Ah, kids aged 5-12 – the elementary school years! This is a time of incredible growth, where they’re blossoming into independent thinkers, exploring their passions, and making lifelong friends. It’s a period filled with wonder, curiosity, and a whole lot of energy! This is the perfect time to nurture their interests and encourage their development with thoughtful gifts.
Active Play Gear – Get Moving and Have Fun
Razor A Kick Scooter
Scooters are perfect for kids who love to zip around the neighborhood. The Razor A Kick Scooter is durable, easy to ride, and perfect for getting outdoor exercise while having fun. It’s an excellent gift for improving coordination and balance.
Nerf Blaster Guns
Nerf Blasters are a classic gift for kids who love a bit of friendly competition and outdoor play. Whether for solo fun or group play, these blasters encourage active outdoor adventures.
Sports equipment: Get them involved in sports with basketballs, soccer balls, baseball gloves, or other sports gear.
Books – Expand Their Imagination
“The Magic Tree House” Series by Mary Pope Osborne
This beloved series takes kids on historical adventures and is a fantastic way to cultivate a love for reading while learning about different time periods and places.
Dog Man
adventures of a dog-headed superhero cop, combining humor, action, and heart to entertain young readers.
CAt kid: adventures of Li’l Petey, a young cat, as he navigates creativity, friendship, and fun in a comic-making club.
Educational Toys and Games
Board Games – Fun for the Whole Family: promote teamwork, strategic thinking, and problem-solving while having fun with family and friends. Ticket to Ride
This popular board game involves strategy, planning, and a little luck as players compete to build train routes across North America. It’s perfect for family game nights and teaches kids geography and strategic thinking.
Science kits: Introduce them to the wonders of science with fun experiments and activities.
STEM Kits – Learning Through Hands-On Play STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) kits are perfect for fostering creativity and problem-solving skills. Snap Circuits Electronics Discovery Kit
A perfect introduction to electronics! With Snap Circuits, kids can create their own electrical projects, such as lights, alarms, and more, while learning how circuits work.
Art and Craft Kits – Unleash Their Creativity
Crayola Ultimate Art Kit
With everything a young artist needs—crayons, markers, colored pencils, and sketchpads—this kit is perfect for kids who love to draw, color, and create. It’s a great way to keep them entertained and help them develop their artistic skills.
Klutz Friendship Bracelet Kit
This craft kit gives kids the tools to create colorful friendship bracelets that they can wear or share with friends. It’s a fantastic way for them to express their creativity and make meaningful gifts for others.
Musical instruments: Encourage a love of music with kid-friendly instruments like guitars, drums, or keyboards.
Tech Gadgets – For the Young Innovators
Fujifilm Instax Mini Camera
This instant camera lets kids capture memories and print photos right away, making it a great gift for kids who love photography. It also encourages them to engage in creative activities like scrapbooking or journaling.
Osmo Genius Kit for iPad
This interactive learning system uses an iPad to turn playtime into educational fun. With games focused on math, spelling, and creativity, Osmo encourages kids to learn through hands-on play.
Sphero Mini Robot Ball
This small, app-controlled robot ball offers a fun and interactive way to teach kids about robotics and programming. Using a smartphone or tablet, kids can guide the ball through various obstacles, play games, and even learn basic coding concepts with the Sphero Edu app.
Educational & Developmental Gift Resources
National Geographic Kids (STEM & Nature-Based Gifts) – Kids national geographic
American Academy of Pediatrics (Age-Appropriate Toys for Development) – healthy children
PBS Kids (Educational Games & Toys for Learning) – pbs kids.
My Kids’ Obsessions:
Books, board games, and video games have been my kids’ absolute favorites at this age. I’m always amazed at how they can enjoy these activities while learning so many different things along the way. It’s incredible to see how much they absorb—whether it’s strategy from a board game, creativity from a storybook, or problem-solving from a video game. Watching them grow and learn through play has been one of the most rewarding experiences for me as a parent.
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