The Official Guncle Gift Guide

Chances are, there are a lot of adults in these kids' lives who are going to shower them with digital gifts. For that reason I recommend going analog, and encouraging the playful, creative side of their still-growing brains. Lovevery makes fantastic play kits that are hands-on for building neural connections, and they're all specifically aimed at each developmental stage. Gifting for a newborn? Try their Looker Play Kit for weeks 0-12, while the Planner Play Kit will take you all the way to 4 years old. 

Girls can be more than princesses and boys can be more than superheroes, and either (plus every gender in between) will look ridiculously cute in one of Maisonette's cult-favorite kids' costumes. Known as one of the most stylish and high-quality retailers of clothes brands for kids and moms alike, shopping via Maisonette is a way to hold onto your good taste amid the garish world of children's apparel. They've got all kinds of options whether you're in full costume territory or you're looking for some matching Mommy & Me sets. The latter just might score you some points with the adults while you're at it.

Ever since I read our editor Julia's experience of using Connetix with her family, they shot right to the top of my kid-friendly gift list. Almost like a stained glass version of LEGOs, these magnetic, non-toxic plastic tiles can be joined together in endless combinations. Whereas other 3D puzzles teach kids to build one specific design, with Connetix their imaginations can run wild, from building tall, colorful buildings to spiral shapes on the floor. Plus, with tons of expansion packs available, they'll never run out of options as their collection keeps expanding.

Between MasterChef Junior, Top Chef: Family Style, and the all-ages appeal of The Great British Bake Off, the culinary arts have never been so popular with the pre-pubescent set. Learning how to bake was one of my favorite memories as a kid, and I love getting to pass that on with this starter cookware set from Material: a whisk and spatula that are as cool-looking as they are safe to use. It also comes with The Cook Deck, a kids' cooking card game, making the world of the kitchen feel like a fun adventure to explore.

You might field a few accusations of "woke guncle-ing" for this one, but there should be nothing controversial about teaching kids to appreciate diversity. This blocks game designed for kids from 3-6 years old allows little ones to build families with different skin tones and gender combinations, simply by allowing them to exist as options and not by preaching. These pieces are also compatible with the brand's Emotiblocks, which help kids learn how to identify and verbalize different feelings from an early age. 

Speaking of verbal skills, Dixit is a favorite board game among parents these days for encouraging kids to fall in love with storytelling. Each turn, the storyteller will tell a brief tale inspired by a randomly drawn image card, while other players have to then guess which card inspired the story. But guessing right isn't as important as convincing everyone that you did, as you'll be able to make your case for why your card best matched the storyteller's clues. It's a creative game that's just competitive enough to be fun but not enough to end in tears.

There's no better way to be the fun uncle than to tell your nieces and nephews that they are allowed to dye their hair – and with how easily this hair chalk washes out, you won't get in trouble with their parents in the process. It comes with four colors included, plus a palette for mixing up a brand-new shade if they're in the mood to think outside the box. It's an easy, harmless form of self-expression that comes with zero commitment required.

Playing around with my family's digital camera was a formative experience for me as a creative person, and there's no reason kids today should lose the magic of photo-taking sans smart phone. While the panda-shaped exterior might be the initial wow factor upon unboxing, the camera's ability to print photos within seconds is its real selling point. It has full digital camera capabilities as well, plus affordable film refills so that each photo costs a mere five cents on average as opposed to the $1-3 range of other instant cameras.

If the kids in your life happen to have a yard, then make it the most tricked-out yard on the block with this massive giraffe sprinkler. The inflatable texture is both playful and minimizes injuries, especially since it doubles as a hoop for tossing the included beach ball into. It's also easy to store once deflated, so it doesn't need to be a permanent yard fixture like other lawn games. Dino and unicorn options are also available, so choose your fighter wisely.

Buying clothes for kids isn't always the easiest task, especially if they're still growing like weeds, but any kid would look stellar in these sunnies from Mini Rodini. Not only are their designs comfortable, inclusive and always unisex, they're also 100% sustainable, using recycled materials and stopping the spread of microplastics. While you're at it, check out their whole gifting section for kids, chock full of stylish looks that are appropriate for all ages.