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It takes a village to raise a child and it’s okay if your village is made up of magnetic blocks and bubble wands – better, even.

I have been a BuzzFeed Shopping writer since 2017, with a focus on unique, practical products, up-to-date parenting finds, and up-and-coming home decor.

This set includes blocks with 21 different designs. It's recommended for children 3+.

Promising review: "My daughter has these in her classroom so she was asking for them for Christmas. Great purchase. The case makes it easy for us to take it anywhere. The magnets are strong and easy to build with." —Nicole R.

Get a 120-piece set from Amazon for $17.99 (available in several set styles and sizes).

Promising review: "This was the best gift for my son! It's the perfect toy. Setup wasn't too difficult and the size works well for us since we store it in the house and didn't want it taking up too much space. The battery life is great. My mom lives about a quarter mile from our house and my son always wants to drive over to see his grandma. He'll do up to six laps at a time from our house to hers just so he can wave to her and honk his horn. The longest we've gone is a three-mile walk, and it didn't die.

The 'fast' speed setting is perfect for us as it matches a comfortable walking pace. The slow speed is great when we get to an open area, so he can practice steering the wheel on his own. I have my son control the gas, and I just use the side-to-side buttons on the remote to help control the steering wheel. Maybe when he's two, he'll figure it out on his own, but it definitely comes in handy now. 

The radio works well, as do the headlights. It has been in daily use since it was delivered. I imagine he'll continue fitting well in the car for a couple more years. I'm very happy with this purchase, and so is my son!" —Nicole Ross

Get it from Amazon for $179.99 (available in eight colors).

Promising review: "This 'couch' is wonderful — exactly what we had been looking for. The covers are super soft and the color is gorgeous. We have built several different forts and tunnels so far and the kids love it! We had a tiny problem with one of the arches, but customer service took care of it. I would definitely buy from this company again." —Chris & Charley

Get it from Amazon for $158.99 (available in six colors).

Seriously, this is my favorite Shark Tank product of all time. Check out a TikTok of it in action here!

Promising review: "My kids haven’t stopped. There’s cardboard everywhere. They are already planning their cardboard DIY Halloween costumes. The thing is amazing. Highly, highly recommend!!!!" —Nik

The kit comes with the giant bubble wand, two pouches of bubble concentrate, and a booklet to help you become a skilled bubble creator! It's my family's #1 favorite summer activity. It's easy enough for our toddler to make giant bubbles with a little help. She loves chasing them, and it always brings a big crowd of kids over to play!

Promising review: "Love this!! Easy for kids to use — my six-year-old son figured it out pretty quickly — and fun for adults as well (my husband and I might have played with it as much as our son did...) Makes amazing bubbles. The bubble mix it comes with is fantastic." —Thomas Durant

Get it from Amazon for $15.95+ (available in seven styles).

The kitchen includes five cooking accessories: a pan, a covered pot, a ladle, a slotted spoon, and a spatula.  

Promising review: "I couldn't be happier with this play kitchen! It is beautifully designed with a modern aesthetic that looks great in our living room. The color gold hardware adds a nice touch, and the scalloped detailing at the bottom is just precious. Assembly was straightforward, and the materials feel sturdy and durable.

My child loves the interactive features, such as the microwave buttons, the realistic-looking stovetop, and turning knobs. The included cookware is a great bonus and really adds to the imaginative play experience. It’s the perfect size for toddlers and preschoolers, and there’s enough storage to keep things tidy when playtime is over. Highly recommend this kitchen set to anyone looking for a stylish and functional toy that will spark creativity and keep little ones engaged for hours!" —Mrs. Priss Munoz

Get it from Amazon for $84.99+ (available in seven colors).

Promising review: "We absolutely love this mud kitchen! My 2-year-old and 3½-year-old have used it every single day since we bought it, and they will play together for hours at a time — honestly, with zero fighting, which is a huge win in our house. 😂 My kids are very messy players — we’re talking water everywhere, glitter, pasta, mud, and anything else they can get their hands on — and this kitchen has held up incredibly well. The quality has been fantastic so far and it still looks great despite daily heavy use.

I also love the design. It has excellent storage space, with lots of shelves and a solid base, making it easy to keep all their play items organized. There’s plenty of room for both kids to play comfortably at the same time without getting in each other’s way. It fits perfectly on our porch and has quickly become one of the best purchases we’ve made for outdoor play. I would absolutely recommend this mud kitchen to anyone looking for something durable, engaging, and worth every penny!" —Skylar Robinson

The kit includes four metallic paints, eight acrylic paints, two brushes, a color palette, and a moon lamp with a wooden base. BTW, the night-light battery is included.

Promising review: "My 7-year-old niece had a wonderful time creating her night-light. She was easily able to follow the instructions by herself, which is always a nice confidence booster. The different brushes and sponge applicators provide lots of options to be very creative. The lamp is made of nice, thick plastic that won’t break, making it very safe for young kids. The creative process took about one hour, and then about two hours to dry completely. The paint all washed off easily with plain warm water. Excellent value for money and a great way to spend quality time together. And now she has a beautiful keepsake which is the perfect size for her dresser." —LE

Get it from Amazon for $14.24 (also available as a soccer ball).

Promising review: "Amazing toys! My 1- and 2-year-olds LOVE them! They scream 'sticky balls!' and run around throwing them on the fridge, windows, cabinets, walls, etc. Easy to wash and air-dry, and don't lose their stickiness! My new go-to gift! Love them!" —Rachel

Get a pack of six from Amazon for $10.99 (also available as a 16-pack).

This 75-piece set includes 42 tracks and connectors, 17 trick pieces and 15 marbles. The pieces are magnetic, so you can set this up on any magnetic surface. The lockers in your mud room are about to make that place THE hangout spot in your house.

Promising review: "I can't explain to you how cool this is. Once you have it assembled in the way that you want (there is a learning curve), you will be able to swap out different sections and change up the route. You can create several routes that the marble can go through. If you're going to put magnets on your fridge, it might as well be cool ones that move marbles up and down and around." —Kris Redick

Get it from Amazon for $44.99+ (available in two set sizes).

The shower spout is also designed to look like the pool cleaner if you were wondering. How many times have I watched "The Pool" episode, you ask? Why, several. Chili teaches us that boring things ARE important, but you better believe there's nothing boring about this toy.

Here's what BuzzFeed contributor Ashley Schumacher has to say about this toy: "My son was so obsessed, we had to get one for my niece, too. If you were a small child who loved those washable doodle bears, maybe the need to doodle and re-doodle got passed down in the genes as it did with me and my kiddo." 

Promising review: "This toy is so awesome that I have now purchased three! Every child loves it! Heck, I like playing with it, too! Push the nose button, hide it. Bluey talks every 20 seconds or so, until you find her. Then you push the button, and it plays the theme song. Kids burst into dancing. I HIGHLY recommend this gift." —Florida Buyer

Get it from Amazon for $8.36+ (also available in a Bingo version).

Promising review: "My 4-year-old goes nuts over this. He’s so loud with excitement, it draws out the neighborhood kids, and next thing I know, the neighbors are over chatting outside with me while their kids are COMPLETELY occupied playing this thing. The assembly is EXTREMELY easy. The rockets launch well above my two-story home that I have to make sure it’s not too close so one doesn’t land on the roof. It’s actually fun for the adults as well. My son loves to watch me really launch one. This is a great outdoor activity for any boy or girl. You don’t have to chase the kids around and they get plenty of exercise running to get the rockets after they’ve landed. Fun for everyone. Well worth the 20 bucks I spent on it." —Geno

Get it from Amazon for $19.99+ (available with or without LED lights and in two set sizes).

Pieces: Illustrated mansion board, pewter candlestick, knife, wrench, pipe, and gun, plastic rope, weapon cards, character cards, one case file, and six plastic character pawns. 

Promising review: "We try to get the family one game every Christmas, and we chose this one! This retro edition is so fun. My girls love the mystery of this game, and we enjoy being brought back to our childhood. Great for family night or rainy day!" —GreenChile33

Promising review: "I purchased this two years ago for my grandchildren when they come to my house for family parties, and it has been a hit from day one! If it ever has its last day, I most definitely will buy another one! Two years with five grandchildren (and adults) playing on it and it's still going strong — a quality product! :-)" —Amazon Customer

Promising review: "I purchased this for get-togethers with friends and family, and this is, and always has been, a party favorite. Good quality as well." —Mark

Promising review: "These are a lifesaver for us during the quarantine. My 7-year-old is enjoying challenges that I time, having to find five things to match five cards in five minutes. There are also two games with instructions that are fun. My kiddos are being so creative in finding things. My son found a compact mirror and breathed on it to steam it up for 'steamy.' Hooray for igniting thinking skills. Grandma gets involved in finding silly things that make the kids crack up. I love the bag they come in, and that it’s a compact card game that can be played anywhere." —Jami Lilo

Promising review: "My son has had this for a few days and has had a lot of fun with it. He is a high-energy kid, so chasing it around the front yard has been fun for him. It operates with a fan inside, so it is very lightweight. It also lights up, so it's very pretty to look at." —Diana H

Get it from Amazon for $25.60+ (available in seven colors).

Promising review: "This is cool — it's a great toy. The kids love them and always want to go look for bugs. It's durable and easy to use." —Adam J.

Get it from Amazon for $9.99+ (available in three colors and two-packs).

You'll find a handful of fun, free games already available, but you can also subscribe for games galore. There are 3-month ($49) and 12-month Play Passes ($89) that reviewers say are totally worth it.

Promising reviews: "This is so fun and so much better than sitting around on the iPad, at least they are moving their bodies! We have only played one game so far, but the kids are obsessed! Adults love to play it, too!!" —Nicole

"So much fun!! My kids are obsessed!! We are having such an amazing time with our Nex Playground!!! There are so many fun games to play, and it’s a surprisingly good workout and way to stay active. SO much more engaging than screen time and a great way for our family to have fun together!! We’re huge fans!" —Jordan Simkovci

I bought these for my daughter waaay before she was old enough to care, because I wanted to play with them myself! They're solid, made of high-quality materials (not plastic), and owned by a small business. Now that my kiddo is older, these have become a staple in our diaper bag on days at the park. We'll spend ages looking for special pieces, seeing if they fit, testing out different configurations, and then have a blast with some imagination play (these little critters get up to a lot of mischief!). Whether you're totally into playing fantastical, made-up games with your kids or need clear directions to create a little whimsy, these have got your back. I recommend them to every parent I know (and now, even those I don't — hi from me!).

Get it from Amazon for $27.99 (available in six options).

We bought this toy for my daughter's first birthday and it is now the coolest thing in our entire apartment. Recently, we were having a party, and while I was looking for my daughter, I went into the living room and found her surrounded by our friends who were waiting (impatiently) for their turn with this thing. It's TOO cool. 

Promising review: "The built-in beats and effects are a blast. Super fun to just mess with. For adults, you can learn more about how the signal is impacted by each knob to get to some more reproducible sounds. Lastly, you can hook it up to a midi keyboard or sequencer to use it as part of your actual musical kit!" —Dreyco

Promising review: "My daughter and I are learning how to play the guitar together. Even if we don't become rock stars, the quality time we are spending together is all the justification I needed to make the purchase. The strings are perfect for her little fingers." —JSpriggins

Get it from Amazon for $119 (available in five colors).

Promising review: "This playset is absolutely GORGEOUS. My 2.5-year-old (although she’s the height of a 4-year-old) adores it and plays on it from morning ’til night. I wanted something affordable, modern, attractive, that didn’t take up too much space. This playset was the perfect choice. It is stunningly beautiful. My kiddo sits in the clubhouse for hours putting her little rocks and toys on the ledge and peaking through the windows. 

It’s definitely meant for kids under, say, 12; it's not an adult-sized playset. I love that I don't have to worry about my kiddo being TOO high up. She can easily navigate the climbing wall and ladder vs. other playsets where I’m a nervous wreck, and she can’t reach anything. All in all, if you’re looking for a playset that will beautify your yard and provide hours of joy, it’s the best buy for the amazing price!" —A.K.

Promising review: "Pretty cool. My son loves water, and I was getting tired of mopping the restroom after every bath or when he turned the knobs on himself. This helps get that energy out and keep the water outside. Pretty easy to assemble. Just make sure the water plug gets pulled through all the way (spent 10 mins and two YouTube videos trying to figure this out). He has so much fun and only wants to stop playing when he gets sleepy. Works for me! —Chrissy

Get it from Amazon for $44.99 (available with extra attachments). 

Here's what BuzzFeed Shopping editor Heather Braga has to say: "This toy has bought me so much time. My kids adore theirs — even though they're only 3 and 1 — they have no problem understanding how to turn the Toniebox on, change the volume, and place different characters on top to tell various stories. It can also be used while it's charging, so there's no need to worry about your toddler having a meltdown if they want to play with it while the battery is drained (phew). This specific kit comes with the Toniebox as well as a Playtime Puppy Tonie figure."

There are so many different Tonies you can add to keep the fun going — check 'em out.

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

Promising review: "The game comes with very easy, animated directions, and we were surprised at the high quality of the components. We first tried playing on a camping trip with three families, and it only took a couple of minutes to learn the game and set it up before we were giggling like crazy people. It was really dark, and the blinking lights and glowing orbs added a lot to the excitement. We played with adults, teens, and young children, and everyone really got into it because this is something that everyone can do. My children have been asking to play it every night since." —Roy Jones

Get it from Amazon for $39.90+ (available in two kit styles).

Promising review: "This set has been an absolute lifesaver for keeping our toddler active and engaged both indoors and outdoors! The colorful design is even more stunning in person, and it brightens up our playroom while being just as fun to use in the backyard. It's incredibly versatile and sturdy, offering endless ways to play. My son loves climbing, sliding, and even using the ramp as a racetrack for toy cars. The semi-circle doubles as a tunnel and a rocking chair, making it a great sensory tool for little explorers. It’s ideal for developing gross motor skills and sparking creativity. The quality is excellent, and it feels built to last through all the climbing, sliding, and imaginative play our toddler can dream up. Highly recommend for any parent looking for a safe, engaging, and adaptable play solution!" —Clay Sheppard

Get it from Amazon for $169.99 (available in five colors).

Promising reviews: "My great-grandson absolutely loves this. Loves the games, the binoculars, the camera, and has played with it for hours every day since I gave it to him." —Jennifer Ann Petry

"My 3-year-old grandson loves this. He plays with it for hours. He loves animals and loves learning all the facts." —Amazon Customer

This is suitable for children ages 3–8, and it's a HIT with reviewers! It has over 18,000 5-star reviews. BTW, it's shockproof and includes a lanyard to keep it secure around your kiddo!

Promising review: "I purchased this for my 3-year-old grandson. It is far more high-tech than any 3-year-old will fully take advantage of, but taking simple photos was accomplished with ease. I was astonished at the quality of the photos as well as the storage capacity. It is a fantastic value for the money." —KayBee

Get it from Amazon for $26.39 (available in five colors).

Promising review: "Fun toy! My 10-year-old was dying for a phone, and this scratched the itch and was exactly what she was hoping for. A couple of songs, a couple of games, a little camera, and the ability to take short videos. She loves it. Touchscreen works well, really easy to use and navigate for kiddos. Also, great customer service. They reached out to see how the item was a couple of days after I received it. They also sent a message with a couple of tips. I would definitely recommend." —Kristen Weidner

Get it from Amazon for $29.99 (available in three styles).

Promising review: "This sensory activity cube is a must-have! It’s beautifully designed, durable, and packed with activities that keep my child engaged while boosting motor skills and cognitive development. Every side has something unique to offer, encouraging curiosity and independent play. Highly recommend for anyone looking to buy an educational and fun toy for little ones!" —Thamy Brecak

Promising review: "Why didn't I buy this sooner? This tablet is awesome. My 2-year-old and soon-to-be 4-year-old have been sharing an old iPad mini, and after constantly fighting (anyone with tots will understand) over sharing it, I finally thought it was time to splurge on them getting one each. After constantly researching, this seemed like a great choice, and it was! It’s easy to use, has great performance and more importantly, is very educational, which is the best part. It has loads of educational content for them, so at least if they are gonna be on the tablet, I know they are learning something while on it, not to mention I love how I can stop them and monitor them on the tablet all from my phone. Great buy!" —KattieMae

Get it from Amazon for $189.99 (available in four colors).

Here's what BuzzFeed editor Heather Braga has to say about it: "We took this along on a five-hour road trip to Maine, and my 3-year-old son was (and still is) obsessed. He calls it his 'pad' and loves feeling like he is just like Dad (who usually unwinds with his iPad). It's continued to keep him entertained even though he's now heard the same stories a ton of times — even my 1-year-old enjoys pressing the buttons and hearing the various songs it plays! The 'eReader' has a bunch of quizzes built in that my son loves taking over and over to challenge himself (I'm pretty impressed, TBH). This is definitely going to be a go-to item I gift to the other kids in my life this holiday season."

Get it from Amazon for $17.49+ (available in two colors).

Promising review: "I bought this flower garden as a gift for my 3-year-old daughter. She absolutely loves it! She has always enjoyed blocks and this is something different that has kept her engaged for hours! We highly recommend this product to others!!" —Ashley Petersen

Get the 46-piece set from Amazon for $14.98 (available in four set sizes).

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Plus, outdoor toys, wagons and strollers, must-haves for long car rides, and finds from Target.

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.

Reviews in this post have been edited for length and clarity.