The best holiday gifts for cool kids

All products featured on this page were selected by Toronto Life’s editors. However, when you purchase an item through our retail links, we may earn an affiliate commission.

See our full holiday gift guide.

Hanukkah alphabet book

We love this primer on the festival of lights, featuring retro-cool illustrations of latkes, menorahs and, of course, dreidels. The Hanukkah-bedecked mid-century interiors they’re featured in are pretty neat too. $15

A vest that does best

The Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society teamed up with Joe Fresh to create a capsule collection inspired by our country’s great outdoors. (And if there’s one thing we have a lot of, it’s outdoors.) A portion of the proceeds from each purchase will be donated to the Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society. $29

Bluey’s Big Play

The favourite TV show of anyone who has kids (or was once a kid) is coming to a stage near you, featuring new music by the show’s composer, Jeff Bush. In their first-ever live outing, siblings Bluey and Bingo try to cajole their dad into joining in on their delightful, imaginative fun. From $27

Super Me kids T-shirt

Kim West launched Kids Swag to put Black kids front, centre, and all over items like notebooks, backpacks, activity books and this adorable T-shirt. $35

Naruto Playmobil

Awaken the energy spirit with this Playmobil set based on the long-running manga series about the epic sibling rivalry between ninja Sasuke and his, let’s say, complicated brother, Itachi. The Itachi figure comes with a changeable face, so you can re-enact the scene where one ninja brother steals the other’s eye. $38

Walkie-talkies

Keep track of your crew—whether they’re roving around a music festival, exploring a campsite or making a first solo trip to the convenience store—with these rechargeable walkie-talkies. They have a range of almost five kilometres in open areas. Do you copy? $40

Stereotypical Barbie

Thanks to Greta Gerwig’s $1-billion-plus-grossing cinematic juggernaut, it’s never been more socially acceptable to give a kid the iconic doll. Hi, Barbie. $40

DIY dollhouse

For gardeners looking to downsize, consider Rolife’s DIY model greenhouse, which comes with 231 intricate accessories—tiny plants, flowers, brooms, boxes, planters and more, all perfectly rendered on a 1:18 scale. $53

Kids’ robe

The team behind Pokoloko is passionate about sourcing beautifully handcrafted goods from artisans around the world, like this crinkle robe for toddlers, which is made from the softest Turkish cotton muslin. $79

Super Mario Bros. Wonder for Nintendo Switch

Find wonder in this latest evolution of Mario fun that’s perfect for lifelong Nintendo lovers and new players of all ages. Classic gameplay is turned on its head with the addition of Wonder Flowers, which trigger spectacular moments you have to see to believe, and unexpected Wonder Effects, like pipes that come alive and giant spiky balls that aim to wreak havoc. Choose from familiar Super Mario™ heroes—Mario, Luigi, Peach, Daisy, Yoshi and Toad—and take advantage of a new Power-Up, which transforms characters into Elephant Mario to trounce enemies with your trunk. $79.99

Creative kids cooking classes

Give young family members independence and confidence at Little Kitchen Academy. Watch little ones transform into kitchen prodigies as they chop, mix and sauté their way through Montessori-inspired cooking classes. Ideal for kids ages three to 18, sign up for a session or pick up a gift card to inspire the next top chef in your household. $85 to $115

Cooking subscription box

Cucina Kids came from the then-11-year-old brain of Etobicoke’s Matteo Biscaro, who launched the by-kids-for-kids cooking subscription service in 2020. Every three months, pint-size recipients will receive a seasonal box of illustrated recipe cards, shopping lists, STEAM-focused activity cards, collectible patches and more. $184

Foam party

It’s a couch. It’s a fort. It comes in 18 colours. It’s Blocksy, a set of vinyl-covered foam cushions that can be used to build slides, reading nooks, veg-out zones and more. $379

Barbie Dreamhouse

With 10 play areas spread over three storeys plus outdoor space, room for four dolls to sleep, a puppy slide and pool, and more than 75 accessories, this Mattel Dreamhouse is probably the most affordable housing option on the market. (Mojo Dojo Casa House transformation kit not included.) $250

Ride-on Mercedes

French company Baghera makes metal pedal cars and vintage ride-ons for kids ages two to four, like this fully licensed mini replica of the Mercedes W25, also known as the Silver Arrow. For the kid who has—or thinks they deserve—everything. $570