Kids can be the easiest people to buy gifts for during the holidays but also the most difficult. It largely comes down to age – tweens and teens are the most challenging – as well as specific interests. Some kids love LEGO, for example, while others are totally into video games. To help you decide the perfect gift for every child on your list, from toddlers to teens, we have curated this collection of the best toys to gift kids this holiday season. In each category, you’ll find the best toys for the holidays for kids. There are multiple gift type options to suit kids with varying interests and different ages.
LEGO is for all ages
Think LEGO is just for little kids? Think again. Not only is my 13-year-old son still very much obsessed with LEGO, but lots of adults are, too. There’s really no age limit for the building block toys. If you know they love LEGO or would be interested in a set with a desired theme, the world is your oyster.
Best LEGO set for toddlers: LEGO Duplo Caring for Animals at the Farm
This classic set has 74 bigger-sized pieces designed for kids aged 2+. It includes a farmhouse, stable, chicken coop, and eight animal figures like horses, cows, and chickens. A toddler can put this together with your help. Then, they’ll enjoy hours of fun playing with the toys, even making animal sounds. The set promotes fine motor skills and imaginative play.
Runner-up: The LEGO Duplo Alphabet Truck promotes learning alongside fun. Kids stack the blocks, learn letters and colours, build and destroy for hours of endless fun.
Best LEGO set for grade schoolers: LEGO Minecraft: The Nether Portal Ambush
You’d be hard-pressed to find a grade schooler who doesn’t play Minecraft and love it. This affordable set has 352 pieces and recreates an epic battle scene they can play with once the parental units tell them video game time is over. It includes an orc warrior figure, Minecraft ghast, hoglin figure, and two magma cubes. Don’t know what any of that is? Don’t worry, you don’t need to. They know all too well and will love this set.
Runner-up: The LEGO Fortnite Battle Bus is yet another set that will appeal to grade-school kids who love the video game. It comes complete with accessories for fun play after it’s built.
Best LEGO set for teens and tweens: LEGO Wicked: Emerald City Wall Art
It’s all about Wicked this year. Teens and tweens are loving the movie adaptation of the musical, seeking out merch to show off their fandom. What’s great about this 1,518-piece set is that it can be hung as wall art once done. Teens might be “too old” to play with LEGO, but having LEGO art on their wall? Now, that’s cool! The 3D display shows off film locations like Shiz University, Munchkinland, the kingdom’s famous train, and the Wizard’s hot-air balloon, all with authentic details. While it’s recommended for 18+, there’s no reason kids as young as 13 who love Wicked can’t enjoy putting this set together, too.
Runner-up: LEGO: The Milky Way Galaxy will appeal to a wider selection of teens and tweens, with 3,091 pieces to keep them busy and off screens.
Gaming is always a hit
Kids of all ages love video gaming. There are a few consoles and gaming titles that really stand out this year.
Best console for young kids: Nintendo Switch 2
The latest and greatest, the Nintendo Switch 2 will likely make it on many Christmas wish lists this year. An updated version of the console, it has a larger 7.9-inch HD screen and support for up to 4K resolution. It comes with two Joy-Con 2 controllers that magnetically attach to the unit. Play at home, in the car, even take it to a friend’s house. The Switch 2 is the most versatile gaming console around.
Runner-up: Get them a bundle option that includes a popular game title, like the Nintendo Switch 2 Mario Kart World Bundle or the Nintendo Switch 2 Pokemon Legends: Z-A Bundle. Don’t discount the original Nintendo Switch, ideal for younger kids who won’t care about the upgrades of the newer version.
Best console for older kids: Asus ROG Xbox Ally X
A new console (and Best Buy Canada is the exclusive retail partner), the ROB Xbox Ally X affords the same portability as the Switch 2. But it has more power for serious gamers. The handheld gaming console runs on Windows 11. It has an AMD Ryzen Z2 Extreme processor, an incredible 24GB RAM, and a massive 1TB hard drive. Equipped with a 7-inch display, enjoy smooth, lag-free visuals thanks to AMD Radeon graphics. Best Buy Blog’s Matthew Rondina says in his review of the Xbox Ally X that the unit is a “genuine rethinking of what a handheld PC can be.” He loves how it “bridges two worlds, console simplicity, and PC freedom.”
Runner-up: Stick with a classic console upgrade and get them the Xbox Series X, which the whole family can enjoy.
Best game titles for young kids: Donkey Kong Bonanza
It’s just good, wholesome, throwback fun. Donkey Kong is a game you probably remember playing as a kid. It’s back and better than ever for a new generation. Kids can explore the underground world while smashing their way through walls, tunnels, and more to get through levels. Rated for 10 and older due to fantasy violence, if you’re okay with younger kids enjoying the cartoonish fun, this game is a solid option for grade school kids and up.
Runner-up: If you’d rather something with an ESRB rating for Everyone, Super Mario is always a safe choice, and one of the latest titles is Super Mario Galaxy + Super Mario Galaxy 2, a two-in-one game combo deal.
Best game titles for older kids: The Outer Worlds 2
Available for different consoles and rated mature, The Outer Worlds 2 is a follow-up to the popular original. The sci-fi themed game sees players explore a colony while attacking enemies with weapons. Build alliances, undergo missions, and try to save humanity. After seeing an early preview, Rondina loves the new content and mechanics, character traits, and companion line-up. It’s worth getting, especially for a fan who loved playing the first game. Just preview it first to ensure you’re okay with your older child playing.
Runner-up: Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 is available for pre-order through November 14, and serious gamers are looking forward to the expected new maps and modes.
Take a break from screen time with family-friendly games
Gifting a child a family-friendly board game is a great way to encourage quality family time. Plus, it’ll get them off screens for a few hours. See our board game buying guide to help you choose, and these select picks for the holiday season.
Best family-friendly strategy game: Settlers of Catan
A long-time favourite among families, this game requires strategic thinking. You become settler of a new land and must work to source supplies and build up your community. But your opponents are trying to halt your efforts, so you must negotiate and plot to emerge victorious. The game board is modular so you can play again and again without worrying that it’ll get repetitive. Suitable for kids aged 10+ (you may find younger kids can play), it’s good for up to four players or just play in teams if you have more. Runner-up: You can never go wrong with the classic board game Monopoly, a game of strategy and negotiation the whole family can enjoy.
Best silly family-friendly game: Hasbro Ultimate Catch Phrase
Trust me, you won’t be able to play this game without everyone laughing hysterically by the end of the first round. Need a pick me up for the whole family? This is it. The disc displays a word or phrase and the person holding it must get their partner to guess it by using other words that don’t contain any form of the actual word or phrase. Toss it to the next person to get their partner to guess the next word, and so on. A clock is counting down, however, and when the buzzer goes off, whoever is holding the disc loses. Go for as many rounds as you want with this game, which has 5,000 words and phrases loaded into it. It runs on three AAA batteries so pick up a pack to go with the gift.
Runner-up: Get silly with a game of Twister that promotes physical movement and stretching, and that young kids especially will love.
Best family-friendly game for big families: Arcade1Up PAC-Man Deluxe Arcade Machine
Surprise the family with a retro arcade game they can set up in the basement without worrying about having to search their pockets for quarters or reload a play card. Enjoy family tournament night or everyone can play when they have time and try to beat their family member’s new high score. The five-foot tall machine comes with a 17-inch monitor, real-feel controls, and of course, the classic game everyone knows and loves. Runner-up: Skip the board or electronic game and go with the Bopster 8-Bit World Map, a 1,000-piece puzzle everyone in the family can work on together, then glue and hang up once done.
Best family-friendly game for small families: MLB Toronto Blue Jays Checkers
Celebrate Canada’s beloved Toronto Blue Jays making it to the World Series with this baseball-themed twist on the classic game of Checkers. Families of two can play against one another in a best of seven tournament or draw names to go head-to-head until a final two battle. Rather than the standard black and red chips on a solid-coloured checkered board, the board is designed like a baseball field, the pieces with Blue Jays colours and logos. With 24 pieces and eight king caps, play by whichever rules you choose.
Runner-up: Perfect for one-on-one fun, get Battleship and see who can sink the other’s battleships first.
Encourage learning (and fun!) with STEM kits
Encourage kids to learn more about science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM), all of which will be integral to their future. STEM toys are both educational and fun.
Best STEM kit for toddlers: LeapStart Learning Success Interactive System Bundle
Get kids started on STEM learning with the LeapStart Learning interactive system bundle, which includes a stylus for interacting with pictures and words in an activity book. They can play games, solve puzzles, and work on skills like counting, reading, critical thinking, and problem solving. It’s suitable for kids from 2-7 and requires two AA batteries. Runner-up: The Vtech Play Smart Preschool Laptop is their first laptop to introduce them to the world of computing and learning at the same time.
Best STEM kit for grade schoolers: Brainstorm Cool Chemistry Kids Activity Set
Show them that chemistry can be cool with this set designed to get grade schoolers interested in the basic scientific principles of chemistry. It comes with 42 pieces and eight experiments that involve everything from acids to alkalis. The instructions are designed to be easy for little ones to follow with online tutorials that walk them through each experiment, step by step.
Runner-up: Every kid loves playing with slime, so why not help them learn how to make it with the Brainstorm Fun with Slime Kids Activity Set?
Best STEM kit for teens and tweens: LEGO Education Spike Prime Set
For a teen or tween who is heavily into robotics and coding, this kit will help them level up their game. It combines LEGO building with Scratch and Python coding to build then program a toy to do a variety of things. With input/output ports, a 5×5 light matrix, Bluetooth, built-in speaker, and more, kids will be able to explore every avenue of STEM. Along with coding, kids learn critical thinking and problem-solving skills.
Runner-up: Help them master the Rubik’s Cube with the Go Cube Rubik’s Connected X version, which works with an app to teach them how to do it in record time.
From toddlers to teens, find all the best toys
Whether you’re shopping for a two-year-old or a teenager, there are great toys they’ll love. The best toys for kids combine education with fun. Some even promote family time so everyone can join, enjoying quality time both away from screens as well as with them. With options for every age and at every price point, you’ll check off your entire list in no time.
See all the best toys that would make great gifts for kids at Best Buy Canada.
