Kids & Baby
The Best Gifts for 3-Year-Olds, Tested by Real Families
Three is the year of pretend play, runaway feelings and hands that still fumble. These are the gifts that survived our test shelf, and the ones parents wrote to thank us for.
12 guides
Kids & Baby
Toys, books and gear for children from newborn to ten, tested in real family homes.
Kids & Baby
Gifts for 5-Year-Olds: What They Can Actually Do (and What They Can’t)
Five is the year of rules, collections and showing off. The best gifts give them something to master in front of an audience of one.
Kids & Baby
Gifts for 7-Year-Olds: Collections, Codes and Confidence
Seven-year-olds have opinions, reading skills and a sudden interest in being good at something specific. Shop for the obsession, not the age.
Kids & Baby
The Best Building Sets for Kids, Ranked by What Survives Being Stepped On
We built, dropped and stored eleven sets. These are the ones still complete after a year, and the ones that quietly teach engineering instead of just following a picture.
Kids & Baby
Screen-Free Toys That Actually Hold Attention (No Batteries Required)
Twelve battery-free toys, tested against the only benchmark that matters: did the child come back to it once the novelty wore off?
Kids & Baby
First Christmas Gifts for Babies: What Parents Actually Keep
A baby's first Christmas is really a gift to the parents. These are the keepsakes they photograph, and the practical items they use every single day.
Kids & Baby
The Best Children’s Books to Give This Christmas, by Age
Books are the most reliable gift in the category and the easiest to get wrong. Here are the ones children ask for again, sorted by age band.
Kids & Baby
Ride-On Toys: Balance Bikes, Scooters and the Ones to Avoid
The ride-on category is where parents overspend on the wrong thing. These are the four worth buying, in the order we would buy them.
Kids & Baby
Art Supplies for Kids That Do Not End Up Dried Out by February
Most kids' art sets are landfill with a ribbon on. These are the supplies that survive real use, and the ones worth paying more for.