Are you needing to find a kid-friendly Secret Santa gift? Keep scrolling for my list of Secret Santa gift ideas that kids will actually like!
This list of Secret Santa gift ideas for kids was written by family travel expert Marcie Cheung and contains affiliate links which means if you purchase something from one of my affiliate links, I may earn a small commission that goes back into maintaining this blog.
Gift exchanges are always a ton of fun, especially around Christmas time. Not only will your kid get their very own present, but it will also teach them the gift of giving.
When your little one is participating in a Secret Santa gift exchange, make sure you involve them in the purchasing process as well as have them help with the wrapping.
Moreover, have them write a little note to make the present extra special for the receiver.
Whether your kiddo is participating in a gift exchange with classmates or you’re organizing a Secret Santa party at home, here are some awesome Secret Santa gift ideas the little ones will love!
Secret Santa Gift Ideas for Kids
1. Curious Chef Kit
Baking is a classic Christmas tradition for most families, and this set for little chefs is a great way to encourage kids to get more involved in the process. Check the latest prices.
Plus, they can use it the rest of the year to help with dinner prep, making it a great present for parents, too! It comes with a super cute apron and safe utensils that actually work (as in, they aren’t just toys).
Get it here (and if you want to go a step further, you can pair it with a kid-friendly cookbook!).
2. Kinetic Sand
Kinetic Sand is soooo much fun and the ideal way for kids to get some serious entertainment time without making a huge mess. Check the latest prices.
Essentially, Kinetic Sand is a sandy paste that’s squeezable and moldable, which makes it the perfect secret Santa gift for kids who are extra creative.
This set includes six different colors (pink, green, purple, white, beige, and blue) of Kinetic Sand, which means it’ll keep kids entertained for hours as they figure out what to make out of it!
It’s also reusable as it never dries out (did I mention it’s super easy to clean up?!). Get it here.
3. Pressman Toys Giant Snakes & Ladders Game
Boards games are always a great gift for both kids and parents because they mean slowing down and spending some serious quality time together as a family.
This Pressman Toys Giant Snakes & Ladders Game is super entertaining for everyone. Check the latest prices.
It’s basically played just like the classic Snakes and Ladders game, but the pieces are gigantic which makes things extra fun for them. Get it here.
4. Fidget Toys
One of the most universal gifts you can give any kid for Secret Santa is this box of fidgets. In fact, this works for kids, tweens, and even teens.
There’s really something for everyone and you can easily split it between a few kids if you need to make it stretch. Check the latest prices.
5. Dr. Seuss — The Grinch Plushie
Aside from Santa, the second most popular Christmas character is probably the Grinch.
Chances are watching The Grinch is a classic Christmas activity at home, so they’ll be excited to receive their very own snuggly companion. Get it here.
6. Glow-in-the-Dark Stress Ball
My kids are pretty obsessed with stress balls. They are great before bedtime or for long car rides.
But, if you want to take it up a notch, get this glow-in-the-dark version!
Plus, anytime you can give a kid a gift that doesn’t make noise, that’s a win for everyone! Check the latest prices.
7. Kid-friendly Instant Camera
Pictures are a must on Christmas, and you can give kids the chore of photographing those magical little moments the day of by gifting them this instant camera to get them all excited.
Who knows, you might spark an interest in photography or discover the creative genius in them in the process! This gift is a bit pricier than the others. Check the latest prices.
Plus, with kids these days growing around all things digital, it’ll be refreshing for them to get to their work getting printed! Get it here.
8. Color-in Dino Pajamas
Get them pajamas… but make them fun!
PJs are always a great secret Santa gift for kids as well as adults because they’re actually useful.
This set of pajamas goes the extra mile because get this: kids can color them themselves! It comes with UV-activated ink markers that they can use to color out the outlined dinos. Check the latest prices.
Afterward, help them air-cure or iron the design and they’ll have their very own set of Jurassic PJs! Get them here.
9. Cat Coin Bank
One gift that is ALWAYS a hit with kids, tweens, and even teens is this Cat Coin Bank. It’s super simple but it provides much more entertainment that you might think.
Basically, you put a coin in the designated spot and the cat creeps out from inside the box and quickly snatches it, and drops it inside the box. Check the latest prices.
But, kids will run all over the house looking for coins because they will giggle each and every time the cat steals the coin! Get one here.
10. Someday a Bird Will Poop on You
If you’re someone who likes to give books as gifts, Someday a Bird Will Poop on You is a great option even for kids who don’t like to read.
The book has a really great message about how sometimes things won’t go your way. You can either mope around about it or you can dust yourself off and make it work. Check the latest prices.
But, kids will mostly giggle at the pictures of a bird pooping on someone as well as the funny jokes. Get one here.
11. Uno Harry Potter Card Game
Uno is a classic card game that most of us played as kids. But, they have all kinds of different-themed ones these days.
My kids have been pretty obsessed with these Harry Potter Uno cards. We play it at home or when we’re on trips. They hardly take up any space. Check the latest prices.
Plus, kids can use their Harry Potter knowledge for some of the unique rules, like drawing cards until you get a Gryffindor. Get one here.
12. Infinity Cube
I got one of these for my son to use as a fidget and I can’t believe how many of his friends want to take a turn with it!
It’s pretty small, which means it’s easy to take on trips or keep in your pocket. And it’s really relaxing to flip the cube around. Check the latest prices.
It comes in a bunch of different colors. Get it here.
13. Areaware Cubebot Micro
I bought these as stocking stuffers for my kids last year and they have been a HUGE hit ever since.
These are fun for kids of all ages and it’s a great way to keep hands busy during travel days or car rides. Plus, it’s quiet and pretty durable. Check the latest prices.
You can find this in a lot of colors. Get it here.
Secret Santa Gifts for Kids Wrap Up
As a general rule, the best gifts are those that are entertaining for kids but also helpful for parents in some way (i.e. something they’d need to purchase anyway like pajamas or something that keeps the kids entertained).
I hope this list of Secret Santa gift ideas helped you pick out the perfect present!