Toys that massage babies' gums as they create teeth

Examples: Teethers from Nuby

Toys that help babies learn and explore the world around them. These might include toys that attach to strollers, car seats, or bassinets and gives the baby things to explore and touch.

Example: Melissa and Doug "fill and spill" toy

Toys that look like cars and trucks which are rated for 0-2 year olds

Example: Play Pal Vehicle by Nuby

Toys which help little kids develop their fine motor skills such as stackers and shape sorters

Example: Melissa and Doug ring stack toy

Books with small plushies for little kids

Example: Goodnight Moon board book with bunny

Toys for little kids that help stabilize them and/or help them learn to crawl and walk

Example: V-Tech Push & Pop Bulldozer

Durable books for reading to and with small kids

Example: Press Here board book

Toys which encourage sensory exploration and keep little kids quietly engaged. These are usually helpful for situations where parents want to keep kids occupied while they complete other tasks, so toys without noisemakers are especially appreciated.

Example: Kitten Tails fabric book by Jellycat

Musical toys for little kids exploring sounds. This could include simple musical instruments usable by little kids (maraca eggs, for example) or toys that make sounds.

Example: Baby Einstein toddler jams baby jukebox toy

Toys that help kids play pretend and dress up. Any kind that is rated for this range of ages would be well appreciated!

Example: Pretend play kits from mybtoys

Toys that resemble people or characters for pretend play, suitable for small children.

Example: Fisher price "Little People" figures and playsets

Craft kits and cases with craft supplies that are appropriate for small children. Washable and low mess highly preferred for obvious reasons!

Example: Foil Fun kits by Skillmatics (ages 4-9)

Example: Terrarium kit by Creative Insights (ages 6+)

Example: Make your own soap kit by Klutz (ages 6+)

Toys that resemble people or characters for pretend play, suitable for kids 5+. At this age kids especially love to have figures of their favorite characters from other things. Popular characters include Bluey, Peppa Pig, Cocomelon, Gabby's Dollhouse, Minecraft, and Fortnite.

Example: Gabby's Dollhouse Cruise Ship Playset

Example: Avengers action figure set (ages 4+)

Example: 6" Godzilla action figure (ages 4+)

Toys that have wheels or otherwise help kids zoom around! This category covers movement devices for kids roughly 5 to 12 years old such as wheel kick scooters, gym class scooter boards, and roller skates. We also welcome guards, pads, and helmets for safe movement!

Example: Razor A2 kick scooter with adjustable handlebar height

Toys that have wheels or otherwise help teenagers zoom around! This category encompasses more advanced movement devices like skateboards, inline skates, hoverboards, and waveboards which wouldn't be appropriate for most younger kids.

Example: Complete skateboard by Enuff

Remote control or robotic toys including drones, trucks, etc. For flying toys, ideally they have guards or spare blades since these are easily broken.

Example: Remote control climbing car by Double E (ages 8+)

Example: Quadcopter with full blade protection by SYMA

Kits that prepare bigger kids to do a particular craft or give them the supplies they need to explore a particular area of art (e.g. painting, drawing, sculpture, beading). Some requests from last year included jewelry making, beginner sewing, terrarium making, slime, tie dye, book making, collages, and water marbling (paint).

Example: Acrylic paint pouring art kit

Endlessly reusable sets of blocks, tiles, and other components designed for kids over age 5. Favorite types include lock-together blocks (big or little), Magnetic tiles, "Brain flakes" discs, Plus plus blocks, comb blocks, Lincoln logs, and cardboard brick blocks.

Example: Deluxe Eco Robotics kit (ages 10+)

Example: Brain flakes braingineer 3 in 1 kit (ages 7+)

Example: Plus plus blocks tube

A hot item every year in all age groups 4+ are LEGO brand sets. Any LEGO item is welcome including classic sets and themed build kits (superheroes, Star Wars, etc.) of any size. If possible please bring us some that are for kids under 8 as well since they're harder to come by!

Example: Lego creative suitcase set (ages 4+)

Games and puzzles for kids ages 6 and up! A variety of options is always appreciated as we have requests for these at all ages from 6 to 17 years old. Older kids tend to appreciate more challenging 3D and intricate puzzles whereas kids on the younger end seem to gravitate toward puzzles that depict topics they're enthusiastic about (e.g. video games they like). Kids of all ages seem to like 2-6 player games such as Bananagrams, Kanoodle, Guess Who, Enchanted Forest, and Exploding Kittens.

Example: Peaceable Kingdom cooperative game (ages 5+)

Example: BOOP board game (ages 10+)

Example: Zombie Kidz Evolution

Example: Mudpuppy search & find puzzles (ages 4+)

Example: 3d ferris wheel puzzle by Rowood (ages 14+)

A variety of options is always appreciated as we have requests for these at all ages from 6 to 17 years old.

Example: Snap circuits flight deck kit (ages 8+)

Example: Bug and rock magnifier (ages 4+)

Interactive toys such as NERF for kids from ages 6 to 17. These are beloved by all ages so we would love to get varieties for little kids as well as big kids!

Example: Laser tag (set of 2)

Example: Nerf Junior Rookie Pack with targets (ages 6+)

Example: Foam toy sword 3-pack (ages 3+)

Example: Kids archery set (ages 4+)

Example Magnetic Dart set by Stomp Rocket

Toys that help people of all ages focus, and help them direct nervous movements in appropriate ways that don't disrupt others.

Example: Infinity cube fidget toy

Example: Double Twist game

Example: Nice Cube squishy by Nee-doh

Example: Cozy blanket with cute/food theme design

Example: Kinetic Sand beach castle playset (ages 5+)

All sorts of technology accessories are requested for kids 8-17 including: portable speakers, power banks, wireless headphones and earbuds, hats with headphones inside, gooseneck bed phone holders, and charging stations

Example: Anker 10,000 mAh power bank

Example: Hook-style wireless earbuds with case

Example: Gooseneck phone holder by Lamicall

Removable body art supplies such as temporary tattoos, washable markers made for use on skin, etc.

Example: Bic BODY MARK temporary tattoo markers

Example: OPI mini nail polish gift set

A variety of options is always appreciated as we have requests for these at all ages from 11 to 17 years old. Specific items that have been requested included photo clip string lights, lava lamps, neon signs, decorative bulletin boards, and galaxy ceiling projectors.

Example: Photo clip strings lights

Example: Thunderbolt neon sign (USB powered)

Grooming items for tweens and teens of any gender. Items that have been requested in the past include: nail clipper set, toiletry bags, makeup kits, pedicure sets, heating pad stuffies, hair tools & elastics, cologne/perfume sampler.

Example: Manicure set

Example: Capybara microwaveable beanbag

Example: Silk pillowcase and scrunchie set

Example: Black toiletry bag/dopp kit