Emily's picks for screen-free play, from building and crafts to backyard adventures.
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Magnetic building set
Emily's pick. Clear magnetic squares and triangles that snap together into castles, towers and whatever else they dream up. Easy to build, easy to put away, and great when siblings play together.
Gift it to: little builders, ages 3 and up.
Kids' cardboard construction kit
Emily's pick. A kid-safe cutter that turns delivery boxes into castles, shields and animals. Every Amazon box becomes a craft project.
Gift it to: the creative kid, ages 4 and up.
Screen-free audio player
Kids pop in a card for a story, music or a podcast, no screen needed. It doubles as a night light and clock.
Gift it to: kids who love stories at bedtime.
Similar option: Yoto Mini, smaller and made for car rides, with the same cards.
Dual-lens camera that prints photos
Emily's pick. Kids snap a photo and it prints right away, with print paper and a memory card in the box. The kid version of our Camp Snap.
Gift it to: the kid who wants a camera like Mom and Dad's.
Rechargeable two-way radios
Emily's pick. Real rechargeable radios with a built-in flashlight and USB-C charging. Perfect for backyard missions and camping trips.
Gift it to: siblings who play spies, or kids at the campsite.
Hog Wild foam ball blasters
A family favourite. Pump-action blasters that fire soft foam balls, one red and one blue, so it's an instant team battle around the house.
Gift it to: siblings, or the dad who wants in on the battle.
Handheld sliding puzzle, 500+ challenges
Emily's pick. A brain-teaser that tracks over 500 challenges, so it keeps going long after a normal puzzle is solved. Made for road trips.
Gift it to: the kid who loves a challenge.
Code-breaking game, 1 or 2 players
Emily's pick. A handheld code-breaking game with 600 levels. Kids can play solo or go head-to-head with a parent.
Gift it to: road trips and quiet afternoons.
Inflatable with heavy-duty blower
Emily's pick. A backyard bounce house with a slide and its own heavy-duty blower. It burns off a lot of energy.
Gift it to: the family with energetic kids and a backyard.
Baking sprinkles
Emily's pick. Our kids add sprinkles to so many random things, and it brings joy every single time. This 1 kg bag lasts a while.
Gift it to: the kid who thinks everything is better with sprinkles.
Kevin DeYoung, illustrated by Don Clark
The full storybook Bible from the team behind The Biggest Story, with 104 stories for ages 6 to 12. One of Emily's favourites.
Gift it to: bedtime reading together, ages 6 to 12.
Nothing in this price range here. Try another budget or another guide.
