It’s hard to find a toy these days that doesn’t have some kind of tech or “smart” feature. While some of these features are unnecessary (or just downright silly), some are really quite cool. Here are some of the best toys of 2019 that use technology to really enhance the play and learning experience.

Best High End Robot Toy

On the not so cheap end of the robot toy spectrum is the new UBTECH Marvel Avengers: Endgame Iron Man Mk50 Robot. There are way too many features to list here; just check out this video. You can code him, play AR games with him, and even upload your own face to appear under his helmet. And he just looks really cool sitting on your desk (I mean in your kids’ room…).

My 7 year old just got this and loves it–the AR games are especially fun!

MSRP: $250 / Lowest Price on Ben’s: $187

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Best Budget Robot Toy

There are a ton of educational robot toys designed to teach kids STEM skills, but if you’ve got a younger kid that just wants a robot to play with, the Really Rad Robots Turbo Bot looks like a fun (er, rad) one. It rolls around, responds to voice commands, records and plays back conversations, tell jokes, and even has a “gross mode.” 5 year old boys should be thrilled! Best of all, it’s pretty cheap (we’ve already seen it as low as $31).

MSRP: $50 / Lowest Price on Ben’s: $31

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Best Coding Toy

For the past several years, Kano comes out with a new coding kit tied to some popular movie franchise. Last year it was Harry Potter and this year it’s, you guessed it, Star Wars! The Kano Star Wars The Force Coding Kit comes with a a build-it-yourself Bluetooth motion sensor that allows you to wield virtual lightsabers and complete Jedi challenges via a free app. My son got the Harry Potter version for Christmas last year and has had a lot of fun with it.

For more advanced coders in training, Kano’s Computer Kit Touch ($170) allows kids to build and code a working tablet, and it’s getting excellent reviews.

MSRP: $80 / Lowest Price on Ben’s: $60

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Best Invention Toy

Building off the success of their popular Star Wars Droid Inventor’s Kit (2017) and the Marvel Avengers Hero Inventor Kit (2018), littleBits has released yet another STEM invention set: the littleBits Space Rover Inventor Kit. If you’ve got a space lover or aspiring astronaut, this looks pretty awesome. Kids can build, customize, and drive an app-controlled “planetary space rover”, and complete NASA-inspired astronaut training and interplanetary missions with it.

Reviews are great, with one writing, “Could be the best Little Bits set yet!” and another hilariously saying, “Not sure how the cat feels about the Rover traversing the living room carpet in search of alien lifeforms but I think she’ll get used to it.”

MSRP: $100 / Lowest Price on Ben’s: N/A

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Best Tech Twist on a Classic Family Game

Everything is going “paperless” these days, and you can now add Pictionary to the list! Pictionary Air replaces pen and paper with a Pictionary Air Pen and your TV. Using their free app, the person illustrating draws in the air and magically appears, along with their drawing, on the screen of your smart TV. Check out this CNET video review. Looks fun!

MSRP: $20 / Lowest Price on Ben’s: N/A

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Best Drone

Ok so maybe this doesn’t qualify as a true drone, but the POWERUP 3.0 Original Smartphone Controlled Paper Airplane Conversion Kit turns paper airplanes into, essentially, drones, so I’m counting it. Attach the Bluetooth module to almost any paper airplane and control it with your phone. The fact that you can make an endless variety of planes to play around with makes this set much more likely to keep kids’ interested.

Note that the 4.0 version is currently in the funding stage on Kickstarter and will ship in the spring of 2020.

MSRP: $50 / Lowest Price on Ben’s: $37

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Best Gaming Tech Toy

This really falls under gaming more than toys, but that line is getting harder and harder to define! The new Ring Fit Adventure Game for Nintendo Switch takes what they tried to accomplish with the old Wii Fit balance board games and really takes it to a new level (pun intended). In this virtual adventure game, you must run, squat, lunge and press your way through levels and defeat an “evil bodybuilding dragon.” Most kids aren’t going to be interested in a “fitness” game, but this one looks fun enough that they’ll want to play it for the adventure part.

I beg of you, check out the official trailer Nintendo put out. It’s a great overview of the game, sure, but the presenters are… something else. If you need a good laugh, scroll down to comments, I promise you won’t be disappointed!

MSRP: $80 / Lowest Price on Ben’s: N/A

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Best Shooting Tech Toy

Hey! Here’s a blaster set that encourages kids to shoot at targets that are not their siblings! The new ProjeX Image Projecting Arcade Game comes with two laser gun style blasters and projects moving targets on any light-colored wall. There are 5 built-in games included with 3 different skill levels, though reviews do note that this is probably better for younger kids and not advanced gamers (who might find it boring).

If your kids really just want to shoot at their siblings, any of the Laser X laser tag sets are awesome. The Laser X Two Player Double Morph Laser Tag Gaming Set is their new one for this year, and we’ve already seen it as low as $26.

MSRP: $50 / Lowest Price on Ben’s: $26

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Best Design/Architecture Tech Toy

A lot of the educational tech toys out there teach coding/programming skills, but the the SmartLab Archi-Tech Electronic Smart House Set is geared more for young architects. This modular building system allows kids to configure their house however they like, then complete circuitry projects to add features like a working garage door, flickering fireplace, elevator, and more.

If you have a kid (like mine) that wants to play LEGOs and Minecraft all day, this looks like a great toy to help them develop those natural building skills and put a real-world spin on it all.

MSRP: $50 / Lowest Price on Ben’s: N/A

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Best Old School Tech Toy

When my 7 year old asked to buy an old Sony digital camcorder at Goodwill a couple summers ago, I said yes mostly because it was only $6.99, and didn’t expect him to do much with it. But it’s been one of his most played with “toys” ever! Yes, there are cameras made specifically for kids (the Vtech Kiddiezoom is probably the most popular), but compact digital video cameras have gotten so inexpensive, you might as well get your kid something that can capture quality videos/images.

The Sony Handycam HDRCX240/L 1080p Digital Video Camera is currently around $130 refurbished from Amazon, but there are tons of similar non-brand name cameras for as low as $50 now, too.

Not only do kids love playing around with a video camera, you’ll be surprised how entertaining and fun the footage they end up with is! Having the world documented from their point of view will be well worth the price of the camera.

MSRP: $199 / Lowest Price on Ben’s: N/A

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Best iPad Add-On/Kids’ Tablet Alternative

If you don’t want to get your child their own “kids’ tablet”, the Osmo Genius Starter Kit will turn your existing iPad into a hands-on learning device. This highly rated set includes five games that teach math, spelling, visual thinking, problem solving, and creative drawing skills through a unique mix of on-screen tech and physical pieces.

Perhaps the best part is that this kit is designed to grow with your child, adjusting to their skill level through the age of 5 all the way up to 12.

Once you have the Starter Kit, there are tons of additional games you can purchase, like the pretty cool looking Osmo Detective Agency: A Search & Find Mystery Game ($40).

MSRP: $100 / Lowest Price on Ben’s: $59

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2019 Holiday Gift Guide: Tech Toys Worth Buying

It seems each year toys get more expensive, but the quality doesn’t always follow. Thanks in part to YouTube, the “unboxing” experience is almost more important than what’s actually in the box these days, often leading to a few minutes of excitement…and then a lot of junk taking up space in the play room.

So where have all the good toys gone? Here are a few of the best toys of 2019 that should actually get played with long after the initial thrill of opening them is over.

Best Toy Robot

The toy robot market has become quite oversaturated over the last few years. More and more options available, but they all seem to kind of do the same stuff. The fact that the Artie 3000 Drawing Robot combines coding/STEM skills with art sets it apart from the all the other robots fighting to win your money and a place in your kids’ toy box.

Younger kids can tell Artie what to draw using simple “drag and drop” coding, while older kids can code it using more advanced methods like Blockly, Snap!, Python and JavaScript. What I really like is that Artie’s drawings are not just “virtual”, displayed on a phone or tablet screen–it actually draws on paper with markers. Cool to see a toy that not only aims to help kids develop the analytical part of their brains, but the creative part too.

MSRP: $70 / Lowest Price on Ben’s: N/A

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Best Imaginext Toy

I always like to include a Fisher-Price Imaginext toy on this list because they are really just one of the most consistently high quality brands out there. They keep kids interested, they don’t break, and they’re not obnoxiously loud. My youngest child’s favorite toy is the Imaginext Batcave my oldest child got for Christmas…6 years ago.

This year’s Fisher-Price Imaginext Disney Pixar Toy Story 4 Buzz Lightyear Robot is sure to be another hit! It’s big, it shoots stuff, it launches spaceships–what more could any preschooler need? The price point is pretty reasonable too–we’ve already seen it as low as $30.

• MSRP: $50 / Lowest Price on Ben’s: $30

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Best Building Toy

Clearly the best building toy is always going to be a LEGO set, the question is which LEGO set! There are a ton of new Star Wars sets this season, both from the upcoming Rise of Skywalker movie and the soon to be streaming Disney+ show, The Mandalorian. Of the SW sets, my pick is the new LEGO Star Wars Millennium Falcon. It’s still big (1,351 pieces) but at $160 it’s slightly more affordable than the $800 Ultimate Collector’s Falcon from a couple years ago.

As far as non-Star Wars sets, the new LEGO Creator Expert James Bond Aston Martin DB5 ($150) is pretty awesome, and pretty much all the 2019 LEGO Ideas sets are cool (The LEGO Ideas Friends Central Perk especially would make a great gift, but it’s currently backordered!)

Another option to think about is a LEGO “rental” subscription like NetBricks ($24 to $39/month). A good option for kids (or adults) who enjoy the building process more than playing with or displaying the completed sets.

• MSRP: $160 / Lowest Price on Ben’s: N/A

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Best Frozen II Toy

Frozen fever is backkkk, with the highly anticipated Frozen II hitting theaters right before Thanksgiving (11/22). I’m sure Disney wasn’t thinking about selling toys at all when they chose this release date, but it just so happens that there’s going to be a lot of Frozen requests on wish lists this holiday season.

My pick for the best Frozen II toy is the Disney Frozen II Gigantic 3-Ft Olaf Plush (Target exclusive). He’s gotta be close to “life size” right?! Also he doesn’t have any annoying music or sounds. Just a big cuddly snowman who loves warm hugs. Target will have him for $25 on Black Friday (but it will probably sell out fast!).

• MSRP: $50 / Lowest Price on Ben’s: N/A

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Best Toy for Young Wizards

The Harry Potter Invisibility Cloak is kind of a novelty item, but young HP fans are all going to go nuts for it. Wear the cloak, take a picture using the included app, and witness the illusion of invisibility! Reviews are surprisingly good, with most people saying it’s a lot of fun for kids and adults alike.

• MSRP: $59 / Lowest Price on Ben’s: N/A

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Best Ride-On Toy

If there is one thing on this list I wish I would have had as a kid (or, um like right now), it would for sure be the Step2 Hot Wheels Extreme Thrill Coaster. This thing is massive–it comes with 14 feet of track, so you’ll definitely need a big chunk of space! My kids have a smaller, less “extreme” version (the Step2 Disney Pixar Cars 3 Up & Down Roller Coaster) and absolutely love it.

It’s not cheap, but we have already seen it as low as $202 on Ben’s, and it’s a gift that can/should be given to multiple children.

Reviews are almost all awesome, with one dad writing, “By far, the most exciting thing for a kid, or two, or three…or the whole da*n neighborhood! Warning: Your kids will never want to stop riding this thing once it’s built!”

MSRP: $270 / Lowest Price on Ben’s: $202

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Best Hot Wheels Set

The Hot Wheels Colossal Crash Track Set is advertised as “The biggest motorized set Hot Wheels has ever made!” And at 5 feet wide, it’s “wow factor” is pretty high. If you have the space for it, it really looks fun. I also like that you can connect it with other Hot Wheels track sets (and take up even more space! Yay!). At $99 it’s not cheap, but I’d guess we might see it drop as low as $60 around Black Friday.

MSRP: $100 / Lowest Price on Ben’s: N/A

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Best Non-Electronic STEM Toy

When you think of marble runs, maybe you also think of words like “old school”, but this is not your parents’ marble run. The Ravensburger Gravitrax Starter Set is a cool twist on the classic toy that teaches STEM concepts like gravity, magnetism, and kinetics. Not only is it getting great reviews, it was a 2019 Toy of The Year Finalist (also, it looks really fun for grownups to play around with too!).

• MSRP: $60 / Lowest Price on Ben’s: $37

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Best Doll

Move over, Barbie! Mattel’s new Creatable World Deluxe Character Kit Customizable Dolls might come in a box, but they are designed to keep kids from feeling, well, boxed in. Each one comes with a doll, a wig, clothing and accessories that can be mixed and matched to create 100+ characters/looks. Reviews have been great so far, with many praising the fact that body shapes and clothing are far more realistic than other dolls on the shelves.

• MSRP: $30 / Lowest Price on Ben’s: $17

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Best Interactive Toy Pet

Oh yes, this is now a whole category of toy. The How To Train Your Dragon Hatching Toothless is the Hatchimals/How to Train Your Dragon mashup the world has been waiting for. After you “hatch” him, you get to teach Toothless how to fly and Plasma blast, and he’ll also play a number of interactive games with you. So far the reviews are good (4.8/5 stars on Amazon so far). Expect this to be a hard one to find as we get closer to Christmas.

• MSRP: $60 / Lowest Price on Ben’s: $37

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Holiday Gift Guide 2019: Toys That Live Up to the Hype

It seems like everything these days must be “smart” or have Bluetooth, or connect to an app. But when it comes to toys, often those tech components seem a bit silly and/or unnecessary.  That said, not all are duds. Here are a few of the best toys that are actually doing an excellent job using technology to really enhance the play and learning experience.

Best Hybrid Building/Tech Toy

With their new LEGO Boost Creative Toolbox Building and Coding Kit, LEGO is branching out from their popular Mindstorms robotics line, and has made a tech/building combo toy that is more accessible, and much less expensive. While Mindstorms has a focus on the coding and programming side of robots, LEGO Boost looks like it’s mostly about the building. It also costs almost $200 less!

With LEGO Boost, kids (7 to 12) can build multiple robots, and use the “LEGO Move Hub” and an app to make them come to life. The kit is compatible with regular old LEGO pieces, so there’s the option to really get creative and make the robots their own.

• MSRP: $160 / Lowest Price on Ben’s: N/A

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 Best Tech Toy You’ll Want to Play More Than Your Kid

Sure, some people are saying it’s overpriced, and that you’ll look like a dork playing it (is this really a surprise?), but I am still dying to try Lenovo’s new Star Wars: Jedi Challenges AR Set. This standalone augmented reality set works with iOS or Android devices and lets you battle it out in virtual Jedi duels. The set come with a lightsaber controller and a tracking beacon, and is being sold at Best Buy and directly from Lenovo (beware of Amazon listings; they are selling it for over MSRP).

Like I mentioned, early reviews are mixed, but Forbes is calling it “the $200 device that will define AR”. And, yeah, I just really want to play with it.

MSRP: $200 / Lowest Price on Ben’s: N/A

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Best Invention Toy

If you’re on the hunt for a Star Wars toy with a little less lightsaber fighting and a little more learning, the new littleBits Star Wars Droid Inventor Kit looks like it may be the toy you are looking for. LittleBits has a reputation for making some of the best STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics) toys out there, so of all the Star Wars collaborations out there (and there are so many), this one is really exciting to me.

The kit comes with everything kids need to build and customize their own R2 unit. Best of all, it’s all reconfigurable, so the toy is not “done” after they’ve completed the initial build.

In addition to being packed full of cool sounding features like Force Drive, which allows kids to control their creation with their hand, and a drawing mode where the droid draw secret maps and messages, the Droid Inventor Kit was recently chosen as a Platinum Award Winner by the Oppenheim Toy Portfolio (actually kind of a big deal in the toy world!).

• MSRP: $100 / Lowest Price on Ben’s: N/A

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Best STEM Doll

I am not of the opinion that every building or STEM toy needs a “girl version” (because there are plenty of girls who would be totally excited about LEGO Boost, or the Droid Kit!), but I also think it’s great that they are trying to include STEM components in toys that are traditionally marketed to girls.

The Dance Code Disney Princess Belle Doll is an Amazon Exclusive that allows kids to program dance routines for the doll to perform. Check out this demo video from HasCon 2017 to see her in action.

• MSRP: $100 / Lowest Price on Ben’s: N/A

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Best iPad Add-On/Kids’ Tablet Alternative

If you don’t want to get your child their own “kids’ tablet”, the Osmo Genius Starter Kit will turn your existing iPad into a hands-on learning device. This highly rated set includes five games that teach math, spelling, visual thinking, problem solving, and creative drawing skills through a unique mix of on-screen tech and physical pieces.

Perhaps the best part is that this kit is designed to grow with your child, adjusting to their skill level through the age of 5 all the way up to 12.

Once you have the Starter Kit, there are tons of additional games you can purchase, like the newly released Coding Jam Game.

MSRP: $100 / Lowest Price on Ben’s: $75

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Best STEM Board Game

I don’t know if this one really qualifies as a “tech toy”, but I’m including it anyway because I think it looks really interesting. Circuit Maze Board Game has budding electrical engineers (8 years old and up) arranging tokens to create real circuits and win challenges. Looks a lot like the popular Snap Circuits toys, but in game form. Reviews are mostly positive, and the price is very affordable compared to a lot of STEM toys out there.

• MSRP: $30 / Lowest Price on Ben’s: N/A

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Best Kids’ Drone

There are a ton of lower-end drones out there, with a huge range of prices. I went with the Drone Force Morph-Zilla for this list because a) it’s called the Drone Force Morph-Zilla, and b) it’s getting good reviews so far. It’s a 2-in-1 drone, meaning it can be controlled on the ground before it goes into flight mode.

On the even less expensive end of the spectrum, the brand Syma is a favorite cheapie among Drone enthusiasts (the Syma X11C model in particular is mentioned a lot as a good starting drone for kids).

• MSRP: $80 / Lowest Price on Ben’s: $60

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Best Kid’s Camera

If you’re sick of your kid stealing your iPhone and saving 3988439 off-centered pictures of themselves, a digital camera of their own is a great gift idea. For toddlers and preschoolers, the VTech Kidizoom DUO Camera gets good reviews, and has both front end rear lenses so they can continue to perfect their selfies.

For kids a little older, the popular and well-reviewed Fujifilm Instax Mini 9 Instant Camera might be the way to go. There’s that special something about watching a photo actually develop that most kids these days haven’t gotten to experience! The film can be expensive, but Groupon frequently offers deals on it.

• MSRP: $70 / Lowest Price on Ben’s: N/A

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2017 Holiday Gift Guide: Tech Toys Worth Buying

2016 is definitely the year of the “smart” toy. STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics) toys are also experiencing a huge surge in popularity, which is really awesome to see. With all the options out there, which tech toys are worth spending your money on? Here are a few of our favorites.

littleBits Rule Your Room Inventor Kit

This invention kit teaches kids science, engineering, art and math skills while allowing them to create things like “burglar buzzers”, programmable puppets, and touch control pads using the toys and every day items they have in their rooms. The kit comes with instructions for 8 inventions, but the possibilities are really endless.

MSRP: $100 | Lowest Price on Ben’s: $80

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Fisher-Price Think & Learn Code-a-Pillar

For the youngest budding programmers out there, Fisher-Price’s Think & Learn Code-a-Pillar is a great option. Geared toward preschoolers, it has nine segments that can arranged and rearranged to make the Code-a-Pillar move forward, left, right, wiggle, dance, etc. Kids will be having so much fun with it, they’ll have no idea they’re learning sequencing and coding at the same time.

MSRP: $50 | Lowest Price on Ben’s: $32

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Amazon Fire Kids Edition 7″ 8GB WiFi Tablet

It says right on the description that this tablet is “Not a toy,” but although it looks and feels more like an adult tablet than its biggest competitor, the LeapPad, the Kids Fire was definitely designed with young users in mind. Not only does it come with “kid-proof” case, it includes a 2-year worry-free guarantee in case your kids do somehow manage to break it.

MSRP: $100 | Lowest Price on Ben’s: $70

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Meccano MicroNoid Programmable Robot

If you’re not sure your kid is going to love the whole robot programming thing, the MicroNoid is an excellent option (it has a retail price of $40, compared to the $180 price tag on their larger Meccanoid 2.0 model). Thanks to positive early reviews, the MicroNoid is already the #1 bestseller in Model Building Kits on Amazon.

MSRP: $40 | Lowest Price on Ben’s: $24

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VTech Kidizoom Action Cam

Here’s a great tech toy that actually encourages kids to get outside and be active. The VTech Kidizoom Action Cam can be mounted to bikes, skateboards and more, and can take photos and videos in up to 6 feet of water. It’s not going to give you GoPro-quality videos, but for under $50 reviews say it’s a ton of fun.

MSRP: $60 | Lowest Price on Ben’s: $29

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Crayola MyPhones Volume-Limiting Headphones

The Crayola MyPhones (made by Griffin) are durable headphones designed specifically for kids. The best part about them is that they are equipped with built-in volume-limiting technology so that kids can’t turn them up past 85 decibels (the recommended max for young ears).

The MyPhones are a well-known model, but more and more brands are coming out with kid-safe options.

MSRP: $25 | Lowest Price on Ben’s: N/A

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BOSEbuild Speaker Cube

This build-it-yourself Bluetooth speaker for kids only has 22 total reviews on Amazon so far–but all 22 of them give it 5/5 stars. Teaches kids all about sound and speaker components as they build their own speaker with “Bose-quality sound”, personalizable light effects, and more. Here’s more from CNET.

MSRP: $149 | Lowest Price on Ben’s: N/A

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Nintendo 2DS Mario Kart 7 Bundle

We’ve already talked about the new Nintendo 2DS in our Video Game Holiday Gift Guide so I won’t go into too much detail here. But this simpler, more durable handheld gaming system is a great option for the younger video game addict. This year the price point is more affordable than ever.

MSRP: $90 | Lowest Price on Ben’s: $60

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Tech Toys for Kids Worth Buying This Holiday Season

While Star Wars really dominated the toy ‘verse last holiday season, this year we’re seeing a lot of the classics back in the spotlight: Batman and Superman (thanks to this summers’ Batman v Superman movie), Trolls (thanks to the upcoming Justin Timberlake-starring kids’ film of the same name), Transformers, Teenage Ninja Turtles, etc.

In addition to all the nostalgic character toys, there are plenty of other options this year that are fun for kids and their parents alike. Here are a few of the best:

LEGO Dimensions Starter Set + Year 2 Releases

LEGO’s toy/video game hybrid, Dimensions, came out just before the holidays last year, and has become a huge hit among kids and grownups alike. The Year 2 Story, Team, Level, and Fun Packs are being released this season and are full of awesome nostalgia: The Goonies, Sonic The Hedgehog, Gremlins, Beetlejuice, Ghostbusters, E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial.

The 2016 Starter Set (same as the 2015 set, plus a new Supergirl figure) retails for $90, but you should be able to get it for under $50 this holiday season. The new Year 2 expansion packs range from $12 to $40.

MSRP: $90 | Lowest Price on Ben’s: $50

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Anki Cozmo Robot

CNET described Cozmo as, “the soul of a Disney movie in a $180 robot toy.” It’s tiny, adorable, and looks a whole lot like Wall-E. It has an object-recognizing camera (“computer vision”), and comes with three cubes covered in readable codes; Cozmo can find, stack, topple and play with the cubes.

It’s not a programmable robot toy (such as the Meccano Mecanoids), but rather designed to be an “AI companion.” The early reviews make it sound like a ton of fun for both adults and kids.

Retails for $180, and no one has it for less than that right now.

MSRP : $180 | Lowest Price on Ben’s: N/A

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3Doodler Start Kid-Safe 3D Printing Pen Essentials Set

This Kickstarter-backed 3D printing pen is designed with kids in mind: it’s super easy to use, has no hot parts or messy resins, and uses Eco-Plastic that’s made from food grade materials. But let’s be honest, you know you want to “draw in the air” with this thing too!

MSRP : $50 | Lowest Price on Ben’s: $36

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Hot Wheels A.I. Intelligent Race System Starter Kit

The Hot Wheels A.I. Intelligent Race System is basically Hot Wheels’ answer to the popular (and way more expensive) Anki OVERDRIVE set. The starter set comes with two smart cars, two controllers and 16+ feet of track that can be configured in over 40 different ways. Lots of family fun for Christmas morning and beyond!

MSRP : $100 | Lowest Price on Ben’s: $70

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Nerf N-Strike Mega Mega Mastodon

Christmas wouldn’t be Christmas without an epic Nerf battle, right? Nerf’s first motorized Mega Blaster isn’t messing around–it’s close to 3 feet long, with a 24-dart rotating drum, and can fire darts 100 feet away. Might as well buy two, ’cause you’re going to want to shoot this thing.

MSRP : $80 | Lowest Price on Ben’s: $56

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Magformers 62-Piece Starter Set

Magformers is the most recognizable brand name, but Magna-Tiles, PlayMags, PicassoTiles and Magnetic Stick N Stack sets are all highly-reviewed (and all very similar). My young son got these for Christmas a couple years ago and they are super fun (and a little addicting!). Simple enough for a young toddler to enjoy, but will keep an older child or adult interested for hours, too. They’re expensive, but totally worth the money.

MSRP: $99 | Lowest Price on Ben’s: N/A (we’ve seen lots of other Magformers sets on sale, as low as $20)

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Crayola Imaginables Custom Plush

Crayola Imaginables will take any drawing your kid has done and turn it into a real stuffed animal. The process is really simple, and takes about 4 weeks for the team of designers to create your custom plush and get it out to you (so do it soon if you want one before Christmas!). A fun gift for your child, and a really cool way for parents to hang onto and display their kids’ art.

MSRP: $129 (but currently on sale for $99) | Lowest Price on Ben’s: N/A

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Holiday Gift Guide 2016: Toys for the Kid in All of Us

Toys may be for kids, but Legos aren’t toys! They’re more like architectural engineering simulation guides… for ages 5 and up. And even if some people with no imagination and joyless lives call them “toys,” then they’re one of the greatest toys ever conceived with a lot of benefits other toys don’t offer — just ask Christina Stephens from number 8.

Mature, super-cool adults aren’t the only ones who like Legos, there’s actually a large population of children who also enjoy building with these plastic blocks (perhaps that’s where the “toy” myth originated). And we don’t get along with children today, mostly because they don’t get any of our references.

(Yeah, I’ve met my first person who’s never seen Ghostbusters. Imagine what kind of existence must they lead.)

So us super-cool adults who still play with Legos need to find a way to differentiate ourselves from those weird lame-os who are too inexperienced in the world to know what they’re doing. Luckily, we have intelligence on our side… maybe because our adolescences were graced with advanced knowledge of physics and engineering?

Breaking Bad Lab

The Breaking Bad Lab was either sold out or discontinued due to scandal, but either way, it must have been popular. Only an adult could exemplify concepts like pride, obsession, paranoia, and addiction while they make their little figurines dance around in a doll house.

Golden Girls Brick People Toy Set

Well, they use the ambiguous “brick people” instead of “Legos,” so it’s probably a knockoff… but the spirit is still there. Our favorite sitcom with an all elderly-woman cast (and the only one that will ever be made, because it was a miracle someone bought that pitch in the first place) is represented with perfect facial expressions for each character.

M.C. Escher’s “Relativity”

Kids just don’t understand art. Adults don’t either, for that matter. But for a piece like M.C. Escher’s “Relativity,” Legos are actually one of the few mediums to do it justice, with their gravity-defying connectivity.

Facehugger

While kids would prefer the much more playtime-friendly Alien (looking at you, E.T.), it takes an intellectual mind to appreciate the biological significance of the Facehugger – a truly imaginative way for a species to breed.

Ron Burgundy

Would a Scotch-swilling, nonsense-dribbling chauvinist really appeal to children? Meanwhile, he’s no-less-than legendary among people who have hit puberty… Give it time, kids, you’ll get there one day.

Lego Architecture Studio

Yes, this is exactly what we were talking about! This box is an assortment of pieces and a manual outlining some suggestions and techniques… Architectural engineering simulation guides!  Ages 16 and up!

Nintendo 64 Transformer

“What’s a Nintendo 64?”  ~ Your Grandkids. What was, 15 years ago, the most revolutionary piece of machinery ever built by man is now biding its time as trash until its revival as a collector’s item. That it’s a Transformer, too, is a nice touch.

Prosthetic Leg

That’s right… Let’s see Fisher-Price do that! Mechanic Christina Stephens may have needed to amputate her leg after an accident, but she then built her own artificial limb out of mother-trucking Legos. While only a prototype, a more functional version is in the works.

Wedding Dress

Ugh, with her past, can you believe she used white Legos? Almost every little girl has at least at one point fantasized about her wedding… if you find one who envisioned herself in a wedding dress made of Legos, you’ve made the right choice locking that down. Designed by Rie Hosokai (because that’s important with dresses).

Goonies Playset

Yeah, Goonies is a kids movie, and, yeah, we loved it when we were kids… in the ’80s. Kids today just wouldn’t understand.

10 LEGO Sets That Kids Today Just Wouldn’t Understand

Father’s Day is just a few weeks away (June 16th). Before you buy your old man yet another wallet or tie he probably doesn’t need, here are some unique and useful Father’s Day gift ideas for five types of dads: the nerdy, the sporty, the frugal, the outdoorsy and the sentimental.

The Nerdy Dad

For the dad who’s into Star Wars, Star Trek, Doctor Who, Battlestar Galactica, anything from Joss Whedon, LOTR (any or all of the above will do), gaming, computers, and always has to have the latest tech gadget.

Darth Vader and Son ($9, Amazon)/Vader’s Little Princess ($9, Amazon)

We have this book, and it’s really cute. Lots of funny references to the films. (A favorite is when young Luke whines, “But Dad, you said we could go to Tosche Station after nap!” and Vader responds, “I am altering the deal. Pray I don’t alter it any further.”)

Star Trek Enterprise Pizza Cutter ($23, ThinkGeek)

Make this gift even cooler by pairing it with a pizza place gift card (or even 3-pack of his favorite brand of frozen pizzas).

USB Cufflinks ($15, eBay)

A standard Father’s Day gift, with a cool geeky twist.

Character Bathrobe ($40 to $70, ThinkGeek)

You can find these in a plethora of styles and characters, from Chewbacca and Boba Fett to various superheroes, to Doctor Who Tardis (pictured).

The Sporty Dad

For the dad who never misses a game, gets his news from SportsCenter, and will probably want to celebrate Father’s Day by staying home and watching the US Open on TV.

Game Tickets or Tee Time

Make sure you buy a ticket for yourself, too; that way your dad not only gets to watch his favorite team, or play a round of golf, he gets to spend some quality time with his kid.

A Sports Book

Here’s a list of Amazon’s best-selling sports-related books to give you some ideas.

Officially Licensed Sports Apparel (Adidas NBA Hoodie, $50, Foot Locker)

Finish Line is another good place to look for sports apparel (and they have a $10 off $60+ promo going on right now).

Sports Shot Glasses ($1.40, Lids)

Even if Dad is past the point in his life where he’s going to be taking shots of vodka, these have a variety of other uses (making espresso drinks, toothpick holders, washing down your vitamins or Lipitor pills, to name a few).

The Frugal Dad

For the dad who buys things like mayonnaise by the gallon just to save a couple bucks, will only eat out if he has a coupon, and is on a first-name basis with the people who work at the local Goodwill.

A “Garage Sale Gift Card”

Write “garage sale gift card” on an envelope and put a $20 bill inside. No joke, my dad would seriously love this.

A Groupon Voucher

Groupon has lots of half-off vouchers to local restaurants, activities and retail shops. A gift certificate even the most frugal of dads will be proud to use.

Money-Management Software (around $30, Amazon)

Totally boring for a lot of most people, but the ultra-frugal dad might find this as exciting as George Michael did.

A Sam’s Club or Costco Membership (Costco, $55; Sam’s Club, $45)

Okay, so any true frugal dad will already have one of these, but in case yours doesn’t, a membership gift card is the perfect way of helping him on his quest to save money.

The Outdoorsy Dad

For the dad who loves camping, hiking and biking, and owns every North Face fleece jacket they’ve ever made.

Something for his Bike (Brooks Saddle, $95, Amazon)

Father’s day happens to fall right at the beginning of summer — prime biking season. Here’s a list of fun bike accessories that would make great gifts.

Camping Gear (Byer Tahiti Camping Hammock, $20, REI Outlet)

Check out REI Outlet’s “$20 or under” section for hundreds of great ideas/deals on outdoor and camping gear.

A New Backpack (Kelty Pawnee 55 Pack, $72, REI Outlet)

Also, Ben’s has awesome deals on backpacks all the time; make sure to set up a deal alert so you don’t miss any of them.

Survival Tool Kit (Rothco Survival Tool Kit, $23, Amazon)

This just wouldn’t be a Father’s Day gift guide without at least one mention of tools, right? Knives and tomahawks are also perfect for helping your dad feel extra badass on his special day.

The Sentimental Dad

For the dad who often calls just to say “I love you,” likes to pull out old family videos at family gatherings, and always seems to care more about the card than the gift.

A Custom Photo Gift

This is actually a picture of the custom iPhone case I got as a Mother’s day present, but it would make an excellent Father’s Day gift as well. Casetagram makes really cool cases out of Instagram photos, but places like Shutterfly and Snapfish also sell them (along with plenty of other photo gifts).

Something Handmade

My dad still has some of the little presents I made for him as a kid sitting on his desk, over 20 years later. If you have kids of your own, your dad will surely treasure something handmade from the grandkids. Here are tons of easy ideas.

The Perfect Card

Whatever gift you decide to get your dad, don’t forget to include a card that says how much you love him; it will probably be his favorite part.

Father’s Day Gift Ideas for Every Type of Dad