We hope you love the products we recommend! All of them were independently selected by our editors. Just so you know, BuzzFeed may collect a share of sales or other compensation from the links on this page if you decide to shop from them. Oh, and FYI — prices are accurate and items in stock as of time of publication.
1. An assortment of international snacks so you can take a whole trip around the globe without ever leaving the living room.
Each assortment is a mix of salty and sweet, and is curated so meltables like chocolate don't ship out in the warmer months!
Promising review: "Fun quarantine activity. The kids absolutely LOVED this, they acted like YouTube unboxers😅 We really liked the guide that they sent us. We will be purchasing more from this brand." —Mandy
Get it from Amazon for $14.95.
2. A 24-pack of colorful dual tip pens kids can use as a fine tip or a marker — perfect for journals, coloring books, planners, or any other project for school or for fun.
3. A hand-operated mini drone for that "just got my Hogwarts robes" feeling — this mini drone levitates in the air after you gently toss it, and you can use your palm to control its direction. If you place your palm directly under it and move your hand up, it'll rise like you're a legit magician.
Promising review: "This is an awesome toy for every member of the family. We all love it and spending time playing together in this pandemic time. We take it to our backyard and have so much fun time with the kids." —Betsy Young
Get it from Canopus for $23.99.
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4. A rock painting kit for both kids and adults — this is not only great for getting your eyeballs off of your screens for a little while, but a fun opportunity to leave happy little rocks around your neighborhood with sweet messages for anyone passing by ❤️.
So a bunch of kids in my neighborhood have been doing this since quarantine started and leaving these rocks on the path in the woods behind the houses, and it makes my human day every time I see them. They keep swapping them out every few weeks and inviting other people to leave their own, and it's become this very sweet, socially-distanced pick-me-up for everyone in the area.
Each kit comes with 10 rocks, eight colors of waterproof paint, a paint brush, rock transfer designs, and tracking stickers.
Promising review: "This is the cutest thing to come out of quarantine. I made the most adorable lady bug, and now I have a weird emotional attachment to her. I might be in love with a rock that I painted. Her name is Daisy, I tell her about my day when anything happens. Like when someone walks past my house on their daily walk or when they gave me the wrong drink at Dunkin Donuts but I didn't say anything because essential workers are trying their best and I would never want to blame or upset them. She is a great listener. Luv u Daisy <3" —Cindy Mackey
Get it from Amazon for $12.95 (available in three versions).
5. A Wi-Fi-connected movie projector that easily converts any wall, both indoor and outdoor, into a personal theater. Once you sync it with a device like your phone or laptop, you can use it to project your fave Disney movies, at-home workouts, and even to play video games outside after the sun goes down.
Promising review: "This projector has been an amazing addition to our quarantine life at home. Who needs the movies when you have this. The volume is actually really good and the Wi-Fi is helpful. We hook up our Direct TV, Fire Stick, etc, and it all works great with great picture! We’ve been having a blast moving the movies home." —Amazon Customer
Get it from Amazon for $164.74.
6. A compact mini donut maker for some bite-sized quarantine treats — truly, can you think of anything in this universe more delicious than a warm homemade donut?? I'll wait.
The donuts cook within minutes, have an auto shut-off to stop them from overheating, and come with a recipe book that even includes gluten-free and Paleo-friendly options. Bonus? You don't even need to figure out how to make donuts — this machine will take store bought brownie, muffin, and cake mix just fine.
Promising review: "Absolutely awesome. It took me about five minutes to make the dough for these amazing donuts and it took only one and a half minutes to have them hot and ready. Love it when Dash comes out with new products so my family and I can continue to make wonderful memories especially during this quarantine." —TJ Davis
Get it from Amazon for $19.99.
7. A waterproof and portable inflatable lounger so easy to use that it'll feel like you found a cheat code for life — you literally just hold onto it and snap it into the air, letting the wind fill it up. Boom, instant cozy chair in any socially-distanced spot you can find.
It only weighs 2 pounds and fits neatly into a bag when you let the air back out of it, and once it's inflated, it has a head rest and a side pocket for stashing things like glasses and your phone. Perhaps most importantly for larger fams — it comes in a *ton* of different colors, so everyone will always know which one is "theirs."
Promising review: "We were wonderfully surprised how comfortable and easy to inflate these chairs were. After buying the first one and having our kids fight over it, we decided to go back and buy three more, so everyone in the family could lounge in comfort. They fold up small enough to where you can comfortably carry all four in a small shopping bag or tote. They can be inflated by just holding them in the direction of the wind on a brisk day or by running around in a big circle on a calm day. They have been a lifesaver during the stay at home/quarantine period this spring. We haven't tried them on water yet, but they claim to function as rafts as well. We're looking forward to using them during our next beach trip." —RipOff
*Another* promising review: "I purchased this for a 6-year old to play on during rainy quarantine days and it has exceeded expectations. While we occasionally use it for lounging, it also doubles as a (pretend) pirate ship, white water raft, space shuttle, quicksand pit and swamp monster. It also serves as a slide, seesaw, and wrestling opponent for a 50 lb kid without having to reinflate. I realize these are all off-label uses of the chair, but after 10 weeks stuck in the house with this kid, we're desperate. I used a hair dryer (set to cool) to quickly inflate this indoors versus flapping myself to death like an idiot. The static electricity generated from the material is also great for collecting dog hair, so I count this as a discount Roomba." —Anna V.
Get it from Amazon for $41.98+ (available in 14 colors).
8. A wireless, Bluetooth-enabled karaoke mic you can sync with speakers, players, or singing apps on your phone and live out your Von Trapp family dreams in the comfort of your own home.
Promising review: "Fun time during quarantine. The microphone is great! It was purchased as a gift for a family member and now we are going to order two more for ourselves. The carrying case is a bonus as well. With Bluetooth capability along with pulling up an app with the words to sing along, we had a fun family night!" —Samuel Johnson
Get it from Amazon for $31.99 (available in 11 colors).
9. An Amazon Echo Show 5 enabled with a camera screen for calls, so you can keep the whole fam connected for some socially distanced cross-country chats without all the hassle of figuring out how to wrangle Facetime, Zoom, or a zillion other platforms. Basically, it's an easy way for younger family members who don't know how to use tech to keep in touch with older family members who might not have as much access or knowledge of it, since it's all voice-enabled.
The Echo Show 5 also has some awesome features for kids — with an Amazon FreeTime Unlimited subscription, kids get get access to audiobooks, movies, skills from brands like Nickelodeon and Disney, and ad-free radio stations and playlists, all designed for kids. Plus if they're ever using the Echo Show 5 on their own, you can use Amazon FreeTime to filter explicit content, set limits on who they're able to contact and how much screen time they can have, and set a "bedtime" limit.
Also — similar to other Alexa-enabled devices, the Echo Show 5 responds to voice commands and can be synced with Audible, Amazon Music, Amazon Video, and other apps and programs like Spotify, iTunes, and NPR.
Promising review: "I bought two Echo 5 devices one for my house and one to keep at my Mom and Dad's. They came in super handy during quarantine to keep in touch with loved ones who also bought them. My 4-year-old loves it because she loves to 'Drop in on Grandma and Pa' and video chat with them. My parents like it because it's easier than trying to figure out how to work their cell phone to video chat LOL! You can ask Alexa questions about the weather, search for recipes, make phone calls and just handy to have around for random trivia. I am very pleased with this purchase." —Abbondonza
Get it from Amazon for $69.99.
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10. A frozen yogurt and ice cream maker you can use to make your own ~personalized~ ice cream flavors in 20 minutes or less. Brb, stuffing mine to the gills with enough candy to make Willy Wonka shudder.
Psst — people especially love this for being able to make their own dairy-free flavors!
Promising review: "I never would have imagined that making ice cream could be so easy. I don't like to have a lot of kitchen gadgets, but I thought this would be fun for my kid during quarantine. It couldn't be easier and the ice cream is delicious. We don't use a mix — we usually just use milk and cream (the cream helps it stay softer when frozen), sugar, a pinch of salt, and vanilla. The simple chocolate ice cream recipe came out very well too. Next time I want to make strawberry. I love being able to use high-quality ingredients and adjust amounts. Best quarantine purchase, hands-down." —Mom in Va
Get it from Amazon for $69.95+ (available in three colors).
11. A game of Throw Throw Burritos, a combination card and dodgeball game that will help both kids and adults burn out some pent up energy — and maybe crave those microwaveable burritos in the freezer like whoa.
The objective of the game is to collect matching sets of cards faster than everyone else, which earns you points — but if you happen to be armed with one of the foam burritos and aim it at someone before they can dodge, you can knock their points out (and distract them from finding other matches). The game includes a few other niche rules to keep everyone on their toes, and is good for ages 7 and up and for two to six players.
Promising review: "So... I can’t even begin to describe this game 😂. I’m 32, my husband 38, and our children are 14 and 11. We ALL love this! We had to stock up on games for the quarantine and this has been our favorite. Make sure to take your glasses off before playing if you wear them 😂 You’ll have bruises. You’ll break things. You’ll yell. It will be the most fun you’ve had in a long time. If you drink and aren’t playing with children, I imagine it would be even more fun! This isn’t hard to play and there aren’t many rules and I love how it doesn’t really matter if you cheat because no one cares as long as you get to throw a burrito. If you have dogs, watch your burritos because they look like fun dog toys and will disappear with a quickness. Just buy this, you’ll have the most innocent fun you’ve had in years!" —Amazon Customer
Get it from Amazon for $24.99.
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12. A majestic, ginormous unicorn sprinkler for the backyard that will make your house the most magical one on the whole block 🦄.
I actually found out about this because I saw a neighbor with it in their front yard, and y'all, pictures do not do it justice. It is truly the cutest thing I have ever laid eyes on.
Promising review: "Bought this for myself and my nieces after a few weeks of quarantine, wine and heat!!! The best present an aunt can buy!!! Works great!" —valerie a vigilanti
Get it from Amazon for $38.99+ (available in two sizes).
13. A flameless indoor s'mores maker complete with two marshmallow sticks and storage for all your ingredients, so the fam can take their marshmallow-and-chocolate destinies into their own hands.
Promising review: "This came in perfect use when we were quarantined!! We tried different recipes. The five kids ages 1-20 and even the two adults in the house were super excited!!! So easy to use and to clean. Everyone had 'Just one more' until we were stuffed!!!" —Pen Name
Get it from Amazon for $24.99.
14. A Color Wonder Baby Shark activity book so you can find something for the kids to ~doo do doo do do doooo~ without making a mess — the markers *only* work on the paper in the activity book, so kids can't color on the walls or the table or the power bill you left out (TRY THOUGH THEY MAY!!).
Each book comes with 18 coloring pages and five Color Wonder markers.
Promising review: "Often times markers are scary with a toddler (for the parents) because when it is too quiet in the house it means there is probably some new art being created on the wall! These are great because they do not make a mess! I can be working from home and my 2-year-old is quietly coloring away at her desk! No mess is great! The pictures are cute! We got this as a surprise gift during the COVID-19 social distancing period while we are teaching from home. It was a great surprise and the perfect activity!" —Aaron J. Rose
Get it from Amazon for $6.96 (available in 10 other styles, including Disney princesses, Moana, Paw Patrol, and more!).
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15. A set of fairy lights you can use to add some whimsy to a space you might be getting a little tired of by now, or just make for the most magical blanket fort accessory of all time.
It comes with eight different light modes, including a *twinkle* mode, with a controller attached to the lights so you can easily switch between them.
Promising review: "OK, so it's quarantine time. Life is a bit grim. You want a little bit more light in your sphere, so you see these, and you think, maybe. Well, I'm here to turn your 'maybe' into a 'yes.' Not only do these lights add a bit more illumination to a bedroom that's quite dark, but they're just so magical and fairy-like. They infuse a little bit of joy into my world that I really appreciate. I have beams going across my ceiling, so I ended up stringing them across the whole room. I also appreciate that the remote (which is another warning part of the actual strand of lights) has various settings depending on your mood. I usually opt for the stable one, but these offer several modes. ENJOY!" —Tess
Get them from Amazon for $17.99.
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16. A truly iconic tortilla blanket so that everyone in the family can achieve the greatest aspiration of them all: becoming a human burrito.
Promising review: "My son (7) loves tacos and I wanted to get him something to soften the quarantine blow and THIS WAS IT! He has had the blanket (so soft!) around him for the past three weeks, pretty much non-stop. Thank you to the makers for letting my son 'become a burrito!'" —VA Resident
Get it from Amazon for $34.99 (available in seven styles, including waffles and pizza).
17. A mini waffle maker versatile enough to do way more than its main job — if you're waffling on the waffles, you can also use it for hash browns, paninis, biscuits, and even (gasp) PIZZA. If you can dream it, you can mini waffle it.
Promising review: "I absolutely LOVE this waffle iron. My 2 year old is a picky eater and he loves chocolate chip Eggo waffles. COVID then shut things down, and there were none in the stores, so we decided to try this and it's great! It's not practical for a big breakfast cause it takes about a minute per waffle, but it's perfect for my little one." —Madeline
Get it from Amazon for $9.99 (available in red and nine other non-heart-shaped colors).
18. A set of sensory fidget toys perfect for both kids and adults who are looking for quiet, discrete ways to stay focused during long Zoom chats and socially-distanced learning.
Each set comes with two flip chains, a liquid motion timer, a peek-a-boo squeeze bean, three marble and mesh toys, six stretchy strings, three beaded stress balls, six spiky balls, one snap and click snake, one basketball stress ball and one Rubix cube.
Promising review: "Got to help my kiddos focus during their video-chats/shool projects during the quarantine. Works like a charm keeps their hands busy and minds focused on the task at hand. Bright colors, and well-made stuff. Thanks!" —Robert Cowell
Get a pack of 25 from Amazon for $22.95.
19. The Floor Is Lava, an interactive game based on everyone's favorite recess pastime for both kids and adults. You set up foam pieces on the floor of the room and spin the dial to see which ones are "safe" to jump to (because otherwise, well ... 🔥).
The game is ideal for two to six players ages 5 and up, and also includes "challenge cards" to raise the stakes. A foam piece gets removed with every round of the game, so it gets harder and harder for players to jump to "safety" each time the dial gets spun revealing the next color everyone has to jump toward. The last person on a tile without touching the floor wins!
Promising review: "Bought this to keep my kids entertained with something new during the quarantine. They are ages 8, 8, and 9 — they can't get enough of it! It encourages activity and movement and keeps them from bouncing off the walls (or the couch). You can play by the multiple ways described in the instructions but my boys like to make up their own rules for play sometimes too!" —Penelope
Get it from Amazon for $16.97.
20. A bed tent that may prove to be the real MVP of quarantine. On a practical level, people who have been moving and shifting within their families because of the pandemic can use it for privacy in a quick pinch; on a fun level, parents are using it for kids to have ~indoor camping~ experiences, or just a fun space they can feel like is all their own.
The tent comes in Twin, Full, and Queen sizes — including one adapted for bunk beds and dorms — and has two zippered exits at the side and bottom. It also features privacy panels that lift up and down, and pockets on the inside for stashing things like flashlights, books, and snacks. It can be used with or without a mattress, is super lightweight, and designed to fold small for easy storage.
Promising review: "During the quarantine, it's really good to have something that can bring a bit of that outdoors fun into the kiddos' lives! My child loves to spend some nights in the sibling's room and they cannot agree on when to turn off lights. This tent became a great solution for this. It's made of a soft cloth material and has different kinds of options of which part of the tent to open up. There's even a little pouch you can hang up a pair of glasses or a book. A loop in the ceiling allows one to put a little light for nighttime reading." —ChickNorris
Get it from Amazon for $94.99+ (available in four sizes and four colors).
21. An ice pop mold complete with a funnel, 50 sticks, and 50 bags so you can make your own personalized ice pops and take them with you on the go for all your summer picnics.
Psst — one reviewer mentioned that it was also easy to make creamy fruit pops by adding Greek yogurt!
Promising review: "My grandkids eat Popsicles everyday and with the 2020 pandemic I did not want to go to the store every couple of days for Popsicles so I got these. They are just so easy to use. They clean easy they freeze solid and evenly and I only wish that they came with plastic reusable sticks. But I'll still give it five stars because I'm so impressed with how well and how fast and how even they freeze. It was such a nice surprise to have the individual bags so that I could keep making them. And a booklet of recipes was nice too. Good price." —Penta
Get it from Amazon for $25.99.
22. A soft kid-friendly face mask with gentle ear loops designed to fit ages 2-14, with a variety of fun prints like dinosaurs, hearts, ladybugs, and zoo animals.
Promising review: "Bought like seven of these masks for my kiddos and we love them. My kids weren't crazy about wearing masks and would fight me every time but with the cute patterns they actually don't mind these and don't fight me anymore. They are soft and fit both my 4- and 5-year-old perfectly. Also, the shipping was pretty fast which I was grateful for! :)" —Ashley34
Type Of Fit: Over-the-ear straps
Pocket For Filter: No
Fabric Type: Cotton
Shipping Time: Standard shipping
Get individual masks from Carter's for $3 and in three-packs for $9.
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23. Plus a soft silicone ear-saver and mask-extender to help give a more comfortable, personalized fit on kids' face masks with elastic straps that don't *quite* fit their small faces. This also helps prevent earache from wearing masks all day, and is designed not to get tangled in hair.
An easy hack, of course, is to tie the elastic strings, but sometimes that makes it too small!
Promising review: "These are GREAT! My kids’ masks were iffy on sizes and these made a huge difference. My husband can wear it also so it works for all sizes. Very happy." —Jeannine
Get a four-pack from Amazon for $6.99 (available in eight different color combos).
24. A set of jumbo sidewalk chalk so you can make the whole neighborhood your canvas by setting up fun games or sweet messages for friends' birthdays on their driveway from a social distance.
The kids in my neighborhood set up a LEGIT PERSONALITY QUIZ on the sidewalk the other day where you had to walk all the way down the street answering questions before you could tally up your results at the end of the curb to find out what kind of monster you are. It was very precious. I am not crying, there is just street chalk and the relentless creativity of adorable children stuck in my eye.
Promising review: "The chalk was sent to our grandkids in Michigan. We are trying to send items to help them enjoy quarantine a bit better. The five of them used the chalk to decorate their entire sidewalk up to their front door by making a giant mural. They sent us a great video of the finished product. Delightful! We are ordering another package of chalk today." —Jim R.
Get a pack of 20 from Amazon for $11.19.
25. A unicorn slime making kit, because truly the most universal human experience is that deep down inside we all just want to stretch out a big ole glop of bright pink glittery slime.
Each kit comes with clear written instructions and access to video tutorials to make over 100 different kinds of slime, from unicorn slime to glitter slime to fluffy cloud slime to floam putty. You can personalize the colors, textures, add-ins, *and* the smell — the box comes with beads, scents, glitter, ink, foam balls, the ingredients needed to make the slime, and containers to keep it in.
Promising review: "This came today and my 10-year-old daughter is having a blast making slime! The kit has everything anyone could need to make fun slime. This is worth it for a gift and for fun on a lonely quarantine day." —Veronica Malbus
Get it from Amazon for $27.99.
26. A mini trampoline for indoor *and* outdoor use, so everyone can blow off steam during the day by unleashing their Tigger.
Promising review: "This is such a lifesaver during these quarantine days. We live in an apartment and I tried to find out ways that could keep my 3-year-old active while we can not go out. He is having a great time jumping. The trampoline is very well made and easy to assemble. Both my hubby and I also jump on it from time to time. It somehow helps to release the stress. I would recommend this size over the 40 inches one for people who lives in apartment. (Of course If space is not a constraint, then I’ll surely go for a bigger size) With this 38 inches one I can jump with my 3-year-old together without a problem." —Kate W
Get it from Amazon for $69.99 (available in two colors).
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27. A Baby Yoda puzzle that essentially proves that the human heart is made up of 500 pieces, and those 500 pieces make up this tiny creature's perfect face.
28. A set of liquid chalk markers you can use to decorate the windows of your house or car — perfect for all the drive-by and parade celebrations for weddings, birthdays, and graduations!
Promising review: "Wow, this product was amazing. Took a minute to figure out how to activate the markers by shaking and then pressing firmly until color flows into tip, but once I got the hang of it I was amazed by the quality of color brightness on my car windows. Used it to decorate car windows for my daughter’s sweet 16th birthday party drive by, during this corona quarantine. The colors looked great, it was easy to use and decorate using a variety of techniques. I made lots of big letters and drew colorful images and everyone who saw it loved it, most importantly it made my daughter happy on her special day. Overall I’m very pleased and highly recommend this product!!!!" —Wendy T.
Get a set of eight from Amazon for $14.88.
29. A family-friendly backyard sprinkler for some socially distanced pool shenanigans without ever having to pack a single bag into the car.
Promising review: "Just what my grandkids needed on a hot May Day. Perfect for little ones to splash around in and use up some pent up energy! The perfect addition to our new 'stay at home' backyard oasis!" —A Mitchell
Get it from Amazon for $21.99.
30. A paint-your-own stepping stone kit so everyone in the family can decorate their own and give the front yard a little personalized flair ☀️.
Each set comes with a ceramic stone, a paintbrush, six paint colors, and a mixing chart to make new colors out of them.
Promising review: "COVID-19 has us quarantined at home so just pulled this out. My son absolutely loved painting this stone! It is great quality and feels sturdy like it will hold up. I will be buying another for him to do. It is also a great gift option. It comes in a very nice box and would be a hit for all kids for sure. I love to gift things that make a child think or use creativity!" —Ebboo
Get it from Amazon for $7.93 (available in five shapes).
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31. A foam pogo jumper kids can use both indoors and outdoors to jump to their lil' heart's content. It's also great for balance, hand-eye coordination, and, of course, complete and utter shenanigans.
Promising review: "This has been such a great toy to have in the house (especially during quarantine) — our son can let out his bursts of energy by hopping all around. We have been making up obstacle courses (lay a blanket on the ground — hop over the river, etc.) and it’s provided all of us with a lot of entertainment." —MD
Get it from Amazon for $19.95 (available in 12 styles).
32. A collapsible microwave popcorn maker that doubles as a serving bowl, so you can make yourself popcorn so warm and salty that your Friday movie nights will feel like you're smack dab in the middle of a theater.
All you have to do is add generic kernels + whatever oils or butters you feel in your heart, and you'll be raring to go.
Promising review: "Looks weird, feels even weirder. But can it make popcorn? Oh, my, YES! With everyone hunkering in place because of COVID-19, we really need home movie night — complete with popcorn and refreshments! And this little popcorn maker helps to make it so very pleasant." —Edward S.
Psst — if you're looking for way to add some pizzazz to your snack, check out BuzzFeed's ideas for flavoring popcorn!
Get it from Amazon for $15.90 (available in 16 other colors).
Everyone in the fam bonding during quarantine like:
Reviews have been edited for length and/or clarity.
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