We hope you love our recommendations! Some may have been sent as samples, but all were independently selected by our editors. Just FYI, BuzzFeed and its publishing partners may collect a share of sales and/or other compensation from the links on this page.
1. A Melissa & Doug activity book with a pair of safety scissors that's full of puzzles, mazes, and lots of other hands-on activities that'll capture their attention and inspire some creativity at the same time. In fact, if you need something to keep your kid busy while you cook dinner, set them up at the dining table with this and you won't hear a peep out of them until mealtime!
Promising review: "Scissors skills are important both in and of themselves and because it strengthens the hand muscles to be used for learning to write. My 4-year-old LOVES this book. We received it this week and she has used it for a couple of hours each day. Many of the pages are cutting things out and putting them together (four-scoop ice cream cone, pizza with pepperonis, the components to build a house or a car, puzzles). We've used tape or glue to put the components together. This book is interesting enough to have caught the attention of my older children as well, although I make them let her do the cutting. :D Would make a great gift as it is so unique." —Mom of 7
Get it from Amazon for $7.99.
2. A bestselling Little Tikes trampoline because snow days mean you're stuck inside, and you'll want to have a foolproof method of letting your kid burn off as much energy as possible. They'll love bouncing away on this, and you'll love that the handlebar will keep them safe!
Promising review: "I have a wild 3-year-old who has more energy in one day then I've had in my entire life. From sun up to sun down he is ON. Unfortunately, we don't have a yard and we can't always make it to the playground. We picked this up for him hoping that it would help him get some of that energy out on days that we're stuck inside. We've had it for 8 months and it has been a lifesaver! I was worried about it taking up too much space in the living room but it's not bad at all. It's wide enough for him to jump comfortably, but not big enough to be an eyesore or get in the way. When I catch him trying to climb on the couch or run around too wildly, I just give him a quick reminder to jump on his trampoline instead. It's a win for both of us since he has a safe place to let that energy out and I'm not scolding him because he's jumping on things he's not supposed to. He is about 40 lbs and 40 inches tall and he doesn't seem to be growing out of it anytime soon. It was easy to put together and has held up beautifully! It's never tipped over and we've never had any accidents with it. I am so thankful we picked this up for him because it helps keep all of us happy and sane." —Ana
Get it from Amazon for $70.33.
3. A pack of Crayola Globbles for the littles with *lots* of extra energy to burn off. Let them embrace their chaotic side and hurl these sticky blobs on the wall or the ceiling. They'll be absolutely delighted to see them stick, and you'll be delighted that they don't leave behind any sticky residue!
Watch this mom explain why Globbles are her "new favorite thing ever" on TikTok.
Promising review: "My 15-year-old asked for these after seeing them on TikTok. I got them as a stocking stuffer thinking they’d be tossed aside. Unbelievably he and his 17-year-old brother have spent time laying in the floor, tossing them up to the ceiling, and waiting for them to fall so they can catch them. I never expected them to get this much use. Bonus is they’re off their phones and in the family room with us." —Amazon Customer
Get a set of six from Amazon for $10.69.
4. A color-your-own-castle playhouse in case a snowy Sunday traps your children inside. Instead of being tempted to say "I'm bored" for the 100th time, they'll have so much fun coloring in their little palace exactly as they want to.
Promising review: "My girls (2, 5) have spent hours and hours playing pretend in this castle. They work on decorating it gradually, but often stop to just play. Easy to set up. Great price." —ElaFree
Get a haunted house design from Amazon for $34.95 (more designs available here).
5. A Silly Poopy's Hide & Seek game — you hide this fake rainbow-colored poo in the house and it'll say "yoo-hoo" and give other funny clues about where it's hiding. Any kid who delights in potty humor will get a kick out of this one.
Promising review: "This game is HILARIOUS. My kids love playing with it and taking turns hiding it. (8, 6, and 3 years). They all think poop is funny and run around yelling 'Silly Poopy, where are you?' It keeps them busy for at least half an hour at a time and they leave me alone. Also? It's pretty durable. I found it outside in my garden in the 20-degree winter weather. I guess my 8-year-old left it out there for a few days. It also gets thrown down the stairs and Silly Poopy just keeps on giggling and having fun." —Adele
Get it from Amazon for $12.99.
6. A Fat Brain door pong game that's essentially like playing ping-pong without having to use a table. Just attach this to a doorway or an arch in your house, adjust the height, and let your kids start battling it out.
We have a hunch people of ALL ages will have fun with this!
Promising review: "I was looking for something fun that my son and I could do together. It's getting too cold to go outside, and I want to have plenty of options besides video games. My son was skeptical at first (cue the eye rolls) so I set it up (super-duper simple), and began practicing myself. Within minutes my hubby and son wanted to join in! It's in a wider-than-standard doorway in our house, which I'd suggest if you have one, it is easier to practice shots that swing wild. You can play together or as a single. Comes with an additional ball and string, which we haven't needed yet. Very happy with my purchase!" —Shawn A Lodico
Get it from Amazon for $26.95.
7. A pack of parachute toys they'll love launching from the second floor over and over and over again. They're designed so that the cords don't get tangled no matter how much your kiddo throws them in the air.
Promising review: "I bought these for my 4-year-old nephew and 2-year-old niece for when they come to visit. Right out of the box, they were excited and loved tossing them up in the air and watching them fall. I was amazed as to how long it kept their interest and the different ways they played with them. They dropped them off the stair landing, off the couch, in the yard and held them behind them to expand as they ran. My niece liked "Dancing" with them and twirling it around. Good colors and very well made. Hours of fun and the best $7 I ever spent on a toy!" — hiker0811
Get a pack of four from Amazon for $8.99+ (available in two colors).
8. A machine-washable coloring tablecloth to keep your kids busy while you're making Sunday dinner. Hopefully the days of them asking "Is dinner ready yet?!" a million times are now over!
When it's all filled in, put it in the washing machine, and all the colors will disappear. And now your kids can start from scratch!
The Coloring Table is a small business based in San Antonio, Texas, that creates colorable, washable, reusable fabric tablecloths.
Promising review: "The kiddos love it, and even the adults started coloring. Fun, fun, fun. Will see how it washes up, but so far very nice product!" —jatandra
Get it from The Coloring Table on Etsy for $29.99+ (available in three sizes).
9. A Dyson toy vacuum if your kid loves watching you clean and wants to help out with the chores. It is battery operated and actually has enough suction to pick up small items like paper, which will make them feel like they have a real vacuum in their tiny hands!
Promising review: "Our son is addicted to our vacuum. So much so that he makes a mess just so he can watch the vacuum clean it up. Thank the heavens for this little vacuum. It looks just like our Dyson and is the perfect size for our little man (18 months now, 15 months when we bought it). It fits his hand perfectly, makes noise, and actually vacuums fine (not very well, but enough to where we have to empty every week or so). Nevertheless, this product is very durable. It has been dropped down our wooden steps more times than I can count with zero issues. Completely satisfied." —Tom W.
Get it from Amazon for $28.94.
10. A DIY puffy sticker kit so your kid can add some custom flair to their notebooks or water bottles. Regular stickers are great, but puffy stickers they can make themselves? Next-level cool.
The kit includes enough material to make 60 stickers, including a custom puffy sticker maker, a 16-page book with detailed instructions, and a selection of designs that are either pre-colored or that can be colored in.
Promising review: "These are actually quite cute. The kit comes with everything needed to make the stickers — pre-colored images as well as images to color yourself. It can be a little tricky for little hands to layer everything correctly and get a nice good seal on the edges, but with a little help, little ones can make impressive puffy stickers. The instructions do state to not cut too close to the edge, which was done accidentally, and the sticker came apart — but after that, we made them correctly. I was hoping for a refill kit, but I don't believe one is available." —Annamarie
Get it from Amazon for $18.78.
11. A Melissa & Doug loom if your kiddo is more of an old soul and is already expressing interest in making their own blankets, scarves, or purses. Just set this up at the kitchen table and they'll be weaving away all day long.
The loom comes with an oversized wooden needle, craft materials, an illustrated design booklet, and 91 yards of rainbow yarn. Recommended for ages 6+.
Promising review: "My granddaughter loves it. She is 8-years-old and had no problem watching a YouTube video and getting started. She is on her third project and can do this without any help. I have purchased other looms that where not as user-friendly and are collecting dust. Great loom, would not hesitate to buy it." —lily
Get it from Amazon for $22.99.
12. A TikTok-famous pick 'n' peel stone — it's a super-effective way to redirect kids who struggle with nervous habits like nail biting or skin picking. Now they can pick and poke the paint off the textured side of the rock and peel the paint off the smooth side.
Pick 'N Peel Stones is a Pennsylvania-based Etsy shop established in 2020 that specializes in pickable painted lava rocks. Owner and creator Renee Benn designed this clever fidget toy to "calm your anxious mind."
Promising review: "I love my stones! I think it's a great idea and as someone who struggles with skin picking I have found these really helpful. I will definitely be buying some of the refill paint so that I can keep using them." —Etsy reviewer
Get it from Pick 'N Peel Stones on Etsy for $30.60.
13. A book of 642 tiny things to draw if you have a budding artist in your household and want something that will help them tap into their creative side. Depending on how fast your kid doodles, this book could keep them busy for a very long time.
Promising review: "I bought this book a year ago and I absolutely love it. I have not filled it out as much as I would like but I get really excited every time I find the time to fill out a square. You do not have to be a very skilled artist to enjoy this book; you can draw at whatever level you are or would like. I like that some of the prompts are explicit objects and others require you to use your imagination and come up with something unique. I also skip through the pages to find a prompt I feel like drawing at the moment. This is a great gift for anyone who enjoys drawing or doodling!" —mowglibear
Get it from Amazon for $9.95, Bookshop for $9.25, or Barnes & Noble for $9.95.
14. A mini projector so they can feel like they're at the movie theater without leaving the house. Grab a fuzzy blanket, pop some popcorn, and snuggle in with their favorite movie to stay warm as the snow falls outside.
Promising review: "Originally bought this for Halloween hologram decorations but after playing with it, this will be a year-round device in our house. Just plug in a Roku or other streaming stick and you're good to go. The kids love watching movies outside with it. Perfect for neighborhood movie nights. Can't wait to try it with external speakers, but I was really surprised it has built-in audio. Even came with a projector screen!" —Ryan W
Get it from Amazon for $79.99.
15. A classic Melissa & Doug ice cream station for any kid with a sweet tooth who also has a big imagination. They'll love stacking the cones high with pretend ice cream and "selling" the cones to their family members.
The wooden ice cream counter comes with eight ice cream scoops, six toppings, two cones, cup, scooper, tongs, wooden spoon, reusable menu card, and six pretend dollar bills.
Promising review: "My newly turned 3-year-old daughter instantly fell in love with this set! She loves seeing how high she can stack the ice cream cones and pretending to serve Mom and Dad her creations. She's been obsessed with climbing things around the house and we *desperately* needed a distraction to get her to stop, and this is working so far — she plays with this thing for HOURS!" —West Family
Get it from Amazon for $26.59.
16. A glow-in-the-dark fort-building kit to keep your little architect busy. They'll have so much fun coming up with new designs for castles or igloos or rockets — the possibilities are endless!
Promising review: "Got this for my niece who was 4 and she could play this for hours. She put her blanket over it, made flags, turned it into a wand, and a bunch of other versatile ways to play. It’s a great buy if you want to keep the kid busy for hours. It’s a bit challenging at times to get it dissembled but it was super fun for her. Easy to store back in the bag or box." —S. Cheung
Get it from Amazon for $49.97.
17. A Disney princess necklace activity set so your little diva can try their hands at designing their very own jewelry. Don't forget about setting up a fashion show afterward so they can show off their creations!
Promising review: "My 3-year-old twins loved it, entertained for hours, which is rare and so worth $7. Perfect for teaching coordination, color patterns, and encourages creativity. The necklaces are a soft, stretchy material with a safe breakaway clasp but that also stays on well. I wore a necklace for hours around the house and didn't fall off. The beads are cute and a good variety of colors. Overall great project, loads of fun for toddlers." —Lyss
Get it from Amazon for $12.99+ (available in 17 styles).
18. A three-string Loog Mini acoustic guitar — it comes with flashcards of chord diagrams and access to the Loog guitar app so they can actually start learning how to play at a young age. Look at that little rock star in the making!!
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 $89 (available in six colors).
19. A kids' selfie camera for any budding influencers who are constantly asking for your phone to take pictures. Now they'll be able to snap away at anything and everything and you won't find your phone covered in jelly fingerprints after they use it.
It comes with 32 GB to store thousands of photos. In addition to taking normal pictures and selfies, your kid can also record videos on here. And because it's made from soft plastic, nothing's going to happen to it if your kiddo drops it.
Promising review: "My 8-year-old niece has documented her life for the past year on this camera. She really loves it, which is great because she got it with her birthday money. It's great when a child's choice turns out for the best." —Teresa
Get it from Amazon for $40.99+ (available in six colors).
20. A sensory swing that's not only super fun to play in, but is also a great way to help kids develop better balance and motor skills. It also has a special spring at the top that'll let your little one bounce up and down...how fun!
Tamar Rozman created these useful hammocks for her small business as a way to give parents "an extra pair of hands" both for entertaining older kids and for safely holding babies. The shop has baby hammocks that'll safely snuggle your baby and provide the necessary muscle support in early infanthood. The larger versions are designed for creative play with older kiddos. All products are made from soft, organic materials.
Promising review: "My kids love it! This swing is the best! It is very well made and so much fun! It is a stretchy fabric but strong. The stretchy fabric makes it fun for the kids to swing as well as bounce and get really creative with movement. My kids wake up to swing and want to swing before bed even now a month after installing it! It's the best! Such a great buy, worth the money! I highly recommend it. My kids are about 40 (5-year-old) and 55 (8-year-old) pounds and I can confirm it's great for that weight range." —Lauren Cardenas
Get it from Rest Nests on Etsy for $92.80 (available in eight colors).
21. Or this rainbow-colored saucer swing you can hang indoors — this is almost guaranteed to become their favorite snowy day hangout whether they're lying on it to read or spinning their little hearts out.
Promising review: "So first off my kids LOVE this swing! It has been one of the greatest purchases I have purchased so far for their playroom!!! We use it inside to keep them busy on rainy days or when they need to get their energy out! I give the swing itself 5 stars for sure!!!!" —Samantha Brooke Main
Get it from Amazon for $49.99.
22. A Craft-tastic "Make a Fox Friend" craft kit — it comes with all the tools necessary to create their own fox stuffie as well as a wardrobe of clothes and accessories for the fox. It'll teach them the basics of sewing, and it comes with a tote so they can keep all their new crafts in one place.
Promising review: "This craft was a hit! The fox was very easy to put together and it turned out so cute! You have to make the tutu by tying a bunch of knots but other than that all of the clothes are ready to go and do not require sewing! The fox came with a little fabric bag to conveniently store it for travel. The materials in the craft are good quality and hopefully will last a while. My daughter loved this little cute fox!" —Olivia O.
Get it from Amazon for $19.99 (also available in bunny and mouse).
23. A "Speak & Spell" electronic game if you're looking to provide your kids a bit of '80s nostalgia on their snow day. They'll get a kick out of the speech synthesizer reading out words for them to spell!
Includes three AA batteries.
Promising review: "I bought this item for my daughter who has played with my 1980s Speak & Spell so much that it has begun to malfunction. My Speak & Spell is still one of the most memorable toys from my childhood. I played and played with that thing. It is what ultimately taught me how to spell the word 'language' 'lang-u-age' and taught me to challenge my mind with brain games. Now I pick up my daughter's for a round or two just to reminisce. We love it." —Holly McKellop
Get it from Amazon for $24.99.
24. A 12-pack of sustainable all-natural pure beeswax crayons that are so indestructible, they literally offer a money-back guarantee if they (somehow) happen to break. No more snapping through a pack of crayons in 10 minutes flat!
The large circumference of the crayon is great to help little hands grip onto them!
Promising review: "So I bought these worried about my 2-year-old potentially eating a crayon and having that toxic kind of stuff in her system. But, I really should have been more worried about my dogs eating crayons, which so far they've snagged one and a half of these babies with no health problems for them after, so I'd say that's a major win. What's also fantastic about these crayons is that they are the perfect size for little hands. My daughter just loves to color with them and they color as smooth as Crayola and they're not all plastic and waxy like the crayons you get at the dollar store. So I'd definitely recommend these to anyone with a toddler, just watch for sneaky dogs. They'll gobble them up." —Cassandra S.
Get it from Amazon for $22.95.
25. A marble run set because nothing's more satisfying than creating a tall, winding tower and watching marbles perfectly race down each bridge, funnel, and tube. This will help encourage spatial thinking, problem-solving capabilities, and even teamwork skills if they work on this with friends or siblings.
Promising review: "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
Get it from Amazon for $45.99+ (available in three sizes).
26. Or this Gravity Maze game if you don't have tons of room in your house but still want them to enjoy the challenge of making a marble weave its way through a puzzle. You'll practically be able to see all the wheels churning in their brain as they try to figure it out!
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 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
Get it from Amazon for $28.99.
27. This simple magnetic maze game that not only will help with fine motor skills, but it will also make your kid focus hard on moving the ball along. Which means finally you get some peace and quiet!
Promising review: "Happy with this purchase. It is well constructed. The balls and several internal pieces are metal (react to the magnet) and it’s all sealed up so nothing can get lost (yeah!). The string is long enough for me (adult hands) to manipulate everything so my kiddo should be just fine. Also, saw a comment about the board not having a goal — first, yes it does: get the balls into the matching slots. Second, I doubt my toddler, preschooler, will care. Overall a good buy and perfect for any diaper/busy bag." —sally
Get it from Amazon for $22.99.
28. A round rainbow puzzle if you have a puzzle-obsessed kid and they're looking for a unique, challenging puzzle to put together. Nothing beats the quiet contemplation of working on a puzzle...except maybe the sweet feeling of satisfaction your kid will have when they finally complete it!
Promising review: "Beautiful puzzle, very high quality, fun to put together. Not too hard for kids. Our 9-year-olds put it together and loved it!" —Christine Rommereim
Get it from Amazon for $19.98.
29. A Cup Noodles Yahtzee to add a cheeky twist to a classic game. This one's perfect for family game night on snowy Saturdays!
Promising review: "Yahtzee is my favorite game and so when these collectors items come out with different themes, I usually cannot resist the buy, warranted or not. I love Cup Noodles by design so I had to snatch this up. I love the cute symbols they use on the dice, the cup is nice and sturdy. I just wish they would have included a lid, like in other collections so this could travel with me. Yahtzee is so easy to learn, great for downtimes with family, friends, or even strangers." —Chasing Rabbits
Get it from Amazon for $23.88.
30. A two-sided, A-frame art easel so your kiddo can partake in whatever artistic medium they please. This has a chalkboard, magnetic dry-erase board, and a paper feeder if they prefer painting. We think this will be something they use for years and years to come!
Promising review: "Very nicely made product! Took 45 minutes to built but well worth the minutes and looks awesome too. Excited using it with my kid and being able to multitask all in one area with the chalkboard, white board and painting being optimal without the layout mess. Love that it has the built in clips to dry the painting also the storage area and the shelf to place extra paints. Really recommend for a long durable product to use and/or gift." —beauty4life
Get it from Amazon for $159.99+ (available in seven colors).
31. A Leapfrog learning pot if you've got a little foodie who is already expressing interest in learning how to cook. This will guide them into making a pretend meal thanks to five step-by-step recipes that also teach them vocabulary, colors, and numbers.
Promising review: "My 3-year-old grandson has one of these, and when I brought my granddaughter over to his house to play, she immediately fell in love with this toy. I had to buy her one for her 4th birthday and this became her favorite toy at her party. The crockpot talks to the kids, tells them what to put in it and counts with them, and does other activities. For some reason, it captivates the children and they love it." —Laura Zennie
Get it from Amazon for $21.99.
32. A 10-pack of Play-Doh because a classic is a classic for a reason! Watching your kid build structures with all the different colors will bring back some serious memories for you. Plus: It'll entertain them long enough that you could maybe check some things off your to-do list!
Promising review: "Colorful, nontoxic Play-Doh has been great for my son who has many allergies including skin allergies. He has had no problem with these. This keeps him occupied for quite some time, often when I am cooking or cleaning. I played with this as a child myself and have fond memories of it." —Brandy P.
Get it from Amazon for $7.99.
33. A Learning Resources Botley The Coding Robot 2.0 activity set that doesn't even require a screen to help then learn the basics of coding — yes, really! They can program Botley to follow a sequence of up to 150 steps. They'll love seeing the little robot battle obstacles and follow courses they've mapped out for it.
Promising review: "I purchased this toy for my daughter who just turned 5. She absolutely loves playing with Botley and the coding is very straightforward and easy for her to understand. She loves that she is able to program different codes to turn Botley into a frog, train, ghost, and more. I love that she is able to learn how to program things in a sequence and use if/then logic when playing. This is a great toy for children who love to learn about technology, and I love that it's a screen-free activity that encourages children to use their thinking cap and imagination during playtime!" —Southern Made Simple
Get it from Amazon for $67.19.
34. Or this DIY robot kit to pique their interest in STEM at an early age. They'll love how satisfying it is to build their own robot from scratch and see it move across the living room floor. Best part? You won't need to run to the store to get batteries — this baby is solar-powered!
The kit includes 190 pieces, a solar panel, and detailed instructions.
Promising review: "I purchased this as a gift for an 8-year-old boy. He loves to build, loves robotics, dinosaurs, and Godzilla. :) He LOVES this set! He sits for hours on end, which is an amazing accomplishment for any 8-year-old, playing with and building all the different robot toys. And, this isn't just for little boys. A friend's 8-year-old daughter loves them, the 48-year-old parent loves them, and the 75-year-old grandpa loves them. Fun for the whole family!"—MBC
Get it from Amazon for $32.99.
Live footage of how soundly your kid will sleep after playing all day with those fun indoor things listed here:
