Confused by the massive selection of new girl’s toys in stores and online this year? It’s never easy choosing what to get, and it just keeps getting harder and harder as more cool toys get released at a more and more rapid pace. Instead of walking the isles of a busy retail store like a zombie and buying your 2018 Christmas gifts blindly, take a look at our awesome list of the best toys for girls and increase your chances of getting her something that she will love, not just like.
Who said Hermione Granger could be the only girl to do magic? Set your own mini wizards to work with this stunning magic science kit, containing nine spectacular spells (ok, chemical reactions) designed to stun and teach at the same time. A truly ‘charming’ gift!
There’s no de-Nile-ing that this is a great toy for girls who love to be adventurous, and with five chambers to be explored, and hidden treasures to be found, Pharaoh’s Pyramid holds lots of surprises for the intrepid explorer. Girls…scared of spiders, and skeletons, and trap doors? No chance!
Teach little ones the value of money and budgeting with this oh so cute set of three owl money banks. The first chamber is for spending money, the second for saving, and the third is for money they don’t mind sharing with ‘hootever’ they want!
When you can’t take the girl to Disney, bring Disney to the girl! Each one of the 216 piece puzzle is numbered, so an aspiring Disney princess can slowly but surely build her own castle, resulting in a stunning 3D masterpiece, adorned with beautiful Disney images.
What would any animal lover like to see in Santa’s sack of Christmas toys? Why, a FurReal Roarin’ Tiger, of course! With over 100 sounds and moves, this furry tiger will be ‘prey-ing’ for a loving home and an owner who will play with him for years to come – after all, a tiger is for life, not just for Christmas!
Retro is very in right now, and this Super Nintendo is straight out of the 90s! Kids will love this up to date version with a classic feel, and it comes preloaded with 21 games, including that old favorite, Super Mario! With two controllers, it’s good to go and ready to play. Game on!
Zoomer is the perfect toy for girls who love horses. She can dance, follow you around, and nuzzle into you when you pet her. You can even train her! Her eyes tell you how she’s feeling, and when she’s been really good you can reward her with a sugar cube or a crunchy apple.
This flying ball is great for girls who love gadgets! Watch it rise out of your hand and hover in the air, before flying off. Keep it in the air by placing your hand underneath it, and watch the rainbow of lights dance around the room as it flies. A great toy for girls who have everything!
It will definitely be a Merry Sithmas for someone when they find this top toy under the tree! This kit comes with everything needed to build a complete Droid, and once they’re done they can download the app and teach their Droid cool skills and send it on special missions.
Give nature a helping hand by teaching youngsters about the eco system with this grow ‘n’ glow terrarium. Complete with everything you need to grow chia and wheatgrass, including soil and decorative figures, the kit comes with glow in the dark stickers to really make your garden glow.
One for the older Lego fans, this set builds into an impressive meter-high model of the NASA Apollo V. With three removable rocket stages, lunar lander, and lunar orbiter this set will satisfy the most avid of space fans, and is perfect for their own role-play recreations of the moon landings.
Commemorate 2017 with this beautiful Barbie. With her metallic, deep red dress, gold earrings and shoes, she is as much a star as the detachable, gem-encrusted one that sits on her back. Make Christmas 2018, and the 12 months of memories leading up to it, one to remember with Holiday Barbie.
Any Lego fan (and lets face it, who isn’t?) will quickly become a ship’s ninja-neer with this 2292 piece Lego set. Destiny’s Bounty, from the Ninjago movie, has three decks, and comes complete with Wu, Kai, Lloyd, Zane, Nya, Jay and Cole, more than enough Ninjaaaarrgghhsss, matey!
Among the best toys for girls (and boys) are the ones which take them away from the screen and into the fresh air, and that’s exactly what this Razor A5 Scooter does. With a rear brake, foldable design, and adjustable handlebars, it’s a toy any child can roll with!
Make them, bake them, and then shake them around as they hang from the charm bracelet included in this kit. Contains everything needed to make adorable charms for bracelets, necklaces, cell phones, and anywhere else that needs brightening up! Utterly charming gift for girls this Christmas.
Etch a Sketch has always been a classic Christmas toy, and now works of art are made freehand, using a stylus. Drawings come to life with the rainbow colored background, stampers add even more variety to the set, and once they’re finished the pictures magically disappear with one shake of the frame!
If you want a game that’s really ‘in your face’ this Christmas, then this one is for you! Imagine the Instagram opportunities for plastering the ‘oldies’ foam covered mugs all over the internet! Just step right up and hit the plate as hard as you can for the most satisfying ‘splat’ of the Holiday season!
You’ve got to admit it – this retro arcade machine is a pretty rad toy for girls who like gaming on the go. Fully portable, and with no need for a TV or console, this set comes preloaded with a massive 300 full color games, meaning hours of fun, wherever they happen to be.
If choosing a Christmas toy is the ‘Bane’ of your life, be in the dark (knight) no longer with this mega Batbot Xtreme playset! Standing over 2 feet tall, his extendable wings and missile launchers make him the super hero of gifts. In battle-mode he features an awesome voice-changer, and his chest also opens up to reveal the Bat HQ. DC what we mean?
Light up an art lover’s day this Christmas with this magic screen. The different colored pegs fit in to the holes on the screen, and then the whole thing lights up, creating an explosion of color right before their eyes. With four different lighting effects, beautiful creations can be made over and over again.
Mission impossible? We think not! This may look like a toy for girls, but in reality it’s a top secret assignment, which, should they choose to accept it, involves making their way through a maze of ‘lazers’ without activating the alarm! Get to the bomb before time runs out to save the day.
Girls have busy lives, and if you know one who needs someone, or something, to help organize their time, this new Echo is a great idea. It can be used to make calls, play music, wake up, and all manner of other tasks. It can even check the weather so they know when to bring an umbrella!
It was a top toy then, and it’s a hot toy now. Sesame Street’s favorite character is back, shaking and giggling his way into the hearts of kids everywhere. The more you tickle his tum, the more he’ll laugh back at you, with just the right amount of softness to make him super cuddly, too.
$32.99
It’s a rite of passage for girls to have a personal journal, where they can write down those things they could never tell anyone else! This Dayna Lee notebook is perfect for the job, with its vegan-friendly leather-look cover and plenty of space inside to write those innermost thoughts. Or shopping lists.
If you’re looking more for a useful gift than a toy for girls this Christmas, this mermaid blanket is bang on trend and super cozy. Perfect for snuggling down on the sofa, the blanket won’t slide off, keeping legs toasty and warm and making those chill out days go swimmingly.
The ‘fin’ is, this is like a game of SNAP, with a difference. Each player calls out the action on their card, and when someone else has the same action, they perform it together. There’ll be high-fivin’ and fist bumpin’ all the way with this simple but fun toy for girls and boys, young and old.
They’ll look like Chewbacca fur real in this electronic mask! The wearer can control Chewie’s voice by opening her mouth a little for a quiet roar, or wide for a full on ‘jump out of your seat’ version. Just don’t let Chewie creep up on you, that’s such a ‘wookie’ mistake!
Kids love the gross things in life, and this kit will give them a lesson in human anatomy in a fun, interactive, and squishy way! With nine vital organs, and all the accompanying twisty bits and bobs that go with them, kids can put this John Doe back together again, piece by piece.
First there was the selfie stick, and now there’s a selfie flash! We all like to show our best sides when taking photographs, and this little clip on gadget provides a fill-in light to get rid of shadows or provide extra light when it’s dark. A great way to light up a girl’s Christmas!
This is problem solving 21st century style! For kids 5 and up this coding game encourages critical thinking and problem solving as they build a maze and then set the code for the cute little mouse to find his cheese! The perfect gift this Chris-mouse.
Aw…this pug in a mug makes an ideal stocking filler for a tea-loving girl, especially if she loves pugs, and let’s face it, who doesn’t? Looking like he’s trying to escape, this dunking doggy will hang on in there until the tea’s brewed perfectly. What a little cu-tea.
Kids grow so fast that it seems as if they only get a couple months play with something before they’ve outgrown it. This toy addresses that problem perfectly, first as a ride-on for the little ones, and then, as they grow, it converts into a scooter, meaning they’ll get a lot more fun out of it.
A great addition to any Lego set, the components in this kit will, when combined with basic Lego bricks, turn into fantastic chain reaction creations, each machine setting off the next. Make pulleys, ramps, pop-ups and fall-downs, with easy to follow instructions. Turns any child (or adult) into a mad scientist!
It’s an exciting world for little ones to explore, and this toy for girls or boys will delight curious little minds. Every time they turn the key, switch the switch or press the button a cute little animal will pop up to say hello. It’ll keep them engrossed for hours.
This is a night light that is truly Uni-corn-ique. This little mystical creature throws out quite a glow, more than enough to guide any girl (big or small) into dreamland, and stands guard as she sleeps before its automatic shut off activates and it joins its owner in the land of nod.
This is not a gift for the faint hearted or young, but it IS hilarious! For the social media generation, this is a game of memes, in which a judge holds up a photo and the rest of the players have to match a caption to it. Definitely one for the ‘meme’ girls!
Put your (or your kids) inner speed demon to good use with this glow in the dark roller coaster building set from K’Nex. With over 430 parts, and an air-propelled motorized car, you can enjoy 2.5 feet of the thrills, spills, and builds of the theme park in the comfort of your own home.
Pencils go missing, crayons roll off tables, and when you need paper there’s never any there. Sound familiar? If you have a frustrated artist to buy for at Christmas, this art case is just the thing! The colorful sturdy case comes complete with crayons, pencils, washable markers and paper all safely enclosed.
Oh man…if only these had been around when we were kids! Wild Things are THE ultimate in ride on toys for girls and boys who are going somewhere! With dual joysticks kids can go forward, backwards, and even spin in a 360 degree circle. They’ll be dizzy with excitement.
Just like a real baby, the more time you spend with her, the more Luvabella learns! She’ll go from babbling to saying real phrases, with over 100 phrases and words, and will giggle, kiss, and drift off to sleep in your arms. And once she’s asleep, if you listen carefully you can even hear her heart beating!
If you know a girl who is more into DC than Disney, this is the top toy for this season. Build Wonder Woman’s very own dorm room, where she can rest, before getting to work fighting crime on her ‘invisible’ motorbike. (Don’t worry, it’s only invisible to her enemies!)
Nothing is safe from being decorated with this very cool design studio. Make skins for just about anything – not just phone cases, but toys, shoes, even jewelry can be given a makeover. If it’s water resistant and fits in the chamber, it can be skinned! A gift to brighten any girl’s world.
This clever playhouse is loaded with activities inside and out, creating an immersive 360 degrees of play. With an interactive “hub”, a crawl through door, porch light, mailbox, drop through rain gutter and balls, and a recycling bin, there’s so much to do, including over 200 songs, sounds and phrases.
Join Marshall and save the day with this Paw Patrol fire truck that comes with a 2 ft. tall extendable ladder, mini fire cart, and dynamic lights and sounds. There’s water cannons on the front and rear of the vehicle to drown the fire, and a working claw arm to help save the day.
Taken from the Jurassic World film, this remarkable Gyrosphere RC vehicle comes right from the classic movie moments. With easy to use remote controls, you can turn the spherical shaped vehicle in all directions, and there’s an Owen action figure inside to guide you on your way.
Loop like crazy with this Hot Wheels set that corkscrews your cars along the enormous 3 loops, 3 crash zones, and through 3 high speed boosters. Try to hold on and not crash out with this crazy set that is fully compatible with other Hot Wheels sets for epic building.
This clever Barbie clinic care vehicle is both an ambulance and a playset. Roll out the ambulance to the rescue and then when on scene, lift the lever at the rear to instantly transform the vehicle into a care clinic with 3 distinct areas, including a flip down TV and a gift shop.
Based on the train from the movies, you can now recreate the Hogwarts Express, including the famous 9¾ platform, from this 801 piece LEGO set. Including Harry Potter figures and a replica train measuring over 3 inches high, this set is sure to please any child who loves the films.
Be on the watch for trouble and people in danger with this Paw Patrol lookout tower set that includes interactive lights, authentic sounds, and a vehicle launcher. Powered by 2xAAA batteries, the set includes Chase and his vehicle as well as Marshall and a number of pup packs.
Nobody knows what’s going to appear from the egg with Hatchimals, but one thing’s for sure – it’ll have super fluffy patterned fur and expandable wings! Teach your adorable new animal how to say your name, and raise them from a baby to a kid, all the while discovering new music and games.
This adorable puppy kisses and licks just like the real thing and will wag his tail when happy. With cute puppy noises and eyes that drop off to sleep, this puppy comes with a certificate of adoption and over 25 sounds and actions, making him the closest thing to a real puppy.
This play pretend kitchen set has got clicking knobs on the stove top for that added piece of realism as well as a pretend stove burner featuring lights and cooking sounds. With a recycle bin, a refrigerator, counter space, and an oven, they’ll have no trouble imagining cooking up a storm in this kitchen.
Imagine a Harry Potter wand that responds to your commands and plays along with your actions, and you might just be thinking of this one. Codeable with over 70 step by step creative challenges, you’ll make goblets fly and fire flow as you earn your wizarding stripes.
These down and out pets need a lot of love and attention as they come to you as a sad ball of matted fur. But with a bath and a dry, some brushing and love, she’ll have a friend for life that comes complete with their own adoption certificate, grooming brush, and collar tag.
This chemistry set comes with 50 experiments to complete, 16 of which are in the box and 34 from other sources. With easy instructions for kids, and adult supervision recommended, this is a classic educational toy that will suit ages 7 and up who love to learn a little as they play.
This Nerf blaster features Speed Load technology that automatically loads darts into the 30 dart drum and is fully motorized for those intense battles. With this non-stop operation, you’ll be always in the Nerf game and streets ahead of the more common ordinary blasters which lack this type of performance and quality.
Get the scoop on this really n-ice toy for girls everywhere this Christmas! With wooden cups, cones, scoops and toppings, kids can have their very own ice cream parlor to play in, whenever they want. Make a note in your dairy…oops, diary…to get this brrrr-illiant gift for someone special.
Nothing says comfort like a Care Bear, and this adorable plush will have a very special place in a little girl’s heart this season. It dances, sings, and even talks when it’s hugged. And watch out if your Care Bear sees another one – they recognize each other and will burst into song when they see one of their own!
Any child who is lucky enough to find Teddy Ruxpin among their Christmas toys will bear-ly be able to contain their excitement when they see what he can do. His eyes have over 40 different expressions, his mouth moves as he talks and tells stories, and by pressing his hand children can ‘paws’ the story whenever they want.
With My Little Pony they’ll never be lonely, because gorgeous Twilight Sparkle can say over 90 phrases, and will tell your child stories, as well as revealing secret magical spells (which makes her light up and sparkle with a magic of her own). She’ll even move her head and her hoof as she talks.
With just one smooth sliding motion, this cool vehicle transforms from boat to land vehicle, making this one of the top toys for any Paw Patrol fan. Comes complete with Ryder’s ATV, movable crane, lights, sounds, and even a helipad, taking the action up into the air when required!
You’ve heard the one about the wooden car with wooden wheels? It wooden go! But not in this case. This twin pack contains all the parts to make two awesome wooden cars, bringing old classics bang up to date, and as the parts are mix and match, the more they collect, the more possibilities there are.
This is the classic game of Monopoly, but for pint-sized players! Who wants to buy boring houses and hotels anyway? Its way more fun to buy a zoo, or a video game arcade! Comes with a single die to make it easier for little ones, and single banknotes so they never get ‘board’!
If you think toys for girls have to be all sweetness and light, think again! Junior jokesters of both sexes will have a great time pranking the whole family, so watch out…after Christmas nowhere and no-one will be safe from lurking laughter and jump-scare jokers!
Disney fans will have nothing to Moana about with this collection of figures from the movie. With Moana herself, Maui, Hei Hei, and Pua, kids can have their own Polynesian adventures as they recreate scenes from the movie, or make their own. A beautiful gift to Tiki home this Christmas!
Getting active children to sit still for a few minutes can be hard, but they will be rushing to take a seat on this stunning Vitra Eames Elephant chair. Straight out of the ever-popular story books, this chair is an irresistible addition to the bedroom, playroom, or even the garden.
This is a fab toy for girls or boys who are aspiring barbers (or who just like squishy fun!) Sit a character in the chair, spin the wheel and watch as their crazy hair grows and flows. Style, snip, and shape to give them a whole new look, then cut it all off and start again!
This gift couldn’t BB any more exciting! BB-8 has to be the cutest droid ever, with its round body, swivelling head, and opening hatch. Over 1100 pieces make up this Lego set, producing this little droid with a big personality, along with a display stand and miniature BB-8 figure.
Join Prue Panda Doll and her little bestie, Nari, in this adorable tree house playset, where everything comes in pairs. Nari can’t manage all the big stuff, so the tree house is equipped with Prue and Nari-sized toilets, sinks, beds and more, meaning Prue can ‘panda’ to her furry friend’s needs!
Young artists can literally bring their drawings to life with this 3D pen, specially designed for kids with no hot parts. The plastic cools quickly, and there are no wires to contend with, which means potential Picassos can make art that really stands out!
Don’t let the freckles fool you – Rey of Jakku means business! Just like in the movie, Rey can swing her staff when it’s time for action, and being fully posable, any epic battle can be recreated at home! With removable tunic and backpack, Rey is girl power at its best!
Toys for girls don’t come much more sophisticated than this self-balancing scooter. No matter which way you lean, this smart hoverboard keeps you upright as it automatically levels itself out. With LED lights, a battery life monitor and speeds of up to 8mph, this is one gift that will get you where you want to go.
Make a spectacle of yourself with this hilarious drawing game. Shake the dice, move your marker, and draw. Sounds easy, right? It would be, if you didn’t have to wear the distorting goggles when you draw! If your team mates can’t figure out what you’ve (badly) drawn, you miss a go.
The classic game of Twister just exploded! Now there are twice as many spots for players to get tangled up on! It’s the game people literally fall over themselves to play, and with the larger mat size, and the addition of two special gameplay options, the challenge just got even bigger!
Here’s a toy for girls who enjoy cooking up a storm! It’s play food with a difference, because before they can play with it, they have to make it! With enough ‘ingredients’ to make 18 different soft food plushies, it’s a gift that really will look good enough to eat!
Puppy love with a difference! Build your own interactive furReal puppy, and then start to customize it via the downloadable app included. There are literally hundreds of things this little pup can do, from sounds to color changing – who knew coding could be so rewarding?
Learning has never been more fun than with the Makey Makey Invention Kit! Turn hundreds of mundane items into touchpads, make your own dance mat, keyboard, or even turn your stairs into a piano with just a few clips and a computer. The possibilities are endless!
Start them young on the coding craze with this kit designed for ages 4+. Following the sequence on the cards, different colored tiles can be placed in the grid using the suction tool, replicating the picture on the card. Comes with handy ‘robot’ storage case to keep the 175 tiles and the coding cards safe.
Encourage mini engineers early by following the story in the book and building each vehicle the characters use. With 70 large pieces, budding engineers will have fun not only making the crane, bus, and other vehicles featured, but also creating their very own, too. It’s wheely good fun!
Every child loves the excitement of an Advent Calendar, but the fun is often short-lived as the tiny chocolate inside is gone in seconds. With the Tsum Tsum calendar, each window opens to reveal part of a winter wonderland playset, to play with or keep as a decoration. Adorable.
Say Hawaii to this cute Moana doll as she embarks on an epic journey to save her island from the mysterious darkness that threatens to take over her island. With a pretty hair flower which she will be happy to share, this is a beautiful toy for girls who love Disney and dolls.
Furby has caught up with technology! When there’s an update to the app, Furby’s antenna lights up, showing you there is something new to discover, such as videos, music and games. All of this activity makes Furby tired through, so just slip on the sleep mask for some much needed rest.
This spiral bound notepad is perfect for colorful art on the go. Each of the 20 pages is thick enough not to easily rip, and as a picture is drawn using the stylus included, a rainbow of color will appear on the page, turning simple drawings into stunning works of art!
Be careful what you say, because this adorable hamster will repeat everything you say back to you! Talk, laugh, shout or cry, this furry cutie will give as good as it gets, and even imitates male or female voices as it bobs its head up and down as it talks.
Kids will learn fast with Movi around to teach them! This delightful little robot will play tag, dance, and even get little ones (or big ones) to crawl like a tiger or growl like a bear! Encourages listening and thinking, all while getting the kiddos up and moving.
Saddle up for some horsey fun with Barbie! Her beautiful steed is interactive, with more than 30 actions and reactions, including neighing, dancing, nodding and nuzzling. Just clip her in and Barbie is ready to ride off into the sunset looking as chic as ever in her pink riding hat and molded pants.
Any smooth surface becomes fair game with Squigz, the construction set that sucks. Simply start by sticking a few brightly colored Squigz to a window, or table, and then build weird, wonderful and wiggly constructions by sticking each shape to the next. And when you pull them apart…POP!
Beauty and the Beast is up there among the top toys for Christmas this year, but this Dance Code Belle takes play and learning one step further. Coding is fast becoming a part of life, and with this interactive toy your child can choreograph Belle’s routines through simple coding. Dancing and Disney – it’s a tale as old as time.
The force is strong with this superb toy for girls and boys who love Star Wars. Signifying the struggle between good and evil, the light saber changes from Anakin’s blue, to Darth Vader’s red at the touch of a button. With realistic sound effects, it’s will take you to the dark side…and back.
Lego lovers will adore this 3 in 1 kit, enabling them to make a robot explorer, robot dog, and robot bird, all from the same kit. When built, the robot explorer has a workable searchlight, the bird has light up eyes, while on the dog, it’s the jetpack which illuminates.
These eggs are twice the fun as they contain not one but two adorable Hatchimals! Before the egg hatches you’ll hear tiny sounds, and when they emerge the adorable twins will interact with each other by playing games, sharing jokes, and even telling each other ‘I love you’.
Learning is so much sweeter when it involves a ‘magic’ musical ice cream cart! Simply place the order card in the slot, and build the customer’s order, teaching the child simple counting, colors, flavors and sequences. Once the order is ready, there’s a fun bell to ring before moving the cart to another prime location!
If you know a child who is crazy about Hatchimals, then this has got to be one of the best toys for them! With 10 about to hatch, and 2 who were too impatient to hang around, it’s the perfect way to start or extend a cute Hatchimals collection.
If you want to show some-bunny you love them this year, Enchantimal Bree is the best toy to do it. Every little girl will be ‘hopping’ for her very own cute ‘n’ cuddly Enchantimal, complete with her own look-a-like furry friend. Bree is the perfect size for small hands and big hearts.
They say the devil makes work for idle hands, so if you want a stress toy for girls who just can’t keep still, this cube is ideal. Small enough to fit in a pocket, each side has a different feature, such as spinning, clicking, rolling, and clicking, to keep even the most fidgety hands occupied.
Who wouldn’t love a robot for a christmas as gift? And girls love robots just as much as boys! With this building and coding kit from Lego you can build FIVE of them! The free, simple Tablet App tells you everything you need to know to enable your scientists and engineers of the future to build their own working robots.
Everyone loves coloring, and if you need a toy for girls who are wannabe fashion designers, this is the one for you. Once they have colored in their designs in the book provided, they can scan in their designs on the free app, and build up a mix ‘n’ match collection to their device.
It’s feeding time for this adorable Baby Alive doll. Just like a real mom, you can make her snacks, then feed her the specially made food you have perpared for her. With so much delicious food, it won’t be long before Lily poops it all out, and it’s time for a diaper change!
Mega Bloks are the perfect size for little ones who can’t quite master normal building bricks just yet. With 80 blocks in beautiful bright colors, young builders can immerse themselves in building and dismantling their own creations. Animals, houses, space rockets…their imagination is the only limit to what they can build.
They’lll never get bored with this board game, and ‘water’ lot of fun it is! Each player moves around the board, and when they land on a ‘paw’ space they get to shower the dog. If they land on the space with the faucet, however, watch out, as each turn could mean Soggy Doggy needs to dry off!
Fans of Jenga will love this variation on a theme. The bricks are all colored, and each player takes it in turns to roll the dice, and then remove a brick with the corresponding color. Great for the whole family, while teaching little ones colors, dexterity, and patience!
Just like the classic card game, only 21st century social media style! Draw a wild card and the person next to you has to make that emoji face for the whole of the next round! If they don’t they have to pick up two extra cards. An old favorite with a new twist!
These loveable little dolls come enclosed in a ball with layers and layers to unwrap first and each layer reveals a clue about which doll is hiding inside. And with three in a pack, who will you get? Will she cry, spit, tinkle or even change color? A great toy for girls who love surprises.
They say music is the food of love, and kids will certainly love this music card game, that allows them to compose their own music, download it to a website, and then hear it played back to them by a full orchestra! With 60 interchangeable music cards, the possibilities are endless!
Kids will lose their heads over this! 100 zombie figures, all ready to be arranged into gruesome scenes and nightmare scenarios! With zombie people, zombie pets, tombstones and even the odd living human, this set is a no brainer for ghoulish kids who will be dying to play with it!
This is a drawing board with a difference! Kids can simply draw on the board with one of the four styluses provided, watch their drawing come to life in full color, and then either erase it at the touch of a button or download and keep it via the app. Great for neat drawing on the go.
Gift buying doesn’t have to be confined to toys for girls – if you have a teen or tween you will be familiar with emojis, and with these super soft pillows they can have as many eye rolls, speak no evils, and even ‘poops’ as they want. Guaranteed to make them ‘heart eye’ you.
This is toilet humor at its best! Kids will ‘lav’ this game as they each take turns spinning the toilet paper roll to see how many times they have to flush the toilet! But be careful! The toilet will suddenly spray water when you least expect it. Gross fun kids will really enjoy.
Pom poms can make even the most mundane items look fab, and this kit lets you make 75 of them! Make, decorate, and then stick them to whatever you want to brighten up. Clothes, shoes, furniture…nothing is safe from being pom pom bombed!
It’s all well and good having photographs on laptops and cell phones, but nothing quite beats holding an actual photograph in your hand, especially when you don’t have to wait for it! The Polaroid Snap takes great photos in different formats, even photo booth style, and prints them out instantly. Smile!
Unicorns have been among the top toys of 2017, and this beautiful creature is no exception! With her magical mane, sparkling eyes and glittery tail, she will add a whimsical touch to any child’s bedroom. Standing tall and proud at 32inches high, this is a gift which will turn ordinary days into fairy tales.
Get more out of an iPad with the Osmo Genius Kit. Slot the iPad into the base, and a whole world of learning opens up – problem solving, math, spelling, drawing, and visual thinking. Screen time has never been so educational, and they won’t even realize they’re learning!
There’s snow better Christmas toy than this snow resort chalet kit by Lego. Kit contains everything needed to build a cosy 2 storey log cabin for hours of role playing fun. With fireplace, bedrooms, dining room and outdoor hot tub, the kids won’t be able to Alp themselves having fun!
A great toy for girls who are always on the go! De-light someone this Christmas with an illuminated scooter, so they can show off their skills wherever they glow. The reflective kick deck lights up from the LED wheels as soon as the scooter starts moving, keeping it firmly in the lime light.
For girls who are not shrinking violets, this kit contains everything they need to make shrink-plastic art. Choose your design, shrink it in the oven, and then build beautiful 3D creations which link together to make all kinds of jewelry. With easy to follow instructions for fail-safe results.
Kids these days have to carry the world on their shoulders, or at least heavy books and other school paraphernalia. This backpack gives them the room they need, with the comfort they deserve. With space to hold a laptop securely, and magnetic closures for easy yet secure access, it’s a bag which looks good, and lasts.
There has never been a more important time to teach kids the importance of nature, and this set really fits the bill. Children are encouraged to ‘adopt’ a tree, tracking its changes for a year and writing them in the diary. Comes with leaf and flower press, to stimulate interest and discussions about the natural world.
Babies and toddlers explore the world around them by touch, so what better toy could you make than a DIY sensory board? Choose items with different textures, sounds, actions, and colors and attach them securely to an MDF backboard for multi-sensory fun to keep them entertained for hours.
Little boys and girls will love this car-themed sensory board. With headlights, gear shift, working steering wheel and a mirror, not only will it stimulate babies’ senses, but it will also encourage role playing for toddlers and above. Fun to make and to play with, and totally unique to you.
If you’re looking for something to make which will be a big hit but take up little space when not in use, these A-Frame tents are for you. Perfect for indoor camping, reading nooks, or simply a little ‘me time’ for kids, these are simple to make and they fold flat for storage.
Aaargh matey, this is a great DIY toy for kids who want to sail the seven seas! Take one cardboard box/action packer pirate ship, add a Jolly Roger flag, and let the fun ensue! And when they’re finished for the day, the ship turns into a great toy box until the next adventure begins!
If you can’t sew, sew what? These adorable ‘Quiet Books’ can be put together without a single needle and look incredible. For shape sorting, nature, colors, numbers…whatever you can think of can be included, prompting quiet time and discussions. Encourages fine motor skills and number skills, color recognition and calm play.
This hobby horse has got to be the prettiest girl on the (stable) block! Stock up on some glittery, sparkly craft supplies, and get to work with eyelashes, feather boas, and the prettiest ears you’ve ever seen! Complete the look with flowers, feathers, and whatever else you have, and there you have it, the most glamorous hobby horse ever!
This is the most adorable fairy tree house you will ever see, and that included store bought ones! Made from an actual tree stump, and with some careful sawing, sanding and drilling, you can produce a natural home fit for a fairy King and Queen.
Teepees are always fun, but rather than have the kids use your chairs, tables and blankets to make one, this tutorial shows you how to make a simple but very effective tepee for the garden or the living room. Just a few bamboo sticks, a sheet, some string and several clothes pegs. Simple, but effective.
One of the most enduring games kids can play is that of raising a parachute in the air, waving it around while one of them runs underneath it, but buying one can be dreadfully expensive. This tutorial shows you how to make your own parachute, using only cheap shower curtains and some time.
Many play road mats that can be bought in the store are expensive and generic, so make your own, including anything and everything your child loves. Add in a zoo, shops, school, library…you could even recreate your own town or the area you live in. Made with hardwearing canvas for go-anywhere driving fun.
You’re going to need a few power tools for this DIY project, but the end result will be well worth it! Seesaws are firm favorites with kids, big and small, and this handmade one really needs only a few lengths of wood, some bolts and screws, and a few drops of glue to make.
Have your kids ever watched raindrops racking down a window? Well this DIY goes one better. Make a twisty, turny course with clear plastic tubing, pin it to a peg board, and watch as the colored water goes in the funnel and races along the twists and turns before spilling out into the tank below!
Children love to copy Mom and Dad, especially when it comes to looking after the baby of the house. As baby wearing is becoming more and more popular, little ones will want to carry their dolls in the same way. Make a doll-sized version with this easy tutorial.
Take a tree, and add some fabric, a hula hoop, and a couple of cushions and what do you get? A gorgeous hideaway for the garden where the kids can eat their lunch, read a book, or just get out of the sun for a while.
Kids love to scoot around, but if the weather’s bad and they can’t go on their scooters, what can they do? Well, how about a scoot board? With just a round wooden board, some rolling casters, and a little DIY you can produce this one, perfect for indoor use.
Ah…silly putty, that all-time favorite! Just three ingredients will produce a ball of goo which kids will delight in playing with. Cut it, knead it, twist it and even bounce it; with this simple recipe they can have a whole rainbow of molding fun at their fingertips.
Simplicity is often the key when it comes to imaginative play – all you need to do is supply them with some basic equipment and they will turn it into an adventure. This bucket and rope pulley will provide hours of outdoor, imaginative play and role playing.
This is an awesome DIY project which will keep little ones entertained every day, and you can make it as big or small as space allows! Plastic guttering, painted in bright colors and attached to the fence, form the basis for a crazy ball run. Just add marbles, and a few accessories, and you’re good to go!
These wooden dolls are the ideal project for children and adults alike! The wooden spoons could be made as decorations for a kitchen, while the pegs would make adorable little people for dolls’ houses and other playsets. Totally unique, highly durable, and will be treasured for years to come.
This is one to delight the kids and frighten the grandparents, but generations have survived ‘the stair slide’! Just flatten a couple of cardboard boxes and place them over the stairs for a fast moving race track for cars or marbles, or a daredevil slide for kids who want to go down it themselves!
A dolls’ house is so nostalgic, but what would make it extra special is to have a home-made one. Believe it or not, this one is made from a CD case and blank wooden shapes (from any craft store), and then decorated with scrapbook paper, wallpaper, and even wrapping paper!
Wooden building blocks have been a staple of children’s lives for years, but these ones serve a different purpose. By cutting out the letters of the child’s name in felt, and sticking them onto the block (or blocks) he or she can learn to spell their own name, using the block and a simple ink pad.
Water is always fascinating to little ones, and they will absolutely adore this project for summertime outdoor play. You can make this ‘water blob’ as big or as small as you like, giving them hours and hours of watery fun. Wat-er great idea!
Fishing is a great family activity, but if you don’t live near a river you don’t have to miss out on all the fun. Find some sticks on a family walk, and turn them into fishing rods for the kids to play with at home. Using magnets on both the ‘hook’ and the fish, it’s a ‘reely’ great game.
Take one old bedside cabinet, add a coat of paint (or three) and some peg board at the back, and turn it into this one-of-a-kind workbench for the budding DIYers in the family, at a fraction of the cost of a store bought one. Strong, long lasting, and individual.
These peg dolls are a wonderful way to teach children the alphabet, and get them to start recognizing letters and words. Can be decorated to suit any boy or girl’s tastes, and used in so many different ways. A different and whimsical way to start kids reading.
Babies and toddlers love to have tag blankets, and this tutorial shows you how to make one that’s just right for little hands. You could even use fabric from old clothes that are familiar, or one with their favorite character/color. The optional insert adds that all-important ‘crinkle’ sound, too.
For an outdoor easel with a difference, you can’t go far wrong with this one. The easel itself is built from wood, so you’ll need a little woodworking knowledge, but the drawing surface is clear acrylic, which puts a very different spin on painting. (It also makes for easy clean-ups, Mom)
Look in any toy store and you will find these kits for lacing, which are great for fine motor skills. But they can often be quite expensive. Making your own is inexpensive, fun, and you can tailor the shapes to suit your child using either freehand, templates, or even cookie cutters.
These ocean bottles are beautiful to look at and very calming, so could be used as a ‘time out’ activity, or simply as a fascinating toy. With just water, oil, and food coloring, you can create an ocean in a bottle, and the more you shake it the bigger the waves and bubbles become.
Cardboard boxes capture the imagination of children every time, so how about turning them into beautiful dolls’ houses you can make together, or as a gift? This tutorial shows you several different ways to turn the ordinary into the extraordinary, for very little cost.
Ribbons and rainbows are a beautiful combination, and kids will have a great time running and dancing around with the rainbow ribbon wands. As they run the ribbons will flutter out behind them, and they can twirl them, spin them, or even just hang them in the wind and watch.
Cook up a storm with this DIY project, for the most adorable play kitchen you can imagine, using an old wooden nightstand, paint, accessories, and imagination. Long lasting and elegant, it will provide years of play and might even be passed down to your children’s children as a family heirloom!
Every day can be summer with these cute cork flower stampers. Bundle the corks together, or use a single one repeatedly, dip into paint, and then stamp onto card. When they’re dry you simply cut the flowers out, glue on a button center, and arrange them around the house. Instant sunshine!
Chair backs, stair gates, painting easels…they’re all fair game for this alphabet pocket chart, and it can be made to fit whichever surface you plan on using it on! The felt background has 26 alphabet pockets, and cards with a corresponding object to slip inside each one. Fun and educational.
Wooden frames can be turned into these fab DIY lacers, to develop those fine motor skills in little ones. Using a drill, simply make holes in the frame, attach some brightly colored laces, and voila! A lovely quiet time activity for when it’s time to calm down.
Ideas don’t come much simpler than this construction set, which uses one thing – cardboard! Cut strong cardboard into squares, add v-shaped slits into each side, and there you have it…a kit they can play use to build weird and wonderful shapes with. The best ideas are usually the simplest.
You’ve got to love a toy that comes straight from nature! Take one thick stick, sand it down, drill holes in it, and provide a bag of laces, beads, and other threadable decorations. Kids will have a field day threading the brightly colored laces and beads through the stick, and it costs next to nothing to make.
You can turn a cardboard box into an activity center for one or more kids by following this tutorial. Color matching, shape sorting, number and letter recognition can all be incorporated into this drop box, which makes it perfect for toddlers and pre-schoolers alike. More than one child? No problem, just use a bigger box!
It’s a game that has stood the test of time, but what happens when the rain washes the chalk away from the sidewalk? You make an indoor one! This hopscotch mat can be used indoors whatever the weather, and the brightly colored squares make it a lot more fun! Hop to it!
Take 10 pizza boxes (5 if the bottoms aren’t too pizza-ey) and cut 10 squares out (the boxes are the perfect size, but any cardboard will do). Paint a number on each, 1-9, and then a semi-circle on the 10th, add a beanbag, and there you have it – a readymade indoor hopscotch!
Puppet shows bring back memories of Punch and Judy on the beach, and they are brilliant props for imaginative role play games. This DIY puppet theater can be adapted to suit any interests, not just the ocean, but dinosaurs, cars, planes…the world is your (and their) oyster. That’s the way to do it!
If your little Disney princess is more ‘Brave’ and less ‘Snow White’ why not throw together a Brave inspired party? With everything you will need, from decorations to goodie bags, costumes and games, this idea will mean a Disney party for less, and less stress!
Blocks make great toys for little ones, but what to make for a baby who isn’t quite big enough to play with the wooden ones yet? These soft blocks are adorable, squishy, and perfect for babies. Use bright colors, animals, rockets, whatever fabric you like to make a truly individual toy.
Soft books are lovely, they introduce babies to the idea of books and page turning at an early age. But this is a really unusual spin on the usual ones you can buy. Each page is printed with a black and white photo of the baby, or family members, or pets, to make a totally personalized gift.
Mr Potato Head has enjoyed something of a resurgence, but he can get a little noisy to play with if his parts fall on the floor. A felt book might just be the solution! Just cut all his accessories out from felt, and stick them onto the felt body enclosed. Lots of quiet fun, and no clattering!
Create simple wooden painted dolls with this interesting blog that will show you the how and why, combined with some great photographs so you can measure your performance. Great looking and easy to produce, these dolls will keep kids entertained for hours, both in the making and in the play.
Young kids love slides, and with the help of this blog you can create an indoor version which will have them playing happily for hours. Check out the different options available and how this blogger put together a cheap and easy-to-make toy for their children.
Kids love creative crafts, and with the help of this blog post you can create a printing block that can help your young child spell out their own name. With straight forward instructions and graphic images to tease out any misunderstandings, this is an inexpensive and easy craft to make.
With the gooeyness attached to slime and putty, they make great tactile toys for kids to learn from. Now, with this helpful blog, you can create your own silly putty from scratch and let your children loose on a budget- friendly version of the manic substance they all love.
Make a large scale fishing game for your children to enjoy with this novel blog post that details how to put together toy rods and fish. Using basic materials, this post details the process of creating the rods and of making the fabric fish, thus creating a fun game on a generous scale.
What simpler way could there be to make a dolls’ house than using a bookshelf? Leave it as it is, or decorate with wallpaper, add furniture, and you have a three, four, or even five storey house for one very lucky family of dolls to live in!
Thanks for the awesome ideas! Your DIY projects are genius. My favorites are making a dollhouse out of a shelf or cd shelf, the 5 minute backyard teepee and also the lacing shapes. Definitely want to read the other guides.
Lists
Lists
Thanks for the awesome ideas! Your DIY projects are genius. My favorites are making a dollhouse out of a shelf or cd shelf, the 5 minute backyard teepee and also the lacing shapes. Definitely want to read the other guides.