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These toys are working 9-to-5 to make sure your kids are having a blast and growing their brain skills, too.

I am a contributor who has been writing for BuzzFeed Shopping for over two years with an emphasis on home goods, parenting items and toys, beauty products, and anything that can make your day-to-day life run a little smoother.

And there's a whole line of Barbie STEAM kits fresh off the press to keep your science-loving-Barbie-kiddo hooked on learning *and* fun!

Promising review: "Cute game. My daughter likes to play, and it is easy to take on trips. Makes a great gift." —helpnuout

I'm gonna be Really Very Honest: I got this for me, myself, and I for nostalgia purposes, but then my nearly-6-year-old swooped in and LOVED it. I didn't have that on my bingo card, but now we're both obsessed. 

Promising reviews: "I had this toy as a kid and was so excited when they came out with a bigger size! My daughter is 2 and absolutely loves it." —taylor

"My child absolutely loves the Laugh Max Elmo! It's fun, engaging, and quickly became their favorite toy. The Elmo design is adorable, and it brings so much joy and laughter every time they play with it. Great quality and definitely worth it — I would highly recommend it!" —KaNiyah

Promising review: "I bought this marble run to supplement a set I had bought several years ago for my grandchildren. Having a set twice the size has supplied hours of fun for the kids." —Diana

Promising review: "This is an incredible product because my little one loves it. The touch-activated feature really keeps her engaged and entertained. It's soft and safe for kids aged 6 months and up. The size is perfect for cuddling and play. Overall, a delightful addition to her toy collection." —zandra

Promising review: "My daughter loves this puzzle. It's so cute how when you put the puzzle piece in it plays music from Miss Rachael and Songs for Littles. 10/10 highly recommend." —Mel

Promising reviews: "Our granddaughter loves playing with her new cash register. We gave it to her for her fifth birthday and I'm sure this was her favorite gift. Even her 7-year-old brother likes to play with it...if his little sister will let him!" —saluda66

"This is great for children to learn calculating skills, money counting, and change making. Best of all, no batteries!!!" —Ladyg802

Price: $26.50+ (originally $34.99+; available in two colors)

Promising review: "This comes packaged in a sturdy tree-shaped box that is also used as a game board. It is a favorite game among the preschool-aged children I care for. The 3- and 5-year-olds could teach the 2-year-olds fairly easily how to play the game. Taking turns is not easy, and it was definitely a skill that was learned through this game. They learned matching and counting skills by collecting the correct number or the specific acorn color to the spot on the cute little tree stump. They also develop fine motor skills by spinning the spinner and picking up the acorn with the fun 'squirrel squeezer' (their favorite)! Sometimes, they have to skip a turn, which also helps them develop good sportsmanship. We love this game. I think It would make a good gift for either boy or girl between the ages of 3–7." —Emily

Promising review: "Super cute toy! My daughter loves it!" —Brianna

Promising review: "I have struggled for months to teach my daughter the alphabet and entice her to learn. Luckily, that all changed when this Hot Dots set arrived! She immediately took to it and went through both books in the first sitting. She continues to ask for these books and loves to go through them. I love watching her improve and FINALLY enjoying learning!" —Lisa

Heads up, the ants ship separately, as the kit includes a voucher you must mail to claim them. (Nobody wants ants loose in a box at a warehouse!) The ants take approximately 2–3 weeks to arrive, so keep that in mind if you're looking to give this to a kid in your life in a timely manner!

Promising review: "I love this so much. I just got the ants in a few days ago, and they've started tunneling. The lights give it an extra point in the coolness category. I don't know who loves it more: my 8-year-old grandson or 25-year-old daughter. There was only one dead ant that arrived, but they sent plenty." —TonyaMac

Promising review: "My 6-year-old loves this. It comes with premade slides, and a book to check off items you see. He is becoming familiar with the knobs and is even asking for us to put things we find in 'nature' to see what they look like magnified." —Brittany

Promising review: "I purchased this for my grandson. Helps with his awesome counting skills." —MsJames

Price: $12.99 for a set of 120 (originally $20.99)

Because the tin isn't joking when it says for ages 3–99, let me tell ya.

Promising review: "My son loved these. I keep them in my bag when we go to restaurants. We let him play with them at the table before the food comes. They are like normal magnetites but mini. The price point is a little high but the quality is there. Also love that they come with a high quality travel case. Would buy again. And easy toy to bring on the go." —Keri

Price: $19.97+ (available in seven styles)

Promising review: "Was such a fun little project. My 4-year-old LOVED this. We kept the volcano mold to do as many volcano explosions as we want." —erica

The set includes pretend teeth set (the four back ones wiggle and lift to practice extractions!), "cavity" stickers, examination tools, a toothbrush, a toothpaste tube, a dental rinse bottle and cup, two gauze pads, two toothpolish cups, top and bottom retainers and braces, mask, a reusable ID tag on a lanyard, and a double-sided reusable activity card.

Promising review: "My 7-year-old grandson loves his set! The entire set is made very well. Big, bulky items that their hands can grasp. It comes with so many dental tools. Even fake cavities to 'repair.' He has played with it every single day. Great quality and purchase!" —Shae

The set includes a blue coloring board, a graphite pencil, 12 short colored pencils, 10 tracing sheets, and 10 blank sheets. 

Promising reviews: "My daughter loves to draw. This gives her creative ideas, and she can also trace other things, not just what is given. Keeps kids entertained, enjoyable activity." —Melissa

"My nephew fell in love with this toy. He loves drawing and this was the perfect addition to his art supplies." —CajunNana1972

Promising review: "I should have bought two! My kids absolutely love solving these puzzles. This is great at home and on the go!" —Girlmom

My son has a piano just like this and I can tell you that everyone from 1 to literally 78 are obsessed with it when they come into our home. I love toys like this that give more visual stimulation to learning sounds and music!

Promising reviews: "My 3-year-old loves this. I think this toy is a good investment for a 1-year-old all the way up to toddlers. It has a lot going on and that holds her attention." —Lindsey H

Promising review: "This is a really great product! Teaches your kid about planting and it is a lot of fun. 🤩 My 10-year-old enjoyed putting it together and has enjoyed watching it grow!! He has watered it every day. 😁" —Lisa

Promising review: "My boys love dinosaurs so they absolutely love playing this game together!" —Kimberly

Promising review: "It's a cute as it looks! The kids love it. Easy and functional!" —Diane

Promising review: "Omg, my great-granddaughter likes to play pirate, but she doesn't know how to close one eye to look through a telescope, so the binoculars are perfect. She loves to look at the moon, and when airplanes fly by, she gets so excited looking at them now. Loves to see the stars at night. This is a great idea for little ones who love adventures." —Jennifer

Promising review: "Grandchildren started playing with the pieces right away. They were delighted with the little animals and all the various pieces. And really important their mother was delighted, even with all the pieces. Turns out they had a smaller set with less pieces. So they appreciated all the pieces." —Kathy

Price: $13.58+ (available in three sizes)

This is a new LeapFrog offering, and I hope they expand on this line because I'm flabbergasted by how cool (and educational) this gadget is for the price. Honestly, with all the functionality, I'd expect a price point twice this much. In addition to my son using these weekly over a year after receiving them, I've also given these as gifts to kiddos in our circle, and they, too, are still obsessed.

Promising reviews: "Great educational binoculars! Perfect for my 7 year old nephew! He loves it...so does his whole family! It gets them outside and exploring the world around them rather than inside watching TV or on a phone or tablet playing games. It was a great birthday gift." —Sylvia

Promising review: "I bought this for my granddaughter for her third birthday. She absolutely LOVED IT. How it records whatever you say and then repeats it to you, plus it dances. She carries it wherever she goes. It not only made her happy but myself, too, seeing her so full of joy. Also, it sings tons of songs, too." —Debby

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Plus, next-level school supplies and finds from Target, Walmart, and Wayfair.

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/or clarity.