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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.
Screen time is great, but these toys are better.
Promising review: "My 3-year-old granddaughter loves this play couch! We setup each variation that was on the insert and she loved each one! Her favorite is the rocket ship! Durability was a concern. After all, it needs to withstand the normal wear and tear that a 3-year-old will impose on it. After opening it up, I can see that the zippers are very durable (they won't split when it's jumped on) and the material is just as durable, yet very nice! The fact that the covers are removable and washable is fantastic too! The only draw back is that when placed on flooring (not carpeting), some of the variations that we setup did slide. Easy fix: I placed a non-slip rug pad underneath — no more sliding! I am very happy with my purchase and I highly recommend this if you have kids or grandkids who like to run and jump all over your living room furniture. So much so that I will likely order a second one for my house!" —NJSuzyQ62
Price: $134+ (originally $199; available in three colors)
Scooters are my kids' number one outdoor toy of choice and I recommend them to anyone who needs help getting energy out.
Promising review: "Easy to assemble. My 2-year-old loves it. The foot plate is big enough to stand both feet on. She likes to stand on it like a skateboard and go down hills." —Katie
Price: $32.72+ (available in three colors)
Price: $11.08
Promising review: "These are great! My boys were so excited and started building together right away. They love that it comes with one that has wheels and they keep building different cars. My 7-year-old built a castle and there were still lots left for his brother to play with. It also comes with a nice drawstring bag for easy cleanup." —Crystal
Price: $44.99 for a 120-piece set (originally $69.99)
Pro-tip: pull long hair back into a ponytail or wear a hat to avoid hair getting caught and keep it inside to avoid a runaway drone.
Price: $19.97
Promising review: "My 5-year-old is super creative and loves drawing and creating maps. He is also a bit of a mess maker, so to keep them creative juices rolling, I decided to purchase him his own supplies as well as a storage case. Crayola is a brand I trust and have loved over the years, and I wasn't disappointed in this coloring set either. The case contains crayons, pencil crayons, and two different types of markers. It also contained a textured area inside of the kit for the child to do rubbings, which is very unique. It also provides a very good method for organizing the coloring supplies. I'm excited to see what creations he will come up with in the future!" —Emily
Price: $19.92 (originally $22.97)
Promising review: "I have been looking for an inexpensive toy for my son that will encourage him to play outdoors more. We found this and I bought it on a whim. So glad I did! Not only does it get him outdoors, but it wears him out for bedtime! Bonus perk appreciated!!" —Chelseydoll
Price: $19.99
Promising review: "My kids and I really like Taco Cat Goat Cheese Pizza! You go around the circle and each person says an item. If the card matches what you say, everyone tries to slap the deck. The last person to slap the deck must take all the cards. There are also action cards in the deck. This game keeps you on your toes and there will be laughing!" —Lisa
Price: $9.84 (originally $12.99)
Promising review: "It's a cute but simple game. My 5-year-olds love it and they can set it up by themselves. They have a lot of fun and love to get me to play with them! Of course they crack up laughing every time the yeti falls into the bowl." —Shellshell22572
Price: $14.88 (originally $13.30)
Promising review: "My son absolutely loves the TV show, so when I saw this game I knew he’d love it. He’s always throwing them down on the floor and playing The Floor is Lava. It’s a good game for everyone, quick and easy to set up, and cleanup. They are foam so they don’t break easily. Good family game!" —Ksmith
Price: $16.97
My best friend brought an instant camera to my daughter's sixth birthday party and you have never seen a pack of 2–6-year-olds drop everything so fast. They ran through an entire roll in about five minutes because they have absolutely no self-control for this type of sorcery, but they pull out the pictures every day and look at them with so much pride. With older kids with a tad more self-control, this can be a creative outlet for them!
This bundle includes the camera, film, stickers, and a carrying case. I'd suggest getting a few spare roles of film, too.
Promising review: "My 6-year-old has loved her camera. She's dropped it a few times and it seems very sturdy! Case is great for kids." —JennBabe4444
Price: $78 (available in three colors)
I completely understand the gravity of recommending something with a microphone. *Hear* me out: my in-laws bought a karaoke machine for my kids a few years back with a note that said "We're sorry." Unsure of what I had done to receive such a loud gift, I defeatedly let my kids have at it. Surprisingly, I love it. They love to put on concerts and one backs up the singer with a toy piano while the other singes for her life with "Part of Your World." They also make up their own songs and it is a hot mess of adorable every time. And in the end, I get to say "nope nope nope" when I'm already over stimulated and the karaoke machine will surely send me over the edge. It's a surprisingly fun toy that has led to so many concerts, recitals, and hilariously chaotic performances that I cherish.
Promising review: "Was not expecting for it to work well due to the price but I was pleasantly surprised. It works great, it's loud, and best of all i can connect it to my TV. I love the voice changer feature, my daughter has been singing like the chipmunks since she opened it on Christmas." —Astrea
Price: $39
Promising review: "I bought this for my son's fourth birthday. I also have a 2-year-old son. They both love it. Keeps them busy and active. They jump and they just lay on it as well. I love the fact that they both fit on the trampoline. If I want to close it, it will fit under the bed." —Yeslan87
Price: $102
Price: $449 (originally $999)
The reviews for this post have been edited for length and clarity.