50 actually great gifts you can still get from Amazon (that don’t scream “I bought this yesterday”)

Stomp Rockets are one of those toys that check all the boxes. They’re simple, battery-free, great for a wide range of ages and endlessly engaging. Their new NASA collection includes three foam renditions of the Space Shuttle Atlantis, Saturn V Rocket, and the SLS Rocket which can be launched up to 100 feet by the sheer force of a well orchestrated stomp. (It’s as satisfying as it sounds.)

A top-rated favorite year after year, Crayola’s Inspiration Art Case comes with 140 crayons, markers, and colored pencils to create an endless collection of masterpieces. We love how the neatly packed case encourages them to keep their supplies organized–the fact it’s travel-ready is just a bonus!

Who decided being a know-it-all is a bad thing? This colorful compendium offers answers to all your kindergartner’s burning questions like “why do elephants have trunks?” and “why are clouds different shapes?” so they can flex their knowledge at share time. The clear and digestible answers are verified by Brittanica experts and span a wide variety of topics.

Ninety years in, Fisher Price is still making toys that become instant favorites. This year, the Laugh & Learn Ultimate Playhouse is one of ours. The 360 degree play set and activity center offers tons of interactive features like a crawl through door, drop-through rain spout, shape-sorter trellis, musical wind chime and plenty of lights and sounds. It also is equipped with their Smart Stages levels to teach ABCs, numbers and even the weather in developmentally appropriate ways as they grow.

Order up! This wooden diner play set from Melissa & Doug comes with everything your little one needs for hours of pretend play. With 41 pieces that range from diner delicacies to the dough they’ll need to pay the check, there’s a lot to keep them busy. And right now it’s 45% off!

At home or on-the go, LCD writing tablets are an indispensable way to keep kids occupied without a screen. They can doodle, play drawing games and even practice their handwriting and erase it all at the touch of a button to start again.

This highly-rated game is one of the absolute best for preschoolers. (And fun enough that older kids will want to play too!)  Spin the spinner and use the squeezer to pick up matching acorns. It’s perfect for teaching your littles matching and sorting skills.

The Hape Scoot Around Wooden Bike is perfect for the little one already eyeing their first bike. Designed rubberized wheels to keep it from moving too fast (or marking up floors) a sturdy base to keep from tipping and handles perfectly-sized for little hands, it’s one they’ll safely get the hang of in no time. One other plus? Assembly takes just a few minutes (a blessing for all parents).

With 360 degree support and an overlapping design, this top-rated pillow is perfect for little ones who always seem to flop forward when they konk out. The flat back keeps their head from pushing forward while the stacked arms provide a cozy place to rest their chin. It’s soft and cozy with a curved surface that conforms to their neck and can be customized to the perfect fit with a touch of velcro. (There’s two sizes and a bunch of fun colors to choose from as well.) Got a carsick (or drooly) kiddo on your hands? No problem. It’s totally machine washable!

This one is actually fun for the entire family! The game play is simple (it literally takes less than three minutes to learn) and the illustrations are ahhdorable. But be warned. They may look cute but games can get intense quickly. So much yelling. In the good way, of course.

Ready to give your kiddos their first tablet? We love this one because it comes with a kid-proof case, 2-year worry-free guarantee (if your little one breaks it, Amazon replaces it), one year of Amazon Kids+ and ability to connect to WiFi. It’s not too big, not too small, incredibly durable and reasonably priced. A total slam dunk!

We just love the look of the highly-rated Vintage Wooden Play Kitchen from KidKraft! Rocking some cute retro vibes, this petite toy kitchen set packs a lot of play into a compact design. It’s got all the essentials (oven, two burner stove top, refrigerator and freezer, a sink, microwave and cabinet) along with some fun features like a phone and ice maker. It’s also impressively sturdy but note that the height makes it most appropriate for littles age 3 and under.

These six super soft blocks are easy for the littlest ones to play with. Plus, each one has a place for inserts to be added that shake, rattle and roll.

Once upon a time my 1-year-old and 6-year-old squabbled over these daily. It was annoying, but a true testament to the power of a simple toy. (And their commitment to a lifetime of bickering.) There are tons of different ways to play, from simply taking them apart and putting them back together, matching the inside color to the face, matching the shape on the bottom to fit into the carton and even staging egg hunts. If my experience is any indication, they’ll have a prominent spot on the playroom shelf for an impressive stretch of time. (And inspire sibling arguments for just as long.)

Kids will spend hours creating various designs with these 3D magnetic tiles. And with more than 10K 5-star reviews, you can’t go wrong.

This set comes with 77 pieces that kids as young as 5 years old can play with. Botley, the robot will learn the more he’s played with, providing endless coding activities for kids to create.

Step2 offers a twist on the classic ride-on toy (since it comes with its own 10.25 ft. roller coaster track!), so it’s guaranteed to make their eyes light up! Perfect for indoor or outdoor play, your toddler or preschooler will practice gross motor skills as they zoom down the track safely, since the ride-on toy features a high back, handrail, and footrests for a safe, secure ride down the track.

With 25 colorful wooden pieces, kids will have fun stacking and sorting the different shapes (while working on their hand-eye coordination).

Powered by water and imagination, this set of suctioning building toys work in all kinds of configurations. Just stick them to the wall to experiment with different designs.

Adorable illustrations on the outside, a cascade of wonder on the inside!

A relaxing candlelit bath, but make it kid friendly. These colorful cubes light up when the tub is full and turn off once it’s drained.

Packed with 500 shimmery, glittery stickers, this is the sticker book for the smallest Swifties.

Practicality rules when it comes to toddler stocking stuffers. These mini me leak-proof silicone toddler tumblers are great for hydrating at home or on-the-go.

This is one of those classics that no kid can resist. The sturdy construction and quality materials means it not only really works, it actually lasts through multiple kids. Use it to dig in everything from snow to sand to plain old dirt!

This xylophone set isn’t one of those toys that’ll get deserted in record time, thanks to the fact that it features more than one way to play. Your kiddo can use the hammer to tap the balls through the holes to create a melody on the xylophone below, or they can slide out the xylophone and pound out a solo.

The Air Fort inflates in just 30 seconds—no building required—but it will entertain them for hours and hours. All you need is a box fan to get it going. From sleepovers to rainy days, you’ll thank yourself a thousand times over.

Perfect for assuaging fears of the dentist and an engaging, fun way to teach kids how to care for their teeth (especially if you have a toddler who fights toothbrushing!), this realistic toy dentist kit has it all including all the essential exam tools, realistic teeth, braces, retainers, floss and more. (Best of all, it’s 50% off right now!)

Take away the complicated scoring and unwieldy board aspects of Scrabble and you get portable, fun and easy-to-play Bananagrams. Whether you’re playing kiddos who are just learning to spell word-nerds like myself, it’s a family hit!

When it comes to elementary schoolers, there’s no canvas more appealing than their own body. If they’re regularly busting out the markers to doodle on their arms, these fine-tipped felt pens are a great alternative. They’re made with water-based inks that easily wash off with just soap and water.

When you’re three, butts are the height of comedy. In fact, “Knock, knock?” “Who’s there?” “BUTTS!” was a legit joke told in my household for a solid month or two. Harness the power of butts for good with this hilarious (and educational) memory game. It’s fun to play the traditional way but can also be used to create some brand new creatures that are sure to get a laugh. (Even more than that killer knock knock joke, I hope.)

An e-reader and a notebook in one, Amazon’s Kindle Scribe marries the strain-free, tactile experience of analog with the convenience of digital for all things reading, note-taking and journaling. Like the Paperwhite we fell in love with years ago, it’s got a glare-free, front-lit screen which really feels like paper when you write on it (the Premium Pen is included), and an impressive battery life. Within just a few days of use, it became an indispensable tool for my partner who is constantly jumping from research project to personal development with the added bonus of built-in AI tools to summarize all his scrawled thoughts. At a time when so much tech can ultimately feel distracting, the Scribe is actually a refreshing example of how it can really make our lives easier–and what a great gift that is!

Whether they’ve got a decades old sourdough starter or simply been talking for years about learning to bake bread, this King Arthur Baking Company cookbook was written with them in mind. Each of the 125 recipes, which range from classic pan loaves to sweet yes-that’s-considered-bread options like sticky buns, are accompanied by drool-worthy photos and QR codes to helpful videos. If you’re lucky, maybe they’ll make some for you!

Last minute doesn’t mean it isn’t extra special! Filled with heartfelt, creative prompts, these guided journals make it easy to show grandma and grandpa a bit a gratitude. There’s 100 fill-in-the blanks that range from silly to sentimental and even if you only filled out half, it would still be the greatest treasure. (You know, kind of like your second child’s baby book.)

Once you start using a silk pillowcase, there’s no going back. Perfect for the bestie who’s battling postpartum hair loss or really anyone who wants to treat their skin and hair right while they sleep, this budget-friendly beauty from Alaska Bear is made from 100% mulberry silk and comes with a silk scrunchy that’s gentle on tresses as well.

Help them lock in their travel toiletry game with this smartly designed set. The reusable silicone bottles and jars are leakproof and easy to fill (and clean!) with the included tools and streamlines packing in the chicest of ways. Tucked inside the clear case, TSA will give them a gold star for their totally profesh performance. (Ok, that’s unlikely but at least they won’t get grumpy. Maybe.)

If they have in-ear headphones of any kind, there’s a good chance they could use a cleaning. This highly-rated 3-in-1 tool includes implements to freshen up every nook and cranny.

If their shoulders aren’t in knots, are they even alive? Ideal for working out tension in the shoulders, legs and upper back, the foam ball rollers from Oceanfoam are almost addicting. Their clementine size and irregular surface provides targeted relief to those tender spots even as they sit at their desk trying their best to sit up straight and not make it worse. (It’s me, hi.)

For the person who always needs a charger, this top-rated version from Anker has three USB ports so they’ll never be without battery again. It charges phones more than six times and tablets at least twice.

This sweet set of holiday-ready nail polish from essie are the perfect pick-me-up for besties, tweens, and even yourself! Each of the glossy hues look fetching on their own or in combination for the festive mani of their sugarplum dreams.

The best part of waking up is…having all the things done for you already. This best-selling Cosori kettle can boil water from anywhere via their free app and even includes a baby formula mode to warm water to exactly the right temperature for littles.

When it comes to portable speakers, the Flip 6 from JBL is one of the absolute best for the price. It’s got an impressive battery life and a rugged, waterproof rubber housing to keep it safe during everything from backyard BBQs to beach parties.

If they haven’t yet unlocked the treasure trove of information that is their DNA, this is truly the gift that keeps on giving. From how their genetics can influence their health to learning about family origins, there’s so much to be learned from a vial of spit.

For the person who doesn’t have time to sit and read but still wants to enjoy the latest books—meet Audible. They’ll get one free credit a month, good toward any title in their audiobook library.

Step their at-home lattes and hot chocolates up a notch with this top-rated milk frother and steamer from Instant Pot. The versatile design makes cold foam, light warm foam, thick warm foam or simply warms their milk of choice so they can become a pro-level at-home barista. Best of all, it just takes a few seconds!

If someone on your list struggles with headaches, you can be their own personal hero. This soothing cap is designed especially for migraine sufferers and according to thousands of glowing reviews, it’s completely indispensable. Just pop it in the freezer and melt into a dark cocoon of cool relaxation.

If you want to treat the beauty lover in your life to a slam dunk gift, meet the Laneige Lip Mask. It’s so hydrating and I noticed a difference the first time I used it. I now use it several times a day and because the Berry color has a slight pink tinge and gloss. I even use it as a lip gloss when going out for the night. There are a bunch of sweet flavors to choose from too. (Hello, gummy bear??)

Looking for a very on-the-nose stocking stuffer? The slightly horrifying but oh-so-satisfying foot peels from Plantifique are my family’s current obsession. (And with over 28K 5-star ratings, it’s not just my house that’s on team Foot Peel!) Just wear the serum filled plastic booties for a little while and in about a week you’ll have the feet of a newborn baby. Though I must note as much as we love the results, look at the review photos at your peril.

Sure, they might pride yourself on your grill prowess and instinct for taking that ribeye off at just the right time, but it’s 2024. There’s an app for that. Meater, the cleverly named bluetooth-enabled wireless meat thermometer is the upgrade you never knew you needed. The dual sensor probe monitors both internal and external temperatures to take the guesswork out of cooking allllll the meat, indoors and out.