The Sweet (But Not Candy!) Valentine’s Day Gifts We’re Buying the Kids in Our Lives This Year

I’ve got two boys who spend all day building, and Magna-Tiles are one of their favorite types of media to use. “In general, I think Magna-Tiles are great gifts for kids and inspire creativity and problem solving,” says editorial director Simone Scully, whose son tried this set. With 13 pieces, including magnetic tiles, a hamster in a ball, and a slide, it would make a great small gift, Scully says. “It will likely inspire your kids to soon request more and build their own little villages or race tracks like mine does,” she adds. For ages 3 and up.

My preschooler is just learning how to write his name, so this was a hit with him. It’s a whiteboard personalized with your child’s name in dotted letters. They can practice writing their name by tracing each letter with the low-odor dry-erase marker, erasing it, and doing it all over again. My son loved getting to use the marker and thought it was like magic when we could erase the letters and practice again and again. I think this has helped improve his handwriting a bit, plus it has helped seed more interest in him in learning to write letters. These whiteboards come in several different themes, including Great Outdoors, To the Moon, Fairytale Daydream, and Dino Valley, and they are great for preschoolers and kindergarteners.

It’s never too soon to start introducing positive affirmations to your kiddo’s daily routine. With 52 3-by-3-inch cards with affirmations to read, meditate on, and display in their room, this set also provides ideas for how to use the cards, as well as strategies and tips for parents to help their kids get the most out of this new habit. “[It] goes a step beyond simple affirmations like ‘You are brave’ [and] comes with instructions and tips for caregivers too,” says writer Riley Blanton, who explains that the box recommends this for kids ages 4 to 11, but she could see introducing these to children even earlier.

“I like that there are boxes/subscriptions for different age groups and interests,” says editor Ashley Ziegler. This subscription company offers the Creative Kit, a monthly box for ages 6 to 10 that gets kids building cute and colorful dioramas. It includes an animal friend each month, as well as an educational video about the activity. The Build Box, for ages 8 to 12, focuses on simple build-it-yourself mechanical toys, such as a disc launcher and a trip wire. Like the Creative Kit, kids will gain access to an educational video each month. Both of those boxes also give kids the chance to win a Platinum Ticket to visit Crunch Labs if you submit a mini-movie featuring them building and playing with the kit. The Hack Pack, for ages 14 and up, introduces teens to the world of programmable robots. Think infrared turrets, laser synthesizers, and omnibot forklifts. Subscribers will be able to unlock videos teaching real hacking skills each month. This subscription also comes with the chance to win a Platinum Diploma, which grants college tuition and a visit to Crunch Labs.

“My kids also had a lot of fun with the kits. They are well-made, and I like that they come with everything you need to do the project,” Ziegler adds. This is the type of subscription box that will keep your kids occupied on cold, rainy days when outside play isn’t an option.

Building up fine motor skills is one of the most important ways to help your little one with writing. While my preschooler still finds this game a bit challenging, it’s one we’ll keep trying so that he can build up those muscles in his hands. This game (meant for kids 4 and older) is like Jenga, but the focus is more on balancing the skinny wooden sticks on top of one another, ideally on top of the animal’s head (you can also check out the Pony Pile-Up and T-Rex Topple versions). Our workaround to make it easier as he practices his fine motor skills has been to stack the sticks on the belly rather than the head, for a wider platform.

“We got to try three kits from KiwiCo, and the kids loved all three,” says Ziegler. “My favorite was the soap-making kit — it included everything we needed to make the soap. The process was fun and not overly complicated (though parent supervision was necessary), and the kids loved it. The ice cream kit was also fun, since there is the freezing aspect.” Ziegler says that her family also tried the mini cakes kit. Ziegler mentioned that while the dessert-making sets come with all the tools needed to make these sweet treats, users must provide the ingredients. These activity boxes can be purchased separately (there are toys, science projects, and craft activities available for babies through adults), but KiwiCo also offers subscriptions for kids of all ages.

I used this play gym with both of my babies before they were walking, and to this day it’s still one of my favorite things I’ve bought for them. It’s colorful without being overstimulating, and it offers hanging toys that can be switched out and moved from spot to spot, a canopy, cards that can be switched out to catch your little one’s interest, and five foldable play areas that focus on different senses and development stages, spanning from newborn to 1 year old. I love how customizable it is, so your baby never gets bored with it. You can purchase add-ons as well, like these sensory strands (which I have and my kids absolutely loved — I credit them with helping them learn to roll) and additional black and white cards.

Crafty kids ages 5 through 12 will be occupied for hours with this 6-by-8-inch easel and watercolor set. Parents will be happy that it doesn’t take up too much room and that the spillproof water cup and splat mat help reduce mess. It’s Valentine’s Day themed, and it comes with puffy heart stickers and envelopes, so kids can send handcrafted Valentines to friends and family.

“I think it’s so cute,” says Ziegler. “My girls absolutely love arts and crafts, and this kept them busy and entertained for a while. I love any product that gets them to use their creativity and doesn’t involve a screen, and this definitely delivered.” 

We had to put at least one sweet treat on this list, so we went with one that uses fresh ingredients and doesn’t have preservatives. We received this brownie and crumb cake assortment as a Christmas gift, and we loved that everything was individually wrapped, so they traveled well, and that the brownies and crumb cakes tasted fresh. 

You’ll get chocolate chip, pecan (my favorite), peanut butter, cheesecake swirl, coconut macaroon, and blondie bombshell brownies, as well as original crumb cake and raspberry crumb cake squares (raspberry is the best, in my opinion). Just be aware that these should be consumed within five days, since there are no preservatives used.

This is an easy audio player for littles (age 3 and up) to navigate. All they have to do is place their selected Tonie (a figurine that will play stories or songs) on top of the cube, and handle two easy-to-grab buttons (or ask an adult to help). This is a great tool for quiet time, before nap time, and for independent play.

“The new Toniebox is compatible with the new toddler Tonies, which include farm animals and the like, which are more appropriate for young kids,” says Scully. “They have also released games.” Choose from your child’s favorite characters, such as Ms. Rachel, Blippi, Spidey, Elmo, a large assortment of Disney characters, and so many more.

I’m thrilled that this has become such a big hit with my 4-year-old. Like the Toniebox, this is an audio player, but it’s a bit better suited to preschoolers and older. This mini player is also more portable, and we’ve found it to be very handy in the car (especially if you opt for the travel case).

Kids can use Yoto cards to listen to stories, songs, and lessons, and the options seem to be endless. My kiddo really likes My First Words in Spanish and is already repeating short sentences in the language, thanks to this card. You can also find cards with popular musical artists like The Beatles, Disney movie-themed cards, and classic children’s books like Charlotte’s Web.

Gamify your kid’s day and keep them on track with chores, homework, and other tasks with this fun virtual alarm that rewards them as they check off each to-do item. “This is more than a kids’ alarm clock; it’s a motivational tool, toy, alarm clock, and planner all wrapped up in one,” says Scully. “When you first set it up, your child can choose between a cat or a dog as their ‘pet’ — my son chose the cat. Then, as a parent, you set up the app so that you can set alarms for your kid (like a morning wake-up alarm) and set up their schedule, which gives your child gentle prompts to do things they need to do.” 

Set reminders for homework, cleaning their bedroom, brushing their teeth, bath time, and more. Once they’ve finished a task, the user can check it off on the touchscreen, which will reward their “pet” and give them points, eventually leveling up their pet and working up to rewards. You can also set an “okay-to-wake” light for those young early risers. It is suitable for kids ages 3 and older.

When kids get to the age that they can venture out on their own, you’ll still want to keep in touch. If they’re not yet ready for a cell phone, the Cosmo JrTrack 5 Kids Smart Watch is a great intermediate step. You’ll be able to track your kiddo’s location, set contacts they can call or text, and feel comfortable that they have the ability to reach 911 with the press of a button. Kids will love that they can listen to music through Spotify and take photos.

“I like the text and calling function, and the fact that it can call 911 if needed. This adds on security, especially as a parent in a household with no landline,” says writer Jessica Milaga, who tested it with her 7-year-old daughter. “The watch is really easy to use. I didn’t have to teach my child how to use it. Unlike other watches for kids, this one can text and call other people that you put on the okay list to call. Also like how it comes with this rubberized band and an alternate cloth band. (My child chose the rubber.)” Though this product doesn’t come with a recommend age for use, Migala recommends it for older elementary school children and preteens.

This set of three bubble baths is going to make sure you’re always ready for an extra fun bath time, but practical parents will also appreciate that these also work as a body wash and shampoo. You can choose your three scents from seven options. (Note: The Vanilla Whip is foaming and is a little different than the others, which are in gel form.)

“I love the scents and that they’re so gentle on the skin,” says Ziegler. “We got the Melon, Vanilla, and Strawberry scents, and both of my kids absolutely love them. I also like that they’re safe as body wash, so I don’t feel like I need to rinse them off in the shower after taking a bubble bath.” Ziegler said that this product worked well for her daughter, who has eczema. The soap is natural, vegan, gentle, and nontoxic, with no artificial dyes or fragrances, and according to the website, it is okay to use on kids and babies of any age.

Nothing will get a grumpy child in the bath faster than turning it blue or red with a bath bomb. My toddler loves these ones from Crayola because they turn the bathwater vibrant colors. They love watching the bath bomb fizz and shrink in the water. They’re nontoxic, cruelty-free, phthalate-free, paraben-free, and gluten-free. It’s important to note that these are scented, so they may not be right for those with sensitive skin. They are meant for children ages 3 and up.

Is your kid not a shoe kid? These are meant to feel like the next best thing to being barefoot. They’re made of ultralightweight vegan mesh and recycled polyester, and they are easy to get on and off. They’re available in five colors, including a rainbow-like Ombre, and come in kids’ sizes US 12 through US 3.

“I like that these shoes are made of breathable material, which is ideal for an active kid who runs around a lot,” says Scully. “It’s also Velcro, so my son could put them on himself easily. [The shoes] also came in this cool blue-purple color (Aurora) that changed in the light — and he thought that was super cool.”

“There’s a lot to like about this bike: For one, it’s pretty easy to figure out the right sizing for your child,” says Scully. “Not only does the company recommend by age, but it also clearly lists the ideal height for each bike, which made me less worried about whether I was choosing the right bike for my son (especially since this was his first bike).” She said that the bikes come in a variety of fun colors like black and blue, pink, purple, teal, and more. The one featured here is recommended for ages 5 through 8.

The bike is easy to set up, and it’s compatible with training wheels for first-timers. “You can also customize the bike further with fun accessories, including a matching bell, a colorful seat clamp, colorful grips, wheel hub lights, a water bottle and holder, streamers, and even a matching helmet — all little extras that my son really, really liked,” Scully adds. 

Make your next trip as comfy as possible for your kiddo with a neck pillow made especially for kids. These come in different animal themes, like panda, kitty, and puppy, so it feels just like a stuffed animal pal, and they are appropriate for ages 3 and up. Each has a Velcro section so that you can easily strap it onto your bag when you leave the plane. 

“It’s cute, and my son was way more willing to use this neck pillow on our trip to visit his grandpa in Florida than he was willing to try some of the others,” says Scully. “My son tends to sleep on planes and in the car, but he always looks so uncomfortable — he looked way happier and more comfy with this. The plushy stuffed animal heads also help wedge their head up too, which seems more comfortable than some of the other pillows I’ve seen.”

Introduce your little one to the classic story about the familial love between Big Nutbrown Hare and Little Nutbrown Hare early with this soft, crinkly, adorable book aimed at babies and toddlers. This book is interactive (you can make a bunny hop on one page, it plays a kissy sound on another, and there’s a chewable heart attached). This book is an abridged version of the classic, and it’s great for newborns, babies, and toddlers. I shared it with my boys when they were babies, and now we read the longer board book version often.

This is going to thrill the kid in your life who loves to learn every little fact about animals. The colorful pages of this four-book set suck young readers into the habitat of each animal, with each book focusing on a different environment: oceans, savannas, rainforests, and frigid polar regions. 

“I wasn’t sure about this: It felt kind of expensive for a set of books about animals for preschoolers and kindergarteners,” Scully says, “but my son, who is 6, fell in love with these very quickly and spent more time reading through them than he ever has with other animal books I’ve gotten him.” It’s meant for ages 3 to 6, but even older kids might find these intriguing. 

These do more than your average stuffy. While still feeling soft and cuddly, these plush toys have a high-bounce rubber ball inside, so your kiddo can go from active play to cozy time, or vice versa. The 3.25-inch ball is available in several different character varieties, including Spider-Man, Stitch from Disney’s Lilo and Stitch, Megatron the Transformer, Paddington the Bear, as well as several animal options. The manufacturer recommends these for ages 3 years and up. 

“My son is a big fan of stuffies and balls, so these bouncers were a hit,” says Scully. “There are lots of different creatures and characters available, and he has fun bouncing them down our hallway on rainy days. I also appreciate that they aren’t super expensive, which means he can save up and get new ones with his allowance. The only drawback for us is that our puppy also seems to love these, so she’s known to steal them.”

Turn their bedroom into a planetarium with this star projector. Kids can use this gentle projector as a night-light, and parents can set the timer so that the device isn’t running all night long. Each projector comes with two discs so that science-curious kids can explore real galaxies. While this product doesn’t list an age recommendation, we think it’s great for elementary school-aged kids, teens, and adults alike.

“My son has been afraid of the dark for as long as I can remember, so we’ve been looking for solutions for a while,” says Scully. “Turns out, this galaxy star projector, which was recommended to me by a friend, was just what we needed. It gives enough light so that my son is not afraid, without giving so much light that it keeps him awake. Plus, it’s very immersive — the projector covers his entire ceiling with stars or planets and moons — and he finds that very comforting.” Scully also mentioned that there are additional discs available for purchase, so your science lover won’t get bored. “We’ve bought a couple of expansion packs over the last year and a half, and now part of our nightly routine is picking which sky he wants to sleep under,” she says.