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We hope you love our recommendations! Some may have been sent as samples, but all were independently selected by our editors. Just FYI, BuzzFeed and its publishing partners may collect a share of sales and/or other compensation from the links on this page. 33 Toys From Walmart That’ll Actually Make Kids Put Down The iPad Because imagination > pixels. (And your battery’s dead anyway.) 1. A Jurassic World interactive Bitzee that will appeal DEEPLY to any parent who remembers Tamagotchis fondly, but with the 21st-century twist of the little characters interacting with the motion of the box, too. Give this to your little dino fanatic or the kid in your life who needs their own touchstone small tech toy (that isn't a tablet) to look back fondly on from their future. 2. A set of four mini Speks gump stress balls I can ~personally~ testify will keep your kiddos (and you) happily squishing the hours away with some good ol' fashioned sensory fun. It's a GREAT way to give kids something to do with their hands while they're listening to music, audiobooks, or podcasts. 3. A Backyard Discovery cedar playhouse because there is no better investment in "put the tablet down" than a little outdoor (or indoor!) home they can call their very own. This one comes with a play kitchen and cookware, a chalkboard, and a mailbox so they're fully equipped to kick the iPad to the curb for many hours. 4. An interactive globe with a talking pen that features the voice of none other than CROCODILE HUNTER PROGENY BINDI IRWIN. Poke around and learn about the planet and wildlife conservation? Crikey, that's a good idea. 5. A Little Tikes Story Dream Machine projector you'll love just as much as your kiddos. There are *so many* book options. My son is still very much obsessed with this well over two years after purchasing it, and we've gone back to buy every book set they release! 6. A throwback-tacular Dora Casita play set with sound effects, furniture pieces, Dora and Boots figurines, and all the interactive elements kids want from a magical animated playscape. Get ready to hear delighted kids say, "C'mon! Vamonos, everybody!" the minute they open this gift. 7. Some LeapFrog magic binoculars that have so. many. features: a digital screen, camera and photo gallery, mini games, a BBC field guide, and — my kid's favorite — NIGHT VISION. Just be aware that every inch of your house is now fair game for a safari with these things. (And hey! It's a screen, but a much smaller one with no YouTube access, BLESS.) 8. A new Crayola Bluey Scribble Scrubbie set so they can color Bluey and Co. to their heart's delight and *then* get to scrub them clean in the lil' working pool sprayer. *Basically* a 2-in-1 kinda toy that they can use over and over again, thank GOODNESS. 9. And a hide-and-seek Bluey game because sometimes kid wranglers just don't want to stuff themselves into a closet and wait a hundred years to be found, so let me introduce you to your new fave adorable sidekick. Just hide Bluey somewhere nearby, and she'll shout hints and sing that absolute bop of a theme song when found! 10. A Step2 modern kitchen play set if they're favorite thing to do is help you stir in the kitchen and they could use some free play space to expand on their culinary skillset. 11. Or a Step2 pro tool bench set likely to turn your burgeoning "I do it" sidekick into a DIY enthusiast. I know from experience the screens will all be forgotten when they undertake their first "big project." 12. A for real life John Deere tractor they'll love for the bright colors and high zoomy potential and you'll love because it gets them outside! This is one of those "remember when" gifts your kids will still talk about around the holiday table decades after opening it. 13. A brand new LeapFrog LeapMove active learning game system that comes preloaded with games that make kids the controller. They can flap their arms to soar into numbers, race through word obstacle courses, catch glowing "orb" letters, and basically get out some of their boundless energy all while keeping learning ACTUALLY fun. 14. Or a splurgier Nex Playground Active Play System that's ~supposedly~ designed for the small human crowd, but adults also LOVE this thing. If you remember the Xbox Kinect times, THIS IS THE SUPERIOR, CHEAPER, MORE COMPACT VERSION. With games like Fruit Ninja, a How To Train Your Dragon flight simulator, and dancing galore, this handy size-of-your-hand device plugs directly into your TV or projector with an HDMI cable and is ready to go. 15. The Sneaky, Snacky Squirrel preschool board game that'll make matching, counting, and fine motor skills FUN to practice. This is a perfect intro to the big world of board games, so you can get younger kids ready to compete in the big leagues of family game night down the line! 16. An interactive light-up drawing board with translucent sheets and tiles to stir up creativity and help the littles in your life give their creativity and cognitive skills a mega power boost. (And one that will give HOURS of entertainment, to boot!) 17. An indoor/outdoor roller coaster because it's the fastest way to teach kids the ~thrill~ of leaving a screen behind in favor of some zoom-zoom fun. 18. A Playper buildable castle play set to get your kid's imagination rumbling and motor skills buzzing! These sets are made with brightly colored spill-resistant pieces designed to withstand any 3-and-up's enthusiastic antics. You and your kiddos will both have fun building the castle and the adorable cast of characters. (And you know you can throw in a few good Monty Python quotes while you play. For educational purposes, of course.) 19. A set of bendy, moldable fidget Wikki Stix to give your kid's imagination room to roam, no matter the locale. You can stick them to surfaces and then remove them mess-free with no gross residue left behind, so let your kids run loose, stress-free with these bad boys. 20. A VTech Sandy Snacks-a-Lot my son and I now fight over because she's just the cutest, quirkiest little axolotl you ever did see. THIS is the kind of robot toy I wanted as a kid: Adorable, functional without being creepy, and with some jaunty tunes thrown in that are actually fun to listen to. Your fam will LOVE it. 21. A Strider balance bike for the littles in your life who have a need for speed but aren't quite ready for pedals just yet. These bikes are all the rage for a reason: They're the perfect fun transition tool to take your kid from scootin' to peddlin' in the neighborhood big leagues in no time. 22. A LeapFrog learning bundle to give your little reader a delightful boost. The smart stylus and book set comes loaded with activities and read-along functions that'll keep your learner eagerly turning the pages. LeapFrog readers today, BookTok readers tomorrow. 23. An ultra-portable TonieBox starter set that includes Elsa, Mirabel, and Moana for a screen-free experience any kiddo will love jamming out to. With just a quick *plunk* of their fave character on top of the TonieBox, your kiddo is instantly immersed in their beloved songs and stories with PLENTY of room to let their imagination wander and grow. 24. A set of hand puppets so that even if the tablet is "taking a nap" they can still surround themselves with a fuzzy cast of characters who know how to put on a good show! 25. An interactive talking Ms. Rachel plushy if the other parent in your house is 100% Ms. Rachel, and you want to extend that learning love to playtime without the screen time. With 16 signature phrases and four songs, your kiddo will be jamming and learning just like they do when they watch everyone's fave overalled teacher. 26. And a Ms. Rachel Melissa and Doug wooden song puzzle to help with their fine motor skills *and* let them sing along to some of their fave Ms. Rachel bops such as "Hop Little Bunnies" and "Can You Say Mama." 27. A Carrera Paw Patrol race track that'll have even you questioning your grasp on physics in the most fun way. My son has been OBSESSED with this and is learning a lot about physics through play, especially by moving the ramps along the track. 28. A National Geographic build your own volcano kit so your kid can take part in the time-honored tradition of, "Let's make that thing explode!" to learn some hands-on science facts. Plus, it's a multi-step process so it really can take up a whole screen-free afternoon, no problem! 29. A realistic and charming Be Loved baby doll with open/shut eyes, squishy baby cheeks, and hours of caretaking pretend play for your little. A ~classic~ toy for a reason because any kid will be happy to get this as a holiday gift and will have them asking, "What tablet?" in no time. 30. A mystery Hatchimals Alive! because there's a reason these took the toy lists by storm when they first came on the scene in — and I'm gonna hold your hand when I say this — 2016. Give the small friends in your life the gift of ~anticipation~ as they wait for their new furry friend to hatch from the egg and charm them with music, dancing, and 100+ sounds and reactions! 31. An Iron Man Play-Doh armor making set if you've got a superhero fiend at home who is one Play-Doh set away from being a master armor builder, just like Mr. Stark. 32. A Littlest Pet Shop jungle play pack for another nostalgic throwback from your childhood straight to your kid's holiday wishlist. What's not to love about big-eyed bobbleheads in funky, bright colors? 33. And finally, the TikTok famous Tapple Word Game sure to stir up some fun, family competition with your bigger kids. This is a SUPER easy to learn game (no long instructions that you'll have to combat the turkey coma to read), so everyone can go from feast to "it's on" in no time. Reviews have been edited for length and/or clarity. Why Trust BuzzFeed Shopping? BuzzFeed Shopping is service journalism first: our writers and editors spend all day shopping so you don’t have to, vetting products, fact-checking brand claims, and surfacing what actually helps in real life. We center readers over revenue, recommend products with authenticity (using real experiences, not ad-speak), and reflect our diverse audience, inclusive of a variety of price points, people, and needs. We cut through fake deals, favor useful info over glossy fluff, and recommend both budget and splurge options with context so you can decide what’s right for you — and still have a little fun along the way. Ashley Schumacher is a freelancer who has been writing for BuzzFeed Shopping for over two years with an emphasis on home goods, parenting items and toys, beauty products, and anything that can make your day-to-day life run a little smoother. When she’s not writing, you can find her reading too many books and traipsing about her North Texas home with her husband and son.
