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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.
There's a whole lot of energy coming your way — you might as well prepare now.
My mom — grandma extraordinaire and daytime caregiver for my nieces — bought one of these six years ago when my niece and nephew were toddlers. It still gets a ton of play with all ages of her grandkids and is something my kids run to immediately when we visit. I love toys that have years of use and this play set has really held up through both weather and various stages of child development. A double win in my book!
Promising review: "This is the best little play set. I was looking for something big enough for my 7-year-old to play in and this is the perfect size. She can stand up without her head touching the top and there’s more than enough room for her to move around in. It’s sturdy enough and will last a while." —RR11
Price: $189.99
I upgraded to this exact model last year since our previous one broke from years of use. Both of my kids ask for it almost every day and have found a lot of fun ways to use it rather than just pouring water. We add small bath toys sometimes, they use the bucket to water plants, or they pour water onto a slide to create a water slide with minimal input from me. I love to see the creativity! This one is great for older kids, too, just because it has a bit more size to it than more basic models.
Promising review: "Definitely a win in our home. Kept my 2-year-old quietly occupied while we got to enjoy some outdoor time in the sun. I actually set it up inside the kiddie pool for more fun." —jenna
Price: $79.99
I use glow sticks for one of my all-time favorite time-burners: the glow stick bath. Water is the perfect reset for kids of all ages, but not everyone has access to or the weather for a pool. Enter the glow stick bath! Create fun necklaces, bracelets, and glasses and throw some in the water for extra glow, and suddenly, it's party time, and everyone is happy.
Each pack contains 52 glow sticks in three sizes, plus connectors, clips, and cords.
Promising review: "LOVE these! They’re great for power outages, birthday parties, holidays (especially July 4!), and our new favorite thing — glow baths!" —Cristina
Price: $7 for a pack of 100
Price: $25.99
The box fan needs to be purchased separately, but at least it's something that can get use anytime! While any box fan should do, here's an option!
Promising review: "My 5-year-old LOVES this tent! It takes seconds to set up and take down and hours of fun! I purchased a second one to have on hand as a gift — we love it!" —ABSmith
Price: $29.99
Each package of six contains three peel-off masks, two mud masks, and one cream mask and is suitable for all skin types.
Price: $9.99 for six masks
Price: $64.99 (originally $89.99)
The reviews for this post have been edited for length and clarity.