42 Best Gender-Neutral Gifts for Tomboys & Kids of Any Gender

Publish date: 2024-05-04

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Toy companies have come a long way in the quest for gender equality — Target, Wal-Mart, and Toys R Us are easing up on pink-and-blue selections and in October 2021, California became the first state to force retailers to carve out gender-neutral sections by Jan. 1, 2024. After all, with more kids these days identifying as non-binary and research showing that gender norms can be harmful to children’s wellbeing, treating kids like their unique selves is really important.

Best Gender Neutral Gifts for Kids, at a Glance

Best Overall: Hasbro Gaming Game of Life Target Edition, $14.99, was $24.99
Best Light Up Gender Neutral Gift for Kids: Nicayet Star Projector Galaxy Night Light, $34.95
Best Bank Gender Neutral Gift for Kids: Refasy Electronic ATM Bank, $21.59, was $25.99
Best Karaoke Machine Gender Neutral Gift for Kids: Lenrue Karaoke Machine, $19.99, was $27.91
Best Smart Watch Gender Neutral Gift for Kids: Berilona Kids Smart Watch, $32.99
Best Robot Toy Gender Neutral Gift for Kids: Remoking Robot Toy, $19.99, was $21.99
Best Dance Toy Gender Neutral Gift for Kids: Qumcou Dance Mat, $39.99
Most Unique Gender Neutral Gift for Kids: Replom Slushie Maker Cup, $14.99, was $24.88
Coziest Gender Neutral Gift for Kids: Bombas Youth Gripper Slipper, $19.20, was $32
Best Playkit Gender Neutral Gift for Kids: LoveEvery The Helper Play Kit, $120

Often, people will label girls who are uninterested in dolls or dresses “tomboys.” However, the term, which originated in the 1800s, has sexist and racist roots: While initially intended to describe a girl who “acts like a spirited boy,” The Atlantic reports that the phrase actually served as a vehicle for white supremacy, as concerned folks used it to encourage women to be active and healthy enough to reproduce so the white race wouldn’t dissipate under an influx of immigrants. Um, what?! Today, the term seems to have reverted to its original definition and is largely used to describe girls who play sports, love science, or enjoy getting their hands dirty. But, uh, girls have always enjoyed these activities, even when they wear skirts.

The point is gender norms are antiquated — period. All children should be able to explore their interests freely in subjects ranging from reading, science, music, and more. And the gifts we’ve chosen will put a smile on anyone’s face. Because children of all genders deserve to have fun.

Our mission at SheKnows is to empower and inspire women, and we only feature products we think you’ll love as much as we do. Target is a SheKnows sponsor, however, all products in this article were independently selected by our editors. Please note that if you purchase something by clicking on a link within this story, we may receive a small commission of the sale.

A version of this article was originally published in February 2016.

Hasbro Gaming Game of Life Target Edition
This limited-edition Target Monopoly game is fun for everyone! It has a unique spin on the traditional Monopoly game and now includes Target characters, logos, and store setup on the game board.
Hasbro Gaming Game of Life Target Edition
$14.99, was $24.99
Nicayet Star Projector Galaxy Night Light
If you have a space lover in your home, make bedtime fun with an Astronaut that doubles as a galaxy nightlight. The helmet contains bright lights that illuminates any space.
Nicayet Star Projector Galaxy Night Light
$34.95
Refasy Electronic ATM Bank
Over 7,000 five-star reviews praise this electronic ATM. It’s a fun way to store money and functions like any real bank machine. The safe receives and stores the money in the bank until you need it. You can also set a digit code that allows you to open the ATM, but don’t worry if you forget the code; just wait 15 minutes and reset the toy with the “0000.”
Refasy Electronic ATM Bank
$21.59, was $25.99
Lenrue Karaoke Machine
If your kiddos love to sing and perform, make sure to add this powerful karaoke machine to your cart. It provides crisp and clear sounds, vibrant sound effects, colored lights, a microphone, and a portable design, which makes belting out their favorite tunes an exciting show.
Lenrue Karaoke Machine
$19.99, was $27.91
Berilona Kids Smart Watch
Parents rave about this kid’s smartwatch’s “long battery life” and “outstanding” features. It resembles the popular adult version, but it’s used for those from four to 12 years old. The watch features 15 games, a camera, an alarm, a video and music player, a flashlight, and more!
Berilona Kids Smart Watch
$32.99
Remoking Robot Toy
How cool is this robot toy? Its life-like design allows it to move around and interact. If you long-press the robot’s head, it can talk and repeat phrases and words to your child. It’s also programmed with educational games that provide hours of fun.
Remoking Robot Toy
$19.99, was $21.99
Qumcou Dance Mat
If you want an exciting gift, a dance mat should do it. The mat is made with bright colors and tons of sounds that get little feet moving and grooving. It also has six modes of games and challenges.
Qumcou Dance Mat
$39.99
Replom Slushie Maker Cup
This slushy cup is perfect for hot summer days or rainy days. In only four hours, it turns any mixture into an easy-to-eat icey treat. “I recently purchased this slushie maker cup, and it has quickly become a favorite in our household!” a five-star review said. “The joy of creating our own slushies anytime we want is unbeatable, and this cup makes it incredibly easy.”
Replom Slushie Maker Cup
$14.99, was $24.88
Bombas Youth Gripper Slipper
These sherpa-lined slippers from Bombas make a thoughtful gift for any occasion. They have a soft texture, and stay-put grabs for stability. The cozy slippers come in grey (above) and Bristol blue.
Bombas Youth Gripper Slipper
$19.20, was $32
LoveEvery The Helper Play Kit
LovEvery helps to make the most out of playtime with its interactive and cognitive toys that are developed based on age level. The brand offers an assortment of books and toys, but it is the play sets that parents flock to. The Helper Play Kit is best for children 25, 26, and 27 months old.
LoveEvery The Helper Play Kit
$120
KiwiCo Bake-a-Cake Stand Mixer
If you’re on the hunt for kitchen toys that are gender neutral, this KiwiCo Bake-a-Cake Stand Mixer will catch your eye. The cooking set is scrapped from wood and includes: A wood play ingredients set, a stand mixer with bowl, a play flour set, a play sugar set, wood cooking tools, a wood cake, a play candle set, recipe cards, a play mat, a grownup guide.
KiwiCo Bake-a-Cake Stand Mixer
$49.95
Potato Warmies
Anyone loves a soft plushie, and this one is so cute your giftee will never go anywhere without it. The potato character is fully microwavable, making it warm and comfortable for bedtime or sick days.
Potato Warmies
$29.99
Crate and Barrel Indoor Kids Bowling Set
The Crate and Barrel Indoor Kids Bowling Set is right up your kid’s alley. You can create an indoor bowling lane in your home, which provides hours of fun with friends. The set comes with ten natural rubber pins and a pin setup template. You also get a ball and a see-through backpack, which keeps all the toys together and stored.
Crate and Barrel Indoor Kids Bowling Set
$79
Wonder & Wise Kid’s Gone Fishing Boat
How fun is this make believe boat? It has a soft composition that your kiddos can move around and “go fish” in. The boat features a plush motor, wooden oar, and plush life floaot for “man overboard.”
Wonder & Wise Kid's Gone Fishing Boat
$128
Minifun Large Dart Board
This dart board is one of the best gifts for big kids. It’s a large, colorful board that includes 12 sticky balls (in three colors), six sticky darts, and one hook that’s safe to toss around and throw.
Minifun Large Dart Board
$15.99, was $17.99
LEGO Harry Potter Shrieking Shack & Whomping Willow Set
This Harry Potter set helps kids to re-create the Shrieking Shack and the Whomping Willow locations from the movie. The set has six Lego Harry Potter characters: Harry, Hermione, Ron Weasley, Sirius Black, Peter Pettigrew, and Remus Lupin (who turns into a werewolf). Plus, there are tons of other accessories and Minifigures that the kit comes with — totaling 777 pieces in all.
LEGO Harry Potter Shrieking Shack & Whomping Willow Set
$89.99
Banwood Kids’ Folding Scooter
Banwood Kids’ Folding Scooter wraps up nicely and makes the best birthday gift. It has a sleek design and a vibrant green hue (also available in red). It also has safety features like an easy-ride steering system, a three-height adjustable handlebar, and a foot brake. Then, it’s finished with the most adorable wicker basket to hold all the neat belongings they find along the ride.
Banwood Kids' Folding Scooter
$140, was $175
Wonder & Wise by Asweets Around the World Play Tent
This tent makes it easy to ditch the blanket forts. This map-decorated tent provides a place for kids to lounge and spend time in a make-believe universe.
Wonder & Wise by Asweets Around the World Play Tent
$123
Zicoto Store Large Foam Ball Pit
Your local playplace’s ball pit is filled with germs for little hands, so this at-home ball pit is another great gender-neutral gift. The pit is made from a soft foam that littles can jump on, and it is comfortable. And the best part is that it fits up to 500 balls (sold separately).
Zicoto Store Large Foam Ball Pit
$37.99, was $69.99
MagnaTiles Classic 32-Piece Magnetic Construction Set
Kids of all ages love these magnetic tiles. They’re sturdy enough to build castles and walls, and durable enough to knock down and re-build easily.
MagnaTiles Classic 32-Piece Magnetic Construction Set
$48.00
Slumberkins Stuffed Animal & Book
Kids will love Slumberkins’ snuggly sets, each of which comes with a stuffed animal and a storybook that teaches kids important social and emotional lessons about topics ranging from from mindfulness to bullying.
Narwhal Snuggler
$45.00
The Amazing Tightrope-Walking Gyrobot
Little engineers will love building a robot like this and watching their creation move across a tightrope with baited breath.
The Amazing Tightrope-Walking Gyrobot
$27.99, was $39.95
‘Goodnight Stories for Rebel Girls’ Box Set
Good Night Stories for Rebel Girls and its sequel are New York Times best-sellers for a reason. This uplifting book of bedtime tales contains a collection of 200 stories about some of the most ambitious, ground-breaking women in history, including Amelia Earhart, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Simone Biles and Serena Williams. Go to bed each night feeling inspired!
'Goodnight Stories for Rebel Girls'
$36.99$65.0043% Off
on Amazon.com
Instax Mini Camera
Smartphones are great for snapping photos, but nothing beats a classic, handheld camera. Share the gift of (semi) old-school technology with the Fujifilm Instax Mini 9 instant camera, which prints adorably small portraits.
Instax Mini 9 With Film
$77
on Amazon.com
Not Parent Approved Card Game
Millions of people love the game Cards Against Humanity however, it’s not necessarily the most child-appropriate activity. That’s where Not Parent Approved comes in. This entertaining tabletop game is modeled on others like Apples to Apples but without the adult content.
Not Parent Approved Card Game
$29.99
on Amazon.com
Crosley Record Player
Rejoice! Vinyl isn’t dead. Pass along the gift of quality music with a kid-friendly record player. And if your kid absolutely must stream their favorite tunes through a digital platform like Spotify, use Crosley Cruiser Deluxe Bluetooth connection.
Crosley Portable Turntable
$44.99
on Amazon.com
Razor A5 Lux Scooter
Electric scooters are popping up all over the country, and while they’re a convenient way of getting around, they don’t run cheap. Keep your kid active with the new Razor A5 Lux foldable and durable scooter.
Razor A5 Lux Scooter
$89.00
Starlight String Art
Bring a little bit of space into your kid’s bedroom with this out-of-this-world glow-in-the-dark string art craft. Bonus: This project doubles as a night-light.
Starlight String Art
$18.60$21.9915% Off
on Amazon.com
‘We Rise, We Resist, We Raise Our Voices’ Book
Perfect for the activist in your family, this anthology features poems, essays and art from some of today’s most prominent and diverse voices, like Jacqueline Woodson (Brown Girl Dreaming) and Nina Crews (The Neighborhood Mother Goose).
'We Rise, We Resist, We Raise Our Voices'
$12.61$18.9934% Off
on Amazon.com
Galaxy Space Slime
Gooey, glittery, and gross, this make-your-own-slime kit has everything you need for a good time.
Elmer's Galaxy Slime
$18.79
Robotis Play PETs
With Robotis Play PETs, kids can construct seven different robotic creatures using more than 120 pieces, including a bird, a dog and a polar bear. Little mechanics can reference two instructional guides — one colorful booklet and one 3-D interactive app — for smooth yet educational assembly. And once they have their pet robots, kids can use a controller to put their creations in motion.
Robotis Play PETs
$48.90
Flybar Foam Maverick Pogo Stick
The bouncy stick from your childhood is back and better (we mean safer) than ever with Flybar’s foam pogo stick. Though quite durable (it’s made from metal), the outside is coated with a light foam that helps kids maintain their grip and stay comfortable during each use.
Flybar Foam Maverick Pogo Stick
$39.93$49.9920% Off
on Amazon.com
Nintendo Switch With ‘Animal Crossing’
There are a lot of big-ticket gaming consoles on the market this year, so you may have a tough time choosing between them. We’ve always liked the fact that the Switch can be used at home, but it’s also portable for when your kids need entertainment on the go.
Nintendo Switch With 'Animal Crossing'
$329.99, was $$346.49
Franklin Sports 3-in-1 Indoor Sport Set
We’ve all been under a lot of pressure to come up with new and exciting indoor activities, especially as the weather cools. Thankfully, the Franklin Sports three-in-one indoor sports set has everything you need to entertain your restless athlete: two goal nets, two hockey sticks, a mini soccer ball and three hockey balls (two of which are small foam balls).
Franklin Sports Indoor Sport Set
$34.91
‘Splatoon 2’
If you buy the Nintendo Switch, you’re going to need at least one game to go along with it. May we suggest Splatoon 2, a colorful, family-fun game featuring some really awesome female characters. Through the game does encourage players to shoot, it’s only shoot ink, and there’s no blood or gore involved. Additionally, the game fosters team building and is given a thumbs-up rating by Common Sense Media.
'Splatoon 2' Game
$49.99
Wonderboom 2
At a certain age, toys fall by the wayside and kids get interested in pop culture. If you don’t find their taste completely torturous, you can invite your child to ditch headphones once in a while and listen on a portable speaker like this. The Wonderboom 2 has a special outdoor mode that boosts the sound when outside.
Ultimate Ears Wonderboom 2
$44.99
on Amazon.com
Beleev Skateboard
This lightweight 22-inch teal glider suits kids, teenagers, or adults and comes in other eye-popping colors like black, blue, pink, and “galaxy” print.
Beleev Skateboards
$22.99
on Amazon.com
Loog Mini Acoustic Guitar
Marketed as the most ideal guitar for kids ages 3 and older, the Loog mini acoustic instrument packs a cute, colorful punch. Kids with no musical experience can easily learn on this wooden three-string guitar which guides mini musicians with flashcards and free video tutorials on the company app.
Loog Mini Acoustic Guitar
$89
on Amazon.com
The Little Boy Or Girl Who Lost Their Name
These beautiful personalized books are custom-made, starring characters bearing the same name as your little one. Follow each child through the story as they search for letters to spell out their name and watch your child delight in the journey.
The Little Boy Or Girl Who Lost Their Name
$34.99
Cheerson CX-10 Mini Drone
So, your kid wants to fly a drone. As intimidating as the airborne technology can be, the Cheerson CX-10 mini-drone was designed with kids in mind. That means it’s smaller (fits-in-the-palm-of-your-hand small), it provides kids with 4 to 8 minutes of flight time, and comes with three different speeds. See you in the sky!
Cheerson CX-10 Mini Drone
$20.99
on Amazon.com
OUTREE Kids Pod Swing Seat
Hanging out can be a literal experience with this cotton-canvas swing seat you can fasten to a tree or the ceiling. Kids can snuggle up to read, write, or even nap while gently swaying in suspension.
OUTREE Kids Pod Swing Seat
$39.99$49.9920% Off
on Amazon.com
Bluey 4WD Family Vehicle
The Disney+ children’s television show Bluey is about a 6-year-old Blue Heeler puppy (named Bluey) known for her “boundless imagination” and love for exploration. And this family vehicle, which seats Bluey, her sister Bingo, and their parents, comes with two surfboards and one bendable figurine. Hit the beach!
Bluey, 4WD Family Vehicle
$19.97
on Amazon.com