Our Kid Testers Played With More Than 200 Toys to Bring You the Parents Best Toys of 2024 (2024)

• Parenting

Shopping for kids can be difficult, whether they are three months or 13 years—and the reason is twofold. On the one hand, there are countless toys available. On the other, children’s interests can change on a dime. And, as a parent, you want something that keeps them engaged for more than 30 seconds. Ideally, you want a toy that will enrich and entertain them—and become a perennial favorite. Too much to ask? Well, to find out, we played hard with the newest toys on the market to bring you the 75 winners of our 2024 Parents Best Toys Awards.

Meet Our Panel of Judges

The Parents editorial team has access to the most current toys and games on the market. This doesn't just make them lucky, it makes them a wealth of information. We leaned into their knowledge and asked for the support of some very discerning kid testers to bring you this year's winners. Please note there were more adorable kid testers not seen here that also helped in choosing our winners.

Grace Bastidas

Editor-in-Chief

How We Chose Our Winners

All year long, the editors at Parents pay close attention to toy releases, keeping up with the latest and greatest toys of the year. We then put out a call to action, asking brands to submit their newest products. After receiving nearly 300 submissions and previewing countless toys at the biggest toy expos, we called in hundreds of products and put them in the hands of our kid testers. The winner list includes 75 kid- and/or parent-approved toys for babies, toddlers, big kids, and tweens and teens.

• Tested by Real Kids. Who better to choose the winners of our 2024 Toy Awards than the consumers who use them most? Yes, from babies and toddlers to tweens and teens, we asked kids to play with (and rate) the coolest toys on the market.
• We Kept Caretakers In Mind, Too. While kids may be interested in toys that are shiny, loud, light, bright, and new, we wanted to keep caretakers in mind, too. This means that—for the most part—we chose toys that were easy to set up and store. Toys where the whole family could play scored extra points. The overall safety and age appropriateness of a toy was also important.
• Going the Extra Mile Pays Off. We sought after toys that tried a little harder to be inclusive. So gender-neutral toys, toys that were made with eco-friendly materials, and/or those that celebrated diversity really scored bonus points with us.
• It's All About Staying Power. While no one wants to get their child a gift that is immediately forgotten about, the toys on this list had staying power, i.e. they all managed to keep the attention of their testers. In fact, they had them coming back for more.
• Pricing Matters. We know that holiday shopping—or any sort of kid-centered gift shopping—can add up quickly, but it shouldn’t break the bank. Most of the items on our list vary in pricing, allowing there to be options for every budget.