Photography by Bryan Rollins
Have you made your list? Checked it twice? The holiday season is upon us, and we’ve had our eyes out, looking for cool kids’ gifts and gadgets to jumpstart your search — or help you find those last few items. With input from Memphis-based store Knowledge Tree, we present options for boys and girls of all ages. These toys will help your kids get creative, improve STEM skills, or just have some old-fashioned fun. Happy shopping!
Products marked with an asterisk* can be found at Knowledge Tree, whom we thank for their assistance in gathering the latest in kids’ toys and gifts.
*OFFBITS ROBOTS
These build-it-yourself kits encourage creativity, and turn familiar items around us into next-generation toys. With this one, build your own robot using upcycled materials!
$11.99 to $24.99. Ages 6+
*SQUIGZ
These building toys use suction to connect. Connect them to each other or defy gravity by sticking them to bathtubs, windows, tabletops, and more.
$17.99 to $44.99 per set. Ages 3+
POCKET OPERATORS
Teens can create their own studio-quality music — drum machine, bass, lead, sampling, and more— with these handheld synthesizers.
$49 and up.
*CRAZY AARON’S PUTTY
With different varieties — including hypercolor (heat sensitive, color changing), glow-in-the-dark, magnetic, and ultraviolet — the fun is limitless.
$14.99. Ages 8+
MAGSTIX
Stack and build and develop fine motor skills with this 41-piece magnetic set from BizyBeez.
$69.99. Ages 3+
*RAINBOW PIANO
Inspire young musicians! Piano comes with a sheet music booklet and helps improve fine motor skills and stimulate mental development.
$59.99. Ages 6+
*BOTLEY THE CODING ROBOT
It’s never too early to learn about coding! This STEM toy can be programmed by children as young as 5, and it advances as they do. Includes coding cards, detachable arms, interactive obstacles, coding games, and more.
$59.99. Ages 5+
*CODENAMES PICTURES
Your are a secret agent. Your leader can only give one-word clues for your team to figure out which picture is safe for you. Be careful not to uncover the assassin!
$19.95. Ages 14+
*PICTOPIA: DISNEY EDITION
Family game night: Team up and test your Disney trivia knowledge — and even how well you know each other!
$23.99. Ages 7+
*HOGWARTS LEGO SET
Your little witch or wizard can create their favorite School of Witchcraft and Wizardry with this Harry Potter Great Hall set. Building LEGO structures assists in learning engineering and physics.
$99.99. Ages 9-14
*STEAM POWERED GIRLS:CRYSTAL GARDEN
Your budding scientist can learn about chemistry with this crystal-growing experiment, which combines scientific and technical principles to inspire fun and creativity.
$18.99. Ages 10+
*JUMBO PLUSH GIRAFFE
This 4-foot tall giraffe is perfect for animal lovers — a great companion for your child’s safari or zoo!
$79.99. Ages 3+
*SENSORY ROLLERS
Stimulate your young child’s senses. The grooves, dips, and curves provide a touchable surface while the chimes inside are calming and pleasing to sensitive ears.
$15.99. Ages 6 months+
*REMOTE CONTROL MACHINES KIT
This Thames & Kosmos kit is perfect for children who like to take things apart and put them back together. Kit includes a 64-page manual with illustrated instructions to guide you through building eight models of construction vehicles controlled by a remote.
$99.99. Ages 8+
*EXAMINE AND TREAT PET VET
Does your animal-loving child want to be a veterinarian when they grow up? This 24-piece play set helps children use their imaginations while teaching them about veterinary work. Comes with two plush pets.
$29.99. Ages 3+
AIR BLAST CANNON
This STEM-based toy from KLUTZ Maker Lab teaches kids to construct a moveable, air-powered cannon and fire away at the included targets while learning about the physics of projectiles and mechanics of pneumatics.
$24.99. Ages 8+
PAI STORYBOOKS
With the use of Augmented Reality (AR) technology, these books pair with a free app to create a unique interactive reading experience where illustrations come to life.
$14.99. Ages 3+