise)
$35 from Amazon
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You probably spent some time clicking through one of these as a kid — now it's time to give your own grandkids the same pleasure. Consider it the original VR headset. (You can even buy custom-made reels with your own photos.)
$104 from Amazon
This toy stands nearly three feet high and is topped with a toy telescope so kids can help the Paw Patrol keep an eye out for the bad guys. With lights, sounds, and a working elevator and zipline, this new addition to the Paw Patrol empire will keep youngsters occupied for hours. Four minifigures are also included.
$26 from Amazon
Know a youngster that's infatuated with Pokemon almost as much as they are with building bricks? Then get 'em this kit; they can create a Poke Ball, plus Bulbasaur, Charmander, Squirtle, and Pikachu.
$12 from Amazon
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Invented in the late 19th century, the Spirograph is a drawing tool that lets anyone create hypnotic, mandala-like designs. Modern Spirograph sets include multiple sizes of drawing wheels and different colored pens that allow children or adults to get creative with this uniquely mathematical design toy.
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$398 from Amazon
Want to really splurge and spoil the grandkids? Get 'em this battery-powered ride-on, and the kiddos can pretend they're out on the ranch, clearing brush, fixing fences, and caring for livestock. The rear bed tilts just like a real vehicle, and it has a maximum speed of 4.5 mph. Maxium weight: 130 pounds.
$6 from Amazon
Give Dee or her pal Dip a squeeze, toss 'em in the air, or give 'em a shake and watch how they respond. Each delightful dumpling has 50 programmed responses and comes with two surprise accessories.
$35 from Amazon
Star Wars The Child Animatronic Edition has been a hot item since Amazon Prime Day 2020, and it's still on many holiday wish lists for 2023. Yoda knows how to make 25 sounds and gestures, plus he can wiggle his ears, move his arms and head, and open and close his eyes.
$23 from Amazon
Much like slime, kinetic sand is one of those tactile toys kids love to make and play with. This kit contains five different colored kinetic sands, plus 10 tools to mix, cut, pull, shape, scoop, and squish.
$32 from Amazon
These pint-sized pixies have wings so they can take flight from the palm of your hand or from their crystaline charging base. Dim the lights and watch the pixie's dress glimmer and shimmer with tiny LED lights.
$140 from L.O.L. Surprise! Official Store
LOL Surprise dolls (and other elaborate toys within toys) have been a hot commodity for years. This year, supply-chain issues could cause shortages of some newer models, like the House of Surprises, which contains 85 surprises waiting to be discovered within this 10-room play house.
$63 from Amazon
Good luck getting your hands on this toy, one of the hottest of 2023. Just add the magic potion to the cauldron and stir to create a cuddly interactive toy with 50 programmed actions that rises from the mist.
$50 from Amazon
A 3-D printer may be out of reach (and a bit too technical) to give the grandkids, but the next best thing is a rechargeable 3-D pen like this one. It comes with plastic filaments in a variety of colors, plus an activity guide, and work mat.
$20 from Amazon
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From the creators of the satirical web comic The Oatmeal comes this strategic but zany game that's great for kids and adults. Already got it? Check out the expansion packs: Imploding Kittens and Streaking Kittens.
$110 from Amazon
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Adults and kids alike may be competing for the next ride on the EzyRoller after it's opened. This low-riding, sit-down scooter moves when the rider pumps their feet with an extendable foot bar, making for comfortable and fun rides for both kids and grown-ups.
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$7 from Amazon
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First produced in 1955, this simple but classic toy uses a magnetic wand to move metal filings like hair follicles around a bald cartoon face. Having inspired several knockoffs, Wooly Willy survives as a toy today because it's creative, entertaining from a young age, and still wonderfully cheap.
$52 from Amazon
For backyard campouts or even living room adventures, this pop-up tent is perfect for two people. It's also got more practical, everyday uses, too, and comes with a carrying case for easy toting to the beach, soccer fields, pool, and other locales when the kiddos could use the occasional break from sun, wind, and inclement weather.
$7 from Amazon
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Kanoodle is a cheap, solo game pack with hundreds of possible puzzle variations ranging from easy to difficult, accessible to everyone older than 3. Basically, it consists of several colored, connected beads that can be stacked to construct unique designs and help children improve their spatial reasoning. It'll give them something to do by themselves on the go that doesn't involve staring at a screen.
$15 from Amazon
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Most children who grew up playing Operation, a variation on a buzzing carnival game invented in 1964, probably had no idea it was testing their hand-eye coordination and fine motor skills the entire time. The toy, which is best for ages 6 to 14, is still easily found online and in stores today, often in themed versions where the patient is Shrek, Homer Simpson, or another character.
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$15 from Amazon
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California-based Green Toys lives up to its name by making its full line of toys out of recycled milk jugs. This sturdy, sandbox-ready dump truck comes in three colors and is BPA-, PVC-, and phthalate-free. Green Toys is one of a dwindling number of U.S.-based toy makers.
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$20 from Amazon
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First produced in 1923, Radio Flyer's red wagon became an icon of American childhood for a simple reason: It encourages kids to get outside, whether they're riding in the wagon or hauling it around themselves. Today there are different models to suit different ages, including this miniaturized version, the full-fledged original ($100), and a more rugged all-terrain variation ($143).
$199 from Amazon
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For the grandparent who likes to go all out with their gift giving, this versatile system from Nintendo is popular for good reason. It can be taken anywhere and has a relatively low price tag for a gaming system. The Switch Lite — which comes in yellow, turquoise, and gray — is compatible with all physical and digital Nintendo Switch games that support handheld mode.
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$23 from Amazon
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Young children with a passion for animals will love playing veterinarian with this 15-piece set including play versions of a stethoscope, syringe, and other instruments, along with a pet carrier that doubles as storage space for all the separate pieces. They can pretend to heal their own pet with the play tools or use them on the fuzzy stuffed Dalmatian included in the kit.
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Price varies from KiwiCo
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Kiwi Crates are tailor-made gift sets that let you customize the contents to ensure they're perfect for a grandchild's age range. Subscribe for a predetermined length of time and receive monthly crates with free shipping within the United States. Each crate is designed to teach STEM skills at home in fun, interactive ways.
$36 from Tupperware
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Most children probably grew up with something like this rattling ball toy from Tupperware, which has yellow geometric pieces that fit through cutout spaces. Infants and children from 6 months to 6 years can work on identifying shapes and increasing dexterity while playing, then store the pieces within the ball so they aren't immediately lost.
$13 from Amazon
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With this toddler-friendly drum set, kids 2 to 5 can bang miniature LED-lit drum pads freestyle or along with preprogrammed melodies that teach them letters and numbers. It's fun, cheap, and simple while also aiding sensory development.
$8 from Amazon
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Essentially a more involved, gravity-based form of tic-tac-toe, Connect 4 is a cheap, portable two-player game that's simple enough for young children, yet involves enough strategy to engage adults, too.
$13 from Amazon
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This beloved rolling toy still has the same old-fashioned rotary dial it did upon its initial release in 1962, having undergone a short-lived update to push buttons in 2000. The design is no longer modernized, but young toddlers around 2 years old still enjoy the chatter phone's flashing lights, ringing noises, and moving eyes.
$20 from Amazon
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Few kids or adults will be able to resist cracking up after a few rounds of Watch Ya' Mouth, a simple but hilarious game in which players try to pronounce complex phrases with dentist-style cheek retractors in their mouths. The game originated via viral videos but has since become a hot gift for friends and family unafraid to laugh at themselves.
$15 from Amazon
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Toddlers from ages 3 to 6 can build dexterity and other skills trying to master the six different latches holding the doors shut on this activity board from beloved toy-making company Melissa & Doug. Behind the doors are different colors and numbers to keep young kids learning.
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$25 and up from Amazon
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If you have an older grandkid who still likes to build things and work with their hands, these intricate mechanical modeling kits make a unique gift. Geared toward adults and older kids, each piece is laser-cut plywood, and the kits require no tools or glue.
$27 from Amazon
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Giant microbes are a sort of unconventional plush toy, designed to teach kids about disease and single-celled organisms while still providing them something soft to snuggle. These adorable teaching tools come in various themed gift sets featuring cuddly versions of famous historical plague germs, blood cells, and more (even STDs!).
$13 and up from Amazon
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The geometric stacker is the definition of an oldie-but-a-goodie in the toy world. Children stack rainbow-colored blocks in descending size on wooden dowels. It's best for kids around ages 2 to 4 just figuring out how to recognize shapes, colors, and patterns.
$22 from Target
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Simon is an electronic game in which players try to remember and repeat an increasingly long sequence of flashing lights and tones. Although it's no longer the pop-culture phenomenon it was in the late '70s and early '80s, Simon remains a simple yet challenging form of entertainment for anyone 7 or older.
$29 from Amazon
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If you have a grandchild who's a budding board-game enthusiast and was glued to the television for pandemic updates, this collaborative game may be the perfect way to start them out. Pandemic is easy enough for children over 8 to understand after a round or two, but strategic enough to inspire hours of real discussion and teamwork. Players act as disease specialists preventing outbreaks and curing illness around the world.
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$20 from Best Buy
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Don't have a big budget for headphones? That doesn't mean your grandkids have to resign themselves to a wired pair. Bluetooth-enabled JBuds get surprisingly great reviews for the price. Get up to six hours of playback on a single charge. They're also sweat- and water-resistant.
$21 from Amazon
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While it comes with a few ideas for small projects, this classic, colorful set of Legos promotes open play. The brick-shaped storage container is an adorable bonus.
$24 from Amazon
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Perhaps you have a grandkid who takes their personal library so seriously that they'll want to check books in and out the way they used to do in public libraries. This kit comes with 20 return-date slips, 20 self-adhesive pockets, plus a date stamp and ink pad.
$15 from Amazon
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A great gift for kids who like to take the party anywhere, this waterproof speaker has universal compatibility, a built-in mic, and high-definition Bluetooth wireless connectivity.
$120 from Amazon
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Delight young readers and feel better about screen time with this 2022 version of Kindle Kids, now available for preorder. It's got a black-and-white glare-free display, weeks of battery life, and it's designed differently than a tablet — geared for reading books, which means no games, ads, or videos. Available in three colors, it comes with one year of Amazon Kids+, a kid-friendly cover, and a two-year worry-free guarantee.
$12 from Amazon
It's hard to go wrong with a classic Nerf football, and this one is both easy on the budget and the player with its foam construction and grip features that make it a cinch to catch and throw.
$53 and up from Etsy
Brand new grandparents should consider giving their newborn grandchild an heirloom quilt that will last for generations. Customize the baby blanket with a monogram letter, color of thread, and color of flower.
$50 from Amazon
For budding musicians, this ukulele kit has everything they need to learn the instrument. The kit includes a soprano ukulele, digital tuner, strap, How-To-Play songbook, two spare picks, and more.
$22 from Uncommon Goods
We have the feeling these pillows will make bedtime a little bit easier. Kids get to doodle all over them with luminescent ink, which then glows in the dark for about five minutes. Sweet dreams!
$30 from The Woobles
For grandchildren who like to keep their hands busy, this charming kit will teach them how to crochet a cute fox made from beginner-friendly yarn. Video tutorials help walk them through the process, and the kit works for both righties and lefties.
