# The 10 Best Innovative Gifts for Kids and Adults A curated selection of groundbreaking toys and gadgets from TIME's annual inventions list. - **Source:** [TIME](https://time.com/) - **Published:** 2026-11-12 - **Topic:** [culture](https://brifing.si/c/culture) - **Original article:** - **On Brifing:** https://brifing.si/s/30302533-596d-4054-96a6-148a5f9c5655 ## Curated Innovation for Holidays TIME editors have selected ten standout items from their annual Best Inventions list to serve as holiday gift recommendations. This collection spans various categories, including transport, gaming, and STEM-focused educational tools. These products aim to bridge the gap between traditional play and modern technological advancements for both children and adults. ## Advanced Mobility and Creativity The Doona X improves upon its predecessor by offering three stroller positions and a near-flat 159-degree recline for infants. Meanwhile, the Hapiko Stickerbox utilizes AI to design custom stickers based on verbal prompts. It includes safety filters to block inappropriate suggestions, printing black-and-white designs for children to color at home. ## Nostalgia Meets Modern Gaming Spin Master’s Rubik’s Tetris combines the classic puzzle cube with iconic Tetris shapes, requiring players to arrange S, T, O, Z, and J-shaped pieces. Rated as a level 4 out of 5 difficulty, it offers a significant challenge. The Analogue 3D console revives Nintendo 64 gaming using FPGA hardware for 4K resolution. ## STEM and Kinetic Learning The Thames Kosmos SolarFlower is a 114-piece motorized kit that mimics botanical movements using solar power. Designed to teach engineering principles, it appeals to the growing 'kidult' market, which now accounts for 28% of global toy sales. The robotic bloom is available in four distinct colors, including Golden Sunrise and Ruby Ripple. ## Digital Tools for Families Tin Can offers a Wi-Fi-enabled landline network as an alternative to smartphones, fostering independence without screen-based distractions. The Skylight Buddy acts as a digital chore tracker, using star rewards to gamify daily tasks like brushing teeth. Parents manage the device via a mobile app, allowing for remote messages and routine scheduling. ## Interactive Brick Building Lego Smart Play integrates sensors and chips smaller than a standard stud into traditional bricks. This system detects nearby tagged objects and minifigures to trigger light and sound responses. Launched in March with Star Wars sets, it utilizes over 20 patented technologies to allow children to program their own interactive creations. ## Physical Gaming Experiences The Board is a 24-inch digital console designed to combat digital fatigue by combining touchscreen engagement with physical tactile play. It features seven subscription-less games, such as an asteroid shooter controlled by moving a physical starship piece. The device was conceived during the pandemic to encourage group play for all ages. ## Natural Ingredients in Confectionery Mars has introduced a version of M&Ms that replaces artificial dyes like Red No. 40 with natural pigments such as beet juice and turmeric. This change, which took decades to develop for large-scale production, currently applies to red, orange, yellow, and green candies. Blue and brown varieties remain under development. ## Sources covering this story - https://time.com/article/2026/11/12/best-gifts-for-kids-and-kidults/ — --- _Summary written by Brifing from the original reporting. Copyright in the original article belongs to its publisher; read the full piece at the link above._