The 51 Best Toys of 2020 Your Kids Will Love

If there’s one thing we know for sure, it’s that kids today are extremely lucky when it comes to toys. The toys that came out this year are incredibly innovative, designed to spark their imaginations, allow them to become their favorite characters and teach them everything from STEM concepts to social-emotional learning. Did we mention they are also just incredibly fun to play with? From toddlers to teens, everyone will find a new toy this year that can become their very favorite.

So, what trends can we identify from the hottest toys of 2020? Kids still love to be surprised: mystery unboxing, blind bags and collectible surprises are still big this year. Water is also a hot new ingredient in toys, and you can find lots of items that transform or change colors when dipped in liquid. And kids still love getting their hands dirty, messing around with compounds that you can squish, squeeze or stretch.

Parents will be happy to know that environmental sustainability is becoming a big buzzword, too: Plant-based plastics are on the rise, as are toys where the packaging is either recyclable or re-used as part of a playset. That way, you don’t have that extra layer of guilt if you come home with one too many toys in your cart — and who can blame you when they’re all so much fun!

These are the popular toys and gifts for kids we've spotted through the year as embodying some or all of these trends and more. If you want to see which ones rose to the top after we tested them with parents, kids and the scientists and engineers at the Good Housekeeping Institute's Little Lab, check out the winners of the Good Housekeeping 2020 Toy Awards.