Ten Gift Cards for Children to Help Them Enjoy Their Fun and Freedom
The best gift cards for kids are the ones they can use to buy what they already love: Roblox or Xbox for the gamers, Build-A-Bear, Target, or Barnes & Noble for toys and books, Chuck E. Cheese, Dave & Buster's, or a movie card for a fun day out, an ice cream card for a sweet treat, or a Visa or Mastercard gift card when you want to let them pick anything. Every brand below is one Granny confirmed you can actually buy on Gift Card Granny this week, and you can earn cash back on select brands while you shop.
How to pick a gift card a kid really wants
A gift card only feels like a real gift to a kid if it goes toward something they already care about. Granny's rule of thumb: match the card to the thing they'd beg you for anyway. A gamer wants Roblox, not a department store. A little builder wants Build-A-Bear. A kid with a sweet tooth wants ice cream. And when you truly can't guess, a Visa gift card lets them be the one to choose, which kids love just as much as the grown-ups do.
One nice thing about every pick here: they all send as digital eGift cards by email, so a last-minute birthday or a long-distance grandkid is covered in minutes.
For the gamer
Roblox
Roblox is the one Granny would reach for first for most kids today. It's where they build, play, and hang out with friends, and the credit (Robux) goes straight into the games they already play. Available on Gift Card Granny from $10 to $250, and it's one of the cards you can earn cash back on (rates rotate, so check the current offer).
Xbox
For a console kid, an Xbox gift card covers games, add-ons, and Game Pass, all downloadable straight to the console. Available from $5 to $100, so it's easy to size to the occasion.
GameStop
If you're not sure which console lives in their house, GameStop covers them all, plus the trip to pick something out in person, which is half the fun for a lot of kids. Available from $25 to $250, with savings on select purchases.
For toys, books, and building
Build-A-Bear Workshop
Build-A-Bear turns a gift card into a whole afternoon: picking the animal, stuffing it, dressing it, naming it. For younger kids especially, it feels like an experience rather than a purchase. Available from $5 to $250.
Target
The workhorse of kid gift cards. Toys, games, books, clothes, snacks, and often a Starbucks run on the way out. When you want maximum flexibility without going full Visa, Target is Granny's pick. Available from $5 to $500.
Barnes & Noble
For the reader (or the kid you're gently nudging toward reading), Barnes & Noble covers books, but also games, toys, and collectibles, so it never feels like homework. Available from $5 to $250.
Buy a Barnes & Noble gift card
For a fun day out
Chuck E. Cheese's
Arcade games, tickets, prizes, and pizza. For younger kids, a Chuck E. Cheese gift card is a birthday in a card. Available from $5 to $250, and cash back applies on select purchases (rates rotate).
Buy a Chuck E. Cheese's gift card
Dave & Buster's
The step up for older kids and tweens: bigger arcade, bigger prizes, food they'll actually eat. Available from $25 to $250.
Buy a Dave & Buster's gift card
AMC Theatres
A movie plus popcorn is a low-effort, high-joy gift for almost any age. An AMC card covers tickets and concessions. Available from $5 to $200.
For the sweet tooth
Cold Stone Creamery
Ice cream is a reliable way to any kid's heart, and Cold Stone lets them build exactly the cup they want. Available from $10 to $100.
Buy a Cold Stone Creamery gift card
Baskin-Robbins
Thirty-one flavors, cakes, and sundaes. A dependable treat card, and easy to pair with another small card for a birthday. Available from $25 to $150.
Buy a Baskin-Robbins gift card
When you want to let them choose
Visa or Mastercard gift card
When you truly can't guess, or the kid is old enough to have very specific taste, a Visa or Mastercard gift card lets them spend it almost anywhere. Kids enjoy the power of picking, and a parent can help them use it online. It won't earn cash back the way select brand cards do, but the flexibility is the whole point.
Buy a Visa gift card · Buy a Mastercard gift card
How much should you put on a gift card for a kid?
There's no rule, but a few numbers Granny sees work well: $10 to $25 for a classmate's birthday or a small "thinking of you," $25 to $50 for a nephew, niece, or grandchild's birthday, and $50 or more for a milestone like a big birthday or a graduation from elementary or middle school. For gaming and treat cards, match the amount to something real: enough Robux for the thing they want, or enough for a movie and popcorn for two so they can bring a friend.
Where to buy and how to save
Every card above is available on Gift Card Granny, where you can also earn cash back on select brands (rates rotate, so check the current offer before you buy). Most send as digital eGift cards delivered by email in minutes, which makes them a lifesaver for a birthday you forgot until this morning. For a physical card to hand over or tuck in a card, a Visa or Mastercard gift card is the easy choice.
For older kids and teens
If the kid in your life is edging into the teen years, Granny has guides built just for them:
Frequently asked questions
What is the best gift card for a kid? The best gift card is the one tied to something the kid already loves. For most kids today that's Roblox (for gaming) or Target (for maximum flexibility). Build-A-Bear and Chuck E. Cheese are favorites for younger children, and a Visa gift card works when you want to let them choose anything.
What gift cards do kids actually like? Kids gravitate to cards for the things they already do: Roblox and Xbox for gamers, Build-A-Bear and Target for toys, AMC or Chuck E. Cheese for a fun outing, and an ice cream card like Cold Stone for a treat. The cards that flop are ones for stores a kid has no reason to care about.
What's a good gift card amount for a kid? $10 to $25 for a classmate or a small gift, $25 to $50 for a birthday, and $50 or more for a milestone. For gaming or treat cards, size it to something real, like enough for the game they want or a movie and popcorn for two.
What is the "5 gift rule" for kids? The 5 gift rule is a gifting guideline some families use: something they want, something they need, something to wear, something to read, and something to do. A gift card can fill several of those slots at once, especially the "something to do" (a movie or arcade card) or "something to read" (a Barnes & Noble card).
Are gift cards a good gift for children? Yes, when they're matched to the child's interests. A well-chosen gift card lets a kid pick exactly what they want, which avoids duplicate toys and gifts they'll never use. Pairing a small brand card with a card or a little treat makes it feel more personal than cash.
Can kids use a Visa gift card? Yes, with a little grown-up help. A Visa or Mastercard gift card works anywhere those cards are accepted, and a parent can help a younger child use it online or in a store. It's the most flexible option when you can't guess what they'd want.
The bottom line
Match the card to the kid and it gets used instead of forgotten. Roblox or Xbox for the gamer, Build-A-Bear or Target for the toy lover, Chuck E. Cheese or a movie card for a day out, an ice cream card for a treat, and a Visa card when you'd rather let them choose. All of them are available on Gift Card Granny, most arrive by email in minutes, and you can earn cash back on select brands along the way.
More from Granny: Gift Cards for Teens · Gift Cards for 18 Year Olds