Emily Reviews writers were sent products for inclusion in this gift guide. There are affiliate links in this post. All opinions are our own.
Holiday Gift Ideas For Older Kids
Get ready to feel the creative force through this 660 piece Star Wars Imperial Shuttle LEGO Set! It offers a rewarding building experience and hours of play. Geared for ages 9 and up, Star Wars fans will appreciate the authentically detailed recreation of the Imperial Shuttle, straight from the classic Star Wars trilogy. Plus, it even comes with three LEGO mini-figures!
Update and upgrade your kids’ winter gear with the amazing options over at Shred Dog. Their innovative layering system means you’ll have the best protection for any kind of weather. Customers love how their performance outerwear is waterproof, breathable, and durable while all of their other complementary products are designed to integrate underneath the outerwear as a comprehensive skin-to-shell layering system that works to provide the maximum versatility in any weather conditions. Parents appreciate how they sell directly to consumers, cutting out the middle man so you can get the best deal possible. Plus, their Black Friday Sales are going on now so check them out!
Kids who love LEGO or other brick-building toys will love BrickLoot. It’s a subscription box for brick enthusiasts ages 6+. Each box comes with a set theme and includes multiple building kits. They eve have Brick Loot exclusive sets that they often include in their boxes. Meaning as long as the kid you give this to hasn’t purchased from BrickLoot before, you’ll know they don’t already own that set! You can even sign a kid up for an ongoing subscription and it’ll be a gift that keeps on giving!
The Mack Granite Dump Truck is made of durable plastic. It has multiple buttons that each do different things, such as engage engine sounds, lift the dump bed, activate dumping sounds and more. The cab doors and rear bumper all feature light up display panels. This Granite Dump Truck is 1:24 scale and measures approximately 13.38″L x 5.5″W x 6.13″H. It is official licensed merchandise of Mack Trucks, Inc. The perfect toy for the young truck enthusiast.
Cressi is a very well-known and respected company in the world of watersport supplies and equipment. They offer customers an assortment of products including snorkeling gear, scuba gear, wet/dry suits, apparel, and more. If you’re in the market for snorkeling gear, check out the Baron JR face mask. Baron JR allows kids to freely explore the world underwater, breathing naturally through their nose and mouth. The attached snorkel features a special dry system that helps keep water out. To learn more about Cressi, read Laurie’s full review.
Get ready to hit the sledding hill with this hilarious, fun, and fast Polar Bear Snow Tube from Big Mouth Inc.! Featuring a new twist on the popular polar bear, he’s cooler and better than ever. Measuring in at 4 feet long, the thick, durable construction provides a smooth and cushy ride for sledders of all ages. Just inflate, find a snowy hill, take a seat, and grab on for the ride of your life!
Putting together puzzles is a great activity that promotes healthy brain development, cognitive skills, dexterity, and is fun too! This super-cool puzzle shows a display of big-wheeled vehicles at a farming show with the star being, of course, the classic John Deere Tractor! This 1. 0 piece kids puzzle with XXL large pieces is crafted with premium quality and measure 49 x 36cm when complete. Geared for ages 6 and up, it’s perfect for the adventurous kids in your life.
Buy It: Available in stores nation-wide.
This National Parks Bucket Journal is one part trip planner, one part bucket list, and one part diary. Kids can visit national parks with their family and record all about them to look back on adventures they have experienced. This updated bucket journal sorts national parks into seven regions and then alphabetically by state. Each national park has its own two-page spread; the first page is to help learn about the park and its attractions as well as stats. The second page uses journal prompts to document memories of the trip and make it more personal!
Curated by Derek McKee, prodigy and past Las Vegas Strip performer who started with his own Lance Burton magic set, debuts his own brand of limited-edition magic set, MagicBox™, by Derek Mckee. This curated collection of beginner tricks are easy to learn and fun to perform, serving as the perfect introduction to young magicians discovering their magic powers for the very first time. Each set includes a membership card to an online video library with access to learn over 100 tricks.
Not only does MagicBox™ teach the fundamentals of magic, but it builds confidence in the process. Presentation and public speaking, creative problem solving, self-discipline and fine motor skills are a few of the many benefits offered by practicing magic, which remain essential qualities for everybody to develop.
This GeoMag mechanics Loops & Turns 130pc set is a set that will appeal to kids who like to build, design or figure out how things work. This set encourages spatial reasoning, STEM skills, a interest in mechanics and physics. Kids aren’t likely to think about any of that – they’ll just be having fun! This set is compatible with other GeoMag sets, too.
Fun.com specializes in all things entertaining! They offer customers an assortment of gifts, apparel, home decor, games and so much more! The Godzilla Monopoly set is going to take your family game night to the next level. Not only do the players battle it out with Godzilla, but they also need to protect their properties from Rodan, Mechagodzilla, Minila, Mothra, and King Ghidorah! That sounds like fun, right?! Godzilla Monopoly is suitable for 2 to 6 players ages 8 and above. To learn more about Fun.com, read Laurie’s full review.
Move over for the newer baby on the block as Cry Babies are a huge hit with kids of all ages! This sweet little baby comes in a variety of fun styles, including the Cry Babies Kiss Me Stella featured above, and has features that little mommies just swoon over including: her cheeks bush when you give her a kiss, she makes 15 realistic baby noises, and her shimmery outfit and shoes are changeable, to easily mix and match outfits. Adorable and fun, it’s the perfect baby to take on any adventure!
Remote control cars are cool, but have you ever seen a remote control spider? A lot of big kids and tweens will think this is a pretty awesome toy! It can be moved in 360 degrees, and it can be proposed forwards, backwards, left or right – so kids ca intake this in any direction hey’d like! It can even climb walls if the surfaces are smooth enough. It’s rechargeable with a USB cable.
Laser Strike is a new product for EastPoint Sports. They, along with NERF, set out to create a fun laser tag set for kids. Laser Strike comes with two blasters. The blasters have five unique weapon modes, eleven light patterns, six motor vibrations, a spring-loaded reload lever, life notifications, and voice-guided prompts. Laster Strike is compatible with all Laster Strike products so you can add additional sets for team play. To learn more about EastPoint Sports, read Laurie’s full review. While you are there, enter to win the giveaway.
If you’re looking for a gift that kids, teens, and even adults will love, this easy to assemble Deluxe Ninjaline Set by Slackers is it! This amazing set is customizable and comes with 9 obstacles that can be rearranged however you’d like. With 18 sewn pockets and 4 Grip Clips, you can space out each of the obstacles to create a variety of ninja courses, keeping things exciting, challenging, and fun. Plus, you’ll have the space to add on to your line with more obstacles from Slackers once your family has managed all of these! It’s the gift that will have kids outside, away from screens, and challenging themselves over and over again!
Looking for a gift to get kids active? Check out these Xino Sports Adjustable Kids Inline Skates for Girls and Boys with Light Up Wheels! They are designed with double thick threading to reinforce seams as well as high grade plastics for clasps. These skates also have a rust resistant, reinforced aluminum frame and eight 70mm 82A polyurethane wheels that feature flashing LED LIGHTS (no batteries required!). They look cool and skate great, making a fun gift idea for both boys and girls.
Geared for ages 8 and up, Domino Maze is a Chain Reaction Logic Puzzle Game that challenges kids’ minds. This fun game creates all the thrills of a classic domino run but with an added twist—it’s also a brilliant logic puzzle! Kids can put their reasoning skills to the test as they work to navigate way through pivots, around blockers, and up and down stairs! This one-player game will help boost critical thinking skills with the included 60 dynamic challenges.
The Joey Bikes Thumper 20R8 is a great first ‘grown up bike’ for your young tween or teen. The 8 speed Shimano Rapidfire trigger Shifter makes learning to shift a breeze, front and rear caliper brakes have custom sized levers for young hands, and the safety reflectors and bell ensures your child can be seen and heard.
Features Include:
-Frame: Butted Alloy Frame, Low Gravity Concept Design, CRM Forks, seat height 23.2 – 28.7 inches
-Wheels: Reinforced Alloy Wheels with Machined Braking surface for Greater Power, lightweight Micro Knobby Design tires with Tough Tubes
-Brakes: Alloy Tektro Front & Rear Calibrated V brakes with Max Power Alloy Tektro Custom Sized Levers
-Cockpit: Adjustable, Comfort Midi Deluxe saddle, Custom Width Low Rise V-Bar handlebars and Shimano Rapidfire 8 Speed Trigger Shifter Gears
-Extras Included: Safety reflector, bell, kickstand
Twice the fun but without the mess OR holes in the wall means this 2-in-1 Reversible Magnetic Dart Board will be a hit with kids and parents alike! Kids can play by themselves or with friends with a basic 301 dart game or baseball dart game. It’s a unique gift item that looks great hanging in a kid’s play room, a game room, or den and offers screen-free entertainment for kids, ages 5 and up.
You may be familiar with Star Stable as it’s a popular online game but now they also have a really fun book series, which is perfect for tween girls. This fun adventure series takes you on a journey chronicling an all-girl team of heroes (also in-game characters) and is now a complete trilogy with its third and final installment: Soul Riders: Darkness Falling released earlier this year. All three books — Soul Riders: Jorvik Calling, Soul Riders: The Legend Awakens, and Soul Riders: Darkness Falling are now available for your enjoyment!
GraviTrax is the ultra popular STEM toy, designed for both boys and girls ages 8 and up. With over 6 million sold worldwide, you’ll quickly see why this screen-free toy is so popular! The GraviTrax PRO Vertical Starter Set features everything you need to get started and allows children to design and build their very own race tracks while experimenting with gravity, magnetism, and kinetics in an effort to propel their marbles to the finish! The 153 pieces included is everything you need to start building faster, higher, more action-packed marble runs than ever before. The GraviTrax lineup won’t disappoint!
Expand your GraviTrax fun by adding the Ravensburger GraviTrax PRO Vertical Expansion Set to your collection! This fun set offers 33 additional elements to bring your designs to new heights! Get ready to create unique dynamic marble runs with walls, pillars, and balconies that will bring your setup to brand new exciting heights! Whether you decide to create towering three-dimensional structures or suspended tracks, see how high and clever you can build. Combine with the GraviTrax Starter Sets and take your track to a new level.
Learning can be daunting but now you can make it fun with the help of CASHFLOW For Kids Board Game! This isn’t your average financial literacy game; it’s an award-winning personal finance game that uses the best components of stock-investing games, business-building games, and real estate-investing games to challenge players’ perceptions of how to generate and sustain wealth. Playing CASHFLOW For Kids is a great game to play for both parents and children as you can learn how to be financially stable together.
If you have some crafty, fun kids on your list who LOVE color, OOLY has the perfect gifts for them! Check out this Unicorns and Rainbows Gift Set that features a variety of fun options including: scented twist-up crayons, glitter markers, a set of unicorn pencils, pocket journals, a 6 click multi pen and so much more. As a bonus, you’ll even get a free set of Yummy Yummy Scented Gel Pens. But don’t worry if you’re looking for other options, OOLY has lots of great choices to be sure to check them out!
If you’re looking for a really interesting way to turn Space Invaders into a board game, this is it! It’s time to join the fight and stop the invasion. Geared for ages 8 and up, this game is based on the classic arcade game that started it all, and now you can play Space Invaders like never before! Can you team-up and defeat the alien Invaders to claim victory, or will it be GAME OVER, and the Invaders win? It’s all hands-on deck as all players either win together or lose together in this collaborative strategy game. Take turns moving your 3D shooter and lining up the best shot. Launch blast tokens at the waves of descending Invaders. It takes skill and strategy. You have limited shots, so all players need to coordinate their attack, and hit their targets. Destroy all the Invaders AND take down the UFO mother ship before it is too late!
Got a crafty kid on your shopping list this year? If so, this Paint-Your-Own Butterfly Stepping Stone is sure to be a hit! This 10 x 9 inch all-weather stepping stone is ready to paint right out of the box, letting you skip messy cement-mixing and get right to the fun part: decorating and personalizing! It comes with twelve vibrant paint color options that allow for endless creativity – plus you can mix, blend, and add custom color accents. Once painted, bake the stone in the oven for a long-lasting, weather-resistant finish. Then transform your garden, backyard, or patio with colorful style you’ve created!
Hands on experimenting, exploring, and learning has never been more fun! This MEandMINE Aha! Muscle Stem Box offers fun and exciting hands-on adventures on a journey to learn more about muscles and energy. It all starts with a rescue mission to save a forest from fire, then you can build a balloon-powered speedy shoe, pump up muscles with energy, and go full speed! For more action, get another speedy shoe and race a friend! Action packed and educational, kids love these boxes!
The perfect activity bag for any child traveler is the Original Curated ternPaks! Filled to the brim with great options, this pack will take you as far your journey demands! These kits contain everything you’ll need to help you delay the screen time during your trip, including an assortment of activities so that your family has options to learn, play, create, and connect. Plus, it all comes conveniently packed in a durable and versatile bag! The water resistant neoprene material construction of the ternPaks bag will protect all of its contents, and the adjustable straps will ensure it is worn comfortably by kids of all ages.
You’re probably familiar with Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory and now he’s opening his factory at last –but only for a lucky few! He has hidden Golden Tickets in his Wonka Bars and if you can find a Golden Ticket in this exciting game, then you win the big prize. Use strategy on every move and play your Wonka Candy cards to collect as many Wonka Bars as you can to better your odds of finding a Golden Ticket. Geared for ages 10 and up and 2-5 players, when the last Wonka Bar is picked up, everyone opens their collection to see who the lucky Golden Ticket holder is. This family strategy game requires planning, combo-making, and a little bit of luck; making it the perfect family game night option.
Kitaria Fables is an exciting action-adventure RPG with farming elements to keep you engaged. Kitaria was a peaceful land … Until Now – As the world around Paw Village becomes increasingly hostile, The Empire has called upon you to investigate. Armed with sword, bow, and spell book, you’ll be on a mission to fight against a rising darkness threatening the world. Get ready to plunder dungeons in search of relics and resources, tend to your farm to make provisions and potions, and take on quests solo, or with a friend! This fun game is available on the PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X | S, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, and PC.
Got any Harry Potter fans in your life? Then this Hogwarts with Dumbledore as a Funko Pop Town is a great gift choice! The Hogwarts figure, iconic Dumbledore, stands approximately 6″ tall and comes in a window box display. Be sure to check out the other Harry Potter figures from Funko as there’s something for everyone. Collect them all to create your very own film lovers dream!
Taco Cat Goat Cheese Pizza is a popular game and for kids and families but look out, it’s back with new characters and rules, On The Flip Side. This is the social card game, geared for ages 8 and up, that’s going to flip your game night completely upside down! Get ready to race your friends in this hand slapping, laugh inducing, action packed version of the wildly popular party game, Taco Cat Goat Cheese Pizza, But – watch out! You can easily be fooled with its crazy reversed twist! This game is fast, fun and friendly.
For the younger Anne of Green Gables fans or those you’d like to introduce her to, check out Anne The Animated Series Set. This package features the entire Anne the Animated Series plus you receive the Anne Animated Kids book-set FREE! Both the series and book-set were created in cooperation with PBS and are great for kids ages 8 and up. It’s the perfect way to introduce this fun, spunky red-head to the kids in your life.
Perfect for travel, car rides, or on the bus, Amaze is the maze game that changes every time you play; which means this game never gets old! Players must work to navigate this maze challenge game using the attached stylus. Start by pushing open movable gateways while avoiding traps and dead ends, it’s an innovative twist on a classic maze game. Amaze’s diabolical shifting pathways change the solution path during play and with 16 unique challenges; it’s loads of fun.
It’s time to party in the Hundred Acre Wood and, as usual, there’s trouble to be had. This puzzle features an adorably funny scene where Piglet landed up in the tree and his friends are doing their best to rescue him. It’s a high quality 100-piece puzzle that has extra-large, durable pieces even little hands can easily hold on to for lots of repeat fun!
Buy It: Available in stores nation-wide
For an educational gift that makes learning (and math!) more fun, check out this colorful wooden Abacus. An abacus is a traditional wooden counting frame to help with those complicated math sums. This sturdy 5 row counting abacus features bright colored, easy to slide, beads that children enjoy playing with, practicing counting with, and using to solve that math homework. It comes in a lovely gift box too; making it perfect for Christmas!
Check out the original Magformers brand and this fun new Backyard Adventure Play Set! Kids can click, connect, and create easily with these fun magnetic building toys. This set features 61 pieces and allows you to build magnetic houses and invite all your friends to the party! Then, use your imagination to create more structures! Perfect for brain development, critical thinking, and STEM education, you can follow the Step-by-step educational idea booklet for ideas and instructions. Each geometric shape contains magnets that never reject, so you’ll always hear the Magformers click. When playtime is over, use the magnetic power to simply stack and store. Check out all the great Magformer sets for even more options as kids, teens, and adults love them!
Hi there! I am Emily Evert, the owner of Emily Reviews. I am 28 and live in a small town in Michigan with my boyfriend Ryan and our two pugs. I have a large family and I adore my nieces and nephews. I love reading memoirs, and learning about child development and psychology. I love watching The Game of Thrones, Teen Mom, Sister Wives and Veep. I like listening to Jason Isbell, John Prine, and other alt-country or Americana music. I created Emily Reviews as a creative outlet to share my life and the products that I love with others.
I love the John Deere puzzle and the in line skates! We love puzzles at our house. Even the toddler “tries” to help with them! We have a skating rink near our house so the skates would be a great idea for my kiddos. I’ve been wanting to take them to see if they like it as much as I did when I was a kid.
This GeoMag mechanics Loops & Turns 130pc set is a set that will appeal to kids who like to build, design or figure out how things work. This set encourages spatial reasoning, STEM skills, a interest in mechanics and physics. Kids aren’t likely to think about any of that – they’ll just be having fun! This set is compatible with other GeoMag sets, too. 
Barrie
Helga
Penny Branson LeBaron
Mia Rose
I love the John Deere puzzle and the in line skates! We love puzzles at our house. Even the toddler “tries” to help with them! We have a skating rink near our house so the skates would be a great idea for my kiddos. I’ve been wanting to take them to see if they like it as much as I did when I was a kid.