35 Secret Santa Gift Ideas for Kids 2024

At Toys”R”Us we’re big boosters of Secret Santa projects: gifts exchanged among friends, classmates, coworkers, and colleagues under the cover of anonymity and in the holiday spirit! We think it’s one of the best modern traditions, that can bring joy to people of every background and faith tradition – even if those doesn’t normally involve the Man in Red. (You can always call it a gift-swap!) And we know it can be a challenge to buy a gift for a kid or for someone you don’t know well, especially a young person! What are their interests? What’s their favourite movie or TV show? Do they like building sets, or science toys, or pop culture collectibles? It can definitely seem a bit daunting. But we’re hoping to make things a bit easier for you, whether you’re buying for your child’s classmate, teammate, troopmate, or even someone in your own workplace! We’ve assembled some mostly gender-neutral gifts for Secret Santa exchanges: fun and funny goodies like surprise toys, vinyl figures, and plush that won’t break the bank. Our picks are all under $30, the and the majority are under $20 – that’s the typical spending limit for a Secret Santa initiative, especially in schools. Our list of Secret Santa gift suggestions runs the gamut of interests, from sports and video games and superheroes to arts and crafts, building sets and action figures. The best advice we can give in the hunt for gift-swap goodies and Secret Santa treasures? Have FUN with it!

 

1. LEGO Batman Mech Armor

 

Sure, shaking the box will be a dead giveaway, but LEGO sets are always good gifts and basically goof-proof Secret Santa items! (Plus, there’s always the surprise of unwrapping it to find out what series set it is.) This awesome superhero set is super-poseable and includes a Batarang™, a stud-launcher, AND a jetpack. But the best part is amping up the action by putting the Minifigure in the suit for big-stomping, long-reaching crimefighting thrills. Perfect for ages 6+.

 

2. 5 Surprise NBA Ballers

 

When you’re shopping for a guy, Secret Santa gifts can get tricky. But if he’s a sports fan, these cool mystery-box toys are a terrific choice! Inside each ball is one of 30+ official player figurines, a player poster, a miniature basketball and TWO epic surprise accessories. Will kids unbox a rare “frozen moment”: a figure captured in a game-time celebration pose? Or an ultra-rare figure of Stephen Curry or Lebron James their city edition jerseys? It’s a slam-dunk surprise gift!

 

3. Miniverse Make It Mini Food x Hello Kitty

 

Looking for fun, funny Secret Santa gifts? Miniverse Make It Mini kits are a mix of unboxing excitement and engrossing craft activity! Kids aged 8+ open the ball to reveal the materials for a teeny-weeny food item with a Hello Kitty theme: a noodle bowl, bento box, bubble tea – even waffles! After assembling this cute mini meal, kids add the included resin, set it under UV light, and boom: they’ve got a colourful collectible to display.

 

4. Squishmallows Adopt Me! 14” Queen Bee

 

Even if the kid you’re buying for doesn’t play Adopt Me!, this crazy-cute 14” plush based on the hugely popular Roblox game plush will appeal to stuffie fans for all ages, from kindergarten to preschool to tweens and teens. Soft and snuggly like all Squishmallows, this playful plush is a delicate baby blue with shiny gold stripes, wings and antennae, and a sweet smile. Collector kids will be especially thrilled with this Secret Santa surprise!

 

5. Squishmallows 10” Piplup

 

Pokémon fans in particular will be delighted by this officially licensed Water Type stuffed animal. It’s a perfect Secret Santa choice for Squishmallows collectors, too. And frankly, he is so cute that kids not in the know will just fall in love when they unwrap a portly penguin-ish plush! He is soft and snuggly and just the right size for cuddling at home during movie nights or on the road – he’d make a terrific air travel companion.

 

6. Harry Potter 11.5” Crookshanks Plush

 

This feline friend is “R” Exclusive! An officially licensed Wizarding World of Harry Potter plush, Crookshanks is, of course, Hermione Granger’s beloved pet. Potterheads will know that that he is actually half-cat and half-Kneazle, a hilarious squish-faced magical creature with the notorious orange cat temperament. This stuffed animal version has those uncanny sparkly amber eyes and soft yet unruly fur. Even if that Secret Santa recipient isn’t a die-hard Harry Potter fan, this pretty kitty makes a great gift.

 

7. ALEX Glow Sketch It Nail Pens

 

Wrap up some Secret Santa style with a gift that taps into the popular fashion trend of custom nail art! This fun, funky set includes clever nail polish pens designed with a brush on one end for broad strokes of colour, and a precision tip on the opposite end for fine details. The five pens include silver and black and three glowing shades: pink, blue, and green. A cool, creative pick for girls ages 8+.

 

8. Squishmallows 8” Hello Kitty Plush

 

We love this collab cutie so much she also made our selection of 20 Awesome Gifts for Teen Girls! It’s a cute and cuddly score for collectors of Squishmallows and Hello Kitty toys alike, and a sweet stuffie in her own right, so she’s a perfect plush pal even for non-superfans. At 8” she’s sized right to pack for road trips and sleepovers. Bonus: she’s priced so nice she gets pride of place among Secret Santa gifts under $30.

 

9. Out to Impress Charms, Beads and Bangles 

 

Whether they’re inspired by the friendship bracelet aesthetic of a certain pop star, or simply a creative kid, this DIY jewelry set makes an amazing last-minute Secret Santa gift. It’s loaded with a wide variety of beads, charms, gems, and embellishments and an ample supply of cuffs, laces, elastics, and floss. It’s enough materials to make up to 50 custom bracelets for friends, family and fellow fans – a gift to turn into even more gifts!

 

10. Our Generation: Siberian Husky Plush Pup

 

Designed to fit perfectly into the Our Generation universe, this 6” plush pup makes a charming pretend pet for kids’ favourite 18” dolls. But he’s also a sweet stuffie who stands alone as an animal friend. He’s fully poseable for maximum imaginative play, and he comes with a removable collar and leash. His ears and tail are coloured like the Northern Lights: a perfect complement to his ice blue eyes. THIS type of dog makes a marvelous Christmas present for kids!

 

11. LEGO® Creator 3-in-1 Mighty Dinosaurs

 

When it comes to LEGO® sets, if some is good, more is better! So the fact that this clever set can build three different dinosaur models makes it a next-level Secret Santa gift. Kids can choose to make a T rex., a Triceratops, or a Pterodactyl, depending on their dino-mood. This versatile building set makes a great choice when you don’t know much about the recipient: dinosaurs have unisex appeal, and our unscientific polling tells us most kids LOVE LEGO® toys.

 

12. Funko POP! NBA All-Stars: Vince Carter

 

Look: up in the sky! It’s a bird! It’s a plane! It’s Vince Carter in hang-time mode! This awesome throwback collectible shows the former Raptors superstar and Naismith Basketball Hall of Famer wearing his 2005 All-Star East jersey and signature sweatband. In typical Funko POP! fashion, the details are delightful: those blue-soled kicks, that serious facial hair, that tiny basketball. It’s a moment in time and a fun pick for sports fans among Secret Santa gifts under $20.

 

13. Rainbow Loom Cute Bliss Charm Bracelet Kit™

 

Bursting with colour and creative possibility, this DIY jewelry set includes 32 double-sided charms and 1,600 elastic bands! Crafty kids can custom-design gifts for friends and family using the exclusive Dual Hook and Speed Loom to make bracelets at double speed! The play value in learning the ropes and the mindfulness of creating patterns make this Secret Santa gift cheap at twice the price. So rewarding to give kids a skill-building toy that lets them spread joy, too.

 

14. UNO Minecraft

 

This cool crossover card game proves that a Secret Santa gift need not be expensive to be a winner! It’s classic UNO with a Minecraft twist – though players don’t need to know anything about Minecraft to understand the slight tweak to the rules, so grownups will catch on fast. The deck features fun Minecraft characters AND if you draw the Creeper card, all the OTHER players pick up three more cards! It’s a great, screen-free diversion to keep always on hand.

 

15. Funko POP! MLB Toronto Blue Jays Mascot

 

The thing about giving a professional sports mascot as a Secret Santa gift is that it can be enjoyed sincerely by fans of the team, ironically by non-sportsy people, or as a sworn enemy by fans of any other team in the league. This blue bird of baseball is Ace, the slick animal avatar of the Toronto Blue Jays. (As such he has lots of experience with heartbreak.) But come on: is this vinyl collectible not pretty darn cute?!

 

16. X-Shot Excel Reflex 6 Blaster

 

There’s just something so satisfying about unleashing a barrage of foam darts on an unsuspecting sibling or squaring off against a battle-ready friend. Kids can blast off some steam by rapid-firing six foam darts in under 30 seconds from this rotating barrel. The rounds fly an impressive 27 metres (that’s 90 feet), making running battles extra fun and adding some oomph to shooting gallery practice. As Secret Santa gifts go, this one’s a literal blast.

 

17. Harry Potter x Miniverse Potions

 

This surprise-toy pick is a magical Secret Santa gift for girls and guys steeped in Harry Potter lore! Every ball contains the materials to craft a miniature replica of a Wizarding World-approved potion: Skele-Grow, Felix Felicis, Polyjuice Potion, and more! Once it’s bottled, kids cure the resin under UV light to complete their piece – and the packaging even become a cool display case! It’s an enchanting blend of collectible, craft, and blind-box gift.

 

18. WWE Action Figure – Kane

 

Check it out: it’s WWE Superstar Kane, also known as the “Big Red Machine” – made small! He’s just one of a series of highly detailed 6” figures designed with 10 points of articulation so kids can mimic wrestlers’ signature poses, relive milestone matches, and create their own wrestling dramas! This dramatic collectible makes an awesome Secret Santa gift for guys who love wrestling toys, sure, but also for kids who are just taking their first steps toward fandom.

 

19. Transformers Authentics: Optimus Prime

 

We love a two-in-one toy, and that’s Transformers’ whole vibe. This awesome and affordable figure is the undisputed leader of the Autobots: Optimus Prime! In his robot form this fan favourite stands 7” tall, with articulated arms and legs for pretend-play fun. In just four moves, this hero transforms into a semi-truck to roll out into action. The relatively simple transforming sequence is a satisfying fidget-style activity, adding a dynamic appeal to this classic collectible character.

 

20. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem – Leonardo

 

Maybe your Secret Santa recipient is a longtime TMNT fan, or maybe this is the beginning of a beautiful friendship! Styled in the mode of the MUTANT MAYHEM movie, this 4.5” Leo is wearing his signature smirk and blue mask and accessories – and his trusty katanas are good to go, among other weapons (and a slice of pizza, of course). Kids can recreate their favourite Leo scenes or come up with their own ninja adventures.

 

21. Furby Furblets – Ray-Vee

 

This Secret Santa sweetie is just too cute! Like a regular Furby, this fun-size version is colourful, fuzzy, adorable, and brimming with personality! Kids can press the heart to hear its favourite music, press the beak to hear silly eating sounds, and press the top of its head to hear it speak “Furbish.” Its pop-up peekaboo ears are pretty charming, too. It even comes with a removable keychain clip so kids can attach it to a backpack.

 

22. Atomix Brainteaser Puzzle Sphere

 

This Secret Santa gift is going get HOURS of play! It’s a cool, multifaceted puzzle: players ages 7+ twist the sphere to mix up the bead colours in different tracks. Then they try to undo the scramble and get each colour of beads back to its own ring. It’s an interesting brainteaser for a solo player, or a timed race between challengers. The smooth sliding action of the beads makes this a terrific fidget toy, and the texture offers sensory satisfaction, too.

 

23. Monopoly – Marvel Studios Black Panther: Wakanda Forever

 

Sometimes coming up with nice Secret Santa gifts is about wielding the element of surprise. This variant on the classic capitalism board game involves choosing a side to start with: play for Wakanda or for the rival Talkonil. Then roll the dice and race to acquire locations, build on them, and of course, amass Vibranium. It’s a fun superhero twist on an old favourite that Marvel fans ­– kids and grownups – can play together.

 

24. Bitty Boomers – Storm Trooper

 

There is NO WAY kids will guess what Secret Santa has wrapped up here – it’s a little short for a Storm Trooper. This hilariously teeny, awesomely inexpensive Bluetooth speaker fits in the palm of their hand and stands just 2” tall! It’s even comes with a keychain strap and a lanyard to play music on the go! It prides itself on being a small speaker with a BIG sound – and it even works as a selfie remote.

 

25. Edu-Science 6” Geographic Globe

 

Kids can have the whole world in their hands – this pint-sized globe will bring things into perspective! It’s an unexpected Secret Santa choice, but great for young would-be travellers, space fanatics, and any kid curious about the world. It’s labelled with more than 900 place names and political boundaries to teach continents, countries, oceans, and more. It’ll make an interesting addition to kids’ bookshelves and desks – and might even spark an interest in geography and exploration.

 

26. Metalfigs 6” Ultimate Spider-Man Figure

 

We’re still trying to decide which unique aspect is the coolest: the fact that this stylized Spidey collectible is made from die-cast metal, or that he’s working a version of the classic three-point superhero stance. It’s a bit of a tweak for his typical web-slinger pose! Both factors make this a terrific Secret Santa pick for Marvel movie fans, comic fans, and really anyone present in this pop-culture moment – because who doesn’t like their friendly neighbourhood Spider-Man?

 

27. Pokémon TCG Melmetal ex Battle Deck

 

Can a humble Secret Santa gift kick-start an obsession? We say yes: 100%. This is a great starter set – complete with instructions – for kids who want to dip their toes into the epic trading card game. A 60 card deck (including one holographic mythical card), a single-player play mat, three reference cards, a metallic coin, damage counters, and even a code to play the deck online. It’s terrific play value for a very reasonable price!

 

28. Super Mario Ceramic Mug

 

“It’s-a me: Secret Santa!” Whatever their age, whenever they entered their Nintendo era – and even if they never really did – the lucky recipient of this cheery Super Mario ceramic mug will get a big smile. It’s got a nice sunny yellow background, a pair of power-pose Marios, and the game-specific yet weirdly profound slogan: “What doesn’t kill you makes you smaller.” For pop culture clout, nostalgic charm, and sheer utility, this might be our best all-around present pick so far.

 

29. Care Bears Tenderheart Bear as Dracula

 

It’s arguably giving a little more Halloween treat than Secret Santa prezzie, but this adorable plush is a winner all year round! This cute crossover is a 9” cosplay event: Tenderheart Bear as the classic old Hollywood vampire, complete with pointy widow’s peak, fangs, and modified belly badge with a moon medallion. He’s even got little bat shapes on his cheeks! It’ll be a smash-hit with Goth girls, cinephiles, and collectors.

 

30. Heroes of Goo Jit Zu DC Minis: Series 4

 

Some of these quirky characters are deep cuts from the DC comics universe (Translucent King Shark, anyone?) and some are instantly recognizable, like Speed Force Flash! Each one is just two and half inches tall, but they stretch up to four times that size – then return to their original form. It’s funny to make them battle it out by twisting two of them together and letting go – and they make awesome fidget toys, too.

31. Crayola Gross Science Kit

 

This STEM-tastic set includes just about everything needed to carry out 20 at-home experiments that scratch that yuck-itch that so many tweens seem to share. With a few common kitchen ingredients, lab-curious kids can create slime, brains, eyeballs and other squishy stuff! The clear instructions are designed to be child-friendly, and the kit includes most measuring tools, so kids can get a taste (not literally) of practical chemistry. Sometimes, Secret Santa sneaks in a little learning….

 

 

32. LEGO® Gingerbread Ornaments

 

Now THIS Secret Santa pick is just perfect on all counts: it’s got that seasonal spice, it’s a fun maker project, and it’s priced right! Children, tweens, and even adults will enjoy customizing three funny, festive ornaments – simple instructions let kids build the basic gingerbread figures quickly and then get on to the really fun part: decorating! Whether they keep these for themselves or give them as gifts to friends, family, teachers, builders will have a blast.

 

 

33. Nebulous Stars Carryall Bag – Nenuphia & Lilya

 

Though this Secret Santa gift would be especially meaningful to a fan with a deep knowledge of the fantastical Nebulous Stars universe, it’s appealing for lots of reasons to kids less versed in the series. It’s just SO pretty: a gorgeous palette of dreamy blues and purples, and a mix of floral and star motifs. It’s also super practical: a lightweight fabric with a front zippered pocket and drawstring straps, for carrying indoor shoes, sports gear, or even books and school supplies.

34. Rubik’s Coach Cube

 

Quite apart from doing in 3.13 seconds like world record holder Max Park, the ability to solve the 3x3 Rubik’s Cube is one of the most-wanted skills among kids – and many grownups! This clever Coach Cube is one of the top methods for teaching the strategy. Following the instructions and videos, players peel the black stickers off in eight steps and learn to solve the cube using only the colours revealed. Once all the stickers are gone, kids have a cube to practice with!

35. Pokémon Clip ‘N Go – Mareep and Level Ball

 

The traditional Pokémon superfan might be steeped in the lore of the trading card game or the ‘90s-era cartoon. But for most kids, the appeal of Pokémon in is the “mon” – the monsters! The cute character in this case is Mareep, a sheep-like creature who generates static electricity from its wool and stores it in its tail. Kids can store Mareep in the level ball and clip it to their school backpack for on-the-go play.

 

 

So you see where we’re coming from with these gift-swap suggestions? Since it’s pretty tough to see someone’s Secret Santa Wish List – anonymity and all that – you have to kind of squeeze your eyes shut and guess. Which can be fun! Finding great gifts for teenage boys is an exciting mix of knowing your audience and then taking a chance. (And when you’re working with a $20 spending limit, even a wild guess is pretty low risk: there are loads of fun goodies at this price point.) While the need for Secret Santa gifts for babies is less, things like fun teethers, board books, cute baby toys, and funny onesies are easy to find. For preschoolers and even school-age kids, gifts for girls and gifts for boys have lots of overlap: books and action figures featuring favourite characters – like Harry Potter, Hello Kitty, and Pokémon – are always good bets, as are LEGO® sets, craft kits, trading cards, and DIY science toys. And in a fun twist, for once shopping for older kids might actually be easier than for young ones: the best gifts for teenage girls also branch out to include a broader range of favourite movies, TV and music, anime and graphic novels! As with teen girls, terrific gift-swap gifts for teen boys include pop culture goodies like collectible figures and blind-box toys, tech toys, fidget toys, card games and strategy games. And for every age, you’ll seldom go wrong if you go for a laugh – funny, weird, silly little surprises are what Secret Santa is all about! Happy shopping….

 

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