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Whether you have some chores you need to get done or just want them to work on playing alone, these toys will help it happen.

I am a contributor and former BuzzFeed Shopping writer based in Cincinnati, OH where you can find me curating lists on ~a little bit of everything~ (and adding a few things to my own cart in the process).

Promising review: "We have absolutely loved playing with these blocks. Even as an adult, I love looking at them! The kids love the colors from the start, and as they get better at building, they're really gorgeous to look at. So far, they've held up for two years. Highly recommend." —Kindle Customer

Get a set of 24 from Amazon for $29.96. 

Promising review: "This dollhouse has lasted us four years so far! Our daughters love it. The elevator has gotten squeaky with age, but that’s not a big deal to us. It has held up nicely over the years!" —Michael 

These tend to slip, so if you do want to use them on smooth surfaces, grab some grip tape.

Promising review: "I love this toy because it will keep little ones busy. It reminds me of when my kids were little and they would hop around trying to avoid imaginary 'hot lava!'" —heidi

Get a pack of 10 from Amazon for $48.54.

Promising review: "I bought this for my 18-month-old for Christmas in 2021. It’s now two years and another kid later, and it’s still in great condition. We’ve managed to keep all the pieces because the carrying case is sturdy and still in great shape. It’s remained one of our favorite and most used toys over the last two years. I can’t recommend this enough." —Em122

Get it from Amazon for $24.99 (also available as a veterinary kit).

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." —Charly

Get it from Amazon for $159.99 (available in three colors).

And, it recirculates water stored in a tank under the sink so they can play for hours without wasting water. 💦

Promising review: "My 3-year-old daughter absolutely loves this sink. She got this for her third birthday and it was the best present she received. She puts all her play food and dishes in this sink and scrubs and scrubs away. She also loves to wash her hands in this sink with her pretend soap. This sink works perfectly, and easy to assemble. The key is to make sure you fill up the sink with as much water as asked or it will not come out of the spout. We love it so much I plan to buy three more for my nieces and nephew. ❤️" —Marissa

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 it from Amazon for $16.92+ (available in three sizes).

Includes adjustable wooden loom, oversize wooden needle, craft materials, illustrated design booklet, and 91 yards of rainbow yarn! 

Promising review: "I purchased this for my granddaughter hoping she would be able to develop a hobby. It was fairly easy to put together and we got started right away. Two days later, she had finished a work of art so beautiful that her aunt offered her $50 for it. It’s pretty small but it graces my daughter's wall with its cool textures and colors. This wall hanging is the envy of our whole family now and everyone has placed an order with our budding new artist. Love it! You should buy it, and some special yarn. You won’t be disappointed." —Linny B

Promising review: "These are fun and sturdy, solid 'rocks' that are great for open-ended play. There are many sizes and lots of bright colors. If you are stacking them, you do need to find some patience…they like to topple over — which can be frustrating for littles. Overall, a great toy!" —MomOfLulu

Promising reviews: "My 5- and 3-year-olds (and me) have spent hours building towers and watching marbles clatter down these chutes, steps, gears and spirals, HOURS! And they’re not bored yet! It’s also educational learning the physics of slopes by experience. Plus, it comes with enough marbles that losing a few doesn’t matter." —Joyce Parker

"This is a really neat toy that has provided literally hours and hours of enjoyment for my 4-year-old nephew. (And me!) The pieces fit well together, it is very sturdy and stands up well even on carpet. There are an infinite number of ways to build these runs, and this toy never gets boring. Highly recommended." —Becca

Get it from Amazon for $39.99+ (available in three different quantities).

The Peculiar Pets set includes: one dragon, one narwhal, one yeti, one unicorn, one sparkly scrub tub, one scrub brush, nine washable markers, one standing play mat, and an instruction sheet.

Promising review: "My daughter LOVES coloring, stickers, drawing, etc. so when I saw this prior to her fourth birthday, I thought she would enjoy it. It was a HUGE hit and it will regularly keep her occupied for an hour or so at a time coloring, cleaning, and coloring again (with only minor help when asked for more help cleaning and drying). Even my 6-year-old son who doesn't usually color or draw will join her periodically and seems to enjoy it. The markers are short and skinny, great for small hands." —Flame_On_Mal

Get it from Amazon for $24.33 (available in four styles).

My daughter has this and whenever I pull it out for her to play with it definitely holds her attention thanks to its variety of activities. She specifically loves pushing the button that opens a little mirror.

Promising review: "We love this toy. I bought this for my child's first birthday, and their 4-year-old sibling also likes playing with it. It's like the most portable 'busy board' that you can customize. The little blocks can also be changed out with different ones, and they're easy for on-the-go if you just want to grab one or two and throw them in your bag. It does a pretty good job of keeping my littles' attention and helps with some dexterity as well. Great idea, nice quality little toy. It is a little expensive, but overall I think it's worth it." —Blair

The game comes with 60 challenges that range from beginner to expert so it will hold their interest as they work their way up to the trickier ones.

Promising review: "What a great combination of construction, puzzles, and games! My 5-year-old and 8-year-old niece were able to challenge themselves to some of the levels (the 8-year-old was more capable of solving them on her own). The adults also found themselves fixated on playing the different levels as well! It was challenging and fun! We love marble runs and games so this was a perfect fit. This is one of the few games that everyone asks to play and it's perfect when we have guests of kiddos over and keeps everyone busy and engaged for hours!" —Crystal Brown

Promising review: "I have had these for a few years now and my kids love them. They enjoyed them as babies and continue to learn new ways to play with them as they get into their preschool years. The kids have used this to learn fruits and vegetables, colors, sorting, counting, and now for more imaginative play as they play chef and make soups and meals. I am always impressed at the quality of toys produced by Learning Resources and their products are worth every penny. These are a phenomenal gift that will receive years of play without any show of wear and tear." —kaBuku

Reviewers say this is a great toy for all ages — from 3–12.

Promising review: "My 3.5-year-old daughter loves puzzles and I was looking for something to entertain her with while we’re stuck at home. So glad I got this one! My daughter loves it and got the hang of it quickly. I love seeing the gears in her head turning as she figures out which piece she needs next. It’s very rare to get it right the first time, and she does get a little frustrated at the end. But she’s learning perseverance! My partner and I could barely wait for her to finish with it so that we could get a turn. I’m buying two more — one to donate to her daycare and another for a friend who works as an OT at a school." —AJ Mathenia

It comes with six design templates to follow, including a boat and a unicorn, but obviously, your kiddo can use their imagination to create designs of their own! And don't worry, the LED bulbs are designed not to get hot.

Promising review: "Y’all, talk about a throwback gift! I got this for my daughter for Christmas in 2019 — and within the first day, she and I both played with it for hours! To say it’s her favorite might be an understatement. And it totally takes you back to your childhood. Get it, you won’t regret it!" —Danielle Lavender

My daughter is in love. We swapped it out for our coffee table, partially because we had no other spot for it, and partially because she's been climbing (and falling) off our couch, so we wanted to get rid of the hard table. While she is technically below the recommended age for this, it has not stopped her from playing with it almost every single day. Yes, she's definitely not using it to its full potential yet, but she loves to throw the lid off and jump from piece to piece and dance inside the big ring.

Promising review: "We have a small townhome, and our daughter is almost 1. This ottoman has worked out perfectly to be a place for her to climb, use as a ball pit, or use to pull herself up. We love that it’s a functional piece. It gets used every day." —Rebba K.

Get it from Nugget for $199+ (available in 18 colors).

This comes with everything you need to get started on your masterpiece — the paint and spin machine, a splatter guard, eight large cards, eight small cards, four round cards, five bottles of paint, four white crayons, and instructions. 

Promising reviews: "Easy to clean. So far, it's durable. I just recently got this for my granddaughter. Fun for kids and fun for adults, too. Definitely recommend. ✌️" —S.a.m

"This was a birthday present for my 48-year-old son; he and his kids had so much fun with it. They made so many memories together. And laughed while playing with it!!" —Gwen

Promising reviews: "These tiles provide endless fun while encouraging creativity. We love using them to build tracks for Hot Wheels and my son builds amazing structures he can use to play with his action figures. 10/10 recommend these tiles for their excellent quality and price!" —Cara

"I wish I had known about these sooner! PicassoTiles are *exactly* like Magna-tiles but way more affordable. We just received the 100-tile set today — an early birthday gift for our soon-to-be-4-year-old. We have two sets of Magna-tiles — one with the grommets (purchased new last year) and one without (purchased second hand, no idea how old they are). The PicassoTiles are the same weight and size as the MagnaTiles and have the same exact magnets. They do not have metal grommets, but the old MagnaTiles are indestructible, so I know that these will be too. And PicassoTiles are much prettier in my opinion, because they are slightly more translucent and have brighter colors. They integrate into the collection seamlessly. I highly recommend this product. And if you are considering buying any kind of magnetic tile toy for your child, I recommend purchasing as large a set as you can for greater play versatility. Our son has played with these all day and night, off and on, every single day since we bought them last year. After integrating the new PicassoTile set, he hugged his enormous structure and declared it his favorite...twice. A wonderful toy!" —skater mom

This comes with everything you need to create the perfect slime — containers, stirring sticks, jelly cubes, a manual, clay, fishbowl beads, foam balls, inks, glitter, a tool knife set, pearl beads, slime activator, glue, scents, and snow powder. 

Promising reviews: "The Original Stationery Unicorn Slime Kit is a dream come true for kids who love crafting and creativity, designed specifically to enchant girls aged 10–12 with the magic of making their own unicorn-themed slime. This comprehensive kit includes everything needed to create a variety of slimes, from glittery to glow-in-the-dark, ensuring hours of fun and imaginative play. Safe and easy to use, it's an ideal gift for encouraging scientific experimentation and artistic expression in a whimsical and engaging way." —Angela

"This is the best slime kit I’ve come across. I saw it last minute before my daughter’s birthday (11) and thought I’d get it as an add-on to her presents. It turned out to be her favorite gift! Her brother (8) joined in and made slime with her, and she still has enough to make more of all types." —Elizabeth

Get it from Amazon for $21.98+ (available in four styles).

This set includes four high-flying stomp rockets and an adjustable rocket launch stand.

Stomp Rocket is a small business creating fun blaster toys that are powered by kids!

Promising reviews: "Our grandson turned 4, and he loves rockets. He has several rocket books he reads. We thought he would like this toy, and we were right. He first used it in the traditional way by launching the rockets. He then decided to carry the launcher and use it to shoot at targets by holding it, aiming, and then stomping to fire. That kept him busy for hours. It was a great gift for him." —Connie

"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 in three versions and two quantities).

Urban Infant is a Chicago-based small business run by a brother/sister duo  making unique and useful parenting products.

Promising review: "Our 1-year-old loves these. It was his first time using chalk and he had no trouble with them. They are pretty thick; doesn't matter how he holds them, there will be contact with the surface and there will be color!" —JW

Get a pack of five from Amazon for $11.95 (available in seven color combos).

It comes with a pot, ladle, two bowls, two flowerpots, a sieve, water tank, sink, faucet and oven plate.

Promising review: "This is so cute. My kids are eight, six, and three, and they play with this for HOURS. It was easy enough to assemble that I was able to do it myself. So far, it seems high quality and durable. Versatile for all ages!" —Jessica S.

Promising review: "I ordered this for my granddaughter's fourth birthday. It was easy to assemble and has that great cedar smell — it's also lightweight but well-made. My granddaughter, along with her 1-and-a-half-year-old brother, has already gotten a lot of playtime in the sandbox. They love it!! It is beautiful, and my son loves the fact that it closes up to protect the sand and then opens up to benches for the children to sit on. He has sent me a couple of pictures and videos of them playing in it. I highly recommend this sandbox." —lisa burroughs

Get it from Amazon for $119.99 (available in seven colors).

Promising reviews: "My grandkids love these and keep them busy looking through them at many things." —Tammy

"These are absolutely the best for preschool-age children. There is no need for adjustment. You just look into the binoculars and see a clear image. My son used these this past summer for getting a closer look at the hummingbirds at our feeder. We also took these with us on nature walks. He really enjoyed using them, and after a full summer's use, they are still in great shape. Anything that makes a child curious about nature and the environment gets an A+ in my book." —Rachael P.

Get it from Amazon for $14.82+ (available in two colors).

This set includes binoculars, a compass, a butterfly net, a magnifying glass, a backyard exploration critter case, a whistle, tweezers, bug containers, a hat, and a backpack.

Promising reviews: "Oh my goodness I never write reviews but felt compelled to do so after gifting these to my two grandsons, ages 8 and 4. This kept them busy for hours, and seeing them walk around in those little explorer hats was the cutest thing ever. Everything seemed well-made, and hopefully, they will have many more hours of fun with these great kits. Highly recommend!" —L. Lovegood

"The binoculars are of great quality, as well as the awesome flashlight that doesn’t require batteries. It has everything you need for your little explorer. Cute camo hat that fits great. An awesome bag to hold all the items. The magnifying glasses are of great quality. Love that it includes fake bugs to play with. My son loves the small bug container and the larger netted one. He also loves the bug net and the little gripper tool that holds bugs. This could have easily been priced way higher, so it’s a great find for the price!" —Beth 

Promising reviews: "Different modes, and keeps kids busy for hours." —Amazonian

"Given to our 4-year-old during her birthday party. Our 8-year-old grandson put it together with a little help from grandpa. The 4-year-olds to 8-year-olds all had fun running and jumping. I even got asked to play the tossing rings! Fun was had by one and all." —Joann

It comes with 12 rings, 12 bean bags, six cones, and one carrying bag.

Promising review: "This is so cool. You can set up an entire obstacle course in your yard or home. So many options to create fun, exciting games! My girls have hours of play, creating their own games and using this product. Highly recommend." —Nichole

You'll find a handful of fun, free games already available, but you can also subscribe for a ton of other games. 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

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Plus, kids' rugs and chairs, and finds from Uncommon Goods, Target, and Walmart.

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.

The reviews used in this post have been edited for length and clarity.