Our Top Toy for Kids Is Just $16 on Amazon Right Now (and It Glows in the Dark!)

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When birthdays roll around, when you know a kid in need of a pick-me-up or when it comes time to find Christmas gifts for kids, it can be overwhelming trying to keep track of all the best new toys of the year and the most popular gifts of the season. Or, even if you can, sometimes it can be hard to figure out which ones are worth the price tag, and which ones will be played with for five minutes and then discarded (or worse, broken).

CLICK TO SEE OUR ULTIMATE GIFT GUIDE LIST FOR 2023

The Good Housekeeping Institute keeps track of toys year-round. Experts stay on top of trends and hot releases, calling in their favorites to be tested in the Lab. Those are evaluated for safety, durability and ease of use, then passed on to real, appropriate kid testers, who give their (very) honest opinions about the fun factor. The best of the best go on to earn Good Housekeeping Best Toy Awards, while other top-tested picks feed our age-by-age gift guides.

Here, we've skimmed off the most popular picks from all of those age-by-age gift guides — and added in a few best-sellers and editor's picks — to come up with his ultimate list of best gifts for kids in 2023. So, what's been resonating with our kid testers? They love to put their brains to use, either through strategy board games, puzzles, brain-teasers or STEM sets. They also like to stay stimulated with things like fidget toys and sensory toys. Whether they're into the trends or want something totally timeless, here's Good Housekeeping's suggestions for the best gifts for kids this year.

Our Top Picks for Best Gifts for Kids in 2023:

• Crayola Light-Up Tracing Pad, $19 on Amazon

• Air Hogs Gravitor, $22 on Walmart

• Squishmallows 8" Plush Mystery Pack, $23 on Amazon

• Magic Mixies Magical Misting Crystal Ball, $70 on Amazon

• 3Doodler Start+ Essentials 3D Pen, $50 on Amazon

If you're looking for more targeted recommendations, we've included our list of age-by-age toys and gift guides for kids at the bottom of this story. Or, you can check out these awards, which are full of good gift ideas for kids.

The Good Housekeeping Best Toy Awards | The Good Housekeeping Kids' Book Awards

Light-Up Tracing Pad

The kit comes with more than 100 traceable images that kids can mix and match to make their own designs, and the backlight makes tracings easy to see no matter the setting. It comes with a graphite pencil, 12 colored pencils, 10 tracing sheets and 10 blank sheets. Ages 6+

Evergreen

Out of the hundreds of books submitted to the Good Housekeeping Best Kids' Book Awards, this was the most universally beloved by Good Housekeeping Institute testers. Readers loved the beautiful, Earth-tone illustrations, and the way the story about a squirrel who needs to deliver soup is reminiscent of famous fairy tales. Ages 2 – 5

RELATED: The Good Housekeeping Best Kids' Book Awards

Kanoodle

The company behind Kanoodle says it's sold more than 3 million copies of the game, thanks to the #KanoodleChallenge on TikTok. And, after playing it, it's clear to see why it caught fire on social media. It's a satisfying brainteaser: Players pick a challenge card, which starts off a 2D pattern or 3D shape, and players have to try to fit in the remaining pieces. If kids really like it, you can move on to other Kanoodle variations, like Kanoodle Head-to-Head (for competitions) or Kanoodle Genius (for harder challenges). Ages 7+

Fire-Breathing Bowser Figure

This Bowser figure — which stands 7" tall and has 13 points of articulation — is pretty impressive on its own. But it gets really cool when you add water and press one of the spikes on the back of its shell, because actual smoke comes out of its mouth! (Well, a cool mist at least.) His mouth also glows a fiery red. Watch out, Mushroom Kingdom! Ages 3+

RELATED: The Best Gifts for Gamers

Make It Mini Food Diner Series

If you know a kid who likes to collect miniaturized versions of everyday items, they'll be thrilled to receive this, since they actually get to help create the mini food themselves. The ball comes filled with tiny ingredients, which they can arrange into a dish with a tweezer. Then, when they set it out in UV light (like sunlight), the resin will harden and freeze it the way they arranged it. In addition to the diner series, there's also a café series and a lifestyle series. Ages 8+

Creator Mighty Dinosaur Toy

It's three LEGO dinosaur-building sets in one! First, kids can put together a fearsome Tyrannosaurus Rex, complete with a buildable bone rib cage. Then, they can take that apart and use the same pieces to make either a Triceratops or a Pterodactyl. Ages 7+

Hover Soccer Ball

Think of it as life-size air hockey: These discs hover over smooth surfaces, and kids can kick them around for indoor, active fun. They also have a bumper around the edge, so they don't damage walls or furniture. Ages 3+

Paint by Sticker Kids

No markers, no paints, no crayons — no mess! Kids match stickers of different shapes and colors to the correct spots on the pages, and it creates a mosaic-like work of art. They come in many themes, including dinosaurs, unicorns, rainbows and Christmas. Ages 5+

Barbie x Hally Temporary Hair Color

Welcome to Barbie Land! If kids want to leave their Real World hair for a minute, they can try this temporary hair dye, which is designed to wash out in one shampoo. It comes in three colors, each with its own hair accessory: Signature Pink comes with a tinsel hair clip, Pump Up Purple includes hair gems and Malibu Blue comes with hair beads. No age recommendation given

Light-Up Drawing Tees

These t-shirts double as an activity! They come with a light wand, and, when kids illuminate it and draw over the shirt's special panel, it makes a cool glow-in-the-dark design. The design fades after about five minutes, so they can do it over and over again. (It also works with a phone flashlight.) Ages 3+

Spider-Verse Hoodies

If Across the Spider-Verse has them obsessed with all things Spidey, they'll love these hoodies, inspired by Peter Parker, Miles Morales and Gwen Stacy. When kids put the hoods on, they can look through the cut-out eyeholes — so cool! All the hoodies are made in a comfy French terry. Sizes 2 – 12

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Floor Pillow Lounger

Just stuff this with five bed pillows (not included) and they'll have a comfy place to lay down in an instant. They can use the loungers for sleepovers, for reading or even as a nap mat. They come in lots of colors and patterns, too, including navy stars, black-and-white checks, outer space, cars and taxis and mermaids. No age recommendation given

Pokémon Battle Academy

If you know a Pokémon card collector who wants to learn how to play the trading-card game, this is just what they need. The step-by-step instructions actually walk kids through the first few turns after explaining the rules, so kids get a feel for the gameplay before they start taking turns on their own. IT also comes with three full decks (Cinderace, Pikachu and Eevee), along with accessories like damage counters and an official coin to flip. Ages 6+

RELATED: The Best Pokémon Gifts for Fans of All Ages

Sleuth & Solve Mystery Book

Kids will have their critical thinking skills put to the test when they try to solve the 20 included mysteries in this book. Once they think they've cracked the case, they can lift a flap to reveal the answer. If they like it, they can move on to Sleuth and Solve: History, Sleuth and Solve: Science or Sleuth and Solve: Spooky. Ages 8+

Rhyme Antics Game

How's their flow? If they're proud of their freestyling skills, get them this game, which tasks players to incorporate challenging words into their raps. They won't even realize they're building their vocabulary! Ages 12+

Comic Book Kit

The comic-book genre has expanded so profoundly, and now storytellers use graphic novels for everything from superhero stories to poignant memoirs. Kids can try creating their own graphic stories with this kit, which will help them think about how to lay out their stories across different panels. It comes with two, 24-page, pre-formatted booklets, along with markers, word-bubble stencil templates and even stamps to add things like "Pow!" Ages 6+

Sew Mini Treats

If they're fans of DIY projects or all things adorable, they'll thrill to this set. No sewing experience is necessary, and the kit gives them the instructions and materials to make 18 adorable, food-shaped plushes. They'll feel so accomplished when they see their smiling pantry! Ages 10+

Magical Misting Crystal Ball

Good Housekeeping testers were in awe when the "Mixie" emerged from the mist inside this crystal ball. (But parents said the smell reminded them of a rock concert.) Once the Mixie is conjured, it can do things like cast spells and tell fortunes. Ages 5+

Squishmallows Plush Mystery Pack

What's better than getting a new Squishmallow? Try getting three! This one comes with a trio of 8" Squishmallows — and you don't know which ones you're getting until you open the box, so there's a surprise element as well. Ages 3+

Gravitor

The coolest thing about this "drone" is that it doesn't require a controller — kids can operate it with their hands or feet. Once they've mastered how it floats in the air, they can try to learn tricks with the "trick stick" in the center. Ages 4+

RELATED: The Best Drones for Kids

KidiZoom Creator Cam

Kids love creating their own videos, and this camera makes it easy for them to add cool effects like animated backgrounds. Plus, parents can feel safe knowing that it doesn't connect to the internet on its own, so they have ultimate control over who gets to see the final products. (It can connect via a USB cable if you do want to share.) Ages 5+

Start+ Essentials 3D Pen Set

With this set, kids can learn the basics of 3D printing. The pen melts the compound (without getting too hot), and then an activity guide will give them inspiration for what they can design and make. There's also a kit for kids ages 4+ that comes with molds they can use to make small figures. Ages 6+

Artie 3000 Coding Robot

Get the kids started on learning to code at an early age with this awesome robot. Artie 3000 will draw whatever kids program, which is a creative and fun way to learn and practice a key STEM skill. Ages 7+

BrainBolt Genius

This one gives kids' minds and fingers a workout! Colored lights flash in a pattern, and then players are challenged to repeat it. Good Housekeeping testers appreciated that it had different modes of play, including single player and head-to-head (and, our favorite, silent). Ages 7+

Shape Shifting Box

This fidget toy became a hot holiday item in 2022 for its mesmerizing properties. It unfolds into different shapes, revealing different cool patterns, and then it becomes a puzzle to try and fold it back into a cube again. Ages 8+

Moon Lamp

Bring the night sky indoors with this lamp, which is 3D printed to look like the surface of the moon. But, even better than the moon, it lights up in 16 different colors. It also comes in four different sizes. No age recommendation given

Zero Gravity Laser Race Car

Kids will be amazed as this race car drives up the walls and even onto the ceiling! It can drive over any smooth surface (without damaging walls), and it's guided by a laser that kids can use to direct its path. Ages 8+

RELATED: The Best Remote-Controlled Cars for Kids

GeoSafari Jr. Talking Microscope

When they look at the slides under this educational toy, they'll get to see up-close images of wildlife. Then, the voice of Bindi Irwin offers facts about the plants and animals. They can also use it in Quiz Mode and see if they've retained any of the information. This year, they've also added the GeoSafari Jr. Talking Telescope to go with it. Ages 4+

Gravity Maze Marble Run

This game adds critical thinking to a typical marble run. Meant to be a single-player game (though of course you can work on it as a group), it comes with 60 challenge cards of varying difficulties; kids have to use their engineering skills to arrange the towers in a way that completes the run on the card. Ages 8+

Chase 'n Go Ball Popper

Toddlers love the excitement this toy brings: They can feed it four easy-to-grasp balls, press a button and watch as the air pops them all out again for kids to chase and return. It lets them get their energy out while working on their fine-motor coordination. Ages 9 months+

Hype Hair Floral Frenzy

Kids can get that fresh-from-the-music-festival vibe without having to pay Coachella prices. This kit lets fashion enthusiasts easily stamp fabric flowers into their hair (and Good Housekeeping parent testers appreciated how easy they were to remove, too). Ages 6+

Stomp Racers

Totally kid-powered, these race cars really go when kids jump on the air launcher. Good Housekeeping testers loved doing head-to-head match-ups to see which car could go farther. There's also a ramp that sends the vehicles flying into the air! Ages 5+

Monster Trucks Race & Go Playset

This set really maximizes what kids love most about cars — the crashing! The first vehicle that makes it down the hill triggers the track to fail, sending the other cars flying! It also comes with a Hot Wheels car and a monster truck. (But which one will be the champion?) Ages 4+

Good Housekeeping 1,001 Amazing Science Facts

Pop quiz: What's bigger, the number of trees on the planet or the number of stars in the universe? This book lets kids dig deep into the world around them answering questions about everything from how your eyes see to whether or not we drink the same water that dinosaurs did. It's perfect for any curious kid! Ages 8 – 12

Got2Glow Fairy Finder

Open this magical jar, and fairies can't wait to fly in! There are more than 30 fairies to discover, and they can even be "traded" between friends. Kids can feed the fairies and play games with them, and testers loved hunting for tricks like holding the jar upended to catch an upside-down fairy. And, new for this past holiday season, WowWee also introduced the Baby Fairy Finder and Pet Fairy Finder, which are both compatible with the original jar and have even more, even cuter fairies to collect. Ages 5+

Fashion Punch Style & Stitch Loom

Crafty tweens love making friendship bracelets, and this kit helps them make intricate designs and patterns. Good Housekeeping Testers said this was simple to use, and they were pleased with the results! Ages 6+

Coding Critters

Now even the littlest ones can learn very basic coding, with these cute animals who play fetch, hide and seek and more on command. You can get them as a dog, dinosaur, cat, bunny, unicorn or dragon. Ages 4+

DoodleJamz JellyPics

If you're looking for a just-a-little-something, this (silent!) fidget board is filled with clear gel and beads, and kids can push and squish the beads around the pictures. The pictures are removable; the board comes with one double-sided background, but kids can always DIY their own. If they love it, the DoodleJamz Jellyboard is similar, only it comes with colored gel and no beads. Ages 5+

Cake Pop Maker

Now kids can make their own cake pops without taking over your kitchen. This unit bakes 12 cake pops at a time, and also comes with accessories like sticks, a fork to get them out and a cake pop stand. They can experiment with different recipes and decorating styles. No age recommendation given

Stitch ‘N Style Fashion Studio

Even the experts at the Good Housekeeping Textiles Lab were impressed with this beginner sewing machine. Thread is loaded onto cartridges, so there's no threading, and a sensor can tell when the fabric is under the needle, so it doesn't require a pedal. It comes with enough fabric and instructions to make six different accessories, too. Ages 8+

Fairy Light Garden

Kids can actually plant seeds and grow flowers around this play set. One tester says it has just the right amount of play features, including a water wheel that really pumps water and spins, a fairy house that lights up and plays sounds if you blow on it and a fairy and unicorn figure to play with. The bridge can connect it to other My Fairy Garden play sets, too. Ages 4+

Custom Name Neon Light

You can choose the font, the color, the shape and the size of these signs, so you can really tailor them to a kid's room. They'll be delighted to see their name in lights! No age recommendation given

DIY Squishies

The squishy trend shows no signs of going away any time soon, and if kids are looking to add to their collections, this is for them. The set comes with 10 cream-scented squishies in random shapes, and kids can color them in however they like! (Note: Paint and markers are not included.) Ages 3+

Wall Collage Arts and Crafts Kit

They'll be able to dress up their walls, lockers or any other surface with this kit, which comes with more than 1,000 pieces including cutouts, list prompts, pictures, quotes and more. Their rooms will be ever-evolving works of art! Ages 10+

Latchkits Yarnimals

Crafty kids can make a new, adorable piece of decor for their rooms with these kits, which make 3D animals. It comes with everything crafters need, including the mesh form, snap-in eyes, a heart charm, a looping hook, yarn and instructions. They can also make a purple koala or a pink panda. Ages 8+

Create Your Own Secret Language

Tweens love to keep secrets, pass notes and come up with hidden in-jokes, so a book that teaches them to make up their own languages could be right up their alley. David J. Peterson, who made up languages for Game of Thrones and the Marvel MCU, leads them through making their own languages, codes, ciphers and hidden messages. Ages 10+

Busy Buggy

This sweet ride is a hit with toddlers because it has so much to do. They can use it as a push toy or a ride-on, and then, when not in motion, they can take advantage of all the sensory experiences, including gears that spin, beads that slide and a spare tire that clicks. Ages 1+

Pastel Rainbow Silicone Toy

Not only does this look great on a shelf, kids can play with it in a bunch of different ways: It can be a stacking toy, a teether or, since it's made of silicone, it can even be a bath toy. In addition to pastel, it also comes in bright, vibrant shades. Ages 0+

Lynette Fashion Doll

With her vivid pink hair, Lynette really stands out among the other fashion dolls out there. Lynette comes from The Fresh Dolls line of dolls, which is known for dolls with realistic face sculpts, real hair textures and many points of articulation to make lots of poses. Ages 3+

Saraswati Devi Plush

This Saraswati Devi plush doesn't just look cute — it plays mantras sung by child artists based in India and instrumental veena music. You can also get a personalized version, with a name embroidered on the leg (in any language) — or you can swap out a Bluetooth speaker for the voice box to further customize the mantra. This is part of the Modi Toys line of plushes, which also includes Durga Devi, Krishna, Hanuman and others.

Crazy Forts

It's blanket forts like you've never seen them before! Instead of draping sheets over your floppy couch cushions, use these rods and connectors, which let families build more intricate structures. This version glows in the dark! Note: you need to supply your own sheets. Ages 5+

How we choose the best toys

Before including our favorite picks in an article, the Good Housekeeping Institute does rigorous toy testing to ensure we're recommending only the best. Many of our choices come from our yearly Toy Awards, where we test each item based on the following criteria:

✔️Safety: Our engineers and analysts make sure that each toy reaches all safety standards. They also assess things like pinch points and make sure toys won’t shatter into small pieces to pose a potential choking hazard.

✔️Ease of Use: We look at each toy to evaluate how simple it is to assemble, how well it’s constructed and how durable it is during play.

✔️Kid Approval: Aside from testing each toy for skill-building attributes, like how well it develops social-emotional skills, all our final decisions come from more than 100 children, ages 1 to 15, who assess the fun factor!

Why trust Good Housekeeping?

For decades, the Good Housekeeping Institute has provided expert reviews and advice on everything parents and children love, including STEM toys, educational toys, sensory toys and more.

Much of the toy testing for this article was overseen by Rachel Rothman, the Good Housekeeping Institute's chief technologist and director of engineering, with the help of Marisa LaScala, Good Housekeeping's senior parenting and relationships editor. For more than 15 years, Rachel has put her training in mechanical engineering and applied mathematics to work by researching, testing and writing about parenting products. Plus, as a mom to three kids under 5, she has plenty of first-hand experience.

Marisa has covered all aspects of the world of parenting, from the postpartum years through the empty nests, since 2015, and she's pitched in with Good Housekeeping's toy coverage since 2018. She lives in New York City with her husband and daughter, who are both avid toy collectors. Marisa learned how to play the Pokémon TCG from Battle Academy (and she's not too bad at it).

Shop more toys and gifts for kids

Looking for more great gifts for kids? Let the experts do all the hard work for you!

• Top-tested items: See what toys, gifts and books ranked the very highest in our Lab tests with our Good Housekeeping Best Toy Awards, our Good Housekeeping Best Kids’ Book Awards and our Good Housekeeping Parenting Awards.

• Tech for kids: Our lab experts are often asked for recommendations for digital devices for kids, and we've tested kids' phones, kids' smartwatches, kids' tablets and game consoles and to see which ones held up the best for families.

• Great learning toys: While all toys can be helpful vehicles for supporting developmental growth, we love to spotlight notably exceptional educational Toys and STEM toys as well as ones that can support social-emotional growth, like those included in our lists of the best sensory toys, pop fidget toys, Montessori toys and autism toys.

• Gifts for babies: Please the newest members on your gift list (and their parents) with these useful baby registry items, as well as gifts for babies, gifts for baby girls and gifts for baby boys. Of course, you might want to get something for new parents to help them through the hectic newborn stage.

• Gifts for toddlers: The coolest new toys in this space pull double-duty, whether it's social-emotional learning combined with motor skills, or creative play combined with language, as you can see in our gift guides for gifts for 1-year-olds, gifts for 18-month-olds, gifts for 2-year-olds and gifts for all toddlers, as well as our stocking stuffers for toddlers.

• Gifts for preschoolers: As they begin to explore the world around them on a deeper level, help them explore with STEM sets, art kits, creative toys and toys that inspire their imaginations. Find our favorites in our gifts for 3-year-olds (including gifts for 3-year-old boys and gifts for 3-year-old girls), gifts for 4-year-olds (including gifts for 4-year-old boys and gifts for 4-year-old girls) and gifts for 5-year-olds (including gifts for 5-year-old boys and gifts for 5-year-old girls).

• Gifts for big kids: By these ages, they've developed their own interests. Help them dive deeper into the subjects that most interest them, from coding to art to cartooning to history and geography, with these gifts for 6-year-olds (including gifts for 6-year-old boys and gifts for 6-year-old girls), gifts for 7-year-olds (including gifts for 7-year-old boys and gifts for 7-year-old girls), gifts for 8-year-olds (including gifts for 8-year-old boys and gifts for 8-year-old girls), and gifts for 9-year-olds (including gifts for 9-year-old boys and gifts for 9-year-old girls). It's also fun to shop for some of our best-reviewed and top-selling stocking stuffers for kids.

• Gifts for tweens: Sure, once they get old enough for an iPad or gaming console you might be at a loss of what to get them. We have you covered with engaging picks for gifts for 10-year-olds (including gifts for 10-year-old boys and gifts for 10-year-old girls), gifts for 11-year-olds (including gifts for 11-year-old boys and gifts for 11-year-old girls), and gifts for 12-year-olds (including gifts for 12-year-old boys and gifts for 12-year-old girls), or see what's trending with boys or tween girls as a whole.

• Gifts for teens: We decode what's on the lists for this picky age group, from the hottest accessories to the most-wanted tech gifts, with gifts for 13-year-old boys, gifts for 13-year-old girls, gifts for 14-year-olds, gifts for 15-year-old boys, gifts for 16-year-olds, gifts for teen girls, gifts for teen boys and even fun stocking stuffers for teens.

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