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A ball run that uses magnetic tiles to create exciting ball run mazes. Magnetic tiles are awesome by themselves, but if your kids are getting tired of the same old towers, adding in a ball run element is a must. Don't be surprised if you jump in and help create an epic course with them!
A scissor skills activity book that comes with ultra-safe scissors for your kiddo just starting out with scissors. The book starts with basic shapes and moves up in complexity, but all shapes are fun and engaging! My own kids loved cutting them out, then taping them up, or using them for pretend play.
A castle bounce house and blower — aka the perfect summer splurge — because bounce houses are second-to-none for getting kid energy out and the perfect excuse for you to sit down and watch the fun. Plus, they tend to get their money's worth since they can be pulled out for parties or used inside if you have a space large enough.
1. A dinosaur-theme inflatable pool to help your kiddo cool off and burn some energy. It includes a sprinkler, two wading pools, and a slide, so it'll provide hours of adorable fun this summer.
2. Or a splash pad you can grab for toddlers and bigger kids alike. Splash pads are such a fun way to cool off in warm weather and the ability to control the flow just by adjusting the hose nozzle makes it fun for kids of all ages.
3. And a waterproof camera with a protective case that will also help protect it from occasional rough play. This camera is waterproof up to 98 feet, meaning it's perfect for capturing memories at the pool, the ocean, or just playing in the sprinklers.
4. A set of reusable water balloons for outdoor fun without the mess. My kids LOVE water balloons, but I hate them because of the cleanup involved. With these handy "balloons" there is zero stress about small plastic and zero tears from getting snapped by an exploding balloon. Sweet peace.
5. A two-person sit-and-spin that they can hook up to water in the summer. Sit-and-spins are classic toys that my kids LOVE, and they have completely leveled up by making one big enough for two. They'll love all of the summer fun, and that they can bring it in when it gets cold again!
6. An underwater seek-and-find game for making pool time a little more exciting and a lot more competitive. Each waterproof card corresponds to a gem-sinking toy, and kids dive down to grab the toys that match their card! The next time even the pool seems ~sooo booooringggg,~ just bust this game out and bring on the competition.
7. A giant bubble wand for when it's time to up those bubble-making skills into something more impressive. While young kids may still prefer to be the popper, reviewers love that older kids enjoy getting in on the action and creating the largest bubble possible. And, honestly, who doesn't need more bubbles in their lives?
8. A self-contained arts and crafts starter kit for any parent for whom craft is not a verb. This set is a bargain because it comes with all you need for a decent, kid-led craft center that stores easily and can be organized quickly when it turns into a craft-splosion.
9. A set of tempura paint pens for painting fine lines rather than with the mess of brushes. If you're tired of cleaning 18 different-size brushes, these are for you! They also use the pencil grip, which is great for using a steady hand and keeping the paint on the project.
10. A tie-dye kit that's large enough to provide an entire summer of groooovy duds. There's something so exciting to kids about tie-dye, and this kit has almost everything: protective gloves, a tablecloth, a storage tote, a whopping 14 colors, and instructions for tie-dye novices.
11. A scissor skills activity book that comes with ultra-safe scissors for your kiddo just starting out with scissors. The book starts with basic shapes and moves up in complexity, but all shapes are fun and engaging! My own kids loved cutting them out, then taping them up, or using them for pretend play.
12. An engaging wooden puzzle you can use to create fun images or to start your kiddo on the complexities of Tetris from an early age. Either way, they'll love this tech-free toy and the creativity that comes with it!
13. A sight word Bingo game perfect for any kid who loves games and for keeping some of that early reading info in their brain during the summer. Play is proven to be the best way for kids to learn, and this game takes the stress out of learning for even the most reluctant of kids. It's just like the game we all love, but it uses sight words instead of numbers. Get ready to have a little fun yourself!
Promising review: "Getting my daughter to do sight words has been a nightmare lately; she pretends she has no idea what anything is and refuses to sit down and try. But with this game, she wants to play for hours!!! I give her two cards, and we all play together as a family; she thinks it is the best game, and it really is helping her learn her sight words!! Finally, something that gets her excited about learning!!" —Rebecca
Get it from Amazon for $12.99.
14. A pack of TikTok-famous Crayola Globbles you can hurl against a wall and slowly roll back down without leaving a sticky residue! Because there is something so satisfying about sticking things to walls, these are fun for adults to play with, too!
15. A ball run that uses magnetic tiles to create exciting ball run mazes. Magnetic tiles are awesome by themselves, but if your kids are getting tired of the same old towers, adding in a ball run element is a must. Don't be surprised if you jump in and help create an epic course with them!
16. A seriously fun — and seriously well-reviewed — card game that the whole family will enjoy. The premise is simple — just slap matching cards — but things get wild fast, and they'll love playing it at home or with friends!
17. A foldable indoor slide that pops up in minutes to provide a much-needed energy burn on rainy or too-hot days. Plus, it stores easily so you can bring it out when you really need it. Your deflated couch cushions will thank you for the break.
This slide holds up to 50 pounds, so be sure not to bring it out for yourself.
Promising review: "I got this for my 2-year-old daughter's birthday, and she LOVES it. She is a little nervous on the playground and she took to this right away. It folds down easily and sets up easily — the design is brilliant. It was actually so easy that I watched the 30-second setup video just to be sure I got it right, lol. My 8-year-old son got on it too, and it held up. We live in an apartment, so this is something that she can climb on safely without taking up a ton of space. Love this product!!" —jenna
Get it from Amazon for $35.99+ (available in three styles).
18. A beginner hoverboard for that little kid who is so ready to be a big kid. These hoverboards have a max speed of five miles per hour and are designed specifically for kids under 80 pounds. Screen-free AND getting them out into fresh air? Yes, please!
19. A pair of kid binoculars that will take your little explorer to the next level. These are durable, easy to use, and will delight kids of all ages. There's something so fun about binoculars for kids and, who knows, maybe they'll be just as excited to see hummingbirds at the feeder as you are these days.
20. A kid-friendly walkie-talkie set that can keep them entertained for hours regardless of what room they're in. Walkie-talkies provide those simple joys of being able to hear each other in separate rooms — so simple yet oh-so-effective for keeping them entertained.
21. A laser tag set that will get energetic kids off the couch and running, diving, and ducking to ultimate laser tag victory. This set works well indoors or outdoors, meaning the weather is no match for this total parenting win.
22. An amazingly ridiculous Silly Poopy's Hide & Seek game because if you can't beat your kid's love of bathroom humor, you might as well have fun with it. Simply hide the poopy and your kiddo can follow the flatulent clues to find it! Plus, it's easy enough for your kids to play by themselves while you take a moment to sit for once.
23. A convertible play couch that will make fort building quick, easy, and creative while saving you the mess and flattened couch cushions. Plus, once playing in the fort is done, it converts back into a kid-size couch for some relaxing, quiet play. Talk about easier than cleaning up an entire room of cushions and blankets.
24. A Montessori-inspired wooden play structure that can be converted into whatever movement style your energetic kid needs at the moment. It converts into a climbing structure, a slide, a rocking arch, or a fun place to calm down for a bit. With a weight capacity of 132 pounds, this is a toy that will stay interesting and LAST.
25. An LCD writing and doodle pad to create fun pictures without the need for crayons and paper. These can easily go along in a car ride or to a restaurant and work just as well for some quiet indoor play.
26. A karaoke machine with Bluetooth that allows them to jam out to their favorite songs and put on some top-notch concerts.
27. A castle bounce house and blower — aka the perfect summer splurge — because bounce houses are second-to-none for getting kid energy out and the perfect excuse for you to sit down and watch the fun. Plus, they tend to get their money's worth since they can be pulled out for parties or used inside if you have a space large enough.
The reviews for this post have been edited for length and clarity.