20 Toys & Games Under $50 That Kids Weirdly Keep Loving for Years

Kids who are old enough to not put toys into their mouths will have endless hours of entertainment (and critical thinking) with this STEM toy that's makes thinking and learning fun. Building a gravity marble maze that encourages problem-solving and boosts spatial and mechanical reasoning without feeling like learning. More than 35K parents have written Amazon reviews that rave about how much their kids love it, and it makes a fun family activity, too.

This simple shape-shifting toy has won awards for a reason — it transforms into more than 70 shapes. Kids as young as about five will enjoy creating simple shapes, and even adults will love fidgeting with it. It doesn't have any small pieces (although it does have internal magnets that attach the pieces), and discovering what you can do with it is always entertaining, whether you're 7 or 77.

As a creative kid from the 70s, I played with my classic Lite-Brite well into my early teens (and I'd play with it today if I still had it), but the tiny pegs made it a no-go for younger kids. But this LED Lite-Brite has eliminated choking hazards while still allowing creative exploration and play using simple touch. It's an updated version of a kids' classic that allows for endless possibilities for virtually any age.

This Skip It toy has been keeping kids active since the 1960s. It's relatively easy to master for kids as young as five, but you can build skills, try tricks, and go faster as you get older. It's a fun way to keep kids moving and boost gross motor skills and physical fitness.

This is one place where a kid looking at a screen might be a good thing. Easy enough for little kids but still enjoyable to older ones (and even adults), this handheld microscope lets kids take a closer look at just about anything they want to see more clearly. It has 200X autofocus and a 1080p LED screen that lets you examine all sorts of cool stuff, from plants and animals to coins and stamps.

Look! It's another classic toy that's been around since I was a kid, and we played it with our friends from the earliest days of grade school all the way through high school. Operation requires steady hands and calm nerves, but it's easy enough for young kids while still being fun and engaging for older kids and teens (and even their parents).

This robot-building kit has broad appeal, and because you can build 13 different robots, it's also endlessly fascinating. Younger kids can get a boost from older siblings or parents, while older kids will enjoy exploring on their own. Plus, it's solar powered, and once you put it together, it becomes a whole different toy.

We discovered Snap Circuits when my son was 7, and over the years, we spent hours noodling with it. It's one of the few toys he took with him to college, and then to his grown-up life. It has a hundred different projects you can do, and it's part STEM toy, part building set, part Rube Goldberg device, and all fun all the time.

Jigsaw puzzles are an enduring fave, from the huge pieced ones for little kids to the 1,000+-piece ones my fully grown husband likes to do. So this puzzle board just makes a ton of sense, because it makes it easy to get started on a puzzle, and walk away without worrying about the cat making off with some of the pieces. You can rotate it, and it has storage drawers plus a cover to protect the puzzle while you're away. Our product testing group raved about it, and we bet you will, too.

Learning to do magic tricks is fun for lots of kids, and for some, their first magic kit becomes the impetus for a lifelong pursuit. This one comes from National Geographic and includes 45 tricks, plus virtual video lessons to help kids of all ages master the art of magic.

What kid doesn't love to belt out a tune, especially amplified through a microphone? This karaoke machine is easy enough for preschoolers to share their vocal stylings, but it can grow and go with them for years to come.

While Jenga is recommended for kids 6 and up, even little kids can get in on the fun (try a smaller tower or even let them build with the blocks). I've seen Jenga as a favorite at high school gatherings, too, so this game will become a cherished family favorite that'll grow with your kids.

With an easy and an expert mode, this code-breaking puzzle game will grow with your kids. It requires critical thinking and logic to solve, and it has 600 levels. I also love that it's travel-friendly, keeping kids busy on long car trips with something other than their phones.

We played Uno with our kids from when they were preschoolers through their late teens, usually at their request. Young kids who recognize matching will find play relatively easy (the youngest may need an adult partner), and a lot of people can play at once. It's a fun game and a great way to get the whole family to spend quality time together.

Spoons is a fun and fast-paced card game that we played as kids using playing cards and kitchen spoons. Now, it's a set, so you don't have to worry about your regular spoons getting bent when they're inevitably grabbed a little hard. The game doesn't require much thinking, it's easy to play, and I've played it with a wide range of ages, from about four all the way up to adults.

Your kiddo can design outfit after outfit with this fashion studio that has rubbing plates that make it easy to draw clothes and play with styles, color combos, and more. It's easy enough for small kids but still fun as they get older.

We have a whole basement full of Hot Wheels, and I can attest that our kids played with them for most of their childhood. This loopy Hot Wheels track is a great starting point for a Hot Wheels collection — or to add to an existing one, and it'll give your kids hours of fun.

My kids loved Bop It, and they played it into their teens. It's also a great way to get your kids up and moving, and friendly family Bop It grudge matches are a real thing.

Spirograph first appeared on the scene in 1965, and it's just as cool a toy today as it was back then. While there is a junior version for younger kids, those who are about 7 and older will do well with the fully grown version. Fair warning: your kids may use it so much that you need to replace the paper and pens over the years.

I've included a lot of classics on this list, so I thought we'd end with a modern marvel. And this flying orb is a real doozy. Kids as young as five or six can make it go, and it remains the coolest toy around well into their teens or even adult years.