When it comes to making sure our children see positive representations of their Blackness, it’s no surprise the conversations surrounding it have become more nuanced. Highlighting Black people in commanding and leadership roles across all socio-economic groups—we are no longer just saying we exist—supports a strong cultural identity that has been shown to enrich their well-being, confidence and resilience.
It only makes sense that our holiday shopping for toys and other exciting items for the kids in our lives continues to evolve and keep pace with this reality. The following list includes ten of the many wonderful gift ideas for Black children that not only create a sense of validation and pride in their heritage but they’re also loads of fun.
Brown Toy Box Coding & Gaming Box
Ages 4 to 12 years
If you have or know a kid who is tech-obsessed and destined to embark on the STEAM field when they grow up, then the Brown Toy Box is the gift for them. Jammed-packed with educational projects and activities, ranging from coding and engineering to chemistry and entomology, each box is designed with a different theme that will surely excite and stimulate young minds.
Rhyme Antics The Hilarious Rhyming Vocabulary Game
Ages 12+
Get ready to laugh until your side hurts with this Hip Hop-inspired family game. Its contest of rapid-speed word wits will test and sharpen you and your team’s vocabulary knowledge in a fun, new ways.
Bellen’s More Than Peach Multicultural ‘Skin Tone’ Crayons & Pencils
Hello, Bonjour, Hola!! Did you hear?! MORE THAN PEACH is gonna be available in French & soon Spanish! And personally, I’m (almost) speechless…and incredibly honored. Merci beaucoup/Muchas gracias/Thanks SO much! ????????❤️-Bellen
— Bellen (@BellenTheBee) August 1, 2023
✍???? by me/pub’d by @Scholastic/illus’d by… pic.twitter.com/b3X16cUeTh
Ages 3+
There is probably nothing more satisfying than giving kids the opportunity to make their artwork more representative of who they are and who is important to them. With the launch of her More Than Peach brand in 2019, then-8-year-old entrepreneur Bellen Woodward revolutionized the crayon industry when she created a collection of crayons that represents a wider range of skin tones. And with a company that offers a complete span of colored pencils, books and online events, the now 12-year-old CEO and pioneer continues to enrich budding minds without exclusion.
Kumbula i Africa Mini Tribal Chess Set
Ages 5+
When it comes to developing children’s strategic, cognitive and social skills, what’s more classic than a game of chess? And if the playing pieces are culturally representative? Even better. With the Kumbula i Africa Mini Tribal Chess Set, a beautifully crafted, hand-painted collection by local artists in South Africa, you can do just that.
Something, Someday
Ages 4 to 8 years
A New York Times bestselling picture book by poet and activist Amanda Gorman, superbly illustrated by the uber-talented Christian Robinson, Something, Someday is an uplifting tale about how we all have the power to find beauty, create change and make a difference—big or small—in the world.
Confidence by Gabby Goodwin Little Lady GaBBy Bows
Ages 4+
When children get to select their own hair accessories for the day, it is an empowering way for them to express themselves and wear their hair with pride—as long as the ornaments don’t disappear. Such was the case with Gabby Goodwin, a South Carolina teen who had become frustrated with hair bows continually slipping out of her hair. She created the Little Lady GaBBy Bow, the first and patented barrette made in a double-snap design that stays snugly in place all day. Available in a variety of fun colors and shapes that work well with all hair types, the barrettes are made with a double-faced design, allowing them to be worn on both sides for the ultimate in styling flexibility and creativity.
Hasbro Connect 4: Marvel Black Panther Edition
Ages 6+
Black Panther is still one of the most successful Marvel movies of all time, and an imagined visit to Wakanda remains a place for many of us to enjoy. Its twist on a family classic is a fantastic way for kids to develop keen planning skills while they enjoy game night.
A Kids Company About™ Racism Bundle
Ages 5 to 9 years
A compilation of the best-selling series A Kids Book About, these amazing books tackle hefty topics in an engaging, kid-friendly way. Their Racism Bundle specifically addresses the symptoms of racism, systemic racism and white privilege, and what we can do about it. What’s more, the inclusive, diverse language talks up to children instead of down to them.
Upbounders “Fun Outside” Jumbo Floor Puzzle
Ages 3+
The best puzzles give children the opportunity to challenge their problem-solving, cognitive and fine motor skills and the award-winning puzzles from Upbounders are masterful at sharpening little ones’ brains. The “Fun Outside” version is a stunning, joyful depiction of girls and boys of color at play, enjoying some of life’s simple, most-recognizable pleasures like playing double-dutch, running a lemonade stand and styling hairdos on a stoop.
Ada Twist, Scientist On-The-Go Lab Set
Ages 3+
Inspired by the Netflix show Ada Twist, Scientist, this adorable role-play portable lab set has everything kids need for exploring the importance of asking why during fun-filled, STEM-inspired play dates.
