Your littlest kids want to see what you’re looking at on your phone all the time. The LeapFrog Chat and Count may be a solution—hand it over so they can have pretend calls and voicemails galore, plus try counting with the phone-layout number pad.

Your smartphone flashlight becomes the projector in this innovative way to ready digital storybooks. This one comes with 4 classic Disney stories.

Have a kid into drawing imaginary pals? Make that image come to life via the Budsies service, turning drawings into stuffies.

To make it clear this is not a real tablet. But it can make jealous littles feel like they’re in on the touch-screen action enjoyed by their siblings and friends.

Once upon a time, Lego introduced a Jedi Knight that no one knew about. He was eventually dubbed Bob. He has now become the star of a series on Disney+ (Rebuild the Galaxy). But you can get him here, as he is meant to be, complete with his ship, and multi-versal companions like an Ackbar Trooper, and Servo the gonk droid.

Yoto Mini is an audio player powered by physical cards. If you’re thinking “Sony Walkman with stories” you’re perhaps not far off. It’ll play up to 14 hours. There are parental controls. Separate headphones and carry cases. And thousands of cards with stories to play. The bigger Yoto Player does the same thing, but with less portability.

Toniebox is similar to the Yoto—it's all about audio. But rather than a card, the Tonie ecosystem is all about selling little figures that will bring the TonieBox speaker to life with stories and songs. Kids can quick-switch figures (they attach magnetically) to get new audio.

Readers of a certain age will remember Simon, the light game from the 1980s that basically just made you memorize patterns and repeat them. BrainBolt Boost is a modern equivalent for kids over age 5.

This bunny is a great companion for younger kids. It comes loaded with over 70 entertaining stories, poems, and songs. Parents can also record themselves reading a story or singing a song for their child. The Story Pal comes with a carrying strap and has a headphone jack (headphones aren’t included) and volume control, so it’s truly usable “on the go.” And LeapFrog toys are well made and rugged. Reminder: it uses 3 AA batteries.

We already thought the Sphero programmable robot ball was pretty cool. The Sphero Mini Activity Kit is a less expensive alternative that includes a clear-shelled, drivable Sphero Mini ball with a gyroscope, an accelerometer, and LED lights for 45 minutes of battery life. Also in the kit are accessories for 15 projects kids can build, play with, and even try some simple coding.

Turn your tablet computer into an interactive chess board.

Let kids master the 2x2 algorithm on the GoCube first (with app-based help) before tackling the more complicated 3x3.

The pod box can hold up to 15 digital pets that you can actually "touch."

An inexpensive mic with integrated speaker that works with smartphones or tablets to instantly bring karaoke to any party.

Kids get 100 pieces in this kit that will introduce them to the world of working cogs and gears.

Augment the reality of this globe with a mobile app full of animation and information about the planet

A Toy of the Year finalist in 2022, this camera for kids comes with a printer built in. Plus kids can play games on the 2.4-inch color screen on the back.

Building upon the amazing Mega Cyborg Hand, the new Mega Cyborg Hydro Blaster is exactly what you expect: a hand-built robot hand kids can wear that doubles as a 20-foot-capable water cannon. Get a few—there’s up to 5 different looks available. It also has a claw.

Setting up a microscope is a rite of passage for any kid, but it usually happens in the confines of a classroom. This tool lets kids set it up at home and view tiny, tiny stuff—right on a smartphone screen to take pictures of the results.

Solving a Rubik's cube isn't easy for most of us, but this cube connects to an app to teach the algorithm and foster competition.

The most terrifying toy? Maybe not with the new Troll-like color schemes that help keep these Mogwai-esue, burbling plush creatures in the limelight. The latest also can say about 600 different things.

There are so many droids here that you are looking for! These versions of R2-D2, a Gonk droid, and more all have robot parts to control via an app.

Every kid wants to power up their paper airplanes. This kit can actually do it, providing gyros and propellers that will keep the folded-up flyers afloat longer.

Soccer Bot is meant to up-your futbol game abilities. Just don’t step on the droid while it's tracking your moves and blocking your shots.

If your kid seems ready for a smartwatch, or you’re ready for them to have one for communication and tracking, consider the Cosmo JrTrack 4. It's got a phone, family-safe texting, parent-approved contacts, camera for stills and video, GPS and activity tracking, and for $9.99 prepaid, unlimited talk/text/data.

This small device lets kids compose and play their own music by making and recording a multitude of tuneful sounds. In addition to synth sounds, the second-gen model also can play samples, letting it sound more realistic. Make your own samples to play, too, using the Orba 2's app, as well as create loops of up to 128 bars in length.

A STEAM Toy of the Year: Kids who are into real-life space exploration and Legos will appreciate this excellent Mars Rover Perseverance replica, complete with Ingenuity Helicopter.

Ages 8 to 13

A kit full of Bill Nye-style science experiments, bolstered by Nye himself in augmented reality, is the first step for a budding scientist.

The winner of the 2023 ASTRA Play Awards, these hydraulic bots are the Thames & Kosmos answer to Rock-Em Sock-em Robots, but with free-standing, water-powered hydraulics to keep the boxing action alive. Just be ready to piece together 327 parts to make them work.