Gifts of toys and games for children used to be a simple prospect. A baseball bat and ball or football for aspiring sport stars, erector sets for the builders, dolls for role play, chemistry sets for the scientists etc.

Now the issue with gift buying for children is almost the opposite. There's a wealth of choices in toys and games. Additionally, kids' interests range far and wide. Here's are ideas to ease the shopping experience.

This playset is multi-purpose. The overall platform is a fully-mobile push scooter for kids aged three and up. The pretend kitchen has molds to shape Play-Doh into pizza and toppings. A child can also pretend to charge for deliveries.

The electronic, quad-colored circle is an exhilarating test of memory and speed. People who grew up in the 1980s still have stressful memories of the klaxon sound when a pattern was missed. 

Sometimes the most seemingly boring is best. Even jaded adults' hearts will melt at the memory of their childhood stuffed animal. Products from Vermont Teddy Bear last generations.

Spark kids' imagination with these audiobook players. Pop a figurine on top and watch a child become engrossed in a short story. Some play figures contain songs to provide a soundtrack for playtime.

Pickleball is the trendiest new tennis-adjacent sport. It's easy to pick up but difficult to master. There are inexpensive sets. Established tennis brands like Franklin offer robust products for serious players.

The dollhouse is a meeting of generations. It's been the aspirational toy for anyone who played with Barbies for decades, and has grown in popularity thanks to Greta Gerwig's 2023 film.

These compact climbing structures acclimate kids to physical activity in the comfort of home so weather isn't a factor. It gives kids and outlet for excess energy and teaches them no obstacle is insurmountable.

Which childhood toy and/or game do you remember with a smile?