Watching kids tear into a wrapped gift is always fun (the colors! the happy characters!) But shopping for the perfect gift? Not quite. The amount of gendered toys out there (we’re looking at you Barbie and G.I. Joe) makes it tricky to shop for kids without setting them up for a lifetime of gendered thinking. In fact, according to an NPR report on kids’ toys, toys are more gender-divided now than they were half a century ago.
But the good news is that many companies are starting to rethink things. Take LEGO, which recently announced it is (finally!) getting rid of very gendered kits in favor of ones that appeal to all kids. And they’re not the only ones.
Ahead, you’ll find 34 gender-neutral toys that kids of all backgrounds and ages will love.
1. Ouistitine Chicken And Pig Puppet Duo, $55
Pretty but not aggressively feminine, Ouisitine’s gorgeous, one-of-a-kind hand puppets are handcrafted from upcycled wool sweaters and blankets.
2. Lamaze Clip on Toy - Captain Calamari, $15.99
Babies love the bright colors and sensory details of Lamaze’s gender-neutral clip-and-go stroller toys.
3. Haba Discovery Blocks, $29.99
These Haba Discovery Blocks are the perfect distraction for a baby, and they’re small enough to tote to a restaurant or on a plane, too.
4. West Elm Poppyseed Play Wood Baby Gym, $90
Here’s a baby gym that doesn’t have a whiff of gendering (or plastic!) in its design.
1. Tegu 42-Piece Magnetic Wooden Block Set, $93.50+
Tegu Blocks are definitely an investment, but they’re a delightful and long-lasting toy that even toddlers can build with thanks to the magnetic design. Plus, the range of colors invite girls who might think blocks are boys' toys.
2. Skandico Toys Building Blocks Set - The Castle, $199.90 $169.91
This gender-neutral set of blocks is so colorful, it’s almost more like a piece of art than a plaything.
3. Pottery Barn Kids Wooden Fruit Set, $29
Velcro connectors and a wooden “knife” make it possible for even the littlest kids to slice these toy fruits—so satisfying!
4. Crate & Barrel Modern Chef Wooden Kitchen Playset, $499
This major play kitchen from Crate & Barrel is so chic that even the most discerning parents will be happy to have it in the living room.
5. Art 2 the Extreme Kids Name Crayons, $19.95+
A self-described OG Etsy vendor, Art 2 the Extreme’s Recycled Name Crayons are an ideal stocking stuffer for kids learning their own names.
1. Tender Leaf Toys Coastal Animals, $54.99
Tender Leaf’s charming sets of wooden animals are a refreshing alternative to the ubiquitous plastic animal figurines, but still colorful enough to delight kiddos.
2. Land Of Dough Over The Rainbow Luxe Cup, $14.99
Artisanal play dough may sound like an oxymoron, but this sustainable and domestically-made dough is in a league of its own.
3. Lakeshore Log Builders - Master Set, $69.99
This made-in-the-US building toy is still just as much fun today as it was back in 1916 when it was introduced (and when toys were a whole lot less gendered). We love this all-wood set that has tons of logs for endless creativity.
4. Kid Made Modern Wooden Robot Craft Kit, $34.99
Kid Made Modern’s craft kits aren't your average boxes of junky supplies. We love all of its gender-neutral wooden craft kits, including this adorable make-your-own robot kit.
5. Hearth Song Five-Panel Folding Gymnastics Tumbling Mat, $69.98
Let the tumbling begin with a classic gymnasium mat that’s gotten a fresh update with a rainbow color treatment.
6. Pottery Barn Kids Plan Toys Balance Board, $75
This toy challenges future surfers and skateboards to sharpen their balance skills.
7. The Original Slinky Walking Spring Toy, $3.49
There’s a ton of reasons Slinky has been around for more than 75 years, including its gender neutrality. Kids will especially love sending it down the stairs all day, every day.
8. Waldorf Wooden Play Clips (Pair), $16
Just add blankets, and these Waldorf-style wooden play clips will let kids of all genders make the DIY forts of their dreams. They handily clip onto furniture without pinching little fingers.
9. IKEA CIRKUSTÄLT Children's tent, $19.99
Hands-down the most affordable play tent on the market, the circus-inspired stripes of IKEA’s tent are blissfully non-gendered.
10. Follies The Bauhaus Set, $199
Billed as “Part toy, part home-decor, and 100 percent fun,” Follies are a set of colorful foam boards designed for fort-building and more.
11. Ashwath 108 pcs. Magnetic Blocks Pipe Magnet Building Set, $49.99
If kids already have a stash of magnetic tiles, add to the fun with this specialized set that turns the tiles into a DIY marble run.
1. LEGO Safari Wildlife Tree House, $29.99
A box of basic LEGO bricks is a timeless toy, but kids get a kick out of the themed sets. The Creator 3-in-1 sets are a best of both worlds solution. The kids get the satisfaction of a kit, but multiple project options ensure there’s more than one play session in the toy. We love the Safari Wildlife Tree House and the Deep Sea Creatures for their non-gendered themes.
2. Haptic Lab Cross and Circle Game Quilt, $180
Think of Haptic Labs’s Game Quilts as a plaything and a future heirloom. Choose from Backgammon, Checkers, Snakes and Ladders, and Cross and Circle (the universal name for games like Parcheesi, Trouble, and Sorry).
3. Lunii My Fabulous Storyteller, $79.90
Kids will love this screen-free storytelling device. The Lunii lets kids create their own audio story adventure by choosing a hero, an object, a location, and more.
4 Hearth Song Inflatable Ride-On Hop 'n Go Horses, Set of 2, $44.98
Sold as a pair, kids can race each other with these delightful inflatable ride-on horses whose simple design will appeal to both boys and girls. Giddy up!
5. Lakeshore Super-Safe 1/2" Craft Tape Center, $59.99
It’s not a toy in the traditional sense, but trust us that this rainbow tape dispenser will be a sleeper hit. Kids will find hundreds of imaginative ways to use the tapes.
6. Two Bros Bows Splash Archery Combo Set, $59.99
This beginner bow and arrow kit from Two Bros Bows will inspire hours of imaginary archery adventure. The company was started by two entrepreneurial brothers when they were 7 and 10 respectively after watching Disney's Brave.
7. Handcrafted Buffalo Slingshot, $8.50+
With wool balls as the ammo, this throwback slingshot is (mostly) safe for indoor play. The natural wood and rainbow felt design is universally appealing to kids of all genders.
8. First Act Discovery Natural Acoustic Guitar, $39.99
We have a general rule against toys that make noise, but we make an exception for a classic acoustic guitar. This beginner model is affordable but still holds a tune, unlike many toy instruments.
9. Micro Kickboard - Maxi Deluxe Eco, $139.99
Kids love to scoot! If you’re looking for a big gift, the Micro scooter is *the( scooter of choice for the kiddie clique, and we love that their Eco edition is made from recycled plastic.
1. AREAWARE Little Food Puzzles, $45-$60
Order a set of Areaware’s little puzzles and divvy them up so each kid gets their own jigsaw snack.
2. Teni & Tayo Creations Build Your Own Solar Powered Car, $24.99
Build your own solar-powered car with this cool kit by Teni and Tayo, a black-owned STEM toy company.
3. Laurence King Publishing Tree Families Botanical Card Game, $14.94
The aim of this nature-inspired card game is to collect all the elements of a tree: leaf, flower, and fruit, plus the tree itself to form a tree family.
4. Yard Games Wooden Outdoor Tumbling Timbers, $50-$80
A oversized tower game is beloved by kids of all ages—and young-at-heart grown-ups. We recently spotted six year olds and teenagers playing this game together!
5. Dannijo Tie Dye Party Kit, $55
This massive set of dyes lets tweens make their own custom creations—with a bit of adult supervision, of course. Throw in a couple white T-shirts to get them started.
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