April 17, 2025

Today our sustainability editor talks through how she approaches buying gifts for kids. Plus: personalized pencils, confetti spatulas, and a deal on some squishy-soft socks.

NYT Wirecutter, Gamewright, Wee Society; illustrations by Con McHugh for NYT Wirecutter

6 gifts kids won't outgrow (or throw out) immediately

By Katie Okamoto

Katie is a supervising editor at Wirecutter focused on sustainability and environmental health.

It's a privilege to watch kids becoming ever-evolving versions of themselves, though that presents a challenge when it comes to gift-giving: The giftees grow up so fast.

I'm often thinking about what happens after my present gets unwrapped. Will it break? Will it sit forgotten, cluttering a corner? Will it make a quick route to the trash? Finding quality kids gifts feels especially tricky when budgeting for a tidal wave of birthday parties. (Why is everyone I love born in the same handful of spring months? A question for someone else.)

For all these reasons, I'm grateful for our gift experts' recommendations, which always prioritize usefulness, child development, and joy. I've gravitated toward giving activities, like treating the family to local museum tickets. I also love gifts that encourage creativity and play, like analog games, books, puzzles, and art supplies — these tend to stay fun for months and years, far longer than a one-off toy or trinket.

And I do my best to avoid plastic. My feeling is that kids get enough of it, and there are lots of reasons to cut back on it in our lives. (For more on plastic — including how to reduce your exposure and use less of the stuff — I'm taking over Wirecutter's daily newsletter, The Recommendation, for a 3-part plastics challenge starting on April 27. Join me?)

In the meantime, and ahead of your next birthday party, behold: a few standout presents for all kinds of kids of all kinds of ages, each vetted by Wirecutter's experts.

For school-age kids who like to doodle: Gifts editor Hannah Morrill calls the quality of these personalized pencils a "ten out of ten": real wood, a grippy hexagonal shape (that still works in a standard pencil sharpener!), and a creamy carbon center. You can carefully select the best, most coordinated colors to make your giftee's pencil pouch the envy of the classroom. Or go with the assorted mix for a fun surprise.
For curious 2-year-olds (and beyond): These slightly sinister-looking wooden stacking robots have notched hands and feet that allow for all kinds of wacky creations, and they're fun for years. A friend gifted some to senior editor Kalee Thompson's son when he was a toddler. They're still on display in his room now (he's a teenager).
For speedy and fun-loving 6-year-olds: Don't be fooled by this fast-paced cat-and-rodent-themed card game's simplicity. As supervising editor Ingela Ratledge Amundson puts it: "I have yet to meet a person — of any age — who hasn't been beguiled by Rat-A-Tat Cat."
For a creative 7(ish)-year-old: Each page of this colorful journal is full of open-ended questions, illustrations, and drawing prompts to get a kid's creative juices flowing, including hard-hitting questions like: "These are the things in my brain," and "If I had a robot, I'd program it to …"
For chefs-in-training: Budding bakers or curious cooks might like a set of these cheery mini silicone kitchen tools. The set includes a mini whisk, spatula, measuring cup, and more, which can encourage them to learn some independent tasks like whisking eggs or making salad dressing.
For an artsy older kid: These Japanese watercolors make a special gift for any kid 8(ish) and up (or, honestly, adult) wanting to level up their artistry. The set includes an array of bright, rich colors, and the large pans and quick-dissolving formulation make the paints easy to use, even for small hands.

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31 kids party favors we love

Send the little partygoers home with delightful, useful trinkets — like a special tattoo set or some silly sushi magnets.

More long-lasting gift ideas

Wirecutter gift picks that includes a stylish navy blue bowl, a large wooden pepper grinder, a yellow jug, and more.

Michael Murtaugh/NYT Wirecutter

36 heirloom-quality presents (for adults)

Including some lovely bistro glassware and great-looking luggage→

Gifts under $25 which include a handful of our picks on display, like colored pencils, plants, gua sha tool, and coffee cup.

Sarah Kobos/NYT Wirecutter

The best gifts under $25

Budget-friendly doesn't have to mean poor quality→

A few of our picks for best gifts for tweens, including ice cream pints, a pineapple neon sign and a pair of sunglasses.

Michael Murtaugh/NYT Wirecutter

For the tween in your life

Consider a personalized pair of socks or some sparkly confetti nail polish→


What to give: A master's graduate?

One of my best friends is about to finish her master's degree — outstanding! She's in a great spot in her career, her kids are just about out of the nest, and she's worked hard for all of this. I want to give her something that recognizes this achievement, not just anything that I know she'll like. Ideas? — M.L.

From gifting expert Samantha Schoech:

It sounds like your friend is perfectly positioned for a spectacular second act, and she definitely deserves recognition for all her hard work. If you want to go the keepsake route, I love this memoir wrap ring, which can be personalized with names, dates, or anything you want. Another sentimental fave is this gallery-worthy print that maps the stars in the sky on a given time and place, like the day she received her master's (give it to her framed — unframed art is gifting someone a chore).

Another angle is the gift of some much-needed me time, something she likely didn't get a lot of while raising teens and finishing a degree. My BFF and I have spent some wonderful, cocktails-by-the-pool days using ResortPass, which allows you to use fancy facilities near you without staying overnight. If you don't live near each other, there's always the gift of a night away — her choice, her schedule, her time. Good luck!

Have someone who's impossible to shop for? Submit your question here.

One last gift (for you): These sock-like slippers have a little cushioning, a lot of warmth, and grippers to keep you from sliding around. And they're on sale right now.

You can reach the Wirecutter Newsletters team at newsletters@wirecutter.com. We can't always respond, but we do love to hear from you.

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