( Creativity for Kids $18.39) A fun kit for introducing your child to the Japanese art of Origami. There are 60 printed papers with neon designs, a sticker sheet, craft string and step-by-step instructions. Even better, there's a YouTube instructional video. Marked 7 & up -- will need adult involvement. Ages: Early School Years Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Platinum Award 2025 Shop this kit on Amazon

( LEGO $129.99) We are big fans of the Creator 3 in 1 series. It gives you the opportunity to use the same set to do three different builds. This is one of the largest sets we've ever seen. We're not sure anyone is going to take this set with over 1300 pieces apart but you could! The castle is a great build with multi-level towers, a gate that can be pulled up with "chains", there are also six minifigs as well as two horses for pretend jousting. Once the build is completed,

( LEGO $69.99) A fun multi-level, fully tricked out tree house that comes with 701 pieces - including four Friends and two animals. There's a sleeping area, a piano , a slide, a work station that includes a circular saw, a kitchen area (for making donuts). There's also a working pull-up chair for getting up to the next level. Our testers loved all the attention to details - just to name a few : mini carrots from the garden, mini ice cream cones, and a hardhat with a protect

( Tree Town Toys $15.99 each) Art Café is a really clever painting kit that includes a to-go coffee container with four lids. Inside the cup you'll find three acrylic paints, a wooden stick for pulling the paint and instructions. We love open-ended painting kits and this one introduces kids to a painting technique that can be used on other materials. There are three sets with different color palettes: dreamy colors, beachy colors and cheery colors. Note-- because these use

(Horizon Group $22.99 ) A wow-wee kind of bead kit with 800+ beads that come in a fun round plastic case that spins. There's a rainbow of colors here as well as metallics and alphabet beads. Set comes with enough elastic cords to make 25+ bracelets. A great holiday gift for 8 and up. Our testers also loved the STMT D.I.Y. Personalized Jewelry Studio ($24.99) that is chockfull of color beads, cord, initial beads, pearl beads-- to make more than 50 pieces of jewelry. The cas

( Creativity for Kids $25.95) If scratch art fans and unicorn fans were to have a dream toy -- this would be it! The deluxe set comes with 20 scratch art boards - some with pre-drawn images and others with just frames. If you're new to scratch art, it's a lot of fun. The kit comes with two plastic styluses that you use for scratching off the black top to reveal the colors below. Now what makes this kit especially special, it also includes a small unicorn vacuum for picking u

( eeBoo $24.99) A gorgeous image of skaters in Central Park at night. A magical setting by Victoria Tentler-Krylov. These puzzles make great projects for families during the holidays. Equally special, Paris Christmas by Jennifer Orkin Lewis - features street scenes of people shopping with the Eiffel Tower and Notre Dame in the background. Ages: Preschool Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Platinum Award 2025 Shop this New York City Skaters puzzle on Amazon Shop Paris Christmas puzzle o

( Play Monster $16 & up) It's a big year for this classic gear drawing toy. To celebrate the 60th anniversary, you'll find many...

( Foros $39.99) One of our favorite new board games of the year! Foros is a beautifully crafted board game. Think tic-tac-toe mashed up with Connect Four. The game play is to get four pieces in a row. You can play with two players or in teams. The game pieces are well finished (there are natural wood cubes and dark wood cylinders. Our testers found the more they played, the more they learned about strategies for moves. The game is marked 6 & up and can be played at this a

( Just Play $21.99 ) If you grew up playing Simon, you're going to love this new twist - and so will your kids and grandkids. Just the like original, you have to watch and then replay the same sequence but now you're doing it by stepping on the lights. A great party, family get together, rainy day activity toy. We agree with the 8 and up age range. Takes 3 AA batteries not included . Early School, Tweens 7 & up. Ages:Early School Years, Tweens Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Plati