New Year's Gift Guide for Kids (2026)

Is New Year's approaching and you can't decide what to get for the kids? We've compiled the most up-to-date and popular gift suggestions for the 2026 holiday season by age. Options that will make both children and parents happy are right here!

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Recommended Age

1-12 years

This guide contains comprehensive recommendations for children ages 1-12. You can jump to age-specific sections.

2026 New Year's Toy Trends

Standout trends this year:

STEM Toys: Coding, robotics, and science kits
Sustainable Toys: Wooden and recycled materials
Licensed Products: Minecraft, Pokemon, Bluey
Interactive Toys: AI-powered, voice-activated toys
Retro Comeback: New versions of Tamagotchi, Furby

Early Shopping Advantage

Buying New Year's gifts at the beginning of December provides both stock and price advantages. Prices can increase 20-30% in the last week!

Gift Suggestions by Age

Ages 0-2 Babies

Safety is the most important criterion at this age. Choose large-piece, soft, and CE certified products.

Safety Information

Age Warning: All toys for ages 0-2 should be BPA-free and not contain small parts that pose choking hazards.

Safe Features

✓Under 3 years suitability mark
✓Soft edges
✓Washable material
✓Volume control

Recommended gifts:

Product	Age	Price Range
Fisher-Price Activity Cube	6-18 months	$20-40
Sophie la Girafe Teether	0-12 months	$15-25
VTech Crawling Buddy	9-24 months	$30-50
Melissa & Doug Wooden Puzzle	12-24 months	$10-20
Skip Hop Activity Mat	0-12 months	$40-70

Check out our 0-2 Years Baby Toy Guide for a detailed guide.

Parent Tip

When buying gifts for babies, make sure the packaging is also safe. Ribbons and small decorations can pose hazards.

Ages 3-5 Children

The period when creativity and imagination explode. Role-playing games and building sets are ideal.

Development Areas Supported

Motor Development

Creativity

Cognitive Development

Language Development

Most Popular Gifts for Ages 3-5:

Play-Doh Super Colors Set

Recommendation Score

4.8

Contains 20 different colors. Hours of creative play!

LEGO Duplo Sets

Recommendation Score

4.9

Large pieces, safe and educational. Check our LEGO comparison article.

Bluey Figure Set

Recommendation Score

4.6

2026's most popular cartoon character! The house and family set is very popular.

Pros

Imagination developing
Ideal for role-playing
Quality figures

Cons

Small parts (3+ years)
Expensive as a set

Kinetic Sand

Indoor sand play without the mess! Perfect for sensory development.

Toniebox Story Box

Screen-free entertainment! Smart box that plays stories when you place figures on it.

Check our 3-5 Years Educational Toy Guide for more.

Ages 6-8 Children

School age begins. Games with rules, more complex building sets, and hobby beginnings come to the forefront.

For Girls

LEGO Friends sets
Barbie Dreamhouse
Craft kits
Slime making kit
Bead design set

For Boys

LEGO City/Technic
Hot Wheels Track
Nerf Blaster
Pokemon cards
RC Car

Gender-Neutral Suggestions:

Product	Why Good?	Price
Monopoly Junior	Strategy + math	$$
Ravensburger Puzzle 300pc	Patience + focus	$$
Nintendo Switch Game	Family fun	$$$
Beginner Telescope	Science curiosity	$$$
Coding Robot	STEM education	$$$$

Check our 6-8 Years Board Games Guide for board game suggestions.

Parent Tip

For children ages 6-8, set aside an hour to play together after opening the gift. The first experience is very important!

Ages 9-12 Children

Hobby-focused gifts are more meaningful at this age. Collections, sports equipment, and technology come to the forefront.

2026 Trending Gifts:

LEGO Technic / Creator Expert

Overall Score

4.4

Building Enjoyment

Difficulty Level

Display Value

Price/Performance

Harry Potter, Star Wars, or automobile models are ideal for this age.

Drone (Beginner Level)

Start with a mini indoor drone. Camera-equipped models are recommended for 12+ years.

Nintendo Switch / Steam Deck

For gaming enthusiasts. Minecraft, Mario Kart, Pokemon are the most requested games.

Skateboard / Electric Scooter

Safety Information

Age Warning: Helmet and protective gear are essential!

Safe Features

✓CE certified equipment
✓Low starting speed model
✓Use under adult supervision

Science Kits

STEM-focused gifts like chemistry sets, electronic circuit kits, robot building kits.

New Year's Gifts by Budget

Feature	Budget$10-25	Mid-Range$25-50	Premium$50-100	Luxury$100+
Ages 3-5	Play-Doh, UNO	Small LEGO Duplo set	Toniebox, Activity table	KidKraft kitchen set
Ages 6-8	Hot Wheels, Nerf	LEGO City, Board game	Large LEGO set, RC car	Barbie Dreamhouse
Ages 9-12	Pokemon cards, Puzzle	Nintendo game, Science kit	LEGO Technic, Drone	Nintendo Switch, E-scooter

Last-Minute Gift Ideas

If New Year's is just a few days away:

Digital Gifts (Instant Delivery)

Nintendo eShop Code: Download digital games
Spotify/YouTube Premium: Family plan (for music-loving teens)
Minecraft Realm: Online world with friends

Experience Gifts (Give as a Card)

Movie ticket + popcorn
Theme park day
Swimming/gymnastics class
Science museum visit
Escape room (family rooms)

Experience Gift Presentation

Write experience gifts on a nice card and give them with a small symbolic gift (e.g., a popcorn packet for movie tickets)!

Gifts to Avoid in 2026

Don't Buy These Gifts

Toys too simple for their age (belittles the child)
Toys too difficult for their age (causes frustration)
Products without batteries included (dead on arrival!)
PEGI 18 games (pay attention to age ratings)
Replica weapons (realistic looking)
Extremely noisy toys (for parent sanity)

Gift Wrapping Tips

Details that make a New Year's gift special:

Add a name tag
Make a gift within a gift (small surprises in a big box)
Use LED ribbon
Add stickers
Write a handwritten card

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I buy gifts without gender distinction?

Absolutely! LEGO, board games, science kits, puzzles, and books are great gender-neutral options.

How many gifts should I buy?

One main gift + 2-3 small gifts is ideal. Too many gifts can distract the child.

Should I buy online or from a store?

Compare prices online, and if possible, buy products with counterfeit risk from physical stores.

Can gifts be returned?

Amazon and major stores extend return periods during the holiday season. Keep the receipt!

Conclusion: 2026 Best Gift Choices

The most reliable choices by age:

Age	Best Gift	Alternative
0-2	Fisher-Price Activity Toy	Sophie la Girafe
3-5	LEGO Duplo Set	Play-Doh
6-8	LEGO City + Board Game	Hot Wheels Track
9-12	Nintendo Switch Game	LEGO Technic

Parent Tip

The best gift is the one the child really wants. Listen for hints before New Year's and even if you're making a surprise, choose according to their interests!

For more gift suggestions:

Discover Holiday Gifts

Holiday deals and offers on Amazon

Buy on Amazon

👶

Recommended Age

1-12 years

This guide contains comprehensive recommendations for children ages 1-12. You can jump to age-specific sections.

2026 New Year's Toy Trends

Standout trends this year:

STEM Toys: Coding, robotics, and science kits
Sustainable Toys: Wooden and recycled materials
Licensed Products: Minecraft, Pokemon, Bluey
Interactive Toys: AI-powered, voice-activated toys
Retro Comeback: New versions of Tamagotchi, Furby

Early Shopping Advantage

Buying New Year's gifts at the beginning of December provides both stock and price advantages. Prices can increase 20-30% in the last week!