The Best Tech-Free Toys | 2021 Gift Guide
Forget the Screens: 101 Tech-Free Toys For Kids of All Ages
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These days, even infants rely on technology to keep them entertained. That makes gift giving extra challenging: what kid wants a real doll when they can dress one up on an iPad? However, despite the increase in tech-oriented toys, there are still several playthings that remain tech-free and tons of fun.
From the latest Lego sets to fun group games, check out our favorite toys for kids — screens not required.
1 Star Wars The Child Basic Plush
How adorable is this Star Wars The Child Basic Plush ($25)?!
2 Lego Trolls World Tour Pop Village Celebration
The Lego Trolls World Tour Pop Village Celebration ($40) set has 380 pieces and is best suited for kids ages 6 and up.
3 Disney Princess Comfy Squad Fashion Dolls
Based on the princesses' looks in Ralph Breaks the Internet, the Disney Princess Comfy Squad fashion dolls ($15 each) highlight each princess's style once she takes off her fancy gown and slips into something more comfortable.
4 Lego Minions Brick-Built Minions and Their Lair
This Lego Minions Brick-Built Minions and Their Lair Set ($41) has 876 pieces and is aimed at kids ages 8 and up.
5 Manhattan Toy Playdate Friends
These darling Manhattan Toy Playdate Friends ($25) come in three variations: Ollie, Harper, and Freddie (from left to right in the photo above).
6 Lego Super Mario Adventures With Mario Starter Course
The Lego Super Mario Adventures With Mario Starter Course ($48) has 231 pieces and is aimed at Nintendo-lovers ages 6 and up.
7 Cuddle and Kind Mermaid Dolls
Each of these adorable Cuddle and Kind Mermaid Dolls ($54-$74) comes in two sizes.
8 Space Jam: A New Legacy Gametime Playset
9 Play-Doh Slime Dino Crew Lava Bones Island Playset
The Play-Doh Slime Dino Crew Lava Bones Island Playset ($20) comes with everything your kid needs to create a dino-riffic volcano scene with both Play-Doh and HydroGlitz slime eggs.
10 Creativity For Kids Sensory Bin: Garden and Critters
This Creativity For Kids Sensory Bin: Garden and Critters ($20) is the ultimate sensory play experience. Boxes also come in themes like Ice Cream Shop, Construction Zone, and Dinosaur Dig.
11 Learning Resources Big Feelings Pineapple
The Learning Resources Big Feelings Pineapple ($12) helps preschoolers to build social-emotional skills.
12 Ultra Pro - Cosmic Cows Game
The Ultra Pro - Cosmic Cows Game ($20) is a race to see which player or team can abduct three cows first.
13 Lego Brick Sketches Star Wars First Order Stormtrooper
The Lego Brick Sketches Star Wars First Order Stormtrooper Set ($17) has 151 pieces and is aimed at kids ages 8 and up.
14 Play-Doh All Mixed Up
Each 2.75-pound bucket of Play-Doh All Mixed Up ($15) comes pre-mixed with several bright colors of Play-Doh.
15 Barbie Color Reveal Shimmer Series
Each doll in the Barbie Color Reveal Shimmer Series ($10 each) comes as a complete surprise — there are five shimmery metallic dolls to collect!
16 Hape Math Monster Scale Toy
The Hape Math Monster Scale Toy ($27) teaches kids basic addition and subtraction in a visual way.
17 Barbie Fashionistas Dolls
Mattel has launched a new bunch of its popular Barbie Fashionistas dolls — which have varying body types, different skin tones, several eye and hair color variations, and more — for 2021, including Barbie in a Letterman Jacket ($10, pictured middle); Ken in Purple Print Outfit ($10, pictured second from left); Ken With a Wheelchair and Sunglasses ($20, pictured second from right); and Barbie With Braided Hair and Neon Biker Shorts ($6, pictured right).
18 UNO Remix!
19 Lego Duplo Unicorn
The Lego Duplo Unicorn Set ($10) has eight pieces and is aimed at kids ages 18 months and up.
20 Creatable World Deluxe Character Kit Customizable Doll — Black Straight Hair
This Creatable World Deluxe Character Kit Customizable Doll ($19) is just one of many variations that allow kids to create a character that looks like them, or they can use their imagination to create a doll friend that has tons of different looks.
21 Learning Resources Peekaboo Learning Farm
The Learning Resources Peekaboo Learning Farm ($13) teaches kids 18 months and older sorting skills, colors, numbers, and fine motor skills.
22 Healthy Roots Dolls: Zoe
This Healthy Roots Doll ($80), Zoe, has washable and style-able hair that your kids can use real products on.
23 Crocodile Creek Children of the World Puzzle
Once built, the Crocodile Creek Children of the World Puzzle ($20) features 18 children from different countries around the world, including France, Nigeria, Israel, and Kenya.
24 Dollhouse Miller Family
This adorable wooden Dollhouse Miller Family ($39) can be played with in any sort of dollhouse or playset your child already owns, or in one of Pottery Barn Kids's own, like this gorgeous option.
25 Lego Star Wars The Child
The Lego Star Wars The Child ($80) set has 1,073 pieces and is intended for kids ages 10 and up. See more details about the set here!
26 Little Likes Kids A Day at the Barbershop Memory Game
This Little Likes Kids A Day at the Barbershop Memory Game ($17) is adaptable in terms of how challenging it will be for kids to complete, so lots of age groups can get in on the fun!
27 Clixo Crew Pack
The Clixo Crew Pack ($45, originally $50) has flexible shapes that attach to each other with magnets to build endless amount of objects. The pack includes two spinners and 28 other pieces. The collection is lightweight and easy to travel with and doesn't require any batteries, just a whole lot of imagination.
28 Women Who Dared Blocks
This handcrafted set of Women Who Dared Blocks ($64) comes with 32 blocks, each of which features a woman who made a significant societal contribution.
29 Pottery Barn Kids All-in-1 Retro Kitchen
A little kitchen set with big-time retro flair, the Pottery Barn Kids All-in-1 Retro Kitchen ($499) will give your littles years of play-kitchen fun.
30 Play-Doh Kitchen Creations Drizzy Ice Cream Playset
With the Play-Doh Kitchen Creations Drizzy Ice Cream Playset ($12, originally $15), kids can make their own Play-Doh ice cream creations topped with Play-Doh hot fudge and Play-Doh strawberry sauce.
31 Kid O Cutting Fruit
For a healthier playtime, purchase this Kid O Cutting Fruit ($23) set.
32 Zynga Draw Something
Pictionary got a major makeover when Draw Something took off on mobile devices. The competitive drawing game is now available as a board game ($13, originally $20).
33 Janod Wooden Scooter Balance Running Bike
Janod's introduction to the US market has brought some much-needed style to wooden toys. Its Scooter Balance Running Bike ($110) looks just like its Vespa big sibling but is designed with a little one's feet in mind.
34 Angry Birds Star Wars AT-AT Attack Battle Game
Your little Angry Birds fan has never seen anything quite like the Angry Birds Star Wars AT-AT Attack Battle Game ($34). The characters can also be used in conjunction with the app (should you choose to go tech with it), and the setup is easy for a younger child to help with.
35 Magna-Tiles
Magna-Tiles ($50) allow tots to build up and out with pieces that feature magnets on every side.
36 Betheaces Kids Toys Golf Set
Before you start paying greens fees, get them practicing at home! This Betheaces Kids Toys Golf Set ($37) can be used inside or out, making it the perfect toy year-round.
37 ZMLM Rainbow Scratch Paper
Your kids can create colorful art with ZMLM Rainbow Scratch Paper ($11, originally $15).
38 Lego Friends Mia's Play Cube
39 Heroes of Goo Jit Zu Marvel Hero 4-Pack
The figures in the Heroes of Goo Jit Zu Marvel Hero 4-Pack ($25, originally $50) are goo-filled versions of your child's favorite Marvel superheroes.
40 Haba Rainbow Whirls Pegging Game
The Haba Rainbow Whirls Pegging Game ($35) is a fun take on classic stacking rings. It's a combination puzzle and ring game, so tots can pile up the rings by color or any other category they see fit.
41 Fisher-Price Walk, Bounce & Ride Pony
A Fisher-Price Walk, Bounce & Ride Pony ($48) grows with your child starting at 9 months. Infants can bounce and ride on this adorable pony before parents transition it into a ride-on once the little one gets a bit older.
42 KidKraft Adventure Tracks: Dino World Volcano Escape
With various products in the Adventure Tracks: Dino World line ($10-$50), kids can build tracks that are compatible with adorable dinosaur train cars. How cool is this KidKraft Adventure Tracks: Dino World Volcano Escape ($25) set?!
43 Mancala For Kids
The age-old game of mancala is still entertaining kids, and this Mancala For Kids ($18) set uses animal-shaped playing pieces, instead of the traditional pebbles, to make it a great find for kids ages 6 and up.
44 Crayola Air Marker Sprayer
The Crayola Air Marker Sprayer ($20) uses the ink from your favorite markers to turn your child into a graffiti artist. The battery-powered set can be used on fabrics, paper, and more, and it includes stencils to create specific shapes.
45 Pinkfong Baby Shark Bathtub Basketball
Things are bound to get competitive once this Pinkfong Baby Shark Bathtub Basketball ($10) set makes its way into your family's bathroom. Designed for littles ones 2 and older, this product will be a sure-fire hit!
46 Curious George Jack in the Box
Why mess with perfection? The timeless appeal of an old-fashioned jack-in-the-box pairs with a beloved kids' literary character with this Curious George Jack in the Box ($30).
47 Dark Brown Skin Tone Mermaid Doll
This sparkly Dark Brown Skin Tone Mermaid Doll ($15) also comes in medium and light-brown skin-tone shades.
48 Micro Kickboard Mini 3in1 Deluxe
Imagine a kids' scooter that actually grows with them from ages 1 to 5. The Micro Kickboard Mini 3in1 Deluxe ($120) does just that, thanks to the addition of a ride-on accessory that attaches directly to the scooter's bar. For the youngest riders, simply attach the O-bar and the seat to the scooter so tots can actually scoot around. When they're a bit older and ready to push off, remove the seat and just keep the O-bar to help them balance. And then, when they're around 3 years old, swap the O-bar for a T-bar and watch them scoot like a pro. Talk about a gift that keeps on giving!
49 Treasure X Sunken Gold Treasure Ship
The Treasure X Sunken Gold Treasure Ship ($55) has multiple levels of treasure discovery.
50 Hairdorables Longest Hair Ever! Doll
Nope, the photo isn't lying. This Hairdorables Longest Hair Ever! Doll ($12) has a serious 'do! This collection comes with a slew of accessories and is made for fashionistas 3 and up.
51 Lego Dots Jewelry Stand Kit
The Lego Dots Jewelry Stand ($15) kit has 213 pieces and is intended for kids ages 6 and up.
52 Slackers 70' Hawk Series Zipline
Who needs batteries when you have an amusement park in your backyard? The Slackers 70' Hawk Series Zipline ($134) attaches to two trees for quick zipping across the yard.
53 Build-It-Yourself Woodworking Kit
With more than 80 pieces in a bunch of shapes, plus a hammer, nails, and project instructions, this Build-It-Yourself Woodworking Kit ($40) is all your kid needs to build up a business.
54 Spot It! MLB Edition
Blue Orange's line of Spot It! games are so much fun, you'll forget they're educational. The quick games of matching challenge players' visual perception and reaction time, but they'll just think they're racing their friends. The Spot It! MLB Edition ($17) is perfect for the little baseball fan in your life.
55 Clicques Rainbow Girls
These Clicques Rainbow Girls ($120) are magnetic mix-and-match dolls.
56 PlaSmart PlasmaCar
Available in a range of colors, the PlaSmart PlasmaCar ($70) has no gears, batteries, or pedals. Kids just steer and zoom away!
57 Perfectly Cute Grocery Cart
This Perfectly Cute Grocery Cart ($20) brings your kiddo's play kitchen and market to the next level!
58 Pinhole Press Baby Flash Cards
These Pinhole Press Baby Flash Cards ($25) are a great way to make memorization fun for kids. Simply upload the photos, add in the words, and watch as your tot has fun with this early-stage reading activity.
59 Crayola Scribble Scrubbie Grooming Truck
Ideal for little ones 3 and up, the Crayola Scribble Scrubbie Grooming Truck ($20) allows kids to get crafty with the family members they love the most: their pets! Kids can make their very own designs on cats, dogs, and rabbits before washing their creations off in the grooming station.
60 Melissa & Doug Slice and Bake Cookie Set
Serve up cookies without the sugar rush. This Melissa & Doug Slice and Bake Cookie Set ($19) lets kids bake and decorate some sweet treats without turning on an oven.
61 Kinetic Sand Scents
These Kinetic Sand Scents ($20 for four packs) come in eight-ounce bags. Available scents include cupcakes, cherries, sour apples, chocolate cake, banana, blue raspberry, watermelon, and cookie dough.
62 Lego Elsa and Olaf's Tea Party Duplo Building Set
This Lego Elsa and Olaf's Tea Party Duplo Building Set ($20) has 17 pieces and is best suited for toddlers ages 2 years and up.
63 UNO Nothin' But Paper
Mattel released UNO Nothin' But Paper ($6), its first UNO deck that has removed cellophane from its packaging and is 100 percent recyclable. The new deck is part of the company's sustainability efforts — it plans to remove the cellophane from standard paper-based decks entirely by 2021.
64 ThinkFun Swish
This ThinkFun Swish ($15) game challenges kids to turn and flip transparent cards to make matches. When cards are stacked, it looks like the balls are swishing into an empty hoop.
65 Haba Aircraft Swing
For babies up to 12 months, the Haba Aircraft Swing ($170) is as cute as it is fun. A rattling propeller adds a little extra vroom, and the adjustable height, seat, and straps help accommodate growing infants.
66 Fisher-Price Baby Biceps Gift Set
Get babies 3 months and up started on his or her hobbies early with this adorable Fisher-Price Baby Biceps Gift Set ($10). We're obsessed with the tiny dumbbells.
67 Ridley's Magic Kit
Even mature tweens will be delighted by this Ridley's Magic Kit ($15), which comes with five tricks.
68 Crayola Marker Maker
Your little mixologist will love creating markers of their own with the new Crayola Marker Maker ($10) set. Equipped with everything you need to make 16 markers (including a mixing chart to create exact colors), the kit is sure to be a hit with kids of all ages.
69 Lego Duplo My First Alphabet Truck
The Lego Duplo My First Alphabet Truck ($25) has 36 pieces and is best suited for toddlers ages 18 months and up.
70 BeginAgain Butterfly A-Z Puzzle
BeginAgain Toys has introduced a line of retro-styled products made from rubberwood. Its Butterfly A-Z Puzzle ($23, originally $30) is both handcrafted and hand-painted and designed to teach kids the alphabet.
71 Magic Bean Garden
With this Magic Bean Garden ($15), kids can create their own gardening magic.
72 Eco-Dough
Give your toddler a greener way to play. Made from organic wheat flour, sea salt, cream of tartar, and vegetable oil, Eco-Dough ($40 for a six-pack) is a safe way for your sculptor to hone their craft.
73 I Never Forget a Face Memory Game
The I Never Forget a Face Memory Game ($20) comes from the woman-owned specialty toy and gift company eeBoo.
74 Hape My First Gym
There's something special about Hape's back-to-basics My First Gym ($30, originally $37). The wooden frame holds four toys with rattles and rings (and without sound and lights) to encourage little ones to stretch during their early years.
75 Green Toys Build-a-Bouquet Floral Arrangement Playset
We love everything about Green Toys' philosophy. All the company's products are made from recycled plastic milk jugs, including its Build-a-Bouquet Floral Arrangement Playset ($18). The 44-piece set allows kids to stack the flowers to create a beautiful garden.
76 Little Feminist 500-Piece Family Puzzle
Raise tiny feminists with the help of this Little Feminist 500-Piece Family Puzzle ($14).
77 Kiwi Crate
We've loved Kiwi Co's subscription-based boxes since they first came across our desks. Stocked with arts and crafts projects, science activities, imaginative play, and more, the brand's various "Crates" are filled with all the materials and inspiration you need to get started, so your kids are left to explore and create!
78 Marvellous Marble Run 30-Piece Set
Marble runs are always fun, and the Marvellous Marble Run 30-Piece Set ($27) is full of enough twists and turns to keep kids interested.
79 Fisher Price Rock-a-Stack
A classic toy, the Fisher Price Rock-a-Stack ($7) for babies 6 months and older got a sustainable revamp! It's now made from cane sugar, rather than hard plastic.
80 Cave Club Core Fashion Dolls
The latest franchise from Mattel, the Cave Club Line Fashion Dolls ($16) and its various playsets are aimed at kids 5 and older.
81 Hape Super Moose
With Hape's Super Moose ($30), kids test their dexterity and stability as they try to add antlers to the moose's head — without knocking down the wooden pieces!
82 Small Foot Wooden Toys Fire Station Playset
Kids can flex their imaginary play muscles with this Small Foot Wooden Toys Fire Station Playset ($36).
83 Step2 Flip and Doodle Desk Easel With Stool
Step2's Flip and Doodle Desk Easel ($75) features an upright easel that can fold down into a desktop with a magnetic dry-erase board, trays for markers and pencils, and a cup holder. The set also comes with a matching stool and plenty of storage for books, art supplies, and more.
84 Punch Needle Embroidery Starter Kit — Rainbow
The fine art of cross-stitch is alive and well in the form of this rainbow embroidery art. This Punch Needle Embroidery Starter Kit ($14) is a fun way to get them hooked.
85 Joyful Carousel Jumbo Puzzle
This Joyful Carousel Jumbo Puzzle ($17) has 24 large pieces and is perfect for toddlers and kids ages 3 and up.
86 KidKraft Whisk & Wash Kitchen and Laundry Playset
Ding, laundry's done! Before doing their own laundry, small kiddos can wash their pretend loads with the KidKraft Whisk & Wash Kitchen and Laundry Playset ($80).
87 Fabric Marker Set
They can create their own style by designing unique clothes and shoes with this Fabric Marker Set ($13).
88 Tegu Magnetic Wooden Block Set
A purchase you can feel good about, this 42-piece set of Tegu Magnetic Wooden Blocks ($110) is meant to withstand the test of time. Based in Honduras, the company's mission is to positively influence that country's economy while putting out an eco-friendly and beautifully constructed product.
89 Magnetic Crazy Face Game
Janod's Magnetic Crazy Face Game ($13) is a fun way to let your little one's imagination go wild. With 67 magnets and 12 faces to decorate, the possibilities are endless!
90 PicWits!
Consider PicWits! ($26) the ultimate caption-writing contest. Players have to match up photos with the best captions and submit them to a judge to determine the winner.
91 Uno Braille Card Game
92 Lego Star Wars Return of the Jedi Death Star Final Duel
The Lego Star Wars Return of the Jedi Death Star Final Duel Set ($89) has 775 pieces and is aimed at kids ages 9 and up.
93 Gooey Louie
File this one under gross toys that kids love and parents just cringe at. Gooey Louie ($18) has kids pick things out of Louie's nose in hopes of finding the right object. If the wrong one's picked, Louie goes a bit crazy!
94 Bluey Family Home Playset
The Bluey Family Home Playset ($40) comes with Bluey, her home, and furniture accessories.
95 Pop Bottle Science
Experience science through 79 experiments that can be done with a soda bottle when you gift your child the Pop Bottle Science ($18) kit.
96 Melissa & Doug Ice Cream Playset
It doesn't have to be summertime to give you an excuse to scoop your own cone with Melissa & Doug's Ice Cream Playset ($21).
97 Little Tikes Superstar Cozy Coupe Ride-On Toy
The kid-powered Little Tikes Superstar Cozy Coupe Ride-On Toy ($67) is just too cute for words!
98 Beginners Sewing Kit
Kids who are too young for a sewing machine can learn the basics with the premeasured and cut supplies in this Beginners Sewing Kit ($25).
99 Duct Tape Bangles Kit
Who knew duct tape could look this fashionable? Alex Toys' Duct Tape Bangles Kit ($10) comes with five rolls of colorful tape and instructions for creating these one-of-a-kind masterpieces!
100 Franklin Sports NHL Carpet Hockey
Now they can get in some hockey practice at home with this Franklin Sports NHL Carpet Hockey ($35) rink.
101 Razor Flash Rider 360
More than just a trike, Razor's Flash Rider 360 ($107) will have kids spinning their way around the neighborhood. In addition to a large front wheel, the rider has two caster rear wheels that send the trike spinning when pedaled. But best of all is the spark bar that lowers a flint pack to the ground to create sparks when the bar is pulled.
