You’ve probably experienced that moment when you’re invited to a friend’s or relative’s child’s birthday party but have no clue what to gift. What kind of present would truly bring joy and light up their face? While giving money has become more common—sometimes even suggested on the invitation—physical gifts often hold more value for younger children. However, many presents end up forgotten after just one use. That’s why we’ve put together a list of toys and activities that have been a real hit in our families, bringing lasting fun and excitement!

The links in this post will take you to the products so you can get a better idea of what they are. However, some items may be out of stock in certain stores, so you might need to browse online for alternatives. While these recommendations are aimed at girls, most of them are actually great for any child. You can also check out our gift ideas for boys!

When asking girls which board game they’d like to play, Dixit is often the top answer. This beautifully illustrated game is built around imagination and storytelling, making it a fantastic choice for kids to play with parents—or even for adults on their own. It’s a great way to see how your child thinks and what details they notice. The game works for 3 to 12 players, and I highly recommend getting expansion packs for even more variety—we have three at home, and they add so much to the experience!
Another wonderful family game is the classic Carcassonne. To make it fun for the whole family, younger children often team up with a parent. For example, my four-year-old loves handing me the tiles and placing the little figures while I handle the strategy. It’s a great way to introduce kids to tactical thinking while keeping the game engaging for all ages!

The Waboba flying disc is one of my favorites. Unlike rigid plastic frisbees, this one is soft and flexible—you can fold it up and tuck it in your pocket, making it super easy to carry around. Plus, since it’s lightweight, there’s less risk of accidents when kids throw it. Another hit in our family is the Waboba Flyer, which adds an extra challenge and even a bit of a workout! And for younger kids, you can never go wrong with classic bouncy balls—they’re always a source of endless fun.

I’ve come across various origami books in stores, and they’re a fantastic activity for families with kids of different ages. The older sibling can fold while the younger one decorates and colors. One of my best finds was an airplane folding book I picked up at Coop Eeden’s grocery store. It came with 20 colorful sheets and folding instructions for €10. At first, I hesitated—it seemed pricey for such a small book—but I eventually bought it and have zero regrets! Even after we used up the paper, the instructions remained, allowing us to keep making planes with any scrap paper we had. We’ve had so much fun testing different designs and competing to see whose plane flies the farthest. Pro tip: use a stapler to add a small staple at the bottom of the plane—it significantly improves flight distance!

Classic paper dolls have gotten a modern upgrade with magnetic dress-up dolls! Kids can mix and match different outfits without worrying about flimsy tabs or tearing the paper. The magnetic pieces stay securely in place, making it much easier for little hands to handle. This means less frustration for younger children who might struggle with traditional paper dolls, allowing them to fully enjoy the creative process of styling and dressing up their characters.

Felt books, or soft activity books, are a fantastic choice for younger children who love hands-on exploration. These interactive books are designed with different textures, puzzles, and tasks that help develop fine motor skills and logical thinking while keeping little ones entertained. Whether it’s buttoning, zipping, or matching shapes, these books provide both educational value and endless fun, making them a wonderful screen-free activity for curious toddlers.

Blowing bubbles under the warm summer sun is a simple joy that never gets old. It’s an easy, carefree activity that keeps kids entertained for hours. Before the season starts, I usually stock up on a liter of bubble solution from home goods store, so I can keep refilling the empty bubble wands at our summer house. There are so many types of bubble wands available, but my latest favorite is the XXXL bubble wand, which creates massive, mesmerizing bubbles. One important tip: the cheapest bubble solution didn’t work well for large bubbles. So if you’re buying in bulk, it’s worth adding a higher-quality solution to your cart for the best results!

Card games like Dobble, Monopoly Bid, and Ligretto are perfect for quick, fun gameplay and make great travel companions. Kids love classic Monopoly, but once we bring it out, we usually end up playing for days. That’s why Monopoly Bid is such a great alternative—it’s fast-paced and just as engaging. Dobble is one of those games you can play in a  group, as a duo, or even solo. Once kids get the hang of it, they often beat the adults, and the sheer joy on their faces when they win is priceless! Ligretto, on the other hand, is a high-energy, fast-paced game where the goal is to get rid of your cards as quickly as possible.
My child recently spent their birthday money on Exploding Kittens, a wildly fun card game where players must avoid drawing an exploding kitten by using strategy and clever moves. The tension builds with every turn, making it an exciting experience right until the last card. It has quickly become a family favorite!

Flying a kite is a mesmerizing experience, though it can be a bit tricky—it requires the right amount of wind and some skillful handling. Cheaper kites tend to break easily, so investing in a sturdier one is worth it. If you’re familiar with the Djeco brand, you might already know they offer a variety of creative kits, including origami sets and kites. One of the latest hits among girls, however, has been the Velvet Artistic Patch. This set includes beautiful images that can be decorated with adhesive patterns and colorful velvet, creating a soft and textured effect. I came across this gem at Orange store, and it has been an absolute favorite!

If you know a child who enjoys detailed, hands-on activities, Unidragon wooden puzzles are a stunning choice. Each piece is crafted like a miniature work of art, making the assembly process both exciting and rewarding. The unique shapes add an extra challenge, and once completed, the puzzle can even be glued together and displayed as wall art. For kids who find joy in calm, creative activities, mandala coloring books are an excellent alternative. They’re perfect for road trips, keeping children engaged and relaxed while traveling. Plus, they offer a wonderful screen-free way to unwind—something every parent can appreciate!

I still remember how much fun spy games were as a child. A walkie-talkie set has been a huge hit in our family, making outdoor adventures even more exciting. We found ours at the Ahhaa Science Store and chose it specifically because it also functions as a flashlight—a handy bonus for evening explorations.
If you’re considering getting one, I highly recommend rechargeable batteries from the start. Walkie-talkies get a lot of use, and having rechargeable options saves both money and the hassle of constantly replacing them!

Strategy games are perfect for older kids (10+), offering a great mix of challenge and fun. One of our all-time favorites is Ticket to Ride, which I first discovered online before introducing it to my family. The classic USA map remains our top pick, but the game has since expanded with maps from different countries, adding variety and new strategies to explore. Another game that has stood the test of time in our home is Gang of Four, a strategic card game I once picked up from a board game store in Finland. The goal is to play the highest-ranked sets of cards to win as many tricks as possible, earning points along the way. It’s engaging, competitive, and best of all—it doesn’t drag on for too long, making it a great choice for quick but strategic gameplay!

The puzzle game Get Packing challenges players to fit a set of items into a suitcase exactly as shown on the card. It’s a fun way to test spatial reasoning and can be played solo or with a partner. If you want to turn it into a group activity, grabbing an extra set allows for head-to-head challenges. It’s a unique logic game—not overly difficult but engaging enough to keep players thinking. Plus, like many brain-teasing games, it’s a great travel companion, keeping kids entertained while sharpening their problem-solving skills on the go!

Klask is a fast-paced and highly engaging magnetic tabletop game. Players control their pieces using magnets from underneath the board, skillfully maneuvering to strike the ball into their opponent’s goal. It’s a fantastic alternative to foosball or air hockey, requiring far less space while still delivering the same excitement. The best part? It’s fun for all ages—whether kids are playing against each other or challenging adults, Klask guarantees a thrilling and competitive experience for everyone!

In the logic game ThinkFun Gravity Maze, your goal is to build a path that guides the marble to its target using a series of towers. It’s a fantastic puzzle game that challenges spatial reasoning and problem-solving skills. With different levels of difficulty, it keeps players engaged as they experiment and refine their solutions. A perfect gift for kids who enjoy hands-on challenges and for anyone looking to develop spatial awareness and logical thinking in a fun, interactive way!

I don’t know a child who doesn’t love helping out in the kitchen. And imagine the excitement of making your own candy! What could be better? Lastella’s most popular kits are the DIY Gummy Bear  and DIY Gummy Dino sets, allowing kids to create adorable and delicious gummies in fun shapes.  If you’re looking for a gift that keeps siblings happily engaged, the double gummy kit is a great choice—it lets them make both bears and dinos at the same time, eliminating any fights over the pipette!

The Unicorn Cookie Making Kit comes with beautiful unicorn-shaped stamp cutters, making it a magical baking experience. While cookie-making is best suited for older kids, younger children can use the molds for playing with playdough, adding to their creative fun. With a variety of colorful dough mixes—pink, yellow, green, and blue—kids can bake vibrant cookies and decorate them with sprinkles. Plus, these stamp cutters are perfect for the holiday season, creating stunning imprints on gingerbread cookies!  

Making lollipops at home is a fun and exciting activity that kids absolutely love. With our  DIY Lollipops kit, children can create delicious chocolate lollipops and decorate them to their liking. Recently, a grandmother purchased this kit from our online store, mentioning that her 7-year-old granddaughter had it on her birthday wishlist—proof that this hands-on treat-making experience is a true hit with kids!  

If your child loves frozen treats, the DIY Yogurt Ice Cream kit is a fantastic and healthy way to get creative in the kitchen! It’s perfect even for very young children, as they can enjoy the process of making fruit purées and smoothie blends together with a parent. Scooping the mixture into the molds is a fun way to practice coordination, and once frozen, these homemade treats make for a refreshing and healthy snack—a delicious way to beat the summer heat!

For craft-loving kids, the DIY Mini Disco Balls and DIY Christmas Ornaments kits are perfect choices. The disco balls are slightly easier to make, but both sets allow kids to unleash their creativity and design their decorations however they like. Following the guide is great for those who enjoy detailed crafting, and the end result is something both kids and adults can be proud of. Disco balls, in particular, make stylish decorations year-round! My son’s class made them in a crafts lesson, and afterward, several classmates asked him where they could get more kits—proof of just how fun and engaging this activity is!

I hope you found the perfect gift idea here!