These Are The Very Best Children’s Toys Of 2024

From Paddington Bear to The Little Mermaid, these are the best toys to shop now.

Best Children's Toys

by Hannah Carroll |
Updated on

Children's toys are one of the best things about childhood. Regardless of your age, everyone has a toy that they still remember. Nothing beats the excitement of opening a brand-new toy, and whilst we know that in today’s day, children are spending more and more time with tablets and technology, nothing beats the satisfaction of unboxing and playing with a new Barbie doll, tractor or anything else. The best children’s toys will not only tear your child away from their screens but also help them develop lifelong skills like creativity and managing emotions. Some are even educational, and stylish kids' toys exist too!

Whether it’s a birthday gift, a special occasion or just a well-deserved treat, you cannot go wrong with a good toy. Currently, there are so many toys on the market from so many retailers (even Zara toys are a thing now!), so it can be hard to know what to pick. Whether you are searching for creative, cuddly or more interactive toys, we have got you covered.

Best Children's Toys At A Glance:

Best STEM toy: Connetix Rainbow Creative Pack, £89.95, Harrods
Best toy for kids who are obsessed with devices: Edurino Starter Set, £44.99, Amazon
Best toy for toddler development: Sesame Street Potty Time Elmo

We spoke to a toy expert from Hexbug, Alison Ferguson, who explained: 'Toys aren’t just for playing. From toddlers to teens, children are capable of learning so much, and playtime is a great way to introduce both life skills and cognitive skills – so they’re learning in a way they’ll actually enjoy.'

From critical thinking to decision-making and problem-solving through play, children can learn the skills that will set them up for success while other toys entertain them for hours on end. Shop the best children's toys below.

SHOP: Best Children's Toys 2024

Best STEM toy

 Connetix Rainbow Creative PackCredit: Harrods

This comprehensive 100-piece set is a treasure trove of creativity. It provides endless possibilities for children to construct various structures, from towering skyscrapers to intricate mazes. The Rainbow Creative Pack nurtures critical thinking skills and design skills. It's the perfect activity for your child's imagination to flourish.

Pros

  • Encourage kids to create
  • Endless hours of play
  • Non-toxic
  • Strong magnets

Cons

  • Heavy

Best toy for kids who are obsessed with devices

Edurino Starter Set Credit: Amazon

We know what you are thinking: isn't this going to make kids spend more time on the tablet? And whilst this toy does use your family's smart device. It truly is educational and, most importantly, fun. So if you struggle to get your child away from technology, this is a very happy crossover.

Edurino offers a playful learning experience for children with a selection of fun figurines and unique ergonomic pens, providing access to hours of digital learning content via a free app. Parents and educators appreciate Edurino for making screen time valuable through educational expert-designed content that is both fun and safe for children.

With a selection of four figures that each teach your child new skills. We cannot recommend this toy enough.

Pros

Cons

  • Requires a smart device

The best kids camera toy

Photo Creator Kids Instant Camera Credit: Amazon/ Photo Creator

Ever wondered what the world looks like from your little one's eyes? Well, wonder no more! This easy-to-use instant camera allows your child to take their very own photos. We adore this kids' toy because it fosters creativity.

Pros

  • Easy for children to use
  • Printing is instant
  • Wrist strap
  • Selfie mode

Cons

  • Not the best picture quality

Best educational toy

Learning Resources Numberblocks Playing CardsAmazon
Price: £9.99
Alternative retailers
Target$9.99View offer
Walmart$9.99View offer

These Numberblocks playing cards have colourful illustrations of the fun-loving characters from the hit TV series. This deck has a Game Guide with easy-to-understand instructions for six card games that you and your child can get play right away. Our favourite game is I'm Bigger Than You.

Pros

  • Good quality
  • Multiple easy to understand games (and helpful instructions for parents)
  • Beautifully illustrated
  • Great for all kids over three

Cons

  • We wish it came with a hard carry box

Best toy for learning abstract thinking skills

Best Children's Toy : Star Wars The Child Talking Plush ToyAmazon

Known by most children as 'Baby Yoda', this is one of the hottest toys on the market. 'The Child' is a hard-headed plush toy, that has a soft body that children can cuddle and hold. Star Wars fans will love this toy, which has ten vocal sound effects.

Pros

  • Sound effects
  • Based on the Star Wars galaxy series
  • Cute design

Cons

  • Hard head
Suitable from:3+ years

Best play-doh toy

Best Children's Toys: Play-Doh Kitchen Creations Busy Chef’s Restaurant PlaysetCredit: Amazon

Rrp: £24.99

Price: £22.99
Alternative retailers
Target$16.89View offer
Walmart$16.89View offer
Macy's$22.49View offer
Kohl's$24.99View offer

The Play-Doh Kitchen Creations Busy Chef's Restaurant Playset lets kids feel like they're running their very own restaurant. They can create, customise, and share amazing Play-Doh food creations with pretend customers. Kids can use the stampers to make pretend pizza, burgers, pasta, or chicken and press the lever to stamp two pretend foods at one time.

Pros

  • Available in five different colours
  • Imaginative
  • Encouraging sharing

Cons

  • We cannot stop the kids from mixing the colours
Suitable from: 3+ years

Best toy for toddler development

The Best Children's Toys: Sesame Street Potty Time ElmoCredit: Amazon

Rrp: £24.99

Price: £17.99
Alternative retailers
Macy's$24.99View offer
Walmart$29.92View offer
Kohl's$29.99View offer

Potty training can be difficult, to say the least, but we think this is an engaging toy to begin to introducing the toilet. We found that when we used this with our children, they began to show more interest in the potty and it was a great aid to explaining how to listen to your body. This 12-inch-tall giggling huggable Elmo plush is made of soft fabrics and comes dressed in a yellow graphic T-shirt with removable training pants.

Pros

  • Interactive
  • Educational
  • Soft

Cons

  • Accessories can get lost
Suitable from:18+ months

Best magnetic toy

Janod - Magnéti'Book Sports Credit: Janod
Price: £19.99
Alternative retailers
Wayfair$23.41View offer
Walmart$30.76View offer

Magnéti’Book contains dozens of illustrated magnets, allowing your child to recreate designs based on a template or to create their own scenes or characters from their imagination.
Children can play alone, in pairs, with friends or family. The variety of magnets allows for infinite possibilities.
The best part is the magnets can be neatly stored away within the book.

Pros

  • Comes with storage
  • Detailed magnets
  • Engaging

Cons

  • It isn't very interactive

Best Nerf toy

Best Children's Toy :  Nerf Elite Jr Ultimate Starter SetAmazon

Rrp: £30.04

Price: £26.83
Alternative retailers
Walmart$30.59View offer

Nerfs have become one of the most popular toys for kids, and this set is the perfect starter kit. The blaster handles have the lowest pull force of any Nerf dart blasters, so it's easy for children to pull back by themselves. We found this essential when choosing the right Nerf products as some blasters require a more substantial pull force, causing an absolute breakdown.

Pros

  • Easy to use
  • Encourages physical activity
  • Lightweight

Cons

  • Some of the other Nerf products may be more suitable for children over 10
Suitable from:6+ years

Best Ninja Turtle toy

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 83468CO Mutant Mayhem Pizza Fire Delivery VanCredit: Amazon

Rrp: £42.50

Price: £25.00
Alternative retailers
Walmart$24.60View offer
Target$25.49View offer
Macy's$39.99View offer

If, like us, you are obssesed with the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem movie. This pizza delivery van from the movie will definitely will be a hit. Thole gang and even Mater Splinter, can fit in the van. Hit the pizza slice button and the side door swings open, hit the button again and the pizza launcher slides out the side. Press the button on the motorized launcher to fire up to 8 pizzas.

Pros

  •  Large vehicle
  • Easy to assemble
  • Seriously fun

Cons

  • Ninja Turtles sold seperately

Best retro toy for kids

Best Children's Toy: Hasbro Furby Purple Interactive Toy PlushAmazon

Rrp: £69.99

Price: £33.99
Alternative retailers
Target$33.99View offer
Walmart$33.99View offer
Kohl's$59.99View offer
Macy's$59.99View offer

One of the most iconic toys of the 90s is back, and thankfully, it's a lot less creepy. The new era of the cute, cool, and a little bit weird Furby. This interactive toy features five voice-activated modes and over 600 responses, including lights, sounds, and ten unique songs. Furby also responds to hugs, pats, belly tickles, shaking, and feeding of its pretend Pizza Charm.

Pros

  • Furby teaches children positive affirmations.
  • Interactive

Cons

  • Voice controls can be difficult for some children
Suitable from:6+ years

Best interactive children's toy

Best Children's toy: The Little Mermaid Ariel doll 38cmSelfridges

Inspired by one of the most celebrated children's movies of the year, The Little Mermaid, this Ariel doll is the perfect companion for your child's magical adventure. She sings and can go underwater, just like in the movie. She is dressed in her stunning story-inspired fabric top, featuring iridescent ruffles and glimmering purple and blue scale designs.

Pros

  • On-trend toy
  • Interactive
  • Can go underwater

Cons

  • Takes a little while to dry fully
Suitable from: 3+ years

Best Barbie toy

Best Children's Toy : Barbie 3-Story Townhouse Dollhouse with ElevatorAmazon
Price: £114.99
Alternative retailers
Walmart$15.00View offer

This is the Barbie's dream house of our dreams. Children (and adults alike) can spend hours creating stories and roleplaying. 43 inches tall and 41 inches wide, this dollhouse has three floors and 10 indoor and outdoor living areas. There is even a grass area and pool, which can be moved. Our favourite feature is, by far, the working elevator!

Pros

  • Movable and working features
  • Colourful
  • Adaptable

Cons

  • Does not come with any Barbies
Suitable from:3+ years

Best toy for babies

Best Children's Toy : Mori - Wooden Baby Toys Gift SetMORI

Finding a toy for a one-year-old that isn't garish and doesn't make highly irritating sounds can be a real challenge. This non-toxic toy set by Mori ticks both boxes. The chic pastel colours are great for all nursery decor and engaging for little ones. The smooth edges make it a safe toy for young children to enjoy. Our favourite part is this is a lovely quiet toy that your baby can enjoy.

Pros

  • Non-toxic paints
  • Soft edges
  • Wipe clean

Cons

  • May not be engaging for older children
Suitable from:12+ months

Best toy for newborns

Best Children's Toys: Bumbly Bear soft toy 42cmCredit: Selfridges

Jellycat soft toys gained popularity with parents due to their ultra-soft designs. Whilst there are hundreds of Jellycat designs from turtles to croissants and coffee cups, this sweet bear is our absolute favourite. It's the perfect toy for a newborn and can be kept in their nursery as a feature whilst they sleep.

Pros

  • Soft
  • Adorable
  • Suitable from birth

Cons

  • Hand-wash only
Suitable from:Birth, but due to size do not leave in cots

Best toy for imaginative play

Best Children's Toys : HELLOWOOD Kids Cleaning SetCredit: Amazon

Rrp: £29.99

Price: £26.99

Toys that encourage cleaning up after themselves? Yes, please. This wooden cleaning set is great for imaginative play, gross monitoring skills, and balance. It encourages not only cleaning but also communication. We love a toy that makes life easier, and whilst we cannot promise this toy is going to turn your little one into a domestic god or goddess, it's definitely a step in the right direction.

Pros

  • Easy to assemble
  • Can be neatly tidied away with stand
  • Usable brushes

Cons

  • Some found the stand unsteady
Suitable from:3+ years

Best toy for fine motor skills

Best Children's Toy : LEGO City 60312 Police CarJohn Lewis

Lego is one of the best ways to encourage fine motor skills. Fine motor skills are essential as they will help your child learn how to write, eat and get dressed. This Lego police set creates a police patrol car with cool rims, wide fenders and ground-gripping tyres. It has 94 pieces and is perfect for encouraging play between children and parents.

Pros

  • Great for hand-eye co-ordination
  • Helps children learn fine motor skills
  • Engaging for parents and children

Cons

  • Lots of small parts
Suitable from:5+ years

Best toy for teens

Gel Blaster SURGE Currys

The rechargeable Gel Blaster SURGE shoots water-based beads or “Gellets” that burst on impact. No more picking up endless bullets or pellets. Each Gellet is all-natural and non-toxic so they're nice and safe for kids and pets.

Pros

  • It comes with safety glasses
  • Very powerful
  • Includes 10,000 Gellets

Cons

  • Not recommended for children under 14
Suitable from:Age 14+

Best engaging toy

 TRANSFORMERS Converting RC Optimus PrimeAmazon
Price: £136.42

This remarkable toy brings the iconic character to life with its remote control functionality and transforming capabilities. With the push of a button, Optimus Prime seamlessly shifts from robot mode to vehicle mode, providing endless excitement for fans of all ages. Whether commanding in battle or cruising through imaginary landscapes, this RC Optimus Prime delivers thrilling adventures and imaginative play.

Pros

  • Easy to use and navigate
  • Stands up by itself
  • Robust

Cons

  • Head sometimes gets a little stuck

Best gaming toy

Bluey: The Videogame offers another dimension for fans of the sweet Aussie-based CBeebies cartoon. Dive into a story across 4 interactive episodes, and explore locations your little one will be familiar with from the show, like the Heeler House, Playgrounds, Creek, and a bonus beach spot. You can re-enact your favourite scenes, collect items for your sticker book, unlock outfits, and discover hidden secrets in each location.

Pros

  • A great way for children 3 and over to immerse themselves further in Bluey's world
  • Multiplayer mode for family and friends

Cons

  • You need a console to start with!

FAQs

What's the best way to clean children's toys?

It will depend on the toy and what type of material the toy is made out of. For example, cleaning wooden toys doesn't have to be done as often, as wood naturally has antibacterial properties. However, germs can survive on plastic surfaces for 24 hours and therefore need to be cleaned more regularly — wiping them down with a cloth dipped in hot water and washing up liquid should do the trick (remember, if the toy contains batteries, remove these first).

When it comes to cleaning bath toys, again, these don't need to be done as often as plastic toys and are fine to be rinsed off with some water after bath time. However, give them a deep clean every few months (pop them in the bath with some sterilising tablets) and make sure you allow them to dry properly, to prevent black mould build-up. If you're washing soft toys, the washing machine is usually fine, just make sure to check the toy's label first. Outdoor toys will also need to be cleaned more frequently due to the natural impact of the elements.

Is it safe to buy second-hand toys?

Buying second-hand toys is a great way to save money and is also good for the environment too. Brands that sell second-hand toys include eBay, Preloved, Gumtree, Etsy, Oxfam online and, of course, charity shops. However, there are a few things to consider/look out for when purchasing a second-hand toy, which we outline here in our guide to buying second-hand toys.

Safety Standards: Check if the toy complies with current safety standards. Look for labels indicating that the toy has passed safety tests and meets relevant regulations.
Recall Information: Research if the toy has been recalled. You can check the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) website or other relevant authorities in your country for information on recalls.

Cleanliness: Thoroughly clean and sanitize the toy before giving it to a child. Some toys may be washable, while others might need a more careful cleaning process.

Age-Appropriateness: Verify that the toy is suitable for the age of the child who will be playing with it. Check for age recommendations and warnings on the packaging or the toy itself.

Missing Parts: Confirm that all necessary parts and pieces are included. Missing components could affect the safety and functionality of the toy.

Hannah Carroll is a Parenting, Lifestyle and Home Product writer for Grazia, specialising in product testing and reviews. With three children, Hannah loves testing the latest industry products on her own family.

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