30 Best Valentine’s Day Gifts for Kids Who Deserve to Be Fussed Over
Toys, gifts and sweet surprises for the little ones.
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Just when parents thought the holidays were over and they could finally take a break from buying gifts for kids — bam! — Valentine's Day sneaks up on everyone. The good news is that, when it comes to the best Valentine's Day gifts, the pressure is largely off.
Chocolates and fun cards are an easy win, but sometimes we still want to look for things that will delight kids, keep them entertained and, most importantly, make them feel the love. We did our research, and these are the best Valentine's Day gifts to buy for kids in 2025. Some have been vetted by the Good Housekeeping Institute in advance of its yearly Good Housekeeping Best Toy Awards or Kids' Book Awards, meaning they've been through toy testing and rounds of feedback with real kids. To those picks, we added some editor's selects, best-sellers and kid favorites to make sure that there's something on the list for every kid (and budget).
Fingerlings Axolotl
Kids love axolotl toys, and this one is no exception! It lights up, signs, and, if you put it in water, it shakes its tail like it's swimming. When it's held in a hand, it acts like a mood ring and can tell kids their feelings. Good Housekeeping testers thought this was so cute, it won a Good Housekeeping Best Toy Award.
This Plus Plus kit comes with a pattern that kids can use to make two different sizes and colors of hearts — a perfect Valentine's Day activity. Then, when they're done, they can hang them up to display — or use the pieces to build 2D or 3D creations in an open-ended way, since every Plus Plus piece interlocks with any other Plus Plus piece. If they like it, you can also get the heart-themed Mini Maker Tube. Ages 5+
Neon lights are in-demand by teens and tweens looking to jazz up their rooms. The name gives this gift a personal touch, and the heart at the end makes it extra Valentine's Day appropriate. You can choose if you want it to have an A/C adapter, a battery or both. No age recommendation given
It's never too early for self-care: Drop these in the bath, and they'll be entertained by bubbles and colors. And, best of all, there's a surprise squishy toy inside each one! Ages 3+
Talk about a fidget putty — this one actually changes colors based on the heat in your hands. (So cool!) It comes in a 4-inch tin, which is perfect for when you're looking for just a little something. Ages 3+
'I Turtley Love You' Board Book
This calming board book doubles as a bedtime story, with a nighttime color palette and rhyming texts that describe different sea creatures getting ready for bed. Good Housekeeping Institute testers found it totally sweet, enough to award it a previous Good Housekeeping Kids' Book Award. "My daughter likes that there is a small and large version of each sea creature,” said one parent tester said. “She refers to them as Mama and Baby and asks me about who they are and what they are doing.” Ages 2 – 5
Valentine's Hidden Pictures Puzzles
The pages of this book are teeming with Valentine's Day illustrations, with more than 300 hidden objects concealed within them to find, making it an activity as well as a gift. It comes with a pink highlighter that kids can use to color in the ones they've found. Ages 6+
If you know they are not into any lovey-dovey, mushy stuff at all, these classic whoopee cushions will earn you cool points. And maybe even a smile! These come in a pack of 12, so they can also be party favors. Ages 3+
Kids are still gaga over Squishmallows, and surely there are many animals and shapes they will flip for. But this Hello Kitty, with her red heart-shaped glasses, is right on-theme for Valentine's Day. But if they're not Sanrio fans, there are still plenty of other Valentine's Day Squishmallows coming out this year. Ages 3+
This craft activity lets kids use tools to poke fabric squares into foam flowers and then attach them to wooden stems, making a unique 3D work of art. Along the way, they'll work on their fine motor coordination, including their hand strength and pincer grasp. Ages 4+
The Eras tour may have ended, but kids' love of collecting bracelets continues on. They can stack, mix and match this set of eight bracelets and have different looks for the run-up to Valentine's Day. No age recommendation given
Popular on TikTok, Needoh is satisfyingly squishy and stretchy, making it a sought-after fidget toy. And while it comes in many shapes and sizes, the hearts are right on-theme. You get three hearts in a box, each with a different message written on it. Ages 3+
LEGO fans will love building this perfectly sized, 287-piece set, which they can then display as a Valentine's Day decoration. And if they want even more thematic builds, there's Sweetheart Tweety Bird (holding Cupid's bow), a Typewriter With Flowers (a perfect love note), the Robert Indiana LOVE Sculpture (a challenge great for older builders) and a Heart Ornament (great for kids' rooms). Ages 9+
Melissa & Doug Created by Me! Wooden Heart Magnets Kit
With this kit, they can make something that can be displayed on the fridge long after Valentine's Day is over. It comes with everything they need to make four different heart-shaped magnets, including four colors of paint, a paintbrush, gem stickers and glue. Ages 4+
When it's time to get comfy, there's nothing better than these fleece shorts, which are perfect for lounging around in. The graffiti heart design comes courtesy of art influence Corey Paige, who is known for spreading positivity through her work. Sizes 4 – 14
Make the Valentine's Day bath a little more special with this three-inch, heart-festooned squeaking duck. It's so fun, they might even want to use it on dry land. Ages 6 months+
With a new Minecraft movie on the horizon, interest in mobs and ores are going to be at an all-time high. This collectible lets kids go through different steps to to uncover and craft their own Minecraft character (and the glue that keeps them together is heart-shaped, which makes it a good V-Day gift). They'll mix potions and build figures — and which one they get is a surprise. Ages 5+
If there's a gamer at home who can't abide all the mushiness of Valentine's Day, this funny shirt will be right up their alley. It comes in men's, women's and youth sizes, so you can even do a family match. Amazon users say the shirts run true to size, too. Sizes 4T – large
Kids who are into the "miniaturize everything" craze will love how this gift gives them a surprise unboxing toy and a DIY craft activity in one. Opening the ball reveals some kind of Valentine's Day sweet treat, like Heart Donuts or Cupid's Floats. Kids can then follow the "recipe" card to arrange them how they like, then use resin and UV light to set them in place. Ages 8+
Marisa (she/her) has covered all things parenting, from the postpartum period through the empty nest, for Good Housekeeping since 2018; previously, she wrote about parents and families at Parents and Working Mother. She lives with her toy-collecting husband and daughter in Brooklyn, where she can be found helping out her team at bar trivia or posting about movies on Twitter and Bluesky.
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