There’s Lego, then there’s Lego with a fancy new Smart Brick. This Pikachu set is part of the Lego and Pokemon collaboration that launched earlier this year and includes the Smart Brick, which lights up and makes character-specific sounds. It’s a fun new dimension to play, but there are plenty of kids who will love the set itself, even without the new bells and whistles.  

CNET’s Bridget Carey says Hex Bots won her over “both as a mom and as someone who delights in making my co-workers squirm.” The Explodapede is one of the company’s newest squeamish delights. Roll it into a ball, then use the remote — from as far as 25 feet away — and watch it burst open and slither across the floor with glowing LED eyes. To charge it, there’s a USB-C port, and you’ll need two AAA batteries for the remote.

It’s cute, annoying and wonderfully entertaining. We tested this $35 toy at a Nintendo preview event, and we were quickly enthralled. It doesn’t have a screen. It just has a single button that plays pre-recorded messages, and it’s highly, highly addictive if you just want to zone out.

This mini karaoke machine is loved by kids of all ages. Maybe your kids have been on a KPop Demon Hunters kick and keep belting out songs from the movie. They can sing their favorite tunes to their heart’s content with this compact karaoke machine. You can also play around with different vocal effects. This portable Bluetooth machine can connect with your phone or tablet, so you can stream any songs you’d like, and cool multi-colored LED lights pulse to the music for the ultimate karaoke show.

Bitzee is a screen-free interactive pet that kids can play with, care for and take with them anywhere. It loves treats and is reactive to touch, swipes and other movement. Each one begins as a baby and grows through three evolutionary stages, culminating in a final stage that unlocks a special game. Twenty interactive animals — like a cat, unicorn and dragon — can be unlocked the more your kiddo plays with Bitzee.

Not just any puppet — this amazing 18-inch-tall Stitch toy offers 100 different action and sound combinations. You can use the buttons inside to move his ears and mouth and make his eyes blink, and the sound effects will automatically change based on how you’re using him. He’ll react with different moods depending on whether you make his ears go up and down, and if you pet his head, he’ll react happily. 

This isn’t just any old marble set. This version is more like a gecko, with suction cups that let the chutes and funnels climb up and down your walls. “Kids drop in the included marbles and watch gravity take its course as they roll down and drop from piece-to-piece,” explains CNET’s Bree Fowler. “Of course, it doesn’t work perfectly each time and marbles go flying, but that’s half the fun and how kids learn; they can adjust the pieces and try again.” Expansion sets are available too and include fun add-ons, like loops and trampolines. 

While lightsabers are (still) a thing of fantasy, this toy comes close to replicating the real thing without costing a fortune. The Power Saber Energy Blade not only lights up, but it extends on its own, giving the effect of firing up a real lightsaber to battle against a Sith Lord. The sound effects make the experience all the more immersive. You can choose from red or green, depending on what side of the Force your giftee is drawn to. It’s become a go-to gift for CNET’s Russell Holly.

Magnetic tiles are popular with kids because you can build different shapes and creations with them. This magnetic tiles kit includes a road set and lets you create city roads and sidewalks. Magnetic tiles are popular among Montessori teachings that encourage independent play and problem-solving.

Any kid who enjoys creating their own robotic toys will appreciate this Cyborg Hand STEM experiment kit. They can design a wearable and adjustable hydraulic hand that utilizes air pressure and water. The fingers are also adjustable and can be placed at different angles, allowing you to pick up items.

If your child loves to draw, the Smart Drawing Robot may reel them in. This robot interacts with your child and features two arms that connect to a marker, allowing it to draw different images based on 150 learning word cards. It’s best for kids ages 5 and up. It teaches hand-eye coordination, encourages creative thinking, and allows them to express themselves artistically. 

Snap Circuits are the perfect gift for curious kids. There are over 100 electronic projects possible with this STEM set, which is best for ages 8 and up. Build a flashlight, photo sensor, siren and more. The best part is, kids will learn about the fundamentals of electricity as they play.

This cool 3D printing pen lets kids create anything they could possibly imagine out of plastic filaments. It’s slim and light, making it easy for small hands to hold, and it’s great introduction to the world of 3D printing. The pen melts sticks of plastic so kids can draw them into any shape, and the nozzle and melted plastic aren’t hot, so it won’t burn little hands. CNET’s Bridget Carey confirms, “I’ve tested it; you can put the tip to your skin and draw on your finger. I had no worries giving it to my kids.”

All kids love slime. And this STEM kit from National Geographic comes with eight varieties of the substance. Magnetic putty, glow-in-the-dark putty, fluffy slime and color-changing slime are just some of what you can expect to find in this box. There’s education to be found here too, as an enclosed learning guide explores the science behind all this goo.

This is an award-winning STEM toy and for good reason. Aside from being a lot of fun, it also requires a lot of critical thinking. Players can choose from 60 different challenges at various difficulty levels, from beginner to expert.

Kids who enjoy building will love this DIY kit. They can put together a real pinball machine that uses gumballs as the pinballs. Bonus: This kit isn’t all fun and games — it’s a STEM project in disguise. Lessons in motion, gears, gravity, force and more are embedded in this cool gift.

Labubus are out and NeeDohs are in. These sensory toys contain “non-toxic, dough-like compounds,” according to toy maker Schylling, and can be squeezed and stretched to your heart’s content. There are a number of NeeDoh styles, but it’s hard to find them in stock. 

Ready for your kids to party like it’s 1997? Grab them a new (but old) Tamagotchi. The lo-fi gadget is making a comeback, and it looks and feels like the ones from 30 years ago, except apparently it has generation 2 programming now. Still, the owner gets to “raise” the little creature from egg to child to adult, with plenty of feedings, bathroom trips and illnesses in between. It’ll be a trip down memory lane for you, and lots of frustrating fun for the kid in your life. For $20, it just may be worth the gamble.

Sure, Netflix’s KPop Demon Hunters debuted last year, but it’s still a fan favorite, and there are finally some good toys for the little fan in your life. Whether their favorite character is Rumi, Mira or Zoey, this pack of blades and swords is a must. You need all the HUNTR/X gals’ weapons so you can vanquish demons in your living room. 

Remember friendship bracelets or swapping stickers with your friends? Sticki Rolls makes craft sets that lean into both of those long-but-not-forgotten trends, and they’re wildly popular — and now they’re available with a Minecraft theme. The set includes a wearable bracelet, 120 Minecraft stickers, a collector’s book and collectible cube beads.

The Floor is Lava remains a popular game among kids, and now there’s a board game. The whole family can enjoy this game, which features cushioned, slip-resistant foam stepping stones that can be used both indoors and outdoors. It can be played with two to six players, and is guaranteed to be nostalgic for parents and equally fun for kids.

If your child is a foosball or air hockey fan, they’ll love this game, which is a combo of both. (And you’ll probably love it too.) Since it comes assembled, put it on any tabletop surface and you can start to play immediately. (When you’ll stop playing is the question.)

If your kids like high-energy card games like Uno, they’ll love this. Taco Cat Goat Cheese Pizza is highly addictive and great for game nights. Up to eight people can play at once and everyone takes turns flipping over a card, saying a word — Taco, Goat and so on — while flipping. If the spoken word matches whatever card is being flipped, everyone tries to slap their hand down. The last person to do so has to take the stack. Trust us, it’s fun. CNET contributor Oliver Haslam says, “It might be the most fun I’ve had with a card game since forever, and it made our recent vacation very memorable.”

It’s like Magic: The Gathering, but with everything Disney. This trading card game is easy to learn for kids ages 8 and up. And kids who are a little younger can join in with help from an adult. CNET’s James Bricknell ranked it as one of the top family games of the year, saying, “It’s clearly been worked on for a long time, as it feels like a game that’s existed forever. It’s so well-polished.”

Nex Playground looks like a cube with a camera, but it’s so much more than that. The innovative, interactive video game console doesn’t use controllers. Instead, it connects to your TV and uses a built-in wide-angle camera to track movements to play games like Fruit Ninja, Whac-A-Mole and more. 

The console comes with five games, but you can purchase a separate 3-month ($49) or 12-month ($89) Play Pass that unlocks the full catalog of games (new ones are added each month). Adding a subscription to the purchase price sounds like a bummer, but when you consider the lofty price tag that comes with individual video games for other consoles, it’s not so bad. Plus, the Play Pass comes with games like How to Train Your Dragon, Peppa Pig and Gabby’s Dollhouse, which will likely be fan favorites for kids. Don’t be surprised if you find yourself playing when the kids aren’t around too. 

If your toddler is obsessed with your laptop or tablet, but you’re not ready to hand it over quite yet, consider this low-tech alternative: the LeapFrog LeapTop Touch. It has a keyboard for kids to type on and teaches letters and numbers, with songs and games too, all on a small black-and-white screen that’s engaging without feeling like true screen time. It’s a great option for kids 2 to 5, especially for car rides or when you need 10 minutes to yourself. 

The Switch 2 recently saw a price increase, but we think it’s still worth the money. Give your kiddo hours of entertainment playing Animal Crossing: New Horizons, Mario Kart, Zelda, Just Dance or whatever games they’re into. The Switch is definitely a better console for younger kids than the more expensive Xbox Series X and PlayStation 5. We also love that the Switch can be played on a TV or as a handheld.

Echo Dot Kids offers all the smarts of Amazon’s Alexa smart assistant, but with parental controls and a cute design. Choose from a dragon or an owl — kids can even customize Alexa’s voice to make it a dragon or owl character. Kids can use it for playing music, setting an alarm, playing interactive games and more. Bonus: The white noise is great for kids who need some extra help sleeping.

If you’re looking for the best of both worlds of storytelling and visuals, the Luna StoryTime Projector is ideal for kids ages 3 and up. This projector features five popular stories, allowing your kids to watch, listen and even read along. They can even enjoy songs like Itsy Bitsy Spider, Mary Had a Little Lamb and Old MacDwhonald. The projector can also serve as a nightlight, offering several nightlight options and calming music to help set the tone at bedtime. It’s similar to the Toniebox because your toddler can play independently with it, and you can buy additional figurines for your projector to hear new stories and music. 

Disposable cameras, which allowed you to print pictures in the moment, were popular back in the day. Now they’re making a comeback. The Kids Camera Instant Print functions like a modern-day Polaroid camera and is suitable for children ages 3 through 12. This multifunctional camera allows your kids to take photos and videos, and print out their photos in black and white. If you want colored pictures, you have to store them on the SD card. This camera is rechargeable and a great way to have kids take pictures and capture their own special moments. 

If you’re looking to limit your toddler’s screen time, the Toniebox may be the solution. This audiobox is one of my 2-year-old’s favorite tech toys. He loves how he can switch between his favorite Disney, Sesame Street characters and Ms. Rachel figurines to hear different stories and songs. The Toniebox 2 is the latest version of the audiobox, suitable for children ages one and up. It comes with some fun upgrades. 

Similar to the original Toniebox, the second iteration features stories, music, and now allows your kids to play games, take on challenges, and complete quizzes with the Tonieplay feature. Some of the figurines available for Toniebox 2 are on the larger side, allowing younger kids to enjoy them without concern for choking hazards. Other exciting features include a smart sleep feature and you can use it as an alarm clock.

If you’ve always wanted to know how to complete a Rubik’s cube, but could never get the hang of it, now’s your chance, CNET’s James Bricknell says. The GoCube connects to your phone or tablet and takes you through the steps of solving a cube using “algorithms,” so to speak. “It’s the first time I’ve felt I had a handle on manipulating a puzzle cube without it being completely random,” he says. “Learning a new skill as a dad, especially one that can impress your kids, is always worthwhile — and the app even lets you play battle games with your kids to make it more family-oriented.”

Kids can visit the remote swamp planet of Dagobah and train to be a Jedi with this interactive smart playset. Lego unveiled its new smart brick technology at CES this year, and now you can nab a Lego smart block system with your kid’s favorite Star Wars settings and characters. This smart set comes with two smart minifigures and two smart tags that tell smart bricks to move, make sounds and react as you play with the set.

If your child has mostly graduated from magnetic tiles and is ready for a new challenge, give Clixo a try. These flexible, magnetic pieces bend, twist and then snap together, allowing for tons of creative possibilities without a complicated set of directions. It’s an easy way for kids to dream up their own creations and enjoy the independent play that’s good for them and gives you a little break too. 

It can be really tricky for little hands to execute their big visions when they’re building — and that inevitably leads to frustration and meltdowns. That’s where these hedgehog blocks come in. The sturdy, 120-piece interlocking block set is perfect for kiddos of all ages to work on hand-eye coordination, learn colors and build away in an exciting, low-stress way. Save the tears and tumbling towers for another day.

Looking to get a toddler excited about building without the zillion pieces in typical Lego sets? Try Duplos! Better yet, try a Duplo set that features beloved Bluey and her dad — and ice cream. This new set includes the two figures, a drivable toy car, plus three ice cream toy scoops, two cones, a menu and even a credit card machine. The little one in your life will enjoy putting it together and playing ice cream shop. We can’t guarantee they won’t immediately ask for a real ice cream shop trip, however.

This toy is a classic, and it offers endless possibilities of play, which is why our CNET editors love it. Kids can use these magnetic construction tiles for building everything from princess castles to parking garages. And they’ll play with them for years, starting from age 2 up until 5 or 6.

It’s a fact that kids love forts. And when they’re glow-in-the-dark, it’s next-level. With this kit, children can spend countless hours building a variety of structures with the 130 pieces included with it. Caves, tunnels, rockets and houses — the sky’s the limit for what can be constructed. Every parent knows their little one will eventually seek out their own safe space, and a fort is the perfect place for them to get some me-time. Plus, this thing is pretty darn cool.

Harry Potter fans will love piecing together this smaller version of Hogwarts Castle, which isn’t quite as intense as the 6,020-piece model. It comes with a couple of hidden reveals, including the Chamber of Secrets in the East Wing and an underground room containing the enchanted Mirror of Erised.

One of the wild things about toddlers is that they love making messes. But whenever you try to clean up, they suddenly want nothing to do with toys and instead try to take the vacuum or mop from you. Well, this LeapFrog Pick Up and Count Vacuum taps into that common scenario, but in a kid-friendly, educational manner. Instead of going for your Dyson, they can use their vacuum and clean up 10 play “dust” pieces — and learn numbers and colors in the process. Plus, it has a dial they can turn, which is so satisfying to little ones. 

Sesame Street’s Elmo never goes out of style. This 14-inch tall interactive doll encourages movement and singing and will get your little one up and dancing. Like the Just Play Elmo Plush, your kiddo can press Elmo’s right hand to play a game of “Elmo Says” — a fun, preschool-friendly riff on “Simon Says.” He can also speak in Spanish as well as in English, which is another bonus.

A great gift for pretend play that will keep little hands busy for hours. “My 2-year-old loves ‘helping’ me in the kitchen, and she likes it even better when I help her bake goodies with her own KiwiCo stand mixer and accessories,” says CNET contributor Deena Shinn. “We pretend to crack eggs and pour in the sugar to whip up birthday cakes, much to her delight.”

This is a great beginner building set for kids who are obsessed with construction vehicles. It’s also a great add-on for kids who already have a Magna-Tiles set. It comes with two extendable cranes, a truck chassis, bricks and pieces for building a road.