Ages 6–7

crocodile chopsticks, need I say more? under $10 is a good deal.

a classic for a reason. I target around $8

if you're anywhere near waves, this is going to be a hit. I've never seen the price drop below $20, so if you can get anywhere near that, it's a deal.

I love that this little set just packs up into itself to store. I don't think it's worth the buy at full price, but anything 50% off or more is a good deal.

"a dentist toy" was my kid's santa wish last year and melissa & doug delivered as usual.

if you have the space, this thing is a kid magnet. not a single kid has come to this house and NOT ended up on this climber. It's a bit sun-faded now, but going strong otherwise.

because you can never have too many name labels. I bought these at the start of daycare and the stash is still going strong. they handle the dishwasher really well if they're on a flat surface.

i truly have no idea why this is so loved, but it is. and we read it constantly. you can usually find it ~50% off or more in a sale.

this one is tied with hungry hungry hippo for most loved. I keep it in my gift stash.

throwback thermos - no frills, gets the job done, no leaks. we've had the same one for 3 years now.

i bought this almost as a joke because I enjoy photography, and I'm still shocked by how much use it gets! excellent for the gift stash.

if you have the space for this, I could not recommend it more, but only if you can get it on sale. ours is almost 2yo and has survived dozens of kids and parties. it pays for itself in entertainment.

snack boxes are one of my go-to's for something on the run, watching a movie, or taking to the beach. I've had these for years. They're reasonably spill-proof.

pretty sure this will still be in the holiday reading rotation for years to come. I've seen it go under $2, which is a steal.

another on-the-go back must. I'm actually surprised by how long these have lasted considering they don't appear to be the sturdiest. I like them under $10.

trust me you will use these so much more than you ever imagined. bath time, 4th of july fireworks, camping. I use it as a stocking stuffer.

one of our go-to games - great for non-readers and still interesting enough for adults.

there's a reason this lunchbox appears on pretty much every lunchbox list. it's sturdy, it doesn't leak, and it actually makes my lunch planning easier because I just use a formula for filling in each section. 10/10.

These live in my gift stash for 6+. I target under $15, but it hits $17 every couple of months.

The GOAT of pretend play sets. I know 12 year olds who are justttt willing to part with theirs now. And it holds up for that long. 10/10.

i use this for an airplane/travel activity bag. I load it up with entertainment. it keeps it all in one place and fits in a backpack.

i prefer bike helmets with the front visor to reduce the chance of face scrapes and keep the sun out of their eyes. these are pricey - i target below $60, usually during the big sales.

our go-to house cup for a couple years now. it's not PERFECTLY spill-proof - it can suffer from some condensation pooling in the lid, but it cleans easily, keeps water cold, and hasn't dented despite many trips down the stairs.

i like the square versions of these for holding snacks that need to be labeled for time of day. i don't put food in them directly - too much washing, but I like them for organizing.

our snack box for a good 2-3 years now and still going strong. i often pair this with a thermos lunch. my target price is under $15

according to the amazon page, i've purchased this 4 times - and that's the 60 packs. great scents, no dyes, works for my kid's sensitive skin.

this was actually MINE until my kid spotted it and i realized it's actually a *great* little kid game - fine motor skills, super simple rules, and NO NOISE unlike a certain tumbling block game. as soon as they can use plastic tweezers, they can play.

maybe not the most exciting item in my recommendations, but when you need it, you'll LOVE it. I almost never see these go on sale, but I still get them because they're that useful.

seriously the BEST goggles (at least for short hair). i buy them in multiples when they go on sale. my target price is under $12. instant buy under $10.

grabbed this from the library at the recommendation from another mom and it was one of those "read it every night" hits. it's a little bit more advanced humor - you might even enjoy it yourself!

if this isn't in your winter rotation yet, it should be! very solid price.

This series is always a fave in our house. This is a solid price for it!

Great price if you want to grab it for Halloween or a boo basket!