From book lovers and collectors to budding inventors, these are the toys and gifts we think elementary-aged kids will actually want to unwrap this holiday season. Elementary-aged kids can be some of the hardest people to shop for. They are old enough to have very strong opinions about what is cool, but still young enough to get completely absorbed in a new toy, craft or imaginative world.
For our 2026 Holiday Gift Guide, we looked beyond the obvious and picked toys that give kids something to do: create, build, collect, care for, experiment, imagine and play.
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For the Book-Obsessed Kid
Kobo Clara BW E-Reader
For the child who would happily bring an entire bookshelf on vacation, the Kobo Clara BW is a thoughtful upgrade from carrying around a stack of books. The 6-inch glare-free E Ink screen is easy to read, it has 16GB of storage, and it is waterproof, so an accidental splash does not have to end reading time. Kids can also listen to Kobo audiobooks using Bluetooth headphones.
Why we like it: It encourages independent reading while giving kids access to a whole library in one small device.
Luna StoryTime Projector
Turn bedtime into story time with the Luna StoryTime Projector, which combines storytelling with projected visuals. It is a fun choice for kids who still love being read to but are beginning to want more independence in how they experience their favorite stories.
Why we like it: It encourages listening, imagination and storytelling without simply putting another screen in front of a child.
Games & Pocket Play
Tamagotchi Paradise
The classic digital pet gets a new generation of fans with Tamagotchi Paradise. Kids care for their virtual pet by feeding it, cleaning up after it, playing games and keeping track of its needs. The choices they make affect how their Tamagotchi grows.
Why we like it: It turns responsibility into a game and gives kids a small daily routine they can manage themselves.
LEGO NINJAGO Destiny’s Bounty Adventures
For young NINJAGO fans who love playing together, this cooperative board game challenges players to team up as ninja heroes Kai, Nya, Cole or Zane to defend Destiny’s Bounty from invading villains. Players unlock abilities, tackle different adventures and work together to stop the Great Devourer before it is too late.
Why we like it: It brings LEGO minifigures into a strategy-driven game that rewards teamwork rather than competition between players. Designed for ages 8 and up, it offers a fun way for families and friends to enjoy a shared 30-minute adventure.
Bitzee Interactive Aquarium
For kids who love animals and interactive toys, Bitzee Interactive Aquarium brings a whole underwater world into a portable digital experience. Kids can interact with virtual sea creatures, care for them and discover new ones.
Why we like it: It combines nurturing play, discovery and collecting in a format that fits easily into a backpack.
EmotoBOT
EmotoBOT is an interactive robot that responds to touch and sound, making it more of a little companion than a traditional robot toy.
Why we like it: Kids can experiment with cause and effect while exploring emotions, reactions and imaginative play.
Purrfect Pitch Karaoke Machine
For the kid who turns every living room into a concert stage, the Purrfect Pitch Karaoke Machine is an easy win. It gives kids a chance to sing, perform and put on their own shows.
Why we like it: Singing encourages confidence, self-expression, memory and communication skills. It is also a great gift for kids who would rather perform than sit quietly with a traditional toy.
STEM/Science
National Geographic Glow-in-the-Dark Mammoth Tar Pit
Kids get to excavate a mammoth skeleton from a gooey tar pit, put the bones together, and then watch their prehistoric discovery glow in the dark.
Why we like it: It is a hands-on science gift that feels much more like an adventure than a lesson.
PlayShifu Orboot Core
This is not an ordinary globe. PlayShifu Orboot Core opens up to reveal layers of the Earth, from its surface to fossil-filled rock layers and mineral-rich depths, with a glowing core at the center. Using the companion app, kids can scan the globe to bring fossils, minerals, gems and geographical discoveries to life through augmented reality.
Why we like it: It turns a science lesson into hands-on exploration. Kids can investigate what lies beneath the Earth's surface while learning about geology, fossils and geography, making it a particularly good gift for curious kids who love asking how the world works.
MÖBIUS Space Explorer Rocket with Astronaut
For the kid who dreams of exploring space, this interactive rocket makes liftoff part of the fun. It features lights, launch sounds, an astronaut, a detachable capsule and a water-mist effect that makes every mission feel more realistic.
Why we like it: It combines imaginative play with exciting interactive features. Kids can create their own space missions while exploring how rockets work, making it a fun pick for young space enthusiasts.
Crafts & Construction
Cool Maker Charm'd Accessory Studio
The Charm'd Accessory Studio lets kids create wearable accessories and charms that actually feel like something they would want to use afterward.
Why we like it: Designing, threading and assembling pieces works fine-motor skills while giving kids plenty of room for personal style and creativity.
MÖBIUS 7-in-1 Take Apart Construction Set
For kids who love figuring out how things work, this construction set lets them build and rebuild seven different vehicles, including an excavator, bulldozer and dump truck. It comes with a child-friendly electric drill, tools, road signs and a play mat for creating their own construction site.
Why we like it: Kids get to do more than assemble a toy. Taking vehicles apart and putting them back together encourages problem-solving, coordination and early engineering skills, with plenty of opportunities for hands-on play.
SolarFlower
SolarFlower turns STEM into something kids can put on display. The buildable solar-powered flower combines construction with an introduction to renewable energy.
Why we like it: Kids are not just following instructions. They are seeing how sunlight can power something they built themselves.
Littlest Pet Shop x Like Nastya Besties DIY Bag Charms
This one combines two things elementary kids love: Littlest Pet Shop collectibles and making something themselves. The kit includes pets, beads and decorative pieces that kids can use to create their own bag charms.
Why we like it: It adds a creative activity to the collecting trend and gives kids something personalized to show off.
MAGNA-TILES microMAGS Winter Wonder Travel Set
The 26-piece Winter Wonder Travel Set packs magnetic building into a small storage tin that doubles as a building base. The microMAGS pieces are 75% smaller than traditional MAGNA-TILES and work with the larger system.
Why we like it: It is a genuinely useful travel toy. Kids can build, rebuild and create stories without needing a giant play table.
3Doodler Start+
For the kid who is always drawing inventions in the margins of their homework, 3Doodler Start+ lets them actually build those ideas in three dimensions. Designed for ages 6–13, the kid-friendly 3D pen has no external hot parts and uses specially designed filament.
Why we like it: It combines art, engineering and problem-solving while building spatial thinking and fine-motor skills.
ChompSaw + Inventor's Club
This is a bigger gift, but a very good one for the kid who wants to make things instead of just play with them. ChompSaw is a kid-safe power tool for creating cardboard projects, while the Inventor's Club provides new projects and patterns for kids ages 8+. It is also included among The Toy Insider's 2026 Hot 20 and STEM picks.
Why we like it: It encourages engineering thinking, planning, building and the confidence that comes from making something from scratch.
Fidgets & Tactile Play
Gui Gui Mega Slime Haul
The Gui Gui Mega Slime Haul takes slime well beyond a tub of goo. The 50-piece set includes multiple slimes, beauty-inspired tools, boosters, charms and a mini figure.
Why we like it: Mixing, stretching, rolling and decorating provide tactile sensory play while giving kids an open-ended creative activity.
ZipString Aracna Glow-in-the-Dark Web Shooter
The ZipString Aracna Glow-in-the-Dark Web Shooter is basically a modern-day yo-yo with a superhero upgrade, launching and retracting glowing loops of string that kids can turn into tricks, games, and challenges.
Why we like it: It is the kind of unexpected gift that gets kids off the screen and immediately asking, “How did you do that?”
Gem Pets Treasure Dig Kit
Kids dig through a scented heart-shaped soap to uncover hidden gems, then use the gems to decorate their collectible pet's accessories. The leftover soap can be molded back into soap, too.
Why we like it: It combines the excitement of a treasure hunt with hands-on crafting and collecting.
For Collectors & Unboxers
Momiji Magical Meadow Blind Box
Every Momiji Magical Meadow blind box contains a surprise character, and each doll holds a hidden fortune and a space for a personal message or wish. Kids can collect them, trade them or give them to friends.
Why we like it: It taps into the huge collectible and surprise-unboxing trend while adding a little more meaning to the finished collectible.
Littlest Pet Shop Mommy & Baby Surprise
The classic Littlest Pet Shop obsession gets a surprise twist with mystery packs that reveal a mommy pet and tiny baby pets.
Why we like it: They are cute, collectible, and especially fun for kids who love unboxing, trading, and building their own little LPS collection.
Deddy Bears Dig and Receive
For kids who love the mystery of opening, digging and discovering, Deddy Bears Dig and Receive combines collectible characters with a surprise-reveal experience.
Why we like it: The anticipation is part of the play, and kids can continue the fun through collecting and imaginative play afterward.
Wigglitz
Wigglitz brings the appeal of small, quirky collectibles to kids who like toys that can travel with them.
Why we like it: They are easy to collect, trade and play with, making them a good stocking stuffer or smaller holiday gift.
Dolls, Action Figures, Plush & Playsets
Power Rangers Mighty Morphin Re-Ignition Tyrannosaurus
A throwback for parents and a new discovery for kids, the Mighty Morphin Power Rangers Tyrannosaurus brings classic action-figure play back to the holiday toy aisle.
Why we like it: Action figures give kids an easy starting point for storytelling, role-play and building their own adventures.
Little Live Pets My Magical Dragon
For kids who want a pet but are not quite ready for the real thing, My Magical Dragon offers an interactive alternative with movement and responses that make it feel more alive.
Why we like it: Caring for and interacting with a responsive toy encourages nurturing and imaginative play.
PLAYMOBIL Large Lion Knights Castle
The Large Lion Knights Castle is a classic build-and-play gift for kids who love creating entire worlds. Once built, the castle becomes a backdrop for stories, battles and adventures.
Why we like it: Construction is only the beginning. The real play continues after the castle is built, encouraging imaginative storytelling and open-ended play.
Monster High Moonspell Magic
For kids who love dolls with a little more personality, Monster High Moonspell Magic combines character play with fashion, fantasy and storytelling.
Why we like it: Kids can use the dolls to create their own characters and stories rather than simply displaying them.
Imaginary Friends by Giffa
Imaginary Friends by Giffa leans into the growing interest in toys that feel personal and emotionally connected. Kids can create stories around their characters and give them their own personalities.
Why we like it: Imaginative play gives kids a chance to explore relationships, emotions and storytelling in a world they control.
Barbie Careers Science Doll & Lab Playset
For the kid who is always asking why?, Barbie's Science Doll and Lab Playset makes STEM feel like play. Kids can experiment, pretend to be scientists and create their own lab scenarios.
Why we like it: It combines role-play with science and helps children see themselves in a STEM-focused career.
One More Hot 2026 Pick: KPop Demon Hunters
If there is one fandom we would expect to see all over elementary-aged kids' wish lists this holiday season, it is KPop Demon Hunters. The franchise now has an extensive lineup of dolls, action figures, plush, games and role-play toys from brands including Mattel and Hasbro.
The HUNTR/X fashion dolls and singing dolls are particularly strong picks for elementary-aged fans, with current versions including Rumi, Mira and Zoey.
Why we like it: It takes a major pop-culture obsession and turns it into imaginative, character-driven play instead of just another screen experience.
The best holiday gift is not necessarily the biggest box under the tree. For elementary-aged kids, look for something that matches who they are right now: the reader, builder, collector, performer, inventor, animal lover or kid who cannot stop making slime. And if a toy gives them a reason to keep creating after the unboxing is over, even better.
