You grew up rolling dice with your friends. Now you have a little one of your own, and you are already picturing the day they pull up a chair at your table. This guide is for the D&D dads (and moms, aunts, uncles and grandparents) who want to raise the next party of adventurers, one step at a time. No pressure, no homework: just gifts that make imagination, dice and storytelling part of family life.
Step 1: Little monster fans
Every great adventurer starts with a love of monsters. Schleich Eldrador creatures are sturdy, hand-painted fantasy figures (rated 7+ by Schleich) from four worlds: Lava, Ice, Jungle and Shadow. Kids invent their own battles and stories, which is exactly how a future Dungeon Master gets started.
Schleich Eldrador Lava Dragon – $24.99
A fire-red dragon with movable wings, the ruler of the Lava World. If your kid only gets one creature this year, make it a dragon.
Schleich Eldrador Jungle Raptor – $24.99
A winged jungle beast with moveable wings. Pair it with the Lava Dragon and the first great battle writes itself.
Schleich Eldrador Lava Tiger – $12.99
A smaller Lava World predator at a stocking-stuffer price. A great way to start a collection.
Schleich Eldrador Shadow Lemur – $7.99
A tiny Shadow World creature for under $10. Perfect for the bottom of the stocking.
Browse every creature on our Schleich Eldrador page.
Step 2: First dice and family game night
Before character sheets come dice, turns and taking chances together. These family games teach the rhythm of the table while everyone has fun.
Concept Kids: Animals – $29.99
A cooperative guessing game for 2 to 12 players, ages 4 and up. Everyone works together, so nobody loses, which makes it great for little ones.
Camel Up (Second Edition) – $34.39
A strategy dice game for 3 to 8 players, ages 8 and up, about 30 to 45 minutes. Lots of laughing, lots of dice, and a great bridge to bigger games.
Metallic Dice Games Rainbow Frost Polyhedral Dice Set – $14.99
A colorful 16mm resin polyhedral dice set. Every future adventurer needs their very first set of dice that is all their own.
Chessex Borealis Luminary d6 Dice Block (36 Dice) – $13.99
A block of 36 six-sided dice from Chessex. Handy for family games, and they will be needed again later for big D&D spells.
Step 3: Paint your first hero together
Painting a miniature together is one of the best parent-and-kid hobby nights there is. Follow the age guidance on each box and paint with a grown-up.
D&D Nolzur's Marvelous Miniatures Giant Space Hamster Paint Kit – $15.99
An all-in-one D&D paint kit starring the legendary Giant Space Hamster. A fun, low-stakes first project for a young painter.
The Army Painter GameMaster Adventure Starter Paint Set – $33.99
15 paints, a brush-on primer, a brush and 5 miniatures in one box. Enough for a whole first adventuring party.
The Army Painter GameMaster Character Brush Set – $16.50
A set of three character brushes in different sizes, so you and your kid each have your own.
More ideas on our paints and tools page.
Step 4: Their first adventure at your table
When they are ready to roll for real, these help you build a game that fits their age and attention span.
D&D Forgotten Realms: Heroes of Faerûn (Alternate Cover) – $39.99
A Forgotten Realms book of heroes and character options for D&D, with an alternate cover. Great for building your young adventurer's first character together.
D&D Reference Cards Trove: Spells 1 – $16.99
D&D spell reference cards. Hand a young spellcaster the card instead of the rulebook and they can focus on the fun.
Cosmere RPG Stormlight Starter Set – $22.49
A complete starter set with a rulebook, an adventure with battlemaps and tokens, pre-generated characters and dice. A great family-table RPG for older kids who love fantasy books.
And something for you, Dad
D&D Nolzur's Marvelous Pigments Undead Paint Set with Acererak – $21.99
A D&D undead paint set from The Army Painter that includes the Acererak miniature. Paint your villain while they paint their hero.
How to choose for your future gamer
- Loves monsters and make-believe? Start with Schleich Eldrador creatures (Step 1).
- Loves board games and dice? Camel Up or Concept Kids plus their own dice set (Step 2).
- Loves crafts and art? A paint kit you can do together (Step 3).
- Already asking to play D&D? Build their first character together (Step 4).
Frequently asked questions
When is my kid ready for D&D?
Every kid is different. If they can sit through a board game and love making up stories, they are ready for a short, simple adventure with you running the game. Start small and keep sessions short.
Are Schleich Eldrador figures good for younger kids?
Schleich rates Eldrador creatures 7+. Check the box for the exact age guidance on each figure.
Need help choosing?
Email help@sagaconcepts.com and we will help you pick the right gift. We also run weekly in-store game events at 35 S Van Brunt St, Englewood, NJ. See the events page.
Browse more: RPGs, dice, board games and our Gifts Under $25 hub. U.S. orders over $99 ship free from New Jersey.
