We all love a cozy weekend spent binge-watching Netflix’s latest hit. But … do we want our kids buried in screens 24/7? Not so much. Sometimes it’s nice to unplug and settle in with some classic play patterns. We’ve selected awesome toys from our Holiday Gift Guide that encourage kids to put down the screens and focus on building, creating, connecting, playing, and more.

Check out some of our favorite toys for screen-free fun below, and for more toys you and your kids will love, see our full Holiday Gift Guide!


MONKEY PALACE

In this board game, players must work together to construct the Monkey Palace while competing for the highest LEGO brick income and points, all under the watchful gaze of the Monkey. The game's use of LEGO pieces means that each play session's building experience and final construction are totally unique!

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $39.99
  • Age:
  • 10+

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CRAYOLA SCRIBBLE SCRUBBIE SPRAY BOUTIQUE

Place any of the four pets on the salon chair to customize their looks with the included eight washable markers and airbrush tool. Then, wash the pets with water to create new designs. 3+

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $29.99
  • Age:
  • 3+

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CONNETIX 48 PIECE ROADS CREATIVE PACK

This 48-piece set includes sleek black magnetic quarter circles, arches, intersections, and ramps. Kids can build roads, raceways, skateparks, cities, and more. It is compatible with all Connetix sets.

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $149.99
  • Age:
  • 3+

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SIREN BLASTERS

This trio of foam dart blasters includes the Gnarl, Blink, and Maulr, each sold separately. The blasters can blast between 150-200 feet, and each one comes with safety glasses and additional accessories.

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $24.99-99.99
  • Age:
  • 14+

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PLAYTAB

Build a unique sensory experience with this modular sensory toy. Grab a board and pop in six of 12 unique, magnetic tiles, which feature fine motor challenges, cause-and-effect discoveries, and more.

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $45.95
  • Age:
  • 1+

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GRIP ‘N’ STACK SILICONE AND WOODEN BLOCKS

Ten vibrant blocks help little ones explore and learn in a safe way. Each block features bright colors, letters, numbers, and patterns.

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $19.99
  • Age:
  • 6 MOS+

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PEEKABOO LEARNING BARN PLAYSET

This playset helps to teach kids numbers and colors and to develop fine motor skills with its eight actions. Kids can push the pig, pull and spin the doors, rotate the silo, and more.

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $34.99
  • Age:
  • 18 MOS+

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SAY YES! ALPHABET BEAD BRACELET SET

Kids can use more than 1,000 colorful, assorted beads to create friendship bracelets with different messages to wear and share with friends.

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $14.99
  • Age:
  • 8+

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MAGNA-TILES SPACE 32-PIECE SET

This space-themed building set includes a shuttle that doubles as a storage container. It comes with an astronaut figure and new microMAGS pieces.

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $49.99
  • Age:
  • 3+

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PLAYMOBIL JUNIOR & DISNEY: MOANA’S BOAT

This Playmobil set calls kids like the sea calls Moana. Kids can join the princess and Hei Hei on seafaring adventures with this imaginative playset, which features Moana’s boat from the first film and accessories. 1+

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $29.99
  • Age:
  • 1+

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SNAP 2 IT

Each player races to be the first to snap a path between their light and the communal battery. Build the circuit path solo or play competitively with up to four players as everyone learns the basics of electricity.

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $39.99
  • Age:
  • 7+

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Battery Requirements

Energizer is the official battery partner of The Toy Insider.
  • Type:
  • AA
  • Quantity:
  • 2

PRISMIC STAR 3D PUZZLE LANTERN

Puzzling meets DIY decor in this activity set, with which kids can create a prismatic star-shaped lantern that plugs into a USB and lights up.

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $19.99
  • Age:
  • 8+

Buy Now

The Toy Insider participates in affiliate programs that may generate revenue for the site when a purchase is made through the links below.

For more top toy picks for kids of all ages, check out The Toy Insider’s annual Holiday Gift Guide, and find the perfect gift using our Perfect Present Wizard!

About the author

Marissa Silva

Marissa Silva

Marissa Silva is editor-in-chief of the Pop Insider and the Toy Insider, the leading consumer holiday gift guide and toy review and news website. As a professional toy reviewer and an industry expert, she consistently reports on toy, entertainment, and pop culture trends and hot products. In addition to digital content management, Marissa contributes feature-length articles to the Pop Insider and leading toy industry trade magazine The Toy Book, providing retailers, manufacturers, and licensors with information on the latest in toy news. Marissa has been featured on the TODAY Show, Good Morning America, Fox and Friends, ABC World News Now, MSNBC, CBS, NY1, WPIX, and more. A board game fanatic and professional toy reviewer, she spends most of her free time shopping for superhero T-shirts, crushing at Mario Kart, and anxiously awaiting her Hogwarts acceptance letter. You can follow her on Twitter and Instagram @thattoygirl.

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