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30 Things For Kids Who Aren’t Just Kids, But *Cool* Kids
Sure, your kid is growing up to be a *tad* more interesting than you — but you’re the blueprint, and they’re just perfecting the design.
1. An extremely trendy wool-blend peacoat with gold buttons to revamp your kiddo’s fall wardrobe. Especially if their tastes somehow went from Fancy Nancy to a mini Anna Wintour overnight.
Gap
Get it from Gap for$59 (usually $118; available in youth sizes 4/5–14/16).
2. And some heart-shaped sunglasses if your kid hasn’t passed the Fancy Nancy stage yet. These would make a super cool addition to your child’s vast collection of dress-up clothes as well as a fun, practical accessory. They’ve got UV400 protection, too!
Amazon
Promising review: “Purchased for my flower girls. They are absolutely adorable and I was surprised by how thick and good quality they are. They were the right size for my girls who are 6–9 years old.” —NurseA
$9.99 (available in two sizes and six colors; also available in packs of two).
3. We’re Not Really Strangers: Kids Edition, a conversation-starting card game that’ll take your chats with your children to the next level. You don’t need to just settle for surface-level talk about school and favorite TV shows when you can actually get to know your child as a tiny human being and pick their budding brain with deeper (but still developmentally appropriate) questions. If you’re kiddo is a little too cool for Candy Land, it might be time to switch things up with this game.
Although there are different editions of this game with varying age ratings (ranging from 5+ to 18+), each deck is packaged differently and labeled clearly with the intended audience — so, don’t worry. It would be *really* hard to mix up the editions.
Promising review: “I will say that I am a HUGE fan of the WE’RE NOT REALLY STRANGERS company! I had already purchased three sets before getting this one, and it did not disappoint. Much like the others, this one opened the door for conversations that my 7-year-old daughter and I probably wouldn’t have even considered. This is more than a game; it is truly an opportunity to connect on a deeper level with whoever else is playing with you. Prompts are easy enough for kids to understand and age-appropriate. We will be playing this with the rest of our family very soon.” —Briana Garcia
Get it from Amazon for $25.
4. A 14-ounce Stanley cup with stainless-steel insulation that can keep water and juice cold for hours! And listen, a Bluey-themed plastic water bottle is not going to appease your sweet little diva. Your child is not going to settle for anything less than ✨ style. ✨ They’re just like you, after all. Plus, this cup is dishwasher-safe for easy cleaning.
Promising review: “Bought this for my little sister to take to school, and she LOVES it! (It is her first Stanley.) She has dropped it a few times, and it hasn’t dented or chipped, so the durability is pretty good. It fits great in her little bag, and it is easy for her to use. It is lightweight, doesn’t leak too badly, only when it is flipped over, so it is to be expected that it would leak, and it is comfortable for her to use. I will be upgrading her to a bigger size soon, but it is definitely worth the buy.” —Ammoy Allen
Get it from Amazon for $20+ (available in five sizes and dozens of colors).
5. A 5-in-1 capybara plushie complete with a capy-parent and four little babies for MAXIMUM cuteness factor. Plus, you don’t even have to worry about finding storage for all five plushies — the babies can fit right inside the zipper pouch on Mom’s back.
Promising review: “My son asked for this and I thought, “Great, another stuffed animal we’ll end up donating.” But I was totally wrong—it’s absolutely adorable! The capybara is much softer and cuter than the picture shows. The little baby ones are such a fun bonus, but the large one really steals the show. My son has been sleeping with it every night since it arrived. Totally worth it!” —Hope G
Get it from Amazon for $26.99 (available in two styles; also available as a highland cow).
6. An adorable pointelle-knit cardigan perfect for your toddler who is obsessed with playing in your closet — now they’ll finally be able to have their own chic, properly fitting sweater.
H&M
Get it from H&M for $29.99 (available in youth sizes 6M–3T).
7. A deck of Disney villains tarot cards if you’re a Big Witch raising a Little Witch who just wants to do everything you do, but might not quite grasp the traditional concepts of the Major and Minor Arcanas yet. They will, however, most definitely be able to understand (and, with a bit of guidance, interpret) the imagery of classic Disney villains like Captain Hook and Maleficent.
Promising review: “This deck is awesome! Presented in a very sturdy box and a really nice book. I really am enjoying working with it. I have been using it more with kids and with family and for fun than for my professional tarot reading. However, I always put it out there on the table for an option, LOL, it’s a really wonderful addition to my collection! You will not be disappointed!” —Amazon Customer
Get it from Amazon for $23.24.
8. A book nook kit perfect for your older ones (the ones who know NOT to put stuff in their mouth!!) who want a fun, nerdy project to spend the day doing. This kit is like a leveled-up doll house (it even lights up), and when your children are done doing the hard work of making it, you’ll have a cool new decor piece for your bookshelf. Perks of parenting, right?
Several reviewers recommend getting a fine-tipped craft glue to complete this kit. Plus, for the lighting mechanism to work, be sure to grab two AA batteries (not included) once you’ve finished.
Promising review: “Broke my ankle and can’t do anything for a few weeks — so I got this to do with my kid while I am rotting on the couch lol. It’s been fun. Very detailed, from pages in books to actual papers in the envelopes (we wrote secret messages on them). Not something I would typically do — but we have really had fun putting it together.” —DanaJ
Get it from Amazon for $33.99+ (available in four styles).
9. A DIY bubblegum kit, because science and magic are basically one in the same. It comes with everything you need to whip up about a quarter pound of gum and transform your ordinary kitchen into Willy Wonka’s chocolate factory.*
*Blueberry metamorphosis not included.
The kit includes a genuine gum base, corn sweetener, wax paper, flavoring, a mixing tool, and a container. Make sure to keep an eye on your kiddos as they do this experiment.
Promising review: “My son received this as a gift, and he was very excited to try it out. I would definitely consider it a science experiment, and it ended up being a bit messy, so I would recommend making it in the kitchen. He decided to add dark blue food coloring, and the end result was pretty, but I was kinda hesitant to try it out. Surprisingly, it was delicious! I also would like to add that he is 8 years old and was able to read the instructions and complete the project without any adult help. All in all, it was a great learning experience for him, and he was very proud and happy with the end result.” —Amethystastrohouse
Get it from Amazon for $22.50.
10. A The Met x Pacsun oversize T-shirt perfect for your future art critic. The trendy, baggy fit will be a hit in the middle school halls, and the print of Roses and Lilies by Henri Fantin-Latour will definitely be a hit with your kid’s art teacher.
Pacsun
I have an adult-size shirt from this same collection, and I wear it constantly. It’s so comfortable.
Get it from Pacsun for $20.21 (originally $26.25; available in youth sizes 4/5–12).
11. A Hally hair gem pen, aka the perfect accessory for birthday parties, picture days, Bat Mitzvahs, vacations, Halloween costumes… or any other occasion that calls for a little extra bling. Plus, the included ‘pen’ applicator makes it super easy to apply these things. Just load the gems into the stamper, click to release a gem, and voilà — you’ve got a cute, sparkly style.
This product works best with straight or loosely waved hair, and reviewers of *all* ages are loving it.
You’ll get one gem applicator and 240 gems!
Promising reviews: “I bought the Hally Gem Pen for my daughter’s special event, and it was a total hit! ✨ The gems were super easy to apply, stayed in place all day, and added the perfect sparkle to her hairstyle. Removing them was just as simple — no damage, no tangles. We got so many compliments on her festive look, and she felt like a little star. Highly recommend for birthdays, school parties, or any celebration!” —Alina
Get it from Amazon for $34.99 (currently available in two colors; refill packs of gems also available).
12. A Wednesday Lego Black Dahlia Flower set that comes with everything you need for your baby goth to create their very own hidden Nevermore classroom display. This set even includes mini Wednesday and Professor Marilyn Thornhill dolls.
This product is for big kids only (specifically 9+) — the tiny pieces are a choking hazard for little ones.
Promising reviews: “The inside of the vase opens to this cool greenhouse. And the flower has got some cool purple sparkly pieces too!” —Colleen J.
“Easy to build [and] it has a simple beauty…I have bought most [Lego] flower arrangements, but this takes the cake for me! The price wasn’t bad at all!” —Kitkatt
Get it from Amazon for $27.97.
13. A Cozy Spaces-themed coloring book because your cool kid is a coloring pro, and they’ve definitely graduated from jumbo activity books and now need something a little more…refined? Intricate?
FYI, Coco Wyo has a bunch of other cozy stress relief coloring books with different themes in theirAmazon storefront.
Also, you can pair this with a cult-fave colored pencil set on Amazon for $9.99.
Promising review: “This coloring book is great for older kids and adults alike. My 10-year-old daughter took this coloring book on vacation with us, and everyone took a page and colored. We had to rip out the pages as we were coloring with markers and didn’t want them to bleed through to the next page. The pages are made of a decent-weight paper, but they were easy enough to rip out. Each page has one picture, and the back of the page is blank to allow marker use.” —Amazon Customer
Get it from Amazon for $9.99.
14. Plus, The Reverse Coloring Book if your kiddo is more Georgia O’Keeffe than Piet Mondrian. This *genius* workbook is the perfect rainy day activity for any kiddo who sees the world a little bit differently than their peers. Instead of giving them a bunch of harsh lines to add color to, give them a wild world of shapes and hues that they can create their own structure within.
Each book includes 50 pages of watercolor art for them to add lines, along with suggestions for what to add if they want a jumping-off point. Bonus: the pages are perforated, so you can easily tear them out and frame them!
And for doodling, these black fine point pens for$11.99 are a good option.
If you’ve already tried this copy, there are newer Reverse Coloring Books from the same creator to try.
Promising review: “I bought this for my 11-year-old child (along with some fancy pens) and they have absolutely loved it. As an artist, they enjoy many different mediums, but this was a unique idea, and they have enjoyed learning and experimenting with the new concept. They tend to bring it with them, which leads to other people getting to learn about it, and we have recommended it to many people!” —D.G.
Get it from Amazon for $11.76.
15. An owl pellet dissection kit for the kiddo with more…peculiar… interests on your hands. Hey, some kids like drawing, some like board games. Some like to sit there and pick bones out of hard owl puke. This kit comes with tools, instructions, the pellet, and a guide to help match the bones to their possible species of origin.
Promising review: “My 7-year-old biologist loved this product. It took him a couple of days of frequent, intermittent focus to completely excavate the entirety of the pellet. He loved guessing via the booklet what animal each bone belonged to. There was no smell, and the packaging was nice. It contained tools, instructions, and the pellet. It was very interesting to see and dig and spot bones and fur, we even found a still whole ear, we think. WE love it and will buy again soon!” —ChaiChaiTrain
Get it from Amazon for $8.99 (available in three sizes; also available in multipacks).
16. A pair of funky printed jeans that add an extra bit of ~style~ to a basic wardrobe staple. Plus, the elastic waist makes it so these can withstand a little growth spurt.
Promising review: “These jeans are adorable, and fit my granddaughter perfectly. It gives middle school vibes, so it was perfect for her first day of school. These pants are officially her favorite. :D” —Experienced Mom
Get a pair from Amazon for $29.99 (available in youth sizes 4/5–13/14 and 25 styles).
17. A hardcover antiquarian sticker book if your little one’s taste is a bit more refined than unicorns and rainbows. This book has pages and pages of Victorian-era pictures and over a thousand stickers for your very classy child to “ooh” and “ahh” over.
Amazon
Promising review: “These, as well as the other two books in the set, are easily the most beautiful stickers I’ve ever seen or used, and for significantly less than you’d be spending on stickers this pretty on Etsy, or anywhere else. —Layla
Get it from Amazon for $17.16 (also available in book and dream themes).
18. An at-home laser tag set to transform your house into the coolest spot for rainy day playdates. Your basement’s about to become the laser park of your kid’s dreams with this set that comes with rechargeable (!!) vests and laser weapons.
You’ll get four laser guns, four vests (front and back), and one charging station.
Promising review: “This set was perfect for my grandkids, ages 7, 11, 14, and 17. Even we adults played. They had so much fun. We set up obstacles to hide behind, such as: patio furniture, foldable table, ice chest, etc. Very easy to set up and play. Was definitely worth it.” —Debbie L.
Get it from Amazon for $169.99.
19. A pack of shoelace charms that I’m thinking could be a very good incentive for a little fashionista who needs to be bribed into learning how to tie their shoes. Hey, some kids like candy, other kids like ✨ fashion. ✨
The Children’s Place
Oh — and if you wanna match your mini-me, check out this adult version from Urban Outfitters. I put these on my basic black Doc Martens, and they’re always a hit.
Get a set of five charms from The Children’s Place for $8.48 (available in four styles).
20. A set of flower-shaped pillows for your tween who keeps asking for “preppy” room decor and gets wildly confused when you bring them argyle throw blankets. Just so you know, preppy means a whole different thing now. Think bright colors, smile motifs, and all things pink.
Promising review: “Small cute and fun little pillows that look nice. Also to note there’s a zipper so you can refill them if needed later down the line.” —maskedgamer
Get a set of two from Amazon for $20.89+ (available in six color combinations).
21. An LCD writing tablet, which is basically like the cute grandchild of the Etch A Sketch. Your little artist will love creating multicolored doodles and scribbles, and they’ll probably enjoy destroying (i.e., erasing) those drawings even more. Plus, the rounded-corner design of the tablet makes it pretty durable, so dropping it is no big deal.
Promising review: “This tablet has entertained my 4-year-old grandson for hours at a time. He loves that he can erase at will and that the drawings are multicolored. I highly recommend this item for 18 months old and up. I bought a pink one for our 18-month-old granddaughter, and she, too, is just enthralled with it and the ‘power’ she has to erase, create, erase, create! They loved them so much that we bought another set of two different colors so that they would have them at home as well as at ‘Grammy’s.'” —Kindle Customer Red Heart
Get it from Amazon for $13.99+ (available in two sizes and four colors).
22. A bat wing claw clip that’ll be a hit with your teen who spends more time at their part-time Hot Topic job than they do with their own family. And you can’t even be mad at them, because they’re learning a lot about financial responsibility.
Amazon
Promising review: “This is excellent! I was actually surprised by how great this clip is. It’s metal, but not heavy on my head. It has a strong grip and stays where it’s placed all day. Overall, a really great product.” —Shawn Browning
Get it from Amazon for $7.99 (available in 13 styles).
23. A cheek and lip color stick from Af94, the little sibling of Halsey’s brand, About-face, and a “made-to-play,” beginner-focused makeup line that promotes self-expression and discovery through makeup! This multi-use product is under $10, making it the perfect starter for the little makeup artist who is just starting out.
Ulta
I had the orange shade of this, and when I moved across the country, it was accidentally left behind and then co-opted by my six-year-old niece who loves all things glam. It’s her’s now. I don’t make the rules.
Promising review: “It’s amazing and it’s the perfect color. It’s not too sheer and it’s not too solid, it blends perfectly. My favorite shade is Soft Smile and I’ve bought it twice already. Definitely one of my faves!” —Mariia
Get it from Ulta for $4.50 (originally $9; available in three colors).
24. A tiny strawberry light if regular bedside lamps are just too boring for your child. It’s wireless, dimmable, and rechargeable via USB, so no cords will be exposed.
Amazon
Promising reviews: “I’m moving into a dorm for my freshman year of college and totally bought this as an impulse purchase. My mother thinks it’s the stupidest thing she’s ever laid eyes on, but I LOVE it. It’s going to look so cute on my desk in my new room, so much so that it makes listening to my mom whine about ‘responsible choices’ worth it.” —Mel
“Looks very cute and has three different brightness settings. My 4-year-old loves this as her new night light, and it’s easy enough to operate for a toddler. Highly recommend.” —James
Get it from Amazon for $15.99 (available in two colors).
25. The NeeDoh Nice Cube which, TBH, was the most confiscated item in my English classroom last school year. But…that just guarantees it’ll be hit with your kids. I can see why children are obsessed with them — they exist at the most satisfying point between squishy and firm, and they’re weirdly comforting to play with.
Promising review: “Is this the greatest fidget toy I have ordered on Amazon? Yes, yes, it is. I can’t say enough how much I love this! I love the firmness, the squishiness, the value, and the size. There is a slight smell to it, but it’s only if I bring it right up to my face. Well, it is stretchy, it’s not so stretchy that I’m worried it’s going to break. It’s very well-made. Only downside to this product? It’s so good that I need to buy more. I want to have one of these in every corner of my house.” —Animaker
Get it from Amazon for $8.93.
26. A set of silicone teacup cupcake liners to take tea parties to the next level. These are awesome, because after your kids are done roleplaying Sofia The First, you can re-use them to roleplay Bridgerton.
These liners are freezer- and oven-safe.
Promising review: “Perfect size and color — so cute! My cupcakes did not stick. I did NOT spray the cups with anything. They were the perfect size. Fluffy. Nonstick. Lightweight. I received several compliments. The cupcakes popped right out of the cups. This brand was perfect! I’m truly impressed.” —Denise Mendez
Get a set of six from Amazon for $11.99 (available in white and pink, plus sets of 12 and 24).
27. A Lucky Charms earring set so your little one’s favorite cereal can become part of their favorite outfit! If you’ve got a quirky, artsy kid on your hands, these are going to score you some cool-parent points with them.
SleepySquiggle / Etsy
28. A double-lined tulle skirt for the little royal heirs who know their worth and therefore *refuse* to take off their fancy tutus — no matter the occasion.
Carter’s
Promising review: “My daughter absolutely loved this skirt! It is perfect for fall as it’s quite thick. Fits true to size.” —Sami
Get it from Carter’s for $22 (available in youth sizes 12M–6).
29. A set of magical mini decorations that’ll take a regular old potted plant and transform it into a fairy-filled paradise. (Fairidise?) This set comes with 109 pieces, like mushrooms and animals, so you and your kiddos can enchant dollhouses, plants, and your yard to your heart’s content.
The pieces are a choking hazard, so it’s best to save this one for the big kids.
Promising review: “This is one of the cutest things I’ve ever done with my daughter. We made a ‘fairy garden,’ complete with all the decorations from this kit, and a ton of native flowers. My daughter LOVED it!!!! Just know that some of the pieces are definitely fragile. My daughter dropped one, but I was able to glue it together — no problem. Excellent purchase!” —Cassandra Fugere
Get a kit on Amazon for $34.99.
30. And a Dyson Ball toy vacuum for the COOLEST of kids, who think helping with chores is the epitome of fun. It’s got realistic buttons and sounds, too — so your child can get the *full* experience of vacuuming.
Promising review: “Our son is absolutely obsessed with our Dyson (the real one). Which is why we purchased this toy Dyson vacuum for his birthday. He’s 2 years old and he is really enjoying having his own ‘working’ vacuum cleaner!!! He seriously plays with it for hours during the day. Turning it on and off and pushing it through the house just like we use our real vacuum. I would buy this again! It was his favorite gift!.” —Amazon Customer
Get it from Amazon for $24.99+ (available in three colors).
Reviews have been edited for length and/or clarity.