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 wooden puzzle so they can play a game of Tetris IRL. They can even create fun shapes with the pieces (e.g. a fish, a robot, a flower, and more). And even if they're not into making shapes, there are so many ways to complete this puzzle, it'll surely keep them busy for a good long while.
Reviewers say this is a great toy for ages 3–12.
Promising review: "My four grandkids (3–7) LOVE this puzzle. I bought it several years ago and have been surprised how much fun they have had with it. They bring it out each time they visit, sometimes working it as a puzzle and sometimes making everything from mountains, robots, and flowers with it. Great fun to stimulate their imaginations rather than video games or TV." —the girls
Get it from Amazon for $8.99.
2. A game of Taco Cat Goat Cheese Pizza because it's easy to learn, fun to play, fast-paced, and a round is sure to end in a barrel of laughs!
Dolphin Hat is a small business whose mission is to create easy-to-learn games that are fun for the whole family!
Promising review: "We are grandparents always looking for ways to entertain our 7-year-old grandson and 10-year-old granddaughter. Fortunately, they love card games. This game is easy to learn, requires concentration, and eventually causes uncontrollable laughter. It has quickly become our grandkids' favorite game and an easy, fun, and entertaining way to spend time with them. Great game for any age. You will not be disappointed." —Happy Eero customer
Get it from Dolphin Hat on Amazon for $7.97.
3. Kid-size binoculars if they're a burgeoning bird watcher. Support their self-propelled learning and curiosity with these!
4. A foldable indoor slide from Pop2Play for those rainy days when the playground isn't an option. This super sturdy slide will provide hours of fun!
This slide can hold up to 50 lbs.
Promising review: "Of all the gifts I got my granddaughter for her second birthday, this one is her favorite! It's been almost a month since her birthday and it's holding up very well to daily use. This slide is sturdy and safe, made well, and folds up easy. My granddaughter loves not just sliding down it but she climbs up the slide as well. Then she turns around at the top and goes back down haha. It's also fun for her to put her toys at the top, especially the ones with wheels, and push them down the slide...she gets a kick out of it! This slide is so much fun for little ones. Excellent purchase and can't beat the price!" —Jen
Get it from Amazon for $34.99+ (available in several styles).
5. A super fun 3D printing pen so your older grandkids can create all the wondrous things that they imagine. This pen squeezes out heated plastic that hardens instantly. They'll even get 15 colors of plastic refills so their creations are bold and full of life!
This is made for children 14+ as the pen tip does get hot and can cause burns. Children younger than 14 may be OK to use this under adult supervision.
Promising review: "My grandkids absolutely loved it, and it keeps them really busy with their innovative creations!" —Anne Schano
Get it from Amazon for $79.99.
6. A toy construction site with 2 pounds of kinetic sand they can play with and mold into bricks. They'll even have the help of a dump truck and a working crane! And its contained play space means less cleanup for you.
7. A reusable LCD writing tablet if your grandkid's a little artist who loves to draw but you don't want to use countless pieces of paper to support their hobby. To get different colors, all they have to do is adjust the amount of pressure they're using!
Promising reviews: "I bought this for my grandkids to use when they come to visit. It teaches them early to write, color, and be creative. Liked it so much I bought two more." —Terry Levy
"My grandkids LOVE these drawing tablets and they have already proven invaluable in the car and restaurants. Many times they draw something so spectacular I have to take a picture of it on my phone to save it for them. They’ve spent many hours on these tablets." —Barbara Dutton
Get it from Amazon for $19.99 (available in four colors).
8. Laser tag — turn your living room or backyard into a battle arena!
You'll get four guns, four vests (front and back), and one charging station.
Promising review: "This set was perfect for my grandkids ages 7, 11, 14, and 17. Even us adults played. They had so much fun. We set up obstacles to hide behind, such as: patio furniture, foldable table, ice chest, etc. Very easy to set up and play. Was definitely worth it." —Debbie L.
Get it from Amazon for $199.99.
9. Small body bumpers so your little ones can literally bounce around!
Recommended for kids ages 4–12, these body bumpers measure 25 inches L x 25 inches W x 23 inches H.
PSA: Make sure helmets are worn during bump-offs.
Promising review: "My grandkids have had so much fun with this. They are 7 and 11. They have been very rough with it and it has held up well." —Sheila Yeates
Get two from Amazon for $20.34.
10. A strategy-based wooden board game because it's a new take on the classic game tic-tac-toe that up to four people can play. This family-friendly game encourages the building of reasoning and critical thinking skills.
11. A flower-building activity set if they're sad to see their summer garden wilt in the winter. These stackable pieces can create unique blossoms with leaves, petals, stamens, and more!
Promising review: "This idea is great. My 3-year-old granddaughter loves playing with these and creating a little garden. They were so easy for her to learn. Great product." —52gthompson
Get it from Amazon for $13.98+ (available in two sizes).
12. A Lite Brite that comes with 206 pegs for creating ~brilliant~ pieces of art. It also features four color-changing light patterns so their creations can dance in the light. They can use one of the six included templates or use their imaginations!
Promising review: "A great old-fashioned toy for my high-tech grandkids. It has been so fun introducing my grandkids to some of the classics. In the age of computer games, it is so cool to make glowy pictures from pegs. They love it. It's great for shaping hand-eye coordination." —SEA57
Get it from Amazon for $12.99.
13. A lil' ice cream counter play set complete with pretend ice cream and money so you can get a scoop (or two) of your favorite flavor from your favorite shop.
This set includes: a wooden ice cream counter, eight ice cream scoops, six toppings, two cones, a cup, a scooper, tongs, a wooden spoon, and six pretend $1 bills.
Promising review: "What a great toy! This is a very sturdy, well-made, creative toy. Both my older grandkids and toddler grandkids enjoyed playing with this for a long time. The colors are bright, and the click-on toppings of sprinkles were so realistic and a big hit. The toolbox-looking carrier was such a good idea. The carrier holds everything and stores the pieces well. There are not an enormous amount of pieces, so it is easy to clean up." —Mpulsbyer
Get it from Amazon for $34.97.
14. A funny hide-and-seek game — just place this little poo somewhere in your home and watch as your kids have fun trying to find it! This Silly Poopy will even give them clues, and it plays a song that'll have them dancing once it's been found.
What Do You Meme? is a small business making fun, and funny card games/toys, plush friends, and pool floats!
Promising review: "Our 4- and 6-year-old grandkids came to visit and loved this. They laughed out loud the first time they saw it and played for long periods hiding it from each other. I had read reviews of kids singing the silly song and dancing to it. I was amazed my grandkids danced to the song every time it played and they rang it a lot over four days. Even their staid parents chuckled watching the shenanigans. This is an unexpected winner." —Steve Rittvo
Get it from Amazon for $12.99.
15. A working mini Dyson vacuum sure to make your grandkid feel more helpful and independent. This little guy can actually suck up a bit of litter, there's even a removable debris drawer! It also features realistic sounds.
You'll need four C batteries.
Promising review: "Easily my 15-month-old grandson's favorite toy. He's learned how to press the buttons to turn the motors on and off and really enjoys pushing this around, just like the big people do with their vacuum :) It's well-made, durable, and survives frequent drops. No small or sharp parts. It really does vacuum, there is a small dirt container to empty lol...but it's not really that powerful. It's a great toy though. Your kids/grandkids will get a lot of enjoyment out of it." —Chuck over in Wisconsin
Get it from Amazon for $24.99+ (available in three colors).
16. A wooden color-coded piano if you've noticed that your grandchild has an ear for music. This easy-to-play instrument comes with an illustrated songbook so they can learn to play nine kid-friendly songs.
Promising review: "This reminds me of my childhood. I used to have one in blue. My grandchildren are having a lot of fun playing with the piano. Nothing better than to see the happy faces on my grandchildren. Thank you." —Angelita Mendez
Get it from Amazon for $60.99.
17. A game of Bohnanza where you and your grandkids will work to plant, sell, and trade different kinds of beans in the hopes of harvesting enough to earn the most amount of gold.
Promising review: "Bohnanza is our favorite family game. Whenever the kids and grandkids come from all over the US, you can be assured that this game will hit the dining room table. It is simple enough that the younger grandkids and great grandma can understand it. It is exciting enough that everybody in between loves to play." —Ted A. Bear
Get it from Amazon for $19.99.
18. A game of Connect 4 because they'll love challenging you to this strategic one-on-one competition. The first to get four in a row wins!
19. A TikTok-famous 1,000-piece puzzle sure to bring you a sense of adventure and accomplishment with each new detail you and your grandkids piece together! It's even got a surprise twist ending once you've finished putting it together.
20. A game of One Night Ultimate Werewolf — everyone has a secret identity, but only one of you is the werewolf. Can you figure out who it is?
Promising review: "We have several games that we play when family and friends get together for a game night, but this game is requested more than any other game we own. Our teenage grandkids especially love it, and we've played it with kids as young as 8. It's interesting to find out who in your family is the most convincing liar! We laugh a lot." —K. Price
Get it from Amazon for $15.99.
21. A nostalgia-inducing Playskool Sit ‘n Spin toy they'll surely spend hours on, going 'round and 'round. All they have to do is push and pull the stationary wheel to get themselves going.
Recommended for ages 18 months+.
Promising review: "Wonderful classic toy. This is really one of the ‘must-have’ toys of childhood. My children had them, and I have purchased them for my grandchildren. This is a one-piece, active toy that can be played on inside or out. Kids love it, and adults enjoy watching the little ones. My youngest granddaughter is almost 5 and still loves this toy and can easily spin on it." —B Thomas
Get it from Amazon for $34.64.
22. A marble run set because it allows for creativity, problem-solving, and oh so much fun! Your grandkid will have a blast figuring out how to make their marbles go from point A to point Z. You might have a future engineer on your hands!
Promising review: "I recently purchased this for my grandkids ages 8, 6, and 4. They played with it every chance they could during a four-day visit. They consistently built more complex runs, and fairly quickly figured out the concept of building from the ground up. My granddaughter at just 4, impressed us all with her engineering creativity." —Yen4Truth
Get the 150-piece set from Amazon for $54.99 (also available in 130- and 300-piece sets).
23. A pack of six squishy Crayola fidget balls that they can stack, stick, or sling! The best part is the balls won't leave behind any residue. Whether they're being used as stress balls or as a wall ornament, these fidget balls are a ton of fun!
And when the balls lose their stickiness, just clean them up with soap and water for them to feel like new again!
Promising review: "I bought these for my grandkids, but we all played with them! Loads of fun and easy to clean. I was surprised that after washing and drying, they were just as sticky as brand new ones. Kids absolutely loved playing with these." —CKM
Get it from Amazon for $11.74.
24. The Floor Is Lava — this classic game requires and promotes imagination and physical activity. They'll have fun hopping around your living room! If you're looking for something to tire the little ones out, this is the game for you.
Promising review: "We had six grandkids up for a visit, and when I pulled this game out, the action began. There was laughing and scrambling to get onto the next color tile. I was spinning the color wheel and calling out the next tile to jump to. The kids were squealing with delight! I highly recommend this game for family fun." —G.A.K.
Get it from Amazon for $16.97.
25. A mini sports center if you have a little athlete on your hands! They can play basketball and soccer with this interactive toy whose functional LED scoreboard will make their games feel even more real.
Promising reviews: “Got this for my 9-month-old grandson and he loved it. He is now 15 months old and still loves it. He has learned how to slam dunk the basketball.” —K. Love
"Purchased this for my grandson’s 1st birthday and of course he loved it. His 5-year-old brother loved it more and wouldn’t stop playing with it." —Priscilla Hope
Get it from Amazon for $36.25+ (available in two colors).
26. A National Geographic science magic kit because each experiment is designed to be performed as a magic trick — wand included! Make instant snow or create a square-shaped bubble! The possibilities are endless.
This kit includes everything you need to perform 20 different science experiments! You'll even get a guide for 30 more experiments that can be done with common household items.
Promising review: "This is the second set I’ve gotten for my grandson. He really enjoyed the first one and I think he is equally excited to try the second one even though they are the same. The first time I gave it to my grandson he was 6 and now he’s 7. I think it would be fine for older children too because they can learn about geology. I am a retired teacher and I can see great educational value in this toy." —KLB
Get it from Amazon for $29.99.
27. A family-friendly game of Ticket to Ride where you are tasked with building train routes from one city to another. Gain points by completing routes and by having the longest one!
Promising review: "We have this game at our house and the grandkids loved playing it. They are 7 and 10. It didn’t take them long to learn to play. Great family game." —Marshall Thacker
Get it from Amazon for $47.99.
28. A kid-created game of Taco vs Burrito so you can steal, trade, and fight to craft the perfect meal with the best toppings before it's too late!
Tacos vs Burrito is an award-winning small biz making unique card games that are fun for the whole family.
Promising review: "I bought this game and the expansion pack for my grandkids (ages 8–12) and I to play. We love Exploding Kittens, and I decided to try this game. The kids picked it up really quickly and we played it a lot over the course of the weekend. They love it! We highly recommend this game." —Lisa M
Get it from Taco vs Burrito on Amazon for $19.99.
The reviews for this post have been edited for length and clarity.