Whether they’re pretending to bounty hunt for Jabba the Hutt, dueling Darth Maul as Ahsoka Tano, or making the Kessel Run in less than twelve parsecs, these are the best star wars toys for kids by age to help them create their own exciting legends!
Product tie-ins have long been a part of popular filmmaking, from Western hero Gene Autry promoting Red Ryder bb-guns to Shirley Temple dolls. But no film is more closely associated with its toy line than Star Wars. As anyone familiar with the creation of the movie knows, George Lucas made his fortune not off of Star Wars directly, but by withholding merchandising rights.
When the movie launched as a huge hit, kids immediately demanded a set of action figures to create their own versions of battles across the Death Star. In fact, so great was the desire for Star Wars toys that thousands of kids received for Christmas 1977 not plastic versions of Luke, Leia, and Han, but an empty cardboard box with pictures of the figures, along with the promise that the real toys would be coming soon.
When they did arrive, the toys were a smash. Not only did Star Wars figures establish Kenner as one of the premier manufacturers in the business but made action figures a fixture in toy aisles. He-Man, Transformers, My Little Pony, and G.I. Joe all have Star Wars to thank for reigniting an interest in toys.
In the years since, demand for Star Wars toys has only grown. Kids don’t want just the classic figures, which Kenner still manufactures, along with packaging reminiscent of that first late 70s run. Now, they snatch up Baby Yoda pop sockets, Clone Wars cars, and Chewbacca Play-Doh sets. Additionally, the figures have become more diverse and detailed than ever.
That’s a lot of stuff to go through. But as always, Nerdy with Children has the answers. We’ve gone through the myriad Star Wars toys to find the best for each age. So, let us help you, Nerdy Parent. We’re your only hope.
Hit the hyperdrive, and check out our articles about Star Wars books for kids that dream of far away galaxies and Star Wars bedroom decor and ideas for kids for even more Star Wars related topics!
From the release of the first movie in 1977 to the latest episode of Star Wars: The Bad Batch in 2021, every child who sees anything Star Wars comes away doing the same thing. They take a stick or a cardboard roll and wave it in the air, pretending that it’s a lightsaber.
Obviously, kids today can’t have their own laser swords, so the JOYIN LED Lightsaber is the next best thing this side of the Dagobah System. Made of durable plastic (read: won’t break when your young padawan whacks it against the furniture), these toys come in the classic Jedi colors of green and blue. With handles modeled after the weapons featured in the films, the lightsabers have motion sensors, which means that your kids won’t need to make the “wah-wah” noises every time they wave it around.
And the best part of all? JOYIN sells the lightsabers in pairs, which means that neither the light side nor the dark side will be unarmed in your house, bringing balance to the Force.
One of the most inspirational moments in Star Wars history occurred at the end of Episode VIII: The Last Jedi. After hearing tales of the Jedis’ heroic deeds, a young stableboy reaches out his hand and uses the Force to draw his broom towards him, as if it were a lightsaber. The scene captures a feeling many kids feel when they watch Star Wars movies, the desire to dress up like a hero and get into the action.
Where costume sets of yesteryear were often cheap vinyl aprons and ill-fitting masks, kids today can play dress-up with far more detailed outfits. That’s particularly true of this Rey costume, which allows children to be their favorite Jedi from Jakku. Based around a comfortable jumpsuit, the outfit includes the belts and armbands Rey wore when training under Luke Skywalker on the island of Ahch-To.
When your child becomes Rey, they bring to life one of the most important lessons Luke tries to impart upon his pupil: you’re not bound by the old stories. You can make new stories, stories that matter to you.
With over four decades behind it, Star Wars can certainly be considered a classic children’s franchise. But what’s even more classic? Hot Wheels. The toy line has been around since 1968 and has produced thousands of tiny diecast vehicles, from real-world sedans and minivans to outlandish cars like the Batmobile and the Oscar Mayer Wienermobile.
The Child car is among the oddest in the Hot Wheels collection. Although parts of it recall a VW Beetle and The Mandalorian’s Baby Yoda, it is not a direct recreation of either. Instead, the design mixes the two elements into something odd, but undeniably cute. With big eyes that double as a windshield and ears blown back like a spoiler, the Child car is built for adorable speed.
Does the car make much sense? No! But will your kid love to make up stories about Baby Yoda racing through the cosmos? Absolutely.
While the prequel trilogy failed to impress longtime Star Wars fans, Episodes I-III have become embraced by those who grew up with them. And although snobby older Star Wars fans hate to admit it, prequel boosters love those episodes for the same reasons that their predecessors loved the original trilogy. Both sets of movies offer high adventure, filled with unlikely heroes, fantastic planets, and cool robots.
One of the standout characters from the prequel trilogy, General Grievous captured the imagination of moviegoers the first time he shrugged off his cloak to reveal a spindly, spider-like robot body. Wrapped around his waist was a belt filled with the lightsabers of the Jedi he defeated, four of which he grabs when going into battle – one for each of his hands.
This General Grievous toy captures everything fans love about the character. He of course comes with all the points of articulation that one would expect, giving children plenty of options when twisting him into cool poses. But more importantly, the figure comes with four Jedi lightsabers, each of which can be put into his hands to engage in battles.
For all the advances made by the original Kenner Star Wars toys, they were involved in a disappointing part of toy history. Working under the assumption that only boys liked sci-fi and action figures, marketers and storekeepers completely ignored female fans. Fortunately, those assumptions have fallen by the wayside and toymakers are coming to understand that everyone likes nerdy stuff, no matter what their gender.
With that in mind, Hasbro created the Star Wars Forces line, a set of intricately designed action figures marketed toward girls. A nominee for the 2018 Toy of the Year awards, this Rey and BB-8 set is the standout of the line. When you squeeze the legs of this 11″ figure, she swings her included blue lightsaber, ready to take on the First Order. The set includes both an incredibly detailed and movie-accurate Rey figure, but also a lovable BB-8 figure, complete with a moving head.
With toys of such high quality, the Star Wars Forces line begins to correct mistakes of the past. Now all fans of Star Wars receive recognition, and the toys to create their own stories from a long time ago in a galaxy far, far away.
For decades now, Lego has been at the forefront of giving kids the tools to tell their own stories. Commitment to that mission has only increased since the company started acquiring licenses to hit franchises such as Marvel and DC Comics.
With its Star Wars line, Lego gives kids cool minifigs based on all the heroes of the franchise, from Luke Skywalker to Ahsoka Tano to Rey of Jakku. But more importantly, it gives them bricks to build the ships and vehicles that have always been the center of the movies.
Based on the hugely successful Clone Wars and Rebels animated series, this set lets kids build the awesome Armored Assault Tank used by the clone troopers. Custom-designed blocks capture the AAT’s sleek silver and blue design, and its two spring-loaded cannons make for more immersive play. When you add in the included minifigs of Ahsoka and her Clone Trooper, and two battle droids, then your child has everything they need to tell bricktastic adventure stories.
From the pre-production concept art of Ralph McQuarrie to the posters from the legendary Drew Struzan, Star Wars is as beloved for its imagery as it is its story and characters. George Lucas drew on his love of old adventure serials, giving every part of the movies a timeless and exciting feeling.
This striking puzzle features some of the greatest villains from the Star Wars universe, dastardly bounty hunters including Bosk, IG-88, and Jango Fett. The dynamic design displays the titular scum in all their glory, with a strong composition and a warm-colored background.
The puzzle continues the series’ history of evocative posters. And with 1000 pieces, kids will have plenty of time to examine every detail of this exquisite piece of art.
For years, toys were created to be disposable entertainment objects for young children. Cheaply made and lacking detail, they were designed to be ripped out of a package, thrown around for a while, and then abandoned in a sandbox. But today, toymakers make products for teens and even adults. Closer to models and even statues, these toys aren’t intended to be played with. Rather, these detailed, movie-perfect recreations are intended to be displayed and admired.
For Star Wars fans, the Black Series from Hasbro is the epitome of high-quality collectible toys. This figure throws back to one of the original fan-favorite characters, the bounty hunter Boba Fett, as he appeared in The Empire Strikes Back. The figure’s many points of articulation allow it to be posed in hundreds of ways, all the better to show off its exquisite details. With a metallic paint job, accentuated with detailed carbon-scoring, a cloth cape, and an array of weaponry, the figure has everything a collector expects.
Like the other entry in the Black Series line, the Boba Fett figure looks like it walked right off the screen.
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