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27 Products That’ll Make Weekdays With School-Age Kids Significantly Simpler
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BuzzFeed and our publishing partners may collect a share of sales or other compensation from the links on this page. Read More Morning, noon, or night, just file all of these helpful products under “easy-peasy-lemon-squeezey.” I'm the father of two small humans and one very small canine and the former SEO Strategy Manager & Editor for the BuzzFeed Shopping Team. Promising review: "I purchased two for my twin daughters who use them daily for kindergarten! We have practiced using them this summer — opening, closing, trying different items inside — and have had ZERO issues! No leaks, simple to clean, easy to open and close! They have just the right amount of space for younger kids' food portions as well!" —Nicole Get it from Amazon for $22.99+ (available in ten colors) Promising review: "I use these for my child’s lunch box as a barrier for food items. It’s a very nice quality item; I’ve had it for a while now with no wear and tear. No nasty smell and easy to clean. I love the variety of shapes to change things up. It comes in a variety of colors and is long-lasting, which means you get a bang for your buck. Food does not stick to the product, and it is easily hand-washable. My kid uses them, so they are very easy to use." —Nikkie Promising review: "These are one of those simple products that actually end up being really useful, especially if you pack lunches for school, work, road trips, or kids’ activities. They’re thin, lightweight, and don’t hog space in lunch bags as chunky ice packs do." —Iren Get a four-pack from Amazon for $10.99 (available in two colors) Promising review: "My son LOVES his lunch box! The design is simple and stylish. We also love that the ice packs are built in, so when he puts his lunch away, it goes straight to the freezer for the next day!" —Casandrah Jensen Get it from Amazon for $20.99+ (available in 25+ designs) Promising review: "The seal is amazing — it never leaked, even when tossed around in my bag. The jar is solid, well-made, and strong enough that I didn’t worry about it breaking if it fell. Honestly, the quality matches the price — it’s durable, reliable, and so convenient for travel or everyday use. Highly recommend for parents or anyone needing a dependable food jar! Easy to clean; the lid has a rubber seal that's easy to remove and install again." —Sheyla Get it from Amazon for $16.08+ (available in five colors) Promising review: "Great for a school that does not allow metal utensils. Love the design. Easy to use, no issues with functionality. Has held up well thus far." —Amazon Customer Get it from Amazon for $9.09+ (available in 11 colors/styles) Promising review: "I love these sandwich cutters! They do exactly what they’re supposed to — turn regular sandwiches into homemade Uncrustables. Super easy to use, no mess, and the kids love them. A simple product that works perfectly." —Elizabeth Giannantonio Promising review: "The classic Bean backpack is always a winner. Bought this for my little guy who’s headed to kindergarten and hope he can carry it for many years." —HBD2026 Get it from L. L. Bean for $44.95 (available in six colors) Promising review: "This shoe rack is absolutely adorable and a perfect fit for our home! The best part was how clear and simple the instructions were — probably one of the best instruction manuals I’ve ever followed. It made assembly super easy and quick. The rack looks neat, holds plenty of shoes, and adds a cute touch to the space. Highly recommend for anyone looking for a stylish and functional shoe organizer!" —Gurmeet Singh Get it from Amazon for $53.39+ (available in five finishes) Promising review: "I bought one for my son's room, and it’s very sturdy. My toddler rips coats off of it all the time, and it hasn’t budged. I love it so much, I bought another one for my daughter's room. I highly recommend!" —Paige Promising review: "I purchased this crash pad for my son’s sixth birthday, and it is used every day in our home. I have a 10-year-old, 6-year-old, and 1-year-old, and all three enjoy jumping, tumbling, and landing on it. We also use it in several ways — as a place to relax, as a couch, and even as a bed for lounging. It has been especially helpful on days when we’re stuck inside, giving my energetic kids a safe way to burn off energy. I also really appreciate that it has a removable cover for easy washing, and an underlayer that helps protect it from spills and accidents. With daily use from three kids, it has held up well and has been a great addition to our play space." —Siân Promising review: "Loved these beanbags for my 6- and 8-year-olds. They fit perfectly; they’re comfortable and lightweight enough to move around easily. I also like the structure." —CRac Price: $75 (available for shipping in four colors) Promising review: "This vegetable chopper has made meal prep so much easier and healthier! It significantly reduces prep time and makes it easy to add more veggies to every meal. Sturdy, easy to clean, and works great." —shopaholic Promising review: "Great for kids and teens. Super easy to make a warm, melty sandwich quickly. Highly recommend." —Amazon Customer You'll receive 20 sheets per roll, and they're machine washable and reusable up to 120+ times before discarding. Promising review: "These are great! I have used them for years since my son started eating food at 6 months old. Kids make a mess and go through a ton of napkins, so these are way better. They don’t rip when we use them, they are wet to help wipe better. And you can get a bunch of uses. I just wash with dish or hand soap in the sink and dry in the dish drain rather than in the washing machine. Much better for the environment, too. Excellent, and one roll will last a while." —Linz Promising review: "I originally bought one for two of my siblings (middle school age) and my husband, and gifted them over a family dinner. Raging success. Any time one was set down, someone else picked it up within minutes. My youngest threw one down the stairs, and a clicker popped out, but I was able to get it back in in seconds. There's something for everyone with these fidgets. I'm considering keeping a stash on hand to add to presents throughout the year and highly recommend them to anyone looking for something with different functions." —Jon+Mikayla Get it from Amazon for $6.99 (available in seven colors). Promising review: "My biggest worry was that this would be a nightmare to clean, but it comes apart in three simple pieces and is top-rack dishwasher safe. My child loves the variety of snacks and the spinning process. Perfect for car rides. A little bulky for plane travel but useful if you have the space in your bag." —Messy House Mom Get it from Amazon for $26.96 (available in four colors) Promising review: "I rarely write reviews, but this is the best solution to the mess that little Lego lovers make on a daily basis. There were constantly Legos everywhere in my living room. Not anymore. And, the kids can actually see all of the pieces without sitting through bins. A pricey but great solution." —GCP Promising reviews: "We had water puddling back in the countertop. This solution extends the water drop out to the 'sink center' and avoids any countertop splash. Love it!" —Paul Anthony "These are great for the bathroom when you have grandkids or little kids. Because when they turn the water on and wash their hands, they’re splashing all over the back of the faucet, the wall, and now they have to put their hand underneath the spout." —Deek Promising review: "Better value than what you find in stores! I have kids, so this Oxiclean is our best friend in my house! It dissolves just like it's supposed to. It gets stains out better than any other cleaner I've found. It makes your clothes smell great, and it's never broken any of my kids' skin out, even after years and years of use. It makes your clothes soft when they come out of the dryer. I'd say it's 100% effective at what its job is for! It's not sticky and definitely versatile. Also, I love that the container actually comes sealed, so you don't have to worry about the lid popping off during delivery or it spilling out!" —Miranda Knoellinger Promising review: "This has finally helped me organize years of various documents that have been haphazardly filed. I now have everything in one compact, well-organized place. It expands and expands and keeps expanding to hold everything imaginable." —AW Promising review: "It’s great! Did everything I wanted it to do and more. For the other reviewers who are complaining that it wastes tape, they obviously didn’t read the directions. To fix the 'problem' they are having, you just have to change the margins to full, half, or narrow. It’s all pretty simple, and I can’t wait to label everything!" —SaRee B Promising review: "I bought a throw for each of my toddlers to use as a blanket during the warmer months in NC. The colors (fig and dried sage) are beautiful, the texture is unique, and the kids love them so far. The size fits their toddler-sized beds perfectly. I was really happy to find something both of them like and I like that’s not made of fuzzy polyester." —KALEYC Get it from Quince for $59.90 (available in six colors) Promising review: "I bought two of these originally, but I fell in love and bought five more! They are so comfy and soft. These were perfect for my small kids. They keep them warm at night and are very breathable. For the price, the quality is really good! They are worth the money." —Katherine Get it from Amazon for $19.99+ (available in 30 colors) Promising review: "Soooo cute! The quality is superb!!! These are big! Love it." —Amy Promising review: "Very, very glad I ordered this little machine. Our toddler wakes at the slightest noises (a zipper once woke her up), and it's a constant struggle to get her to nap or even sleep through the night. I finally got tired of the entire family having to tiptoe around and whisper, and decided to invest in something that we could keep in her room constantly. This has tons of different white noise and fan sounds, plus you can control the volume. It is very small and discreet. When I tested it in her room with her door half open, I couldn't hear much of anything (in our open-floor-plan home). I'm totally impressed and would absolutely recommend this product." —rachk19 Get it from Amazon for $37.46 (available in white and black). Promising review: "We are a family of seven, and this has single-handedly been the most helpful tool to our household this year. The kids love the tasks and rewards systems (I think the rewards system requires a yearly subscription, but it's worth it). This thing quickly replaced our family calendar, and now everyone easily knows what is expected of them every day. The 15-inch screen fits perfectly on a countertop or ledge and is plenty big enough without straining your eyes. It's pretty simple to set up and sync your phones right out of the box. The most unexpectedly fun feature of it has been the photo gallery screen saver. We add tons of photos to it, and we enjoy scrolling through them. If you can swing the cost of it, it's worth checking out." —Zach San Miguel * These 27 Products Will Help Turn Your Yard Into Your Kid’s Favorite Place * Things For Parents Who Want To Get Their Kids Excited For Back-To-School * Toys That’ll Keep Kids’ Attention Long After They Unbox ‘Em * Helpful Baby Products That'll Make New Parents Feel Like Freakin' Geniuses * Products For Anyone In Their New Parent Era 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 have been edited for length and/or clarity.
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