top of page

BEST TOYS UNDER $25

Great gifts, great price.

Quality doesn't have to break the bank. We scoured major toy conventions and tested loads of products to find the best toys under $25. Check out our fully independent picks.

Product Options

Pull-Along Giraffe

Cubbie Lee Toys

​

Why We Love It

Adorable wooden giraffe with two feet of string is the perfect companion for new walkers. Cut-out in middle allows littles to grasp and push giraffe along ground.

 

Buying options: 

Sand Cookie Baking

Melissa & Doug

​

Why We Love It

A twist on traditional sand toys. Expand beyond castles and seahorse molds by baking sand cookies, lifting them with a spatula, and placing them on baking tray. Encourages pretend play.

​

Buying options: 

Rainbow Delta Kite

Emmakites

​

Why We Love It

Let's go fly a kite! Enjoy the breeze with this kite designed with beginners in mind. Easy assembly. Durable. High flying.

​

Buying options: 

Go Go Gelato!

Blue Orange

​

Why We Love It

Little shop owners must plan ahead to match their customers' gelato orders by passing scoops between cones. Great beginning logic game with sweet components. 

​

Buying options: 

Paper Bag Puppets

Alex Toys

 

Why We Love It

This colorful craft is the perfect rainy (or snowy!) day activity. Includes 5 bags and 250+ decorative items. Plenty of room for creativity. Tip: May want to use your own glue.

​

Buying options: 

Wooden Farm Magnets

Djeco

 

Why We Love It

Adorable magnets spark creative play and develop gross motor skills as little ones move them around to create farm scenes. Highly durable.

​

​Buying options: 

First Dump Truck

Green Toys

 

Why We Love It

Time for some serious construction work! This working dumper fuels imaginative play. Made from recycled materials. Durable and easy to clean.

​

​Buying options: 

100-Piece Puzzle

Janod

​

Why We Love It

High quality puzzle pieces depict a vibrant, whimsical ocean scene. Sturdy packaging. Boosts problem solving and spatial reasoning.

​

Buying options: 

Fire Chief Costume

Mellisa & Doug

​

Why We Love It

Cute costume inspires independent and cooperative play. Well-made, durable, and machine washable.

​

Buying options: 

Color Code

Smart Games

 

Why We Love It

Tackle 100 challenges of varying difficulty by layering colored tiles. Develops logic and spatial reasoning skills. Bonus: Beautiful materials; small and portable.  

​

Buying options: 

Snuggly Teddy Bear

Gund

 

Why We Love It

Ultra soft, super cute, 18-inch teddy bear. This Gund plush makes for an adorable nursery decoration and first lovey.

​

Buying options: 

My First Playhouse

Lego Duplo

​

Why We Love It

Awesome combination of basic building and pretend play. Pieces encourage discussion of child's daily routine, including a slide for playtime! Perfect size for little hands.

​

Buying options: 

Eco Crafts Scrapbook

Alex Toys

​

Why We Love It

This fun and colorful first scrapbook kit comes loaded with stickers, buttons, and other decorative items. A great find for littles who like crafts. Just add pictures! 

​

Buying options:

Bowling Friends

Mellisa & Doug

​

Why We Love It

Soft plastic bowling set makes for a great indoor or outdoor toy. Pins are lightweight but sturdy. Little bowlers build motor skills and practice turn-taking.

​

Buying options:

Hoot Owl Hoot!

Peaceable Kingdom

​

Why We Love It

A cooperative matching game. Little ones help the owls fly back to their nest before the sun comes up. Promotes turn taking and teamwork. Two levels of play.

​

​Buying options: 

Dinosaurs

Smart Games

 

Why We Love It

Separate the herbivores and carnivores in this shape-matching puzzle. Builds problem solving and spatial reasoning. 80 challenges give it a good shelf life.

 

Buying options: 

Kids Frisbee Rings

Activ Flyer

​

Why We Love It

Lightweight frisbee flies straight. Designed to be easy for kids to throw and catch. Want to get fancy? Try catching on your feet!

​

​Buying options: 

Story Box Circus

Janod

​

Why We Love It

The circus is in town! Imagination takes (a trapeze) flight with this circus set. Little ringmasters direct circus performers, animals, and equipment to put on the greatest show on Earth.

​

Buying options: 

Color-a-Cape

Great Pretenders

 

Why We Love It

A great art project that leads to dramatic play. Plus it's washable, so kids can color it again and again! 

​

Buying options: 

Shapes Bath Toy

Baby Loovi

 

Why We Love It

Vibrant puzzle / bath toy combo builds motor skills and shape recognition as baby gets older. Pieces stick to the walls or sides of the tub when wet.

​

Buying options: 

Tumble Trax

Learning Resources

 

Why We Love It

Easily maneuverable magnetic components make for a unique marble run that's perfect for small spaces. Conducive to independent play and free design.

​

Buying options: 

Seaplane

Green Toys

 

Why We Love It

Cool changeup from your typical boat toy. Seaplane floats and has working propeller. Dishwasher safe. Made from recycled materials. 

​

Buying options: 

Sidewalk Chalk Paint

Rose Art

​

Why We Love It

Little artists alert! Mix powder and water to create colorful sidewalk chalk paint. Includes two foam brushes.

​

Buying options: 

Gobblet Gobblers

Blue Orange

 

Why We Love It

A twist on the classic tic-tac-toe game: larger pieces can "gobble" smaller ones! Builds memory and strategic thinking. Quick play.

​

Buying options: 

Baby Stella

Manhattan Toy Co.

 

Why We Love It

15-inch, super soft doll with embroidered features, removable clothes and diaper, and a magnetized pacifier. Perfect first doll. 

​

Buying options: 

Lacing Cards

Chronicle Books

 

Why We Love It

Colorful, durable lacing cards featuring favorite Eric Carle designs help littles build dexterity and focus. Cards are reusable.

​

Buying options: 

Pull-Back Vehicles

Melissa & Doug K's Kids

 

Why We Love It

Vroom! Little ones build fine motor skills by pulling vehicles back and watching them race ahead. No worries about crashes, either. It's a lightweight toy with soft fabric.

​

Buying options: 

Castle Logix

Smart Games

 

Why We Love It

A beautiful 3D wooden puzzle that promotes problem solving and spatial reasoning. With 48 challenges of varying difficulty, it continues to engage kids as they grow. 

​

Buying options: 

Supermarket

Lego Friends

 

Why We Love It

Awesome combination of building and pretend play. Fantastically detailed components, including a fruit display, bakery counter, and newspaper stand.

​

Buying options: 

The Fairy Game

Peaceable Kingdom

​

Why We Love It

Teamwork! Kids work together to save the garden and defeat Mr. Winter in this beautiful cooperative board game. Directions may seem a bit complex, but it's a fun early strategy game.

​

Buying options: 

Restaurant Puzzle

Janod

 

Why We Love It

Excellent quality 208-piece puzzle features a fun, detailed scene that doubles as a hidden picture game. Put the pieces together then find the 51 hidden objects (anyone see the lobster?!).

​

Buying options: 

Dolphin Bubble Maker

Kidzlane

 

Why We Love It

Make a little magic with this durable bubble machine. Releases more than 500 bubbles per minute. Easy to fill. Easy to clean. Great for parties, too.

​

Buying options:

Fossil Hunter Lottie

Arklu

 

Why We Love It

Calling all paleontologists! This high quality doll is ready for the dig. Small size convenient for travel. Bonus that Lottie looks like a kid (no makeup, jewelry, or high heels).

​

​

Buying options:

bottom of page