31 Affordable Gifts For Kids' End

Jan 03, 2024

We hope you love our recommendations! Some may have been sent as samples, but all were independently selected by our editors. Just FYI, BuzzFeed collects a share of sales and/or other compensation from the links on this page.

The grades are in, and they're...well, we know they tried their best. And for that, your kid is entitled to one of these fun, little treats.

BuzzFeed Contributor

For ages 3+.

Promising review: "Of all the things I got my 3-year-old son for Christmas, this little puzzle has been played with the most. He loves it. It can be put together multiple ways, but you can get it wrong so you need to think to shift things around to get them to fit. Bright colored pieces are easy to find when they are scattered around the living room." —MamaBear

Get it from Amazon for $9.99.

For ages 3+.

Promising review: "This is an awesome water bottle for kids. This thing is a tank! I don't know how many times it has 'accidentally' been tossed and dropped, stepped on, sat on; it's been a rocket/submarine as well as visited many new worlds. Stickers are awesome, and you will have extra for later projects or to replace original ones. I highly recommend it; ours doesn't even have a dent. Let me tell you, this bottle has fallen from a height of 9 feet and has not even a dent after months of use and abuse from a 6-year-old. Buy the bottle! I will be getting an army of them soon." —Kitty

Get it from Amazon for $11.99+ (available in three styles).

For ages 6+.

Promising reviews: "It's important to start by saying that you have to charge it before you can try it out of the box, or it will do nothing. The lamp part of this is made of durable, hard plastic, so there is no need to worry about dropping it or it falling off of the stand it comes with. It has several different colors you can change it to, along with a few automatic settings that will shift through all the different colors. Not so bright that it would be a sleep distraction, very subtle." —JRF

"My 11-year-old son wanted this for his birthday, and he loves it. The charge lasts all day and can also be used while connected. All his friends think it’s cool and love that you can change the color without the remote just by tapping it." —Denise cipriano

Get it from Amazon for $19.99.

For ages 4+.

Promising review: "We purchased this for our 8-year-old who specifically requested it, and it's so funny to play! Sort of like stacking sticks, you place the spaghetti in the bowl and place the Yeti on top. Don't let him fall, though! I love hearing her laugh as the game intensifies! Highly recommend. The product is well worth the price in the quality!" —Solange

Get it from Amazon for $13.59.

For ages 5+.

This is absolutely one of my all-time favorite puzzles to put together with my kids. Since it's lenticular, that means every piece has three different images depending upon the angle at which you look at them. That's challenging for me as an adult! That also means that the pieces are thicker than your normal puzzle (so it's got a long shelf life and won't get beat up). Plus, the kiddos love the kitties, big and small!

Get it from Amazon For $13.50.

For ages 4+.

Promising review: "I gave this to my 7-year-old nephew for his birthday. He wanted to open it shortly after, and we worked together on the spaceship. Turned out great! (Even though we had to go back and refold a couple of times. 😉) Durable paper, plus it was pretty easy to follow once you got the hang of it. It's nice that because of the printed paper, it feels like you've got something before you even start, which is encouraging. The end product is really cute!" —Jodie Jurgens

Get it from Amazon for $11.99.

Ages 4+.

Promising review: "So much fun and no batteries needed! If you are a Mario fan, this is a fun game for the family." —lola8668

Check out the Super Mario Shaky Tower Balancing Game too!

Get it from Amazon for $14.99.

For ages 5+.

Promising review: "This is a very nicely designed activity book. Each page has a perforation, so you can easily remove the pages from the book so that it's easier to place the stickers. We did this activity with my grand niece, who is 8-years-old, and my mother, who has early dementia. We all had a great time making the pictures with the stickers. You need to be able to match the numbers (up to about 30 or so) from the sticker sheet to the finished page and then match the rotation of the shape. Most stickers are easy to align correctly on the finished page but a couple can be a little more tricky for the young ones to figure out because their angles and length of sides are similar...In the end, it doesn't affect the end result of the picture too much if one or two are rotated from their perfect alignment." —ladybug

Get it from Amazon for $8.44.

Promising review: "I got these for my kids to play in the pool with, and they most certainly didn't disappoint. The maximum range on these (around 30 feet with a little elbow grease put into it) surpasses any Super-Soaker that I've ever tried, and they're extremely easy to use. Granted, they have no water reservoir, so you have to use them in the pool, lake, ocean, etc., for them to be effective, but aside from that, they are a fantastic water toy. Plus, they're brightly colored and float on the surface of the water so almost impossible to lose." —iEspresso

Get it from Amazon for $22.93.

For ages 4+.

Promising review: "This was by far one of the best purchases I've made for my grandkids' outdoor water play. They are all familiar with and love the game Crocodile Dentist. They had a great time with this sprinkler version of the game. The kids range in age from 3 to 14, and every one of them had fun taking turns pushing down a tooth wondering if the mouth would snap shut and they would get sprayed." —Deborah L. Stewart

Get it from Amazon for $14.99.

For ages 3+.

Promising review: "These are fun for kids of all ages. My grandbabies love them because they can hold them in their baby hands. They are brightly colored and flexible. Unlikely to hurt anything. Older kids like them for the noise they make when they are stretched or closing. They create long chains (they attach to each other) and wild twisty things. All in all, a good toy for this grandma to have in her house." —Katy

Get it from Amazon for $8.97.

For ages 3+.

You know when your brain tells you, "This might be a bad idea!" but your gut tells you "Nah, this is going to be hilarious! Maybe." Luckily, my gut was right this time. Silly Poopy is beyond silly and not poopy at all. It is indeed a poop-ton of fun for the whole family thanks to its infectious song that sounds like it was taken straight from a '70s game show. Best of all, my kids loves it and hopefully, this is the only poop they try to hide around the house.

Get it from Amazon for $12.99.

For ages 5+.

Promising review: "My 9-year-old loved these! She wore them to school for the last week of school on 'neon day' and thought she was so cool! Lol! The kids loved the light-up laces, and the gloves were all very fun for them. I ordered another set for her 4-year-old cousin. They are decent quality, and the best part...they come with several replaceable batteries!" —Tarynitup

Get it from Amazon for $11.99+ (available in two different sizes and color options).

For ages 8+.

Promising review: "My kids loved this and I honestly loved it as well. It’s very practical and easy to understand the dynamic of how to play. I recommend it to everyone. I have bought many more for gifts and the other kids loved it." —Esther T.

Get it from Amazon for $15.89.

For ages 3+.

Promising review: "While browsing gifts for an upcoming birthday party, I came across these. When I opened the package, I was surprised at how neat they all came inside the purses. The little fidgets inside were all individually wrapped. The price, IMO, was perfect. Would recommend for others." —Amanda

Get it from Amazon for $11.99.

For ages 5+.

Promising review: "Easy to travel with. I put these in a Ziploc in my purse and pull them out for my 4-year-old at restaurants! They are the perfect entertainment!" —Buntingsnmore

Get it from Amazon for $7.99 (available in 21 different sets).

For ages 4+.

Includes wooden postcard and stamps, envelope and invitations to mail, double-sided puzzle, 10-piece wooden memory game, gift box, shipping pouch, and a reusable activity magazine to personalize with three sheets of reusable stickers.

Promising review: "This toy does not disappoint! Everything is very sturdy. The mailbox may be a bit hard for toddlers to open, but it does keep everything stored safely inside, which is worth it. We got this for my 2-year-old for his birthday (he’s obsessed with Blue’s Clues) and he loves it. His 4-year-old (almost 5) sister has really enjoyed playing with it too!" —Amazon Customer

Get it from Amazon for $16.43.

For ages 7+.

Promising review: "We love everything Lego and dinosaurs in our house, so this was a perfect set for my 7-year-old. He loved being able to make three different dinosaurs since he has a new favorite dinosaur every day. This was a fun and relatively easy build. You just have to keep the extra pieces and instruction book for when you want to build the other dinos." —Aurorarose7

Get it from Target for $11.99.

For ages 3+, 3 AAA batteries required.

Promising review: "My five-year-old son got a kick out of these! Dinosaur toys he gets to build? No way! He and my husband had a great time putting them together, and we kept the 'drill' and accessories for the future. The drill is perfect for little hands, and it’s a great little project for parents to take on with their children. We also gave a set to our 10-year-old son and our 4-year-old nephew, and there were smiles all around. There are small parts, so keep away from babies. One plus was there were a few extra parts in case some are lost. I love when I get extras!" —Tazmand

Get it from Amazon for $27.59+ (available in two color sets).

For ages 3+ .

Kages Krayons is a woman-owned Etsy shop that creates "unique handmade Crayon party favors and gifts."

Promising reviews: "Super cute! They work well too. Perfect for a small token gift or in a little treasure bag." —Deborah Chiara

"These are just the cutest crayons. I ordered a few for my kid's baskets. It was hard to decide on just one. My kids enjoy drawing and being creative, so I knew this would make them happy. They have used them to draw me whatever I ask. It was something different and have enjoyed them." —eriane84

Get it from Kages Krayons on Etsy for $13.95.

For ages 5+.

Promising review: "This craft was a hit! The fox was very easy to put together and it turned out so cute! You have to make the tutu by tying a bunch of knots but other than that all of the clothes are ready to go and do not require sewing! The fox came with a little fabric bag to conveniently store it for travel. The materials in the craft are good quality and hopefully will last a while. My daughter loved this little cute fox!" —Olivia O.

Get it from Amazon for $17.79 (also available in bunny and mouse options).

For ages 5+.

Here's how to play: roll the dice and then feed the couch the number of treats that come up. Press the remote and the couch will either grumble and ignore the treats or eat up what you've left. If the couch is "happy" then it will spit out rewards like coins, lost socks, remotes, and even a cat.

Promising review: "My 3-and-6-year-old love playing this together! It’s cute and they think it’s hilarious. It’s a good game to help my 3-year-old learn to count and follow the rules of a game while keeping him engaged." —Amazon Customer

Get it from Amazon for $15.49.

For ages 6+.

Promising review: "I became ‘Greatest Aunt of All Time’ after getting this for my nephews (ages 4 & 5) last Christmas! They loved it so much. Even big sister (age 7) and all of us adults (ages 30+++) got in on the fun. I STILL get regular videos from my brother and sis-in-law of the kids stomping these rockets! It’s a simple toy, super easy to put together, but it’s endlessly fun! And selfishly, it’s very funny to see them figure out the coordination to STOMP the air pedal just right. There were many, many BIG stomps that landed on concrete at first, but they never gave up!!!" —alysonstarks

Get it from Target for $19.99.

For ages 3+.

Promising review: "Very active, almost 4-year-old grandson loves this robot. No buttons, no sound, no lights, no bells or whistles. Just a fun, 'use your imagination' toy. Chunky plastic screwdriver, perfect for small hands, and lots of colored 'screws' to change face, arms, and legs of the robot. Stickers may need to be applied by adult for younger children. Great value and very sturdy." —BJ

Get it from Amazon for $12.59+ (available in two colors).

For ages 10+.

Includes154 cutouts, 66 letter cutouts, 769 stickers, 41 quote stickers, 10 markers, paint-safe double-sided sticky tape, 6 yards of string, and 90 foam squares (phew).

Promising reviews: "We got this collage set for our 8-year-old. She has spent hours happily coloring and decorating the cards and then arranging them on her wall. The card stock and graphics are of good quality, and there are plenty of materials included. Very pleased and would definitely buy again!" —Martin

"My 10-year-old spent hours decorating her door in her room with this set. The first day in a while, she didn’t beg me for additional time on her iPad. It can be challenging to find things for her age to play with, and this was perfect. Very cute and uplifting. We will gift it to her friends as well." —Erin

Get it from Amazon for $24.99.

For ages 3+.

In my home, we call these "boogers," and they are a blast!

Promising review: "My kids (5 and 3, girl and boy) love these. At first, they weren’t sure what to do with them, so I told them there were no rules. It’s up to them to figure out how they want to use them. Since then, they have used them as pet snake siblings, tying knots, tug-of-war, flinging them across the room, wrapping them around things, and all kinds of creative fun. The possibilities are endless and completely open-ended for their own imaginations. They’re bright, colorful, wiggly, squishy, highly stretchy, and thick enough that they won’t break when stretched by very young kids. Pleasantly surprised with the quality. They’re not at all sticky like some squishy toys made of similar material." —Harlow Charlie

Get it from Amazon for $12.99.

For ages 3+.

Promising review: "My 2-and-a-half-year-old daughter absolutely loves these. The second she received these, she ripped open the box and built them. My 5-year-old son can often be found building them too. They love how they can be configured in so many different ways. They’re made of durable plastic, which is always good for little ones. My only complaint is that there are so many little pieces that end up all over the house, but that is the nature of this toy, and it does come with a bag to put them all in during storage." —Jackie

Get it from Amazon for $11.98.

For ages 3+.

Promising reviews: "I was doubtful that my 5-year-old would like this, but took a chance. It took him a little bit to figure out how to push the balls around, but once he got the hang of it, he didn't put it down for days. It challenged his thinking and also was cause/effect solving too. It was perfect for our car trip. Great purchase!" —Timothy Mitchell

Also, this...

"This says it’s a kids' toy, but I got it for my 35-year-old BF, who flips the backs off any battery compartment incessantly when watching TV. It exasperates me, and a couple of things have broken. I wordlessly handed it to him, and he didn’t say anything for about 10 solid minutes. Definitely a win in my book!" —Stacy V

Get it from Amazon for $9.99.

For ages 8+.

Promising reviews: "I love 3D puzzles and have done a few in the past and was really excited when I saw this one. You do have to be careful with any 3D puzzle because it's easy to break off tabs or bend pieces. I definitely wouldn't get this for a young child, but it would make a great gift for pre-teens and up. The instructions are very clear, and it's easy to assemble and take apart for storage!" —alexismu97

Now this kid gets it...

"My son loved this 3D puzzle set. He is a big Godzilla fan, and he loves recreating scenes from the movie. They really hold up. Pretty good quality. Great value for the money, and my son absolutely loved them." —Leticia Rdz.

Get it from Amazon for $19.99 (available in nine different cities).

For ages 3+.

Set includes a durable hard taco shell and felt tortilla with self-stick tabs, wooden food pieces (chicken, beef, shrimp, tomato, avocado, pepper, onion), a wooden knife, and a wooden hot sauce bottle.

Promising review: "My 2-year-old son LOVES this set. The salsa bottle that pours out a piece of felt is an especially big hit! Has lots of pieces that fit into their own little boxes and containers. This will occupy him for quite a while, pretending to cut and cook, but also just opening things and moving them around. If your kid likes the Dragons Love Tacos books, they'll enjoy this, comes with lettuce, tomatoes, cheese, and the dreaded spicy salsa. Only complaint is that it did not come in a larger box or crate that holds everything together for storage like some of the other Melissa and Doug kits do." —mpat

Get it from Amazon for $20.49.

Promising review: "Love having not only a play area but storage for my daughter's kinetic sands and accessories! This is very well made and allows her the perfect amount of space for creativity and imaginative play. This would be great for any kid!" —Amanda D.

Get it from Target for $19.49.

Reviews have been edited for length and/or clarity.