Elementary school
Kindergarten through 5th grade. The squishy, collectible, trade-it-at-recess stuff topping kid wishlists this year.
- 01 NeeDoh Squishies $5 to $15 The squeeze toy every backpack has clipped to it. See it on Amazon
- 02 KPop Demon Hunters $10 to $40 Dolls, plush and merch from the movie kids cannot stop singing. See it on Amazon
- 03 Pokemon Cards $5 to $30+ Booster packs are the stocking stuffer that never misses. See it on Amazon
- 04 Labubu $20 to $40+ The blind-box collectible everyone wants to unbox. See it on Amazon
- 05 Mini Brands $8 to $15 Tiny grocery replicas in surprise capsules. See it on Amazon
- 06 Jellycat Plush $20 to $45+ Soft, silly and very collectible. See it on Amazon
- 07 Barbie Chemistry Kit $20 to $30 Real (kid-safe) experiments with a Barbie twist. A Toy Insider hot pick. See it on Amazon
- 08 Shark Hatching Egg $40 to $50 Crack it open and a megalodon hatches out. Pure suspense. See it on Amazon
- 09 Mega Slime Haul $20 to $25 A giant box of slimes and add-ins. Messy, beloved, endlessly replayed. See it on Amazon
- 10 CrunchLabs Build Kit $30 to $40 Mark Rober engineering builds for the kid who takes everything apart. See it on Amazon
What real parents recommend
Parents and relatives keep coming back to plushies, squishies, LEGO, geode kits, stationery and character collectibles. One recent thread was all about what counts as cool for fourth-grade girls.
Also on their lists
Prices are approximate US retail ranges and change by retailer, size and availability. These are popular gift directions and recommendations from individual Reddit discussions, not a ranking of sales.
Middle school
6th through 8th grade. Smell-good sprays, collectible charms and a room that looks good on camera.
- 01 Sol de Janeiro $25 to $40 The body mist everyone asks to borrow. See it on Amazon
- 02 Owala Bottle $25 to $40 The bottle they want to be seen carrying. See it on Amazon
- 03 Sonny Angels $12 to $25+ Tiny blind-box figures for desks and phone cases. See it on Amazon
- 04 Touchland $10 to $16 Hand sanitizer that smells like a treat. See it on Amazon
- 05 Instax Camera $70 to $100 Instant photos for lockers and bedroom walls. See it on Amazon
- 06 Room Projector $15 to $40 Turns the ceiling into a galaxy at bedtime. See it on Amazon
- 07 LEGO Botanicals $15 to $60 Flower builds that end up on their dresser for months. See it on Amazon
- 08 Bubble Skincare $10 to $30 Gentle, colorful skincare made for tweens. See it on Amazon
- 09 Disney Lorcana Starter $40 to $55 The trading card game everyone is learning at lunch. See it on Amazon
- 10 Miniverse Mini Collectibles $15 to $25 Tiny, real-looking collectibles you build yourself. See it on Amazon
What real parents recommend
The most concrete advice of any age. One parent of an 11-year-old built gift baskets with EOS lotion, candy, NeeDoh, cute pens, face masks and lip gloss. Others added Touchland, Hello Kitty, blind boxes and Sephora gift cards.
Also on their lists
Prices are approximate US retail ranges and change by retailer, size and availability. These are popular gift directions and recommendations from individual Reddit discussions, not a ranking of sales.
High school
9th through 12th grade. Beauty, sneakers and the cozy staples they will actually wear.
- 01 rhode Beauty $20 to $40 Glossy, minimal skincare from the brand every teen follows. See it on Amazon
- 02 Summer Fridays $24 to $30 The lip butter balm that lives in every pocket. See it on Amazon
- 03 UGG Slippers $90 to $130 Cozy, cute and worn everywhere. See it on Amazon
- 04 Adidas Sambas $90 to $110 The sneaker that is still everywhere. See it on Amazon
- 05 AirPods $100 to $250+ The most-requested teen tech gift. See it on Amazon
- 06 Lululemon Bags $38 to $60 Belt bags and crossbodies for every day. See it on Amazon
- 07 Rare Beauty Blush $25 to $32 The liquid blush that keeps selling out. See it on Amazon
- 08 Birkenstock Boston $150 to $180 The clog they wear with everything. See it on Amazon
- 09 JBL Flip Speaker $100 to $130 Waterproof, loud and always at the party. See it on Amazon
- 10 Gaming Headset $50 to $150 Clear chat, comfy for long sessions. See it on Amazon
What real parents recommend
For older kids and teens, commenters pointed to headphones, Owala bottles, LEGO, fidgets, video games, jewelry and mystery collectibles. A thread about a 16-year-old boy added Roblox, Minecraft and puzzles.
Also on their lists
Prices are approximate US retail ranges and change by retailer, size and availability. These are popular gift directions and recommendations from individual Reddit discussions, not a ranking of sales.
What moms are wishing for
Rest, wellness and things that make the everyday easier. The picks showing up most.
- 01 Smart Ring $150 to $350 Sleep and health tracking without a bulky band. See it on Amazon
- 02 Red Light Mask $40 to $400 The spa at home. Searches hit an all-time high. See it on Amazon
- 03 Silk Pillowcase $20 to $90 Better hair mornings, every morning. See it on Amazon
- 04 Heated Massager $30 to $80 For the shoulders that carry everyone. See it on Amazon
- 05 Digital Frame $60 to $200 Load the photos before you wrap it. See it on Amazon
- 06 Ninja Creami $150 to $250 Ice cream, protein treats and sorbet on demand. See it on Amazon
- 07 Weighted Vest $40 to $120 Her walks just leveled up. A breakout fitness pick. See it on Amazon
- 08 Theragun Mini $150 to $200 Pocket-size muscle relief after long days. See it on Amazon
- 09 Barefoot Dreams Throw $100 to $180 The famously soft blanket she will not share. See it on Amazon
- 10 Kindle Paperwhite $150 to $190 A whole library on the nightstand, glare-free. See it on Amazon
Also on their lists
Prices are approximate US retail ranges and change by retailer, size and availability. These are popular gift directions and recommendations from individual Reddit discussions, not a ranking of sales.
What dads actually want
Pulled from this year's dad gift guides and the gear dads say they use every week: grill upgrades, recovery tools and cozy basics.
- 01 Theragun $150 to $300 Recovery for the weekend warrior and the desk-chair dad. See it on Amazon
- 02 Wireless Meat Thermometer $70 to $100 Perfect steaks without hovering over the grill. See it on Amazon
- 03 Blackstone Griddle $300 to $400 Smash burgers and pancakes for the whole crew. See it on Amazon
- 04 YETI Roadie Cooler $200 to $250 Tailgates, beach days and fishing trips. See it on Amazon
- 05 UGG Ascot Slippers $110 to $130 The slipper he will wear until they fall apart. See it on Amazon
- 06 Record Player $150 to $350 For the dad with opinions about vinyl. See it on Amazon
- 07 Chemex Pour-Over $45 to $55 Better coffee, slower mornings. See it on Amazon
- 08 Home Brewing Kit $50 to $160 A new hobby in a box. See it on Amazon
- 09 Smartwatch $250 to $800 Workouts, texts and sleep in one place. See it on Amazon
- 10 Darn Tough Socks $25 to $35 Guaranteed for life. Dads love that. See it on Amazon
Also on their lists
Prices are approximate US retail ranges and change by retailer, size and availability. These are popular gift directions and recommendations from individual Reddit discussions, not a ranking of sales.
College kids and 20-somethings
Dorm upgrades, desk gear and the tech they will use every single day.
- 01 AirPods Pro $180 to $250 Noise canceling for the library and the commute. See it on Amazon
- 02 Stanley Quencher $35 to $45 The cup that goes to every class. See it on Amazon
- 03 JBL Flip Speaker $100 to $130 Dorm parties, beach days, everything. See it on Amazon
- 04 3-in-1 Charging Stand $40 to $60 Phone, watch and earbuds charged in one spot. See it on Amazon
- 05 Laptop Stand $20 to $40 Saves their neck during finals. See it on Amazon
- 06 Theragun Mini $150 to $200 Post-gym, post-shift, post-exam relief. See it on Amazon
- 07 Fire TV Stick 4K $35 to $50 Turns any dorm TV into a streaming setup. See it on Amazon
- 08 Daily Planner $20 to $35 For the one with three jobs and a full course load. See it on Amazon
- 09 Puffy Laptop Sleeve $30 to $40 Cute, padded and very campus. See it on Amazon
- 10 Mini Waffle Maker $10 to $20 The dorm breakfast hero. See it on Amazon
Also on their lists
Prices are approximate US retail ranges and change by retailer, size and availability. These are popular gift directions and recommendations from individual Reddit discussions, not a ranking of sales.