Best Toys for Kids | CAMP Counselor Picks & Toy Recommendations

The Best Toys for Kids Right Now

Picked by CAMP Counselors. Tested by real kids.

Let's be honest. Buying toys is a lot.

The internet has opinions. Your kid has opinions. Your kid's friend has opinions. We got you.

Here's the thing — we're actually also a toy store. A really good one. Every item at CAMP is hand-picked by our team of toy experts, which means no big box basics, no filler, and no toys that are only exciting for eleven minutes. Just genuinely great finds for kids ages 2–10, chosen by people who know what kids actually love.

The CAMP Counselor Edit

Updated regularly — because great toys don't wait for anyone.

Pick #01 — Pokemon Cards

Yes, we have them in every store. No, we can't guarantee your kid won't immediately ask for more.

Pokémon cards have been having a moment for about 30 years running — and somehow they just keep getting better. Whether your kid is a seasoned collector who knows every evolution or a total newcomer who just thinks Pikachu is cute (valid), there's a pack with their name on it at CAMP.

Fair warning: one pack has never once been enough. Ever. For anyone. In the history of Pokémon.

Why we love it: Collectible, tradeable, and guaranteed to spark a obsession your whole family will eventually get pulled into.

Pick #02 — Butter Squishy Toy

Satisfying in a way that is genuinely hard to explain to another adult.

You're going to pick this up just to see what the fuss is about. And then you're not going to put it down. Neither will your kid. The Butter Squishy is soft, slow-rising, and inexplicably calming — the kind of toy that earns permanent residency in a backpack, a car cup holder, or a parent's desk drawer when the kids aren't looking.

Why we love it: Sensory, satisfying, and basically stress relief in toy form. Kids love it. Parents secretly love it too.

Pick #03 — Squishy Dumplings

Cute enough to display. Squishy enough to squeeze.

We don't make the rules — kids just love dumplings. These little guys are soft, squeezable, and absolutely irresistible to anyone under the age of ten (and honestly, several people over it). Collectible, giftable, and the kind of thing that starts as one and somehow becomes twelve. You've been warned.

Why we love it: Equal parts adorable and addictive. A perfect add-to-cart impulse buy that kids will actually treasure.

Pick #04 - Hack Sacks

The toy that's been cool since your childhood and somehow got even cooler.

Ask any CAMP Counselor and they'll tell you — nothing brings a group of kids together faster than a hacky sack. No batteries, no instructions, no screen required. Just toss it, kick it, and watch even the most reluctant kids get competitive within thirty seconds. Genuinely fun for ages 5 and up, and one of those rare toys that works just as well in a backyard as it does in a living room on a rainy Tuesday.

Why we love it: Simple, social, and endlessly replayable. The original screen-free obsession. Best for: Ages 5+

Why Trust a CAMP Counselor?

They've watched hundreds of kids interact with hundreds of toys. They know what actually gets played with and what collects dust by Wednesday. That's the whole credential.