These 10 cult-fave toys — all $25 and under — make fab stocking stuffers

Some of our favorite things start off as a recommendation from a friend. Whether they swear by a skincare gem, a cleaning must-have or just something to make dinner prep a little less exhausting, we rely on those in the know to give us the scoop on what really 5works. Now, imagine you had access to the opinions of tens of thousands of friends from all different walks of life — if that many people rally behind something, there's no way it's a dud. We've read through scores of reviews to bring you 10 well-loved toys the kids in your life are sure to love, from classic Legos to the 90s fave Tamagotchi. All under $25, they're perfect to stuff into socks and toss under trees. Knock out your holiday shopping early this year, so you don't have to worry about shipping deadlines later!

Shashibo

Shashibo Shape Shifting Box

Amazon's No. 1 bestselling toy is deceptively simple: It's a multicolored fidget cube. It's much more than that, though: It can transform into 70 shapes, and provide enough of a challenge that stumps even adults.

$25 at Amazon

"I had to get one for each of my kids as an early Santa gift at our family Christmas party," shared one thrilled shopper, who spotted it at a child life specialist's office. "They LOVE it, my 8 year old says it makes lots of satisfying shapes. Even the teenage cousins wanted to get some time with this “thing is so cool”. I mean nothing beats something so entertaining that involves no electronics! Highly recommend for ALL ages!"

Tamagotchi

Tamagotchi Original - Lightning

Tamagotchis are back! This 90s favorite has original generation two programming, so it looks just like the one you, your kids or grandkids had back in 1997.

$20 at Amazon

"I had a few Tamagotchi growing up and now I get to share it with my son," shared a happy shopper (one of over 10,000). "Very excited for Christmas!"

ORSEN

Orsen LCD Writing Tablet

This tablet provides a mess-free way for kids to draw and color without their artwork ending up all over the walls. There's virtually zero cleanup, and the pen is attached to the board, so it won't get lost.

$14 at Amazon

"My kids stopped doing wall chalking after I got this," one of 6,600 5-star shoppers gushed. "This is an excellent tool to keep ur kids busy in doing writing, drawing and stuff like that. And you won’t have to worry about erasing it all!"

Amazon

Lego Classic Medium Creative Brick Box

Any budding builder would love this ginormous set of Legos. With just under 500 blocks, it can be an excellent starter set or an extension to a well-loved one.

$21 at Amazon

One of over 36,000 happy shoppers noted: "My kids have went in and out of Lego throughout the years. One thing is for sure, though: You can never go wrong getting someone a box of Legos!"

Bluey

Bluey and Bingo 8" Mini Plush Bundle

It's hard not to love Bluey, even if you're an adult: The show about a family of Australian cattle dogs has smart writing and plenty of heart. This set of plushes includes Bluey and Bingo, her mischievous younger sister.

$17 at Amazon

"I have two daughters and they LOVE the show Bluey," shared one of nearly 15,800 5-star reviewers. "My husband and I love it too. It's so wholesome and heart wrenchingly cute...The quality of Bingo is great. It's well formed and not derpy looking at all...this Bingo stuffy is huggable and soft and cuddly and my little one loves it."

Hatchimals

Hatchimals CollEGGtibles, Shimmer Babies 12-Pack Egg Carton

Hatchimals aren't going anywhere, and this set — which includes 12 eggs with shimmery, sleepy animals — will be tons of fun for kids to "hatch." Plus, the carton doubles as a nursery for their new adorable friends.

$18 at Amazon

"This was THE perfect gift!" a shopper noted. "It has so many different little toys and my granddaughter really enjoyed opening up the eggs to find the surprise in them! Very cute little toys."

Amazon

The Original Reversible Octopus Plushie

This is one popular octopus — it has over 358.3 million views on TikTok! It's reversible, and is meant to adjust to the owner's mood. The No. 1 bestseller comes in 44 different colors and prints, as well as different faces.

$14 at Amazon

"My 2 year old son and I use this toy to discuss feelings and make it a game," shared one of nearly 76,000 5-star shoppers. "It also helps him to get out of a mood quicker because he wants the octopus to be happy and I always make it match his mood."

LeapFrog

LeapFrog Scout and Violet 100 Words Book

If you prefer to get the kids in your life something educational, this Leap Frog makes a great gift for preschoolers. With plenty of games and even bilingual learning, the No. 1 Amazon bestseller is sure to be a hit. Save nearly 50% right now.

$20 at Amazon

Shares one of over 101,000 5-star reviewers: "I got my nephew one for his birthday when he was like 1 or 2 years old (he’s now 5). He LOVED it and played with this everyday! I can honestly say I think it helped along with learning words! This version of the 100 words book is my favorite because it has so many everyday words and different categories! I am currently buying one for my niece for her 1st birthday and will eventually buy one for my son when he turns one!"

Amazon

Do You Really Know Your Family?

Prefer to get a gift you'll all enjoy together? This game tests how well you know your family — and it's sure to provide plenty of laughs and ammo for future inside jokes.

$20 at Amazon

Shared one of 6,600 5-star reviewers: "We played this with our 10-22 year olds and we laughed so hard. It helped us to bond, see who pays attention and figure out who to spend more money on at Christmas!"

CHOOSE FRIENDSHIP COMPANY

Choose Friendship My Friendship Bracelet Maker

Friendship bracelets shouldn't just be reserved for camp or arts and crafts — this set includes everything kids need to make their own for friends and family.

$23 at Amazon

Even adults love it! Shares one shopper: "I am 48, I loved making these bracelets as a young girl. I find myself needing to relax more, I am thrilled I know longer need a piece of tape to hold my strings down! Makes a great gift for any age!"

If you have Amazon Prime, you’ll get free shipping, of course. Not yet a member? No problem. You can sign up for your free 30-day trial here. (And by the way, those without Prime still get free shipping on orders of $25 or more.)

The reviews quoted above reflect the most recent versions at the time of publication.

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More Holiday Gift Ideas

We’ve got your holiday shopping list covered with fantastic gift ideas for everyone on your list. You’ll find expert picks on the best tech gifts on Engadget, the best gift ideas for car lovers at Autoblog, gifts for the young (and young at heart) at In the Know, and picks for just about everyone else on your list (moms, dads, teens, nurses, you name it!) in Yahoo’s holiday gift ideas section. On AOL, you'll find for gift ideas for seniors shopping for moms, dads, teens and toddlers.