What Are the Best Gifts for Kids This Christmas 2026?

Published: 8 October 2026 · Author: Hejia Zhang, Editor in Chief, ShopBack

ShopBack US is a free cashback app and website. You start on ShopBack, shop at stores like Target, Walmart or Best Buy as usual, and part of what you spent comes back to you as cash. Sign up for ShopBack before you buy the kids' presents.

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What are the best gifts for kids this Christmas?

The best gifts for kids this Christmas are toys that match how a child already likes to play, chosen from this year's main trends. Target's merchants built the 2026 Bullseye's Top Toys List around these play styles, according to Target's 5 October 2026 announcement:

Trend (Target's 2026 list)	What it means	Examples on Target's list
A world of make-believe	Dolls and playsets for storytelling	Barbie DreamHouse, Fisher-Price Little People Ultimate Mountain Playset
Squish, stretch and surprise	Sensory toys, slime and mystery unboxing	Mini Brands Mini Vinyls, Hatchimals Hello Kitty Bloomables
Make, build and discover	Building, crafts and engineering challenges	Gigglescape Magnetic Building Tiles, LEGO Christmas Stocking, CrunchLabs Egg Drop Challenge
Turn up the play	Music, audio stories and gaming	Bluey and Pokemon Toniebox 2 Starter Sets, Nintendo Switch 2
Characters come to life	Interactive figures and pets	Pokemon Pikachu Puppetronic, Tickle Me Elmo, Little Live Pets My Really Real Puppy
Little chefs, big imaginations	Pretend cooking	Gigglescape Play Kitchen, Gigglescape Food Role Play Airfryer
Ready for action	Vehicles and big playsets	Hot Wheels City Ultimate T-Rex Garage, Monster Jam Rev Up Raceway

Target says the list features brands like LEGO, Barbie, Disney and Nintendo, and that more than half of the 50 toys are only at Target. Its digital Holiday Kids Catalog on Target.com and the Target app features nearly 500 items with video reviews and toy demonstrations.

A simple way to choose: think about what the child did the last time they had a free afternoon. A child who builds forts wants a building set. A child who talks to their stuffed animals wants a doll or interactive pet. A child who watches game videos wants gaming. The trend table just helps you find the newest version of what they already love.

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Gifts for kids by age: what usually works

Matching the gift to the child's age matters more than matching it to a trend. Every toy box carries an age label, and it is worth following, especially for children under 3, where small parts are a concern.

Age	Gifts that usually land well	Why
1 to 3	Chunky playsets, stacking and sorting toys, ride-on toys, board books	Big pieces, simple cause and effect
3 to 5	Play kitchens, dollhouses, magnetic tiles, toy vehicles, screen-free audio players	Pretend play and early building
5 to 8	LEGO sets, craft kits, interactive pets, slime and sensory kits, first board games	More independent, likes to make and collect
8 to 12	Bigger LEGO builds, science kits, trading cards, video games and accessories	Longer projects and shared interests with friends
Teens	Tech accessories, headphones, gaming gear, gift cards, experiences	Strong personal taste, so let them choose

For a child you do not know well, such as a niece or a friend's child, a craft kit or building set in the right age band is a safe pick. For a teen, a gift card to a store they already shop at is usually more welcome than a guess.

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Gifts for kids 2026: what is new this year

The new gifts for kids in 2026 are led by gaming, collectibles and tech you can try in store. Best Buy's holiday preview, published on 14 September 2026, calls out new game titles including Grand Theft Auto VI, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 and The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time, plus gaming handhelds and wireless gaming headsets. Check the age rating before buying any game for a child, because some of these titles are rated for adults.

Best Buy also says its stores now give more space to collectibles, trading cards, wearables and 3D printers, and it mentions Pokemon card drops among the hands-on displays. For families who prefer screen-free play, Target's list leans on building tiles, play kitchens and audio players such as the Toniebox 2.

One gift on Target's list also gives back: Target says it will donate 3 dollars to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital for every Gigglescape St. Jude bear bought in stores or online from 1 November 2026 through 2 January 2027.

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Gifts for kids best deals in the US for 2026

The best deals on kids' gifts in 2026 come from buying in the right sale window, joining each store's free program, picking up instead of paying for delivery, and going through ShopBack before you pay.

• Know the dates. In 2026, Thanksgiving is Thursday 26 November, Black Friday is Friday 27 November and Cyber Monday is Monday 30 November. Christmas Day falls on a Friday. Best Buy says its holiday savings start in October this year.
• Join Target Circle. Target Circle is Target's free loyalty program. Target ran its member-only Target Circle Deal Days on 6 and 7 October 2026, with up to 40% off thousands of items including toys, according to Target. Target Circle 360 is the paid tier at 99 dollars a year, or 49 dollars for Target Circle Card holders, and includes unlimited same-day delivery.
• Use free pickup. According to Target, Drive Up and Order Pickup are free and orders are usually ready within a couple of hours. Two-day shipping is free on orders of 35 dollars or more, and with no minimum for Target Circle Card holders and Target Circle 360 members.
• Use Walmart's fast options. Walmart says its new Express Pickup can have an order ready in as soon as one hour, with unlimited Express Pickup at no fee for Walmart+ members. Walmart+ also includes free delivery on eligible orders and early access to select deals, according to Walmart.
• Look at open-box and trade-in for tech. Best Buy says it offers trade-in and open-box options, which can bring a tablet or console into budget.
• Ask about price match at Target. Target matches its own lower price if the identical item drops at Target.com or in your Target store within 14 days of purchase, with exclusions such as clearance items.

Prices and offers change often, so check the live deals and codes on each store's ShopBack page before you buy. Our guide to finding promo codes that work explains which code sources are safest, and our Black Friday vs Prime Day vs Cyber Monday guide covers which sale suits which purchase.

Other US stores for kids' gifts on ShopBack include LEGO, Kohl's and Old Navy, alongside Target, Walmart and Best Buy.

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Target vs Walmart: gifts for kids price comparison for 2026

Target and Walmart both sell popular toys at low prices, so the honest answer is to compare the exact same item at both on the same day. Each store has different strengths beyond the shelf price.

What to compare	Target	Walmart
Toy range	50-toy Bullseye's Top Toys List, more than 1,000 toys under 10 dollars, many Target exclusives	Toys alongside groceries, essentials and home items in one order
Membership	Target Circle (free) with member deals; Target Circle 360 at 99 dollars a year (49 dollars for Circle Card holders)	Walmart+, with free delivery on eligible orders, early access to select deals and unlimited Express Pickup
Fast options	Free Drive Up and Order Pickup; Same Day Delivery at 9.99 dollars per order without 360	Express Pickup in as soon as one hour; Express delivery, On-Demand and Scheduled delivery
Free shipping	Free two-day shipping on orders of 35 dollars or more, or with no minimum for Target Circle 360 members and Circle Card holders	Free delivery on eligible orders for Walmart+ members

Sources: Target corporate pickup and delivery page, Target press releases of 15 September and 5 October 2026, Walmart corporate news of 14 August and 7 October 2026, checked 8 October 2026.

For a single exclusive toy on Target's list, Target is the only place to buy it. For a big family order that mixes toys with wrapping paper, batteries and snacks, Walmart's one-hour pickup is handy. For anything sold at both, the model number tells you it is the same product, and then the effective price after ShopBack is the number to compare. Check the live rate on the Target and Walmart pages on ShopBack US before you choose.

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Target, Walmart and Best Buy: gifts for kids in the US by store

Target is the pick for curated toys and exclusives, Walmart for one-stop family orders with fast pickup, and Best Buy for gaming, tech and collectibles.

Target

Target's 2026 list covers every age from toddler to tween, and the digital Holiday Kids Catalog lets kids scroll through nearly 500 items and share wish-list ideas, according to Target. Target owned brands for kids include Cat & Jack clothing and Gigglescape toys. Good fits: a play kitchen, magnetic tiles, a Toniebox starter set, a LEGO set or a slime kit.

Walmart

Walmart says families can shop gifts, groceries and essentials together and choose the speed that fits, from Drone Delivery and 30-minute-or-less delivery to one-hour Express, three-hour On-Demand and Scheduled delivery, where available. That suits the "we forgot the batteries" moments Walmart itself mentions. Good fits: big-name toys, ride-ons, outdoor toys and stocking stuffers bought alongside the rest of the holiday list. Our Walmart savings guide covers the store in more depth.

Best Buy

Best Buy says it offers next-day delivery in nearly every metro market, plus in-store and curbside pickup. Since June 2026, My Best Buy Plus (29.99 dollars a year) and My Best Buy Total (199.99 dollars a year) members earn 1% back in Best Buy rewards on eligible purchases, and Plus members get a 60-day return window on most products, according to Best Buy. My Best Buy, the free tier, includes free standard shipping. Good fits: a gaming console, a handheld, headphones sized for kids, a tablet or trading cards. Read how to save at Best Buy for more.

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How to buy the kids' gifts step by step

Buying kids' gifts well takes a short list, one comparison and the right order of steps.

1. Write the list by child. One main gift and two or three small ones each keeps spending under control.
2. Check the age label and any console or device the gift needs.
3. Compare the same item at Target, Walmart and Best Buy using the model number.
4. Pick your window. Buy the must-have toy early in case it sells out; buy extras during the November sales.
5. Before you pay for an online order, go through ShopBack first. Open ShopBack, find the store, activate it, then check out in the same session.
6. Choose pickup or delivery that arrives well before 25 December.
7. Keep receipts and gift receipts in case a toy is a duplicate.

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How ShopBack US lowers what you pay for kids' gifts

ShopBack is a post-purchase discount: go through it before you pay and the effective price drops. You still buy from Target, Walmart or Best Buy at their price and with their pickup and delivery options; ShopBack sends part of what you spent back to you as cash.

Cashback lowers what you actually pay for an order. It comes back as cash, so it works like a discount on the price, not like points or miles.

Here is a worked example with an illustrative rate: on a 200 dollar toy order at an illustrative 5%, 10 dollars comes back, so the effective price is 190 dollars. Rates differ by store and change often, so check the live rate on the Target or Best Buy page on ShopBack US before you buy. Walmart works differently: ShopBack pays a fixed cash amount on eligible Walmart orders, so your effective price there is what you pay at checkout minus that amount; the live amount is on Walmart's ShopBack page. Some product types, gift cards or marketplace listings may not qualify, and those terms are shown on each store's page. Our guide on activating before you buy walks through the steps.

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Frequently asked questions

What are the best gifts for kids this Christmas?

For Christmas 2026 in the US, the best gifts for kids follow this year's big toy trends: building sets such as LEGO and magnetic tiles, sensory and slime toys, interactive pets and characters, dolls and playsets, and gaming such as the Nintendo Switch 2. Target's Bullseye's Top Toys List, released on 5 October 2026, starts at 4.99 dollars and covers all of these. Before you pay for an online order, go through ShopBack first.

What is a good Christmas gift for a 5 year old?

A good Christmas gift for a 5 year old is usually something for pretend play or simple building: a play kitchen, a dollhouse or playset, magnetic building tiles, a toy vehicle set or a screen-free audio player with character figures. Children this age like toys they can play with again and again, so pick open-ended toys over one-use novelties. Check the age label on the box before you buy.

What are good gifts for kids aged 8 to 12?

Kids aged 8 to 12 usually enjoy bigger LEGO builds, science and engineering kits, trading cards and collectibles, craft kits, and video games or gaming accessories. Ask a parent which games console the family already has before buying a game or controller, because games only work on the platform they are made for.

Where can I buy cheap gifts for kids?

Target and Walmart are the two main US stores for low-cost kids' gifts. According to Target, it carries more than 1,000 toys under 10 dollars, and its 2026 Top Toys List starts at 4.99 dollars. Walmart sells toys alongside groceries and essentials and offers pickup in as soon as one hour. Going through ShopBack before you pay lowers the effective price at either store.

When is the best time to buy kids' Christmas gifts?

The best time is usually during the November sales or earlier for hot toys. In 2026, Thanksgiving is Thursday 26 November, Black Friday is Friday 27 November and Cyber Monday is Monday 30 November. Popular toys can sell out, so buying the one item a child really wants earlier and the smaller extras during the sales is a sensible split.

Is the Nintendo Switch 2 a good Christmas gift for kids?

The Nintendo Switch 2 is on Target's 2026 Bullseye's Top Toys List, and Best Buy says this is a big year for new games, so it is a strong pick for school-age kids this season. It works best for a child who does not already have a console, and you will usually need to budget for at least one game too.

Should I buy kids' gifts at Target, Walmart or Best Buy?

Use Target for its curated Top Toys List and Target-exclusive toys, Walmart for one-stop shopping with fast pickup and delivery options, and Best Buy for gaming, tech and collectibles. Compare the exact same item at more than one store on the same day, then go through ShopBack before you pay.

What are Target exclusive toys for 2026?

According to Target, more than half of the 50 toys on its 2026 Bullseye's Top Toys List are exclusive to Target. Examples on the list include the Gigglescape Magnetic Building Tiles Set, the LEGO Christmas Stocking, the LEGO Star Wars Up-Scaled Darth Vader Minifigure and the Target Toy Checklane.

How does ShopBack lower the price of kids' gifts?

ShopBack is a post-purchase discount: go through it before you pay and the effective price drops. You open ShopBack US, activate the store, then buy as usual, and part of what you spent comes back as cash. Rates vary by store, so check the live rate on the store's ShopBack page before you check out.

Is cashback the same as reward points?

No. Cashback lowers what you actually pay for an order. It comes back as cash, so it works like a discount on the price, not like points or miles that you can only spend with one store or airline.

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Key takeaways

• Christmas 2026 kids' gifts follow clear trends: building, sensory and slime, interactive characters, dolls and playsets, and gaming.
• Target's 2026 Bullseye's Top Toys List has 50 toys from 4.99 dollars, more than half of them Target exclusives, according to Target.
• Walmart's Express Pickup can be ready in as soon as one hour, and Best Buy offers next-day delivery in nearly every metro market, according to each store.
• Black Friday 2026 is 27 November and Cyber Monday is 30 November; buy the must-have toy early.
• Before you pay for an online order, go through ShopBack first, and check the live rate on the store's page.

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Related reads

Shop kids' gifts with ShopBack US: Target · Walmart · Best Buy · LEGO · Kohl's · Old Navy

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Disclaimer

The views and recommendations in this article are those of the author. Toy lists, prices, membership fees, pickup and delivery options, return windows and sale dates are set by each retailer and may change; the details above reflect each retailer's own published information at the time of writing. Cashback rates on ShopBack vary by store and campaign, so check the current rate on each store's ShopBack page before you buy.

This article is for general information only and is not professional or financial advice.