Sorry, But All Your Kids Want Is a Valentine’s Day Squishmallow (2024)

Hearts, flowers, chocolate, candy and stuffed animals — all of the things associated with Valentine's Dy are basically kid favorites anyway! That means when it comes time to find gifts for kids on Valentine's Day, the world is basically your oyster. The pressure is off — no one is expecting something major, like they might at Christmastime, so inexpensive Valentine's Day gifts work just fine — and you're free to just go with whatever strikes your fancy. Still, you want to find something fun, something that kids will like and something that will last at least until the next occasion.

With all that in mind, these are the best Valentine's Day gifts for kids in 2024. Some of them are Good Housekeeping Best Toy Award or Kids' Book Award winners, meaning they've gone through a rigorous testing process — first vetted by experts, then by kids to assess the fun factor. Others are heart-festooned items that will look great in a family photo or at a class party. And others are bestsellers, editor's picks and trendy toys that kids are clamoring for. Pick up one for any kid on your list, and they're sure to feel the love.

Looking for more great Valentine's Day gifts? Check out these Good Housekeeping guides:

Best Valentine's Day Gifts for Boys | Best Valentine's Day Gifts for Toddlers | Best Homemade Valentine's Day Gifts

There's a whole lot of cuteness packed into this one bag! When this set is closed, kids can use it like a pillow. But then the conversation heart bag unzips, and kids can remove five different heart plushes. Each one is a different color and has a fun message on the back. Ages 14+

Talk about a fidget putty — this one actually changes colors based on the heat in your hands. (So cool!) You can get it in three different colors schemes, too. Ages 3+

Kids are still gaga over Squishmallows, and surely there are many animals and shapes they will flip for. But this doggie Squishmallow is right on-theme, with a heart-shaped design on its belly. There are also monster, flying squirrel, whale, pancake, frog and duck Squishmallows of different sizes with Valentine's Day details, too. Ages 3+

Like all Fingerlings, Lulu has different lights, sounds and reactions depending on what you do. But Lulu really knows when they put her on their finger — the glowing heart beats (a perfect V-day reaction and it says hello when kids slip it on. It also has a different personality depending on whether or not it's being worn. Ages 5+

Neon lights are in-demand by teens and tweens looking to jazz up their rooms. The name gives this gift a personal touch, and the heart at the end makes it extra Valentine's Day appropriate. No age recommendation given

It's never too early for self-care: Drop this in the bath, and they'll be entertained by bubbles and colors. And, best of all, there's a surprise squishy toy inside each one! You can also get them in a set of six for more bubbly fun. Ages 3+

The pages of this book are teeming with Valentine's Day illustrations, with more than 300 hidden objects concealed within them to find. It comes with a pink highlighter that kids can use to color in the ones they've found. Ages 6+

Make the Valentine's Day bath a little more special with this three-inch, heart-festooned squeaking duck. It's so fun, they might even want to use it on dry land. Ages 6 months+

Who says Taylor Swift fans deserve all the bracelet fun? They can stack, mix and match this set of seven bracelets and have different looks for the run-up to Valentine's Day. No age recommendation given

Once they've completed this 254-piece LEGO build, they'll have a decoration they can use for the rest of the Valentine's Day season. And later, if they're feeling creative, they can use their own pieces to switch up the heart to celebrate other holidays. (A green theme for St. Patrick's Day, perhaps?) For other LEGO V-Day fun, there are LEGO roses and LEGO Lovebirds. Ages 9+

Popular on TikTok, Needoh is satisfyingly squishy and stretchy, making it a sought-after fidget toy. And while it comes in many shapes and sizes, the hearts are right on-theme. You can also get Needoh Heartstrings, which come packaged in the shape of a heart, but are long, thick, noodle-long strands after you unbox them. Ages 3+

Add your own notes to this fill-in-the-blank book for a sweet gift that a kid can look back on for years to come. This one-of-a-kind gift can only come from the person who knows your kids best — you. (Dad, too.) No age recommendation given

Popular on TikTok, this fidget toy is a soothing sensory experience. It comes filled with colored gel, and kids can use either the included stylus or their finger to make patterns on it. It comes in several colors, and you can also get the DoodleJamz Jellypics for a similar experience, but with beads in the gel. Ages 4+

Don't be surprised if you find yourself wanting this one back — Jellycats are so incredibly soft, they've found a cult following among adults. This one is also a small purse that they can store their love notes in. Or, you can get it as just a plush without the purse; it comes in pink and in red (available on Amazon). Ages 3+

Hi, Barbie! Kids can unlock their inner pink powers with a custom, 3D-printed name sing in the Barbie font. All names include a heart, and they're made to be able to stand up on a desk or shelf, though they also have holes so you can hang them on the wall. They start at $10 for a two-letter name, and go up to $46 for an 11-letter name. You can also get them in blue, or in a Super Mario Bros.-style font. No age recommendation given

If you want to use Valentine's Day to open up a conversation about all the emotions, not just love, use these cute fidget toys. Each one represents a different emotion (happy, sad, scared or angry), and the movement of the liquid through the bottle is supposed to mimic that emotion. Ages 3+

They'll get six colored hearts that they can wear like rings, then use to color when the mood strikes. And if they want even more V-day supplies, OOLY also has heart shaped two-tone erasable crayons or stacking crayons. Ages 3+

Okay, so you didn't DIY these heart-decorated, chocolate-covered Oreos — but we'll never tell. They'll be gobbled up before anyone has a chance to ask. They come eight to a package, and four have the heart detail while four are plain. No age recommendation given

Minecraft fans can grab their shovels, crack open their blocks and dig through Tundra Snow or Amethyst Ooze — there are 10 levels of adventure in all. Once they're done digging out their treasures and character pieces, they can start crafting and make one of 12 Minecraft characters. This set comes as a pack of two, which is great for siblings. Ages 5+

A little bit art, a little bit craft, some STEM, some DIY — this gift has it all. Kids can unleash their creativity as they inflate a balloon and wrap the lights and colored string around it, making a heart-shaped lantern they can hang in their rooms. Ages 8+