Every holiday season, the hottest must-have toys and games for kids of the year fill up parental gift guides and shopping carts. But who said the kids should have all the fun? This year, let Mom, Dad, Aunt, Grandpa or college-age siblings get in on the playtime action! From Legos to scooters, these awesome kits, gadgets and games promise hours of irresistible delight for every age — sure to bring out the inner kid in even the most serious adult on your list.
Rocking around
Teens aren’t the only ones passionate about their music! Rekindling a connection with music has plentiful benefits for all ages, including stress relief and better focus. Give the music lover in your life a whole new way to appreciate their favorites with old-school vinyl records. This retro-styled yet high-tech turntable comes equipped with Bluetooth and speakers for excellent sound. Got someone who’d rather get in on the music-making? Let them play DJ at their next party with their very own mixer deck, or turn up the volume on karaoke night with this neat all-in-one microphone.
Get building
Think Legos are just child’s play? Think again. The beloved blocks are all grown up, with adult-level kits promising hours of building fun. There are dozens of themes to choose from: Gift them a kit to design a cool sneaker or get their jam on with a groovy electric guitar. Know someone who’s ready to take their engineering game beyond static blocks? Try a challenging programmable robotics kit — it makes for a great parent-kid STEM hobby, too.
Game on
Board games might be a standby gift for the younger set, but this holiday favorite will deliver hours of family fun for all ages. Give a piece of nostalgia with a blast-from-the-past retro edition, a classic favorite or a fun gadgety version for the whole family to enjoy. Or, keep it adults-only with this well-known card game of extremely mature (yet hilarious) content. Want to take your gifting game up a notch? Treat them to one of the best-reviewed games of all time.
Crafty creations
Gone are the days of arts and crafts being the domain of broken crayons and safety scissors. From Pinterest to paint-and-sip, crafts for grown-ups are all the rage and make for the perfect post-holiday stress reliever. Get their creative juices flowing with an at-home craft kit. They can learn the art of shibori tie-dye or make their own bubble tea with DIY boxes from this local studio; decorate their home with a trendy self-made wooden plaque or even fold a smartphone-controlled paper airplane. For a gift that keeps giving through the year, try a crafting crate subscription like this one. And of course, adult coloring books are always a good stocking stuffer idea (don’t forget the pencils!).
Brain power
When it comes to puzzles, look for challenges to stump every age on your list. Keep their thoughts churning for hours with a mind-bending brainteaser — there are multiple themes and difficulty levels to choose from. Meanwhile, jigsaw junkies will fall for these unique finds from Uncommon Goods — we love the Votes for Women or the stunning geode puzzles, or take “Game of Thrones” fans into another dimension with this 4D cityscape inspired by the cult-favorite show. Want some clue-solving fun for a crowd? Try an escape-room-in-a-box kit that the whole family can get into.
On a roll
Know a big kid at heart who would rather hit the skatepark than the couch? Keep them moving and grooving with a new set of wheels. They’ll love zooming down the street on this deluxe hoverboard, or get in a workout while enjoying the ride with a pair of inline skates. Those craving some extra adrenaline will flip for this electric skateboard, with extra horsepower for their tricks on and off the ramps.
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Editor’s note: This article was originally published in December 2021, and updated in November 2023. This article contains affiliate links. If you purchase products through links on our site, ParentMap may earn an affiliate commission.
