Birthday gifts for a female friend who loves pretend play
Little Tikes
Picnic on the Patio Playhouse
$375.99 at Little Tikes
A playhouse with its own patio table, for the garden.
Seen at Little Tikes, 9 Sep 2026
Melissa & Doug
Dinosaurs Chunky Puzzle, 7 Pieces
$12.99 at Melissa & Doug
Thick dinosaur pieces that stand up on their own once they are out, so the puzzle becomes a toy the moment it is finished.
Seen at Melissa & Doug, 30 Aug 2026
LEGO
City Express Passenger Train Toy RC Lights Set
$182.99 at Target
Named by The Strategist, 2025.
Checked 31 Aug 2026
Squishmallows
Dilka the Lavender Bigfoot (paid link)
Under $25 at Amazon
Named by Country Living, 2026.
Checked 31 Aug 2026
Jellycat
Amuseables Croissant (paid link)
$25 to $50 at Amazon
Named by Good Housekeeping, 2026.
Checked 31 Aug 2026
VTech
Bluey Bluey’s Keytar (paid link)
Under $25 at Amazon
Named by The Verge, 2024.
Checked 31 Aug 2026
Melissa & Doug
Get Well Doctor Activity Center
$323.99 at Melissa & Doug
A wooden doctor's station with instruments and a chart, which takes some of the fear out of the next real appointment.
Seen at Melissa & Doug, 9 Sep 2026
Stokke
Tripp Trapp High Chair 2 with Tray
$349.99 at Stokke
The wooden high chair that adjusts as the child grows, with the tray fitted.
Seen at Stokke, 9 Sep 2026
Tender Leaf Toys
Mountain View Train set
$314.99 at Tender Leaf Toys
A substantial wooden train set with 58 track pieces and several miniature landscapes.
Seen at Tender Leaf Toys, 8 Sep 2026
Tender Leaf Toys
Forest Dressing Table
$269.99 at Tender Leaf Toys
A child-sized dressing table and stool with drawers for little treasures.
Seen at Tender Leaf Toys, 8 Sep 2026
Magna-Tiles
Castle 25 Piece Set
$39.99 at Magna-Tiles
A 25-piece magnetic building set with castle towers and turrets.
Seen at Magna-Tiles, 30 Aug 2026
Step2
Contemporary Builders Twin Bed
$399.99 at Step2
The first proper bed, moulded in one piece and low enough to climb into.
Seen at Step2, 9 Sep 2026
Crocodile Creek
50 Piece Flat House Puzzle, Fire House
$15.99 at Crocodile Creek
A puzzle cut into the shape of the fire station it shows, so the finished thing looks like something rather than a rectangle.
Seen at Crocodile Creek, 30 Aug 2026
PlanToys
Drum Set
$299.99 at PlanToys
A wooden drum kit with several percussion sounds for early musical play.
Seen at PlanToys, 8 Sep 2026
Melissa & Doug
Animal Care Activity Center
$279.99 at Melissa & Doug
A wooden vet surgery with the instruments, the scales and the pet carrier.
Seen at Melissa & Doug, 9 Sep 2026
Tender Leaf Toys
Desk and Chair
$259.99 at Tender Leaf Toys
A wooden desk and chair with three matching pen pots for art and homework.
Seen at Tender Leaf Toys, 8 Sep 2026
LEGO
City Fire Station with Fire Truck Toy
$79.99 at LEGO
Named by Good Housekeeping, 2026.
Checked 31 Aug 2026
Jellycat
Graduation Bashful Bunny Plushie
$60 at Nordstrom
Named by The Strategist, 2026.
Checked 31 Aug 2026
Pokemon
Pokémon Carry Case Playset (paid link)
$25 to $50 at Amazon
Named by The Verge, 2023.
Checked 31 Aug 2026
Magna-Tiles
Castle Deluxe 48 Piece Set
$69.99 at Magna-Tiles
Enough tiles and castle pieces to build something worth leaving up overnight, and they mix with every other set.
Seen at Magna-Tiles, 30 Aug 2026
Squishmallows
"Harry Potter" Ravenclaw Raven Plush (paid link)
Under $25 at Amazon
Named by TODAY, 2026.
Checked 31 Aug 2026
Marvel
Titan Hero Series Spider-Man 12-Inch Action Figure (paid link)
Under $25 at Amazon
Named by TODAY, 2026.
Checked 31 Aug 2026