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My kids are going to have to fight me for a turn on a few of these.

I am a contributor who has been writing for BuzzFeed Shopping for two years, with a focus on products that make parenting just a bit easier — and hopefully more fun — home decor, kitchen gadgets, and whatever deals I can scope out.

Promising review: "We have had this for over a month and have really enjoyed it. The bug gun works well easily sucking up bugs without harming them. All of my kids (ages 8, 11, and 16) have enjoyed looking at the bugs through the magnifying lens. We often take a picture of the bug and then identify it online. This set has brought us fun and learning with the added benefit of getting outside and being active. It is a worthy purchase — sturdy, fun, educational, and giftable." —Tara

Get it from Amazon for $34.99 (available in two versions).

Promising review: "Our grandchildren absolutely love it and could play with it for hours every day! Lots of different water activities for four children to fit around table and play!" —Great

These balloons have a magnetic closure — inside the lining, so they won't come out — that stays closed for the throw but opens easily for splashing without pain for the kids. While you can use a hose to fill them up, reviewers suggest filling a bucket with water and allowing the kids to fill them up in there. They also come with a mesh carrying bag to keep everything in one place!

Promising review: "We live in Texas where the heat is no joke. My kids love water balloons, but hate having to clean up the mess. I saw a friend share about these, and I almost didn’t buy them because of the price — glad I did! Totally worth it. All the money and time spent on water balloons over the years had me convinced. Received them, and they work great! My kids can’t get enough and constantly beg to use them. They can fill them themselves, and they don’t hurt when hit. Super easy to use and clean up. Buying more for sure. My kids are ages 2, 4, 6, and 8. All could use them easily." —Eden

Get them from Amazon for $14.99+ (available in various multipacks). 

Although the dye washes out of clothing, play clothes are recommended to be extra cautious. Each set includes three different colors for team play

Promising review: "These hold up well in package but burst very easily when thrown which is great because I was worried my five year old wouldn't be able to throw hard enough to get it to burst. Bright fun colors. Nontoxic and made of seaweed wrap, so you don't have to clean up shells. When we used these, they got all over my new white Crocs, but I was able to wash off all the paint with just a baby wipe. I would say these would be great for any child old enough not to put them in their mouth." —Kat Ellis

Get a set of 120 from Amazon for $25 (available in three color combinations).

Promising review: "Purchased as a Christmas gift for my kiddos, 2 and 4. I wanted something they could do together, and this was a throwback to my childhood! I love that it has the water feature also. You can play with or without the water. They can play with each other or separately, and so far they love it. It was super easy to put together, and the hose connects easily as well." —Cordless Mixer

Each camera comes with a removable waterproof case, a mount, a strap, a 32 GB SD card, and a USB cable. 

Promising review: "I got it as a cheap little camera I could use on vacations and not be too scared of losing it. But it’s genuinely a good camera! It has the silly filters you can use if you feel like it, but the biggest thing is that it’s waterproof! Took it to the ocean, and it actually held up through lots of waves." —Emma

Get it from Amazon for $26.72+ (available in five colors).

Promising review: "For the Fourth of July, we took this product to the beach. Setting it up was very quick and easy. We used tap water to mix with the enclosed packet of bubble mix. Easy enough for my 4-year-old granddaughter to do herself, much to her delight! We got huge bubbles that were not as long as the pictures but still really awesome! Some of the smaller ones even kept their shape when they touched down on the beach! Other beachgoers had a blast watching, and she became an instant hit — getting more attention than the fireworks! The wands and rope seem very sturdy — even for rough and tumble toddler use — but if it should break, I will immediately buy another because this is just FUN!! Worth every penny in happy toddler laughs!" —Paige Spaulding 

Get it from Amazon for $15.19+ (available in seven styles). 

If you have littles, this junior version is just their size!

Promising review: "Such a great toy for the kids. My kids have so much fun playing with this they could play forever. All of the kids who see my kids playing with this toy want to join in." —Sofee23

Promising review: "This splash pad is the best money we’ve spent on our kiddos! They’ve used it every summer since we purchased it three years ago! The splash pad itself has held up really well for all the use it’s gotten, too. Would absolutely recommend this to anyone with children that enjoy being outdoors!" —Andrew Sroka

Get it from Amazon for $23.99+ (available in four designs).

If your family loves bubbles, I always suggest stocking up on bubble solution to keep the play going all season.

Promising review: "This bubble blower is so much fun! It creates tons of bubbles quickly and is easy for kids to use. The design is simple, and the bubbles are big and colorful, which keeps everyone entertained. It’s perfect for outdoor play and provides endless hours of fun. The blower is durable and works well without too much mess. Overall, it's a great toy for bubble lovers of all ages!" —Tammy Tessier

Get a set of two from Amazon for $19.99 (available in two colors and a combo pack).

Promising review: "Kept the kids busy outside and they loved it! Can also be played inside as well. Cute little game to get them out of your hair for a bit!!" —Jeannie M.

Promising review: "We use this as a way of keeping in contact with our oldest. We live in a safe and friendly neighborhood where she likes to play outside and run around with all the other kids. I check on her often, but for extra security, I got a set of these and now we can talk back and forth whenever. 'It’s time for dinner!' 'OK mom, I’m coming!!'" —Jennifer

Get them from Amazon for $18.99+ (available in seven colors)

Promising review: "This has been my daughter’s favorite toy all summer. It’s super easy to create little sensory bins for her using basic items like citrus fruits, ice, rice, pom poms, and more! It’s small, but the perfect size for a toddler. My daughter can be a little rough with it and likes to try to climb inside and it has held up great so far. Overall, I think it’s worth the price and there are countless fun things to do with it." —Jahna G

Promising review: "You know when you’re on a walk and toddlers fake injuries, so you’ll carry them? Just mine? Then never mind. But this just DOESN'T happen with my kids as long as we have these binoculars. My kids love using them to look at literally everything; it makes our walks, scavenger hunts, and even hide-and-seek games that much more fun. These were an Easter basket gift last year and a huge hit several months later." —Brooke Lee

Promising review: "I bought this for my child, and he absolutely loves it! The adjustable height feature is perfect for his size, and it's easy for him to use. He picked it up quickly and is already practicing his swings with confidence. The set is sturdy, and the design is ideal for both baseball and teeball. Highly recommend it for any young player—it's a great way to introduce them to the game while they have fun!" —Sierra Monique

Get it from Amazon for $29.69+ (available in two colors).

Promising review: "I recently bought the bubble lawn mower for my 2-year-old, and it has quickly become one of his favorite toys! Right from the moment we unboxed it, he was excited. The bright colors and cheerful design immediately caught his attention. He loves to push it around the yard, and the delightful stream of bubbles it produces makes him giggle with joy! What I appreciate most is how lightweight and easy it is for him to maneuver. It’s durable enough to withstand all his energetic play, and I love that it promotes outdoor activity. Plus, the assembly was a breeze—no complicated tools needed! Overall, I couldn’t be happier with this purchase. It’s a wonderful way for my son to engage with the outdoors while honing his gross motor skills. If you’re looking for a fun and entertaining toy that brings smiles, I highly recommend this bubble lawn mower!" —Mich

Each set includes a child-sized wheelbarrow, watering can, gloves, hand rake, shovel, double hoe, cultivator, hedge clippers, and washable apron.

Promising review: "My toddler loves this set. He can actually garden with me. The included apron is very useful for keeping clothes clean." —Cassandra

Promising review: "Best outdoor toy! My daughter could spend hours playing with this. It’s a good toy to help cool down your child in the hotter months. The quality is also amazing." —Maggie

Promising review: "Very sleek! Comes with Bluetooth, so music can be listened to while riding. Came fully assembled; just took it out of the box. It was also fully charged. My son had it mastered in no time, easy to balance on. The beeping does happen when it needs to be charged or if it's not on level ground. Kids can ride it either in the house or outside, very durable" —Tabitha harris

Get it from Amazon $119+ (available in 13 colors). 

Promising review: "We bought two and the kids love them. They are plastic but sturdy. The rope is short (approximately three feet) but adjustable in two spots. There's a high-quality locking carabiner attached to the end of the rope. If you're doing a tree swing, don't forget to purchase a separate rope. The item is lightweight, but held my 250-pound husband with no problem. It's relatively cheap when compared to other similar rope swings. It's great that it can twist endlessly; hours of fun for the kids!" —Rachel Lundy

Get it from Amazon for $20.57+ (available in four colors).

Promising review: "What a fun and cute playhouse! The sizing and sturdiness are great. It survived Hurricane Helene — need I say more? My little one loves playing and sitting inside of it! It does not fold, but it does not take up too much space in our yard. It’s a great asset to our yard!" —Charli

Get it from Amazon for $139 (available in three colors).

Promising review: "I was skeptical about buying a swing set that was this inexpensive, but it’s super sturdy. So much, in fact, that it survived an EF2 tornado. Worth the money and easy to assemble!" —Ashlie Boyd

My family has one of these and it's genuinely fun. Yes, there's a squeak that some reviewers have taken out, but I don't find it overly annoying. Both my husband and I have taken a crack at the thing and it's actually hilarious to watch us struggle while my kids seem to have endless energy for bouncing. 

Promising review: "Perfect for my 3-year-old, old but also great for my 9-year-old as well. Keeps them busy and helps burn energy. Good strong material." —crystal deleon

Get it from Amazon for $11.79+ (available in 12 colors).

Promising review: "This is played daily in our house. Had lasted several seasons, and we got some severe ones. Easy to move also, but stays put in large winds." —Heather

Promising review: "We bought this for our toddler to grow into and decided to put it up for a group gathering we were having. People ages 1–25 were all using it and having a blast! We also got some severe weather shortly after (storms and hail) and it was held up really well. We did wrap a bag around the metal of the slack line. But everything still looks good, feels good, and works well!" —Mila John

Get it from Amazon for $89.99+ (available in four styles).

Promising review: "This basketball hoop is of excellent quality! It’s easy to assemble, and the backboard has just the right amount of bounce when shooting. The base is very stable, and the height is adjustable, making it suitable for different age groups. I bought it for my child to practice, and they love it! Now, they spend much more time playing outdoors. Very fun for them! Even on rainy days, it’s easy to move into the garage. Highly recommended!" —sara wang

Get it from Amazon for $139.99 (available in two colors).

Promising review: "As soon as I assembled it, my kids jumped on it and kept playing. They loved it. They play with it every day." —King 1

Promising review: "Oh my — the bounce house is well worth the investment. I bought this bounce house last year for my son’s second birthday. Last November, we put it up for a group of 10 boys aged 9–13. There were three to four of them in there at a time. We let our nephew use it for his second birthday and I used it for my baby shower last October. Now, I just used it again for my son’s third birthday party. This bounce house is durable, well-made, and has been well-loved! And, we will still be using the bounce house many more times." —Stephanie

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Reviews have been edited for length and/or clarity.

BuzzFeed Shopping is service journalism first: our writers and editors spend all day shopping so you don’t have to, vetting products, fact-checking brand claims, and surfacing what actually helps in real life. We center readers over revenue, recommend products with authenticity (using real experiences, not ad-speak), and reflect our diverse audience, inclusive of a variety of price points, people, and needs. We cut through fake deals, favor useful info over glossy fluff, and recommend both budget and splurge options with context so you can decide what’s right for you — and still have a little fun along the way.