Gift Ideas for Cool Kids 2024

At Toys”R”Us we’ll help you pick perfect presents for every season, reason, and person! From among our huge selection of toys, games, and gear, we can steer you in the direction of great gifts for kids at every age. From baby toys to all the way up to adult games, we’ve got suggestions to put a big smile on every face! Check out cool gifts for girls like adorable plush and stuffed animals, or sports and recreation gear for every time of year. Explore cool gifts for guys like air hockey tables; fun interactive pets; or music from their favourite artists. Discover awesome picks for teens, like cool card games to play with friends; cameras and accessories for sharing pics IRL; or arts and craft activities like DIY beads, jewelry, and fashion kits. One of the most meaningful gifts you can give someone – no matter how old they are – is a good book. Choose from board books and bath books for babies and toddlers; bedtime books for 3 year olds; and picture books to inspire pre-readers and school age kids. For more accomplished readers we’ve got super-popular world-record and question-and-answer books, and middle-grade illustrated novels for 9 year olds and up. And for older kids and young adults (that’s 12 years old and up) we have loads of beloved fiction series and graphic novels. In our HMV shops and online, we even have a terrific selection of books for grownups: bestsellers, business titles, history books, manga, and more. Let us hit you with some more big ideas….

1. Cool Gift Ideas For Boys

Whether you’re shopping for guys you know well or not, there are some categories that are pretty much goof-proof, like R/C vehicles, from super simple cars for kids ages 4 years old and up, to all-terrain monster trucks and road racers, to complex stunt drones for teens. There are other easy-pick gift ideas for dudes, like blasters, sports trading cards, and skateboards, but an imaginative shopper will learn what he really loves and start there. For dudes who love cinema, think Blu-Ray Discs or 4K Ultra HD Discs of their fave films, or even prop replicas. For a boyfriend with a nostalgic streak, check out fun movie, music, and comic book t-shirts in our HMV shop! For your cool brother who could maybe use a little screen-free time, think challenging building sets appropriate to his skill level and die-hard fandoms: DC or Marvel superheroes, robotics, hypercars, architecture – even sets based on his favourite video games! Or check out fun backyard games or tabletop games to scratch that competitive itch. And for thoughtful Valentine’s Day gifts for the guys in your life, explore books in a wide range of genres: cooking, mystery, art and music, self-help, and more.

2. Cool Gifts Ideas for Girls

Shopping for girls is relatively easy when they’re 5 years old: you can hardly go wrong with cute sleepwear, colourful kids puzzles, or pretend play and dress up gifts. As they get older, however, it might take a little detective work to discover what they’re really into and find inspiration there. Your young daughter might be huge into certain TV characters or fashion dolls and accessories, or love unboxing mini dolls and collectibles. Ask some questions of your teen about her taste in music and then explore turntables and a selection of LP vinyl records by her fave artists – or even yours from your own youth! If she’s got a performer streak, check out cool karaoke machines for instant party vibes. For a sister who’s always building her To-Be-Read pile, dive into our selection of romance books and fantasy books to find a series or author she’ll love. Ponder gifts for your girlfriend that the two of you can do together: challenging jigsaw puzzles or building sets that let you unplug and spend some relaxing, mindful time working on that satisfying final product. (Pro tip: botanical building sets are having a real moment and make charming Valentine’s Day gifts.)

3. Cool Gift Ideas For Christmas

The winter holidays present loads of opportunities to hone your gift-giving game! Start by kicking off the countdown with super-popular Advent calendars featuring kids’ favourite characters and toys. Keep that momentum going with thoughtful ornaments and Christmas stocking stuffers – for baby’s first Christmas, or celebrating fandoms, or even cute customizable ones. Stocking stuffers gift ideas, like 3D puzzles, fidget toys and squishables, colourful supplies for drawing and colouring, or even fun keychains and action figures. For the main event, you can go the classic Christmas gift route: wrap up doll houses, trains and play sets, cuddly plush, ride-on toys for indoors, and snow toys for outdoor fun. For littles, score big points with toddler and preschool toys featuring their favourite characters: Bluey, PAW Patrol, Peppa Pig, Mickey and Minnie, and more. Or spark their imaginations with dress-up costumes and accessories or pretend-play kitchen sets and role-play toys. For 6 year olds and up, why not branch out into science and discovery toys like marble runs or robotics kits? And maybe make this the year of fun group gifts or Secret Santa gift ideas, like family games for board game nights; table games for the rec room; or puzzle mats and accessories for unplugged evenings building epic jigsaw puzzles together.

4. Cool Gift Ideas For Birthdays

Isn’t it nice to think you get a chance to make wishes come true every single year? When you’re buying for your own kids or grandkids, or a beloved niece or nephew, you can make a 7 year old’s whole year by wrapping up that action-figure play set or race track they’ve always wanted. Or the awesome basketball net, or must-have doll, or first guitar. You can be the ultimate cool uncle or fun auntie by presenting them with the coolest wheels: coupes, wagons or push-cars for babies and toddlers; trikes for preschoolers; scooters for older kids; and a cheeky “first car” model set or R/C vehicle gift idea for 16 year olds. You can inspire an artsy 8 year old with craft kits and books, or a sporty type with an outdoor hockey net or soccer goal. You can help build up an 11 year old collector’s “got it” list with battling toys, trading cards, or huggable plush. And you can feed a 14 year old’s K-pop fandom or Swiftie obsession by completing their discography on physical media – so retro! And when you’re buying birthday gifts for a classmate or a friend’s kid, you know you can never go wrong with a Toys”R”Us gift card….

5. Cool Holiday Gifts Ideas

Each new year offers a round of other gift-giving holidays! Celebrate Lunar New Year with cool gifts that reflect the year’s honoured zodiac animal – there are even on-theme spring festival building sets to make and display. If your family is big on Valentine’s Day, you can give sweet, love-themed picture books or celebrate by making cards and decorations with clay and dough, paint, and art supplies. Easter and other springtime holidays like Eid al Fitr suggest fun outdoor toys like bubbles, sidewalk chalk and skipping ropes, or basket-worthy goodies like baby animal plush, blind box collectibles, or fun mugs. The end of the school year calls for meaningful books as gifts for grads – even for 13 year olds moving from middle school to high school. Celebrate the last day of classes with sand and garden toys, pool and water toys, and backyard fun to kick off summer holidays. Autumn holidays like Thanksgiving, Diwali and Halloween are perfect times for colourful arts and crafts, and games and puzzles. Young kids will love sharing Halloween books and cute, not-so-creepy plush. Halloween is also a great time to give horror-loving 18 year olds a new favourite scary movie, thriller or mystery novel. 

6. Cool Affordable Gift Ideas Under $25

Smart shoppers will always have on hand a selection of cheap and cheerful gifts for emergency purposes: last-minute birthday invitations; holiday gift swaps; thank-you gifts for young dog walkers or snow shovellers. Some of our favourite affordable gifts have universal appeal: fun stationery items like cute notebooks and journals, novelty pens, or sticker sets; activity and colouring books; packs of crayons, washable markers, or sidewalk chalk. Or stock up on cool sensory items like fidget toys, slime, or modelling doughs. Thrill even the toughest to please 10 year olds with blind bag toys like LEGO minifigures, pop culture collectibles, mini dolls, and trading cards. Go the fashion route with fun flavoured lip balms, hair chalk pens, and refills of rubber bands or beads for friendship bracelet making. Check out great value gifts for older kids: travel games, card games, or one-time-play games; cool keychains; or cute collectible figures from movies, TV, and video games. Inspire some fresh-air fun with little goodies like snowball battle gear; snow art tools; bubble-making wands; flying discs; diving toys; skipping ropes; backyard games; ball sports equipment; mini dart blasters and accessories; inflatable pool toys; and more. As with so many other things, it’s not the price tag that matters, but the fun potential of these great goodies.

7. Cool Meaningful Gift Ideas Under $50

When you’re seeking a present that’s impressive but still relatively inexpensive – say, for a niece or nephew’s birthday – you’ve got lots of options! We have a wide selection of baby dolls, 18” dolls and accessories, and fascinating interactive pets and toys that will provide hours of pretend-play fun for imaginative kids. Along similar lines, there is a world of cuddly plush sized and priced right for collectors: must-have Squishmallows characters, the recently rebooted Care Bears, and even some super-sized stuffed animals to make a big birthday or Valentine’s Day statement. Or choose more cerebral gifts: engrossing brain teaser puzzles; educational play sets like uncannily active robotic critters; and STEM-tastic at-home experiments. On the pop culture tip, explore novelty home goods in our HMV shop, and a huge variety of collectible vinyl figures from movies, TV, video games, comics, and sports. And there are hundreds of books to choose from in this price category: fascinating biography for grownups, funny reads for kids, and deluxe collections for, say, the 17 year olds on your list who are proclaimed horror comic and manga fans. Or create a custom bundle of lower-priced board books or picture books as a thoughtful and meaningful gift for a new baby or young child.

8. Expensive But Cool Gift Ideas under $100

When you’re really committing to “cool,” you’ve got to lean into kids’ all-time faves! Within this budget, there are hundreds of exciting LEGO flowers sets to choose from that hit on popular movies, video games, and other themes – like LEGO City and LEGO Christmas Gift Ideas, among others – and offer challenges for builders of all skill levels. These awesome gifts include Star Wars action figures, but in addition to building sets, there are plush, role-play toys, action figures, puzzles and more gifts that scratch that Jedi-vs-Sith itch for fans of every age. Explore fabulous Barbie dolls and accessories and ALL things Disney, from licenced bikes and bedding to sweet plush and play sets. You can score major points with Pokémon fans by wrapping up elite trainer boxes for fans of the trading card game or building sets and super-sized stuffie versions of popular Pokémon. Beyond beloved characters, you can explore irresistible tech toys for toddlers: starter tablets and other learning toys that will delight littles with lights, sounds, music, and movement! On the other end of the age spectrum, consider challenging strategy games or party games to lure jaded 15 year olds into an evening of family fun. And at every age, explore boxed sets of kid's books as gifts with true staying power.

9. Super Cool Big Gift Ideas 

Sometimes you get the big thrill and privilege of being able to give expensive gifts: the ones with a major WOW factor! Maybe you’re looking for a special present for the whole family: consider epic playground gear to create a private park in their backyard. Beautiful swing sets or climbers and slides will provide years of active-play enjoyment. Or for real thrill-seekers, maybe trampolines or inflatable bouncers have the edge they need! Or split the difference and opt for sorta speedy but less gravity-defying goodies like battery powered vehicles. Availlable in a range of styles, these “first cars” are gifts worth making a big deal about – and preschoolers will love taking their BFFs for a spin! Older kids and even grownups will enjoy air hockey tables, foosball tables and even arcade games – cool things for the family rec room they can share with friends. On the more low-key side, consider giving STEM-curious kids educational electronics: robotics toys and coding activities that have major tech appeal as well as skill-building benefits. The most challenging and intricate latest LEGO sets have a similar prestige: intricate models, working R/C vehicles, and feature-packed multi-storey play sets from favourite series. These are the gifts they’ll remember forever!

10. Cool Unique Fan Gifts and Collectible Ideas

We LOVE to help enthusiasts of all types and ages enhance their collections: fandoms help build community and can create and strengthen bonds between generations! Whether they share a die-hard allegiance to a sports team, a TV universe, movie or comic book franchise, or even a book series, we’ve got collectible gifts to stir the nerdy hearts of kids and adults alike. Every year brings a new crop of must-have albums and trading cards for baseball and hockey fans, and there are also awesome collectible figures of top-tier players: both the stylized vinyl variety and the more detailed action-pose McFarlane Toys variety. While we’re talking collectible figures, the world of Funko takes in a multitude of pop culture interests, with novelty toys inspired by from anime to F1, fantasy series to retro brand mascots. Help your fan decorate in their own unique style, with posters and prints, mugs, bedding, and even door mats inspired by their obsessions. There’s virtually no limit to the cool gifts you can wrap up: discover books, themed board games and card games, jigsaw puzzles, building sets, plush, and even dress up costumes and kids’ clothes to feed just about any fandom you can imagine.

Conclusion

The hunt for the perfect present can actually be a lot of fun, especially when you’re shopping at Toys”R”Us and The HMV Shop. Cool gifts are kind of our thing, after all. There are cool gifts for baby (which are low-key for the parents): the tech-savviest monitors, life-hackiest feeding gadgets, most stylish strollers and carriers, and most giggle-getting baby toys. There are cool gifts for kids: wacky preschool games that’ll have littles falling out laughing; versatile easels to facilitate masterpieces in paint and glitter; and the action figure, doll, or stuffed animal that topped their wish list! We’ve got cool gift ideas for boys: construction and farm vehicles for engrossing sandbox play, or awesome role-play toys for household helpers, would-be chefs, and fix-it fans. Check out cool gift ideas for girls: epic outdoor playhouses and rad ride-ons for hours of fresh-air fun. And as kids grow, the definition of “cool” might change, but we’ve got gift-givers covered. Impress a music-obsessed teenager girl with the perfect album, or essential headphones and earbuds to keep their playlists always on. Fulfill that need for speed with gifts for teen boys like road race sets, and slick model kits for play and display. And beyond the teen years, find top gifts for grownups that keep the cool coming! Discover hilarious adult games inspired by trending shows and memes; backyard games for some active-play fun at barbecues and get-togethers; and challenging games and puzzles to give grownups’ grey matter a workout. Wrap up memory-making toys, games, and gear and cement your status as a boss-level gift-giver!

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