GeekMom Holiday Gift Guide 2017 #3: Toys

The GeekMoms share their suggestions for the best toy gifts this holiday season. From construction to chemistry, puzzling to plush, we hope you find some great gift ideas.

LEGO Classic Quad Pack

Recommended By: Jenny Bristol
For: Elementary and older
Approximate Cost: $5-20
Buy It From: Amazon

The perfect stocking stuffer, each one of these LEGO Classic Quad Packs is affordable and small enough to tuck out of sight. Choose one of four different colors, or buy the whole set. Each box comes with enough bricks to build three different tiny builds, including an animal, a building of some kind, and a mode of transportation. Fun for all ages!

Check out the full GeekMom review for more information.

Thumb Chucks

Recommended By: Dakster Sullivan
For: Elementary School, Middle School, High School
Approximate Cost: $10 and under
Buy It From: Amazon

Thumb Chucks is a fun new fidget toy that lets kids test their hand-eye coordination.

Check out the full GeekMom review for more information.

Think Fun Puzzles

Recommended By: Sophie Brown
For: Elementary and older
Approximate Cost: $20-25
Buy It From: Amazon (Gravity Maze, Laser Maze, Rush Hour, Rush Hour Shift)

ThinkFun games are puzzles that test your logic skills. The majority are single-player puzzles, but some multiplayer games are available as well. This year we played with Gravity Maze, Laser Maze, Rush Hour, and Rush Hour Shift. It was wonderful watching my electronics-obsessed son become so engaged with something that didn’t involve screens or apps of any sort. The whole family fell in love with these puzzles and I’m planning to buy several as gifts this holiday season.

Check out the full GeekMom review for more information.

LEGO Creator Park Street Townhouse

Recommended By: Jenny Bristol
For: Elementary and older
Approximate Cost: $40
Buy It From: Amazon

LEGO Creator 3-in-1 sets are my favorite sets. Though free-building is nice, I prefer to follow a set of instructions. And these 3-in-1 sets allow several options in one kit! Ideal for building, taking apart, and rebuilding as often as you like. The Park Street Townhouse set has options for city living, and not-so-city living, along with two minifigs, a scooter, and plenty of charm.

Check out the full GeekMom review for more information.

furReal Roarin’ Tyler, the Playful Tiger

Recommended By: Dakster Sullivan
For: Pre-School to elementary
Approximate Cost: $95
Buy It From: Amazon

Tyler, the Playful Tiger is this year’s newest furReal animal by Hasbro. He reacts to your touch and lets you know when you’ve hit just the right spot. If a child roars or makes noises to Tyler, he reacts and makes one of his 100+ combination sounds back.

Happy Atoms

Recommended By: Sophie Brown
For: Middle school and older
Approximate Cost: $95
Buy It From: Amazon

Happy Atoms is an integrated digital and physical chemistry set that allows users to explore molecules and atoms by learning how they are constructed, their properties, and their real-world applications. It uses a combination of physical plastic atoms and bonding arms along with an app which allows you to either follow assigned tasks and hints or build in an entirely freeform way. The price means that this is a kit intended for serious budding scientists rather than those with a passing interest. That being said, I am yet to see a better kit on the market.

Check out the full GeekMom review for more information.

Trypticon

Recommended By: Dakster Sullivan
For: Middle School, High School
Approximate Cost: $140
Buy It From: Amazon

Trypticon is a great piece for collectors. Parents might be tempted to buy this for the 12 and under crowd but be careful. Dakster’s full review tells you why this toy isn’t for the younger crowd. She recommends it for ages 15 and up.

Check out the full GeekMom review for more information.