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Outside toys for warm days ✅ Indoor toys for when it seems to never stop raining ✅.

I'm gonna go ahead and recommend wearing helmets, too!

Promising reviews: "Every year, I try to buy a large group of children in our family a Christmas gift that will keep them all outside and busy while the adults relax. This was the choice this year, and it was a huge success! A few of us adults were able to shimmy into it ourselves and play, too. We had to de`flate it to get out of it, but it was so fun. The kids were entertained for a long time and were running at each other so much that they were all worn out for the drive home. Christmas win!!" —Cindy McDaniel

"Absolutely hilarious to watch! I got these for my kids (7 and 8) because I thought it would be a perfect way to blow off steam and get some energy out...it was great! They ran at each other pretty hard, but it didn't pop, and no one got hurt! If your kids do a lot of bickering as mine do...get these! 😅" —Sky

Get a pack of two from Amazon for $22.99.

This comes with the shopping cart, cup holder, coffee cup, and seven grocery items.

Promising review: "This cart is the cutest thing! My 17-month-old twin girls absolutely love it. Their over-2-year-old cousins also loved it. The cup holder with the coffee cup is the cutest! They also love how there’s a seat where they can put their baby doll. So cute." —Amber

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

Promising reviews: "If you have little ones, this is a practical toy that keeps them busy for hours, especially if they love cars and racing." —Cindy Hamann

"This is light enough to take apart and move or store. My 2-year-old grandson loves this not just for riding down in the car itself, but also for the ramp portion, which he uses for his own entertainment (i.e., racing his toy cars down it or using it like a balance beam). It's very sturdy, and I feel it is worth every penny spent." —PL

Promising reviews: "My toddler loves these, they work very well and keep her busy for a good hour." —Yasmine S.

"My 5-year-old nephew wanted a parachute so bad, but we didn't want him jumping off the roof of the house, so I found these toys, and he LOVES them! The boys have contests and make-up games on whose chute goes farthest or highest, and they play play play! It's awesome!" —Amazon Customer

Get a pack of four from Amazon for $8.99+ (available in three styles).

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 more capable of solving them on her own). The adults also found themselves fixated on playing the different levels! 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 or kiddos over and keeps everyone busy and engaged for hours!" —Crystal Brown

This set includes four high-flying stomp rockets and an adjustable rocket launch stand.

Stomp Rocket is a small business creating fun blaster toys that are powered by kids!

Promising reviews: "Our grandson turned 4, and he loves rockets. He has several rocket books he reads. We thought he would like this toy, and we were right. He first used it in the traditional way by launching the rockets. He then decided to carry the launcher and use it to shoot at targets by holding it, aiming, and then stomping to fire. That kept him busy for hours. It was a great gift for him." —Connie

"The assembly is EXTREMELY easy. The rockets launch well above my two-story home that I have to make sure it’s not too close so one doesn’t land on the roof. It’s actually fun for the adults as well. My son loves to watch me really launch one. This is a great outdoor activity for any boy or girl. You don’t have to chase the kids around, and they get plenty of exercise running to get the rockets after they’ve landed. Fun for everyone. Well worth the 20 bucks I spent on it." —Geno

Get it from Amazon for $19.99+ (available in two versions and two quantities).

The set comes with a storage tin, rolling pin, wee knife, pizza/dough cutter, mixing spoon, three wee spoons, mixing bowl, pizza/pie pan, pie server, sheet pan, silicone cake and cupcake molds, two silicone finger mitts, and a 48-page recipe book.

Promising review: "This keeps my daughter busy for HOURS! My daughter saw this online somewhere, and she asked for it as a birthday gift. I expected it to be cute, but not useful. As it turns out, I was completely wrong. She has regularly made mini chocolate chip cookies, and she'll be doing mini calzones tomorrow. It's adorable, and the recipes totally work. She and her friends LOVE it." —Elura C. Kish

Pass out all the cards to the players and keep all the stacks face down. Everyone takes a turn putting a card down in the middle, while saying "taco," "cat," "goat," "cheese," and "pizza," in that order. If the picture on your card matches the word that's said, everyone races against each other to slap their hand on the central pile of cards. Whoever is last must take the pile of cards and add them to their stack, and the person who runs out of cards first wins! And it's made by a small biz!

Promising review: "The title says it all! You must buy this game if you’re looking to get your kids off their butts, computers, phones, or TV! My children sat for hours, five to be exact, just playing this and laughing. It was a lot of fun for my husband and me to hear them not fighting and doing something together. Loads of fun!! We even loved playing with them!! 🥰🤘" —Melinda Haiden

Get it from Amazon for $9.95 (also available in a "ridiculously large" version).

Promising review: "We bought these for a recent trip, and they entertained my daughter for a few hours. We would bring them out occasionally throughout the trip, and she continued to enjoy them. Highly recommend!" —Kelsie

Get a three-pack from Amazon for $18.95. 

Promising reviews: "This might be the only toy that keeps my young boys busy for more than an hour...They work SO well. Play with them outside on a windy day and watch how far they go! They also love the option of switching the back wing for 'straight' or 'swirly whirly' mode lol." —Em Ped

"Wow!!! These things REALLY work as advertised!! To be honest, my expectations were pretty low. But I was very pleasantly surprised to be proven wrong! The looping mode is so awesome, the kids and adults were giddy with excitement! It’s also very durable — it can handle hitting the ground pretty hard without taking any damage. Definitely best airplane toy I’ve ever played with." —kliles

Get a pack of two from Amazon for $12.99+ (available in two colors and different quantities).

Promising reviews: "My kids absolutely loved this!!! So lightweight and easy to catch! Keeps kids active and busy! Love it! Highly recommend!!" —kelly

"I got these to help my grandson burn off some energy, and we have such a great time with them! They're easy to use and glide so beautifully through the air. We have fun trying different ways to throw and catch them." —phausner

Get a pack of two from Amazon for $14.99 (available in two color combos).

Promising reviews: "Different modes, and keeps kids busy for hours." —Amazonian

"Given to our 4-year-old during her birthday party. Our 8-year-old grandson put it together with a little help from grandpa. The 4-year-olds to 8-year-olds all had fun running and jumping. I even got asked to play the tossing rings! Fun was had by one and all." —Joann

Mollybee Kids is a small, family-owned business based in Pennsylvania. 

Promising reviews: "Super cute and so easy to use. This is a must when you need to keep your little ones busy with no prep work." —KP

"A must-have. My 2-year-old son is obsessed. Always asks to play 'find you' game LOL. Then we play it, and every time he has an option in the game, he actually thinks really hard, then says, 'Come on, Mommy,' and runs me through the house to find the object. Highly recommended from a mom of four." —Britney bansley

Get it from Amazon for $12.99 (available in three versions).

Promising review: "Brought on a vacation. These are perfect for kids. Lots of opportunities to be creative. Would bring these to restaurants or on the plane. Definitely sticky and leaves a sticky residue on fingers. My 4- and 6-year-olds stayed busy with these for quite some time." —RACHY

Promising reviews: "We bought this for my daughter for her first birthday. Not only was she enthralled by it, but she spent 45 minutes, without pause, trying to solve this game. We use this in the car for long rides and have mixed up the pieces by adding her pacifier in. If you are looking for a great brain toy for a little one, I definitely suggest this." —MommingIt

"I gave this toy to my daughter for her first birthday. It didn't take her long to figure out how to take things in and out. It challenges her mind, it's almost a puzzle to her, and figuring out how things work is already a favorite activity. She absolutely loves this toy! Now, you never know what you'll find inside...That missing binkie? Her favorite teether? An unopened applesauce pouch? The TV remote? Yupp, you'll find it in this cube! We've only been playing with this toy for a couple of weeks now, but it seems quite durable. The bright elastic bands have the perfect amount of stretch. The colored shapes are bright and interesting. They're made of hard plastic with different textures and almost a matte finish. I will probably buy this as a gift for other kids. 10/10 definitely recommend!" —Frankie Garrett

BuzzFeeder Mallory Mower has this and says, "This balance bike is 100% worth the splurge! It's almost embarrassing how many people stop and compliment it when my 14-month-old daughter rides it up and down our street. She loves using it as a push toy and taking tiny steps while we hold the handle in the back. We love watching her riding progress as her confidence grows. It's also just so, so beautiful. My husband is an industrial designer, and his coworkers came over when we got it because they 'had to see it in person.' So funny to watch a bunch of child-free adults gush over a children's toy. This thing is a HUGE win!"

Promising review: "My 8-month-old grandchild absolutely loves this! She wants to get on it all day long, every day. She can’t walk yet, but picked up balancing skills right away." —Michele C.

Get it from Early Rider for $229 (available in five colors).

It can hold up to 250 pounds and is suitable for both indoor and outdoor use (though reviewers note that if you use it outside, try to avoid concrete). Flybar is a small business that creates fun toys and activities for kids.

Promising reviews: "My grandsons loved this. They jumped around on it for hours. I loved it because it kept them busy inside the house without breaking anything." —Cathy Ginn

"Our 4-year-old loves this toy! It's really fun for her and great for developing balance and large motor skills. The fact that it burns off some of her boundless energy is an extra plus. There's a built-in squeaker (which kids enjoy and adults learn to block out). Nice that it's an indoor/outdoor toy! Definitely a good value for the money." —L J Wessling

Get it from Amazon for $11.45+ (available in 14 colors).

Promising reviews: "These keep the kids busy, and they are easily washable. Even has a little strainer in the container so you can just rinse them with water in the container and then place upside down in your dish drainer!" —Valerie W

"Bought these for air travel and they did not disappoint. My son loved building towers with them and sticking them to the airplane's window. They go back into the container easily, and you really can just rinse them with water, and they are clean and still sticky." —Suzy E.

Promising reviews: "This product is amazing! Clever, clean design, beautiful, and easy to use for a 4-year-old. Durable and stories so far great! Keeps my toddler busy for hours at a time!!" —Isabela Sequera

"Well, I guess this has replaced our Tonie boxes! The convenience of the Yoto Mini can’t be beat. It’s small and easily portable. The battery life is fantastic, and we can get a couple of days' worth of listening on a single charge. The cards are not paper cards like I initially thought. They are durable plastic cards. It’s easy for my 2-year-old and 3-year-old to use. The variety of cards is fantastic as well! I was so happy they have Disney and Paw Patrol options! I highly recommend this little audio player!" —Morgan

Promising reviews: "Very, very sturdy and easy assembly. We had a reunion and this swing kept the kids busy for hours. I definitely will be buying another." —msbakwudhic

"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 $36.99+ (available in two sizes).

This toy acts as both a swing and a climber thanks to the 4-inch staggered platforms. It's suggested for ages 3+ and has a 150-pound weight limit. Jungle Gym Kingdom is a small business!

Promising reviews: "This was a great purchase. We ordered for our yard to keep the kids busy this summer. They have fun swinging from our tree." —Heather J. Hernandez

"Love this swing! It is so easy to set up, and my kids love it. This swing is so easy to take on and off; we even bring it with us for picnics and set it up in trees at the park. It definitely helps if you have kids who are tree-climbing age. Love love love! Would definitely recommend!" —45

Get it from Amazon for $29.99+ (available in three colors).

Promising review: "I LOVE this. Keeps my toddler busy without a mess. The best part is that once you use it, it dries and can be colored over and over again. Perfect for road trips!" —Molly Usry

Get it from Amazon for $8.95+ (available in six styles).

The set includes four rechargeable guns, four rechargeable vests, and one charging station. You can play approximately eight games per charge. The cool LCD screens on the vest keep count of how many lives you have, and the vest vibrates when you get shot, aka tagged. Play with up to four teams and eliminate your enemies to win the game. Recommended for ages 8+.

Promising review: "Let’s just say I’m officially the coolest mom in my kids' eyes! We played for hours and ran around the house, and they didn’t even realize they were exercising. They are so easy to set up, my son figured it out immediately. I love the charging station it comes with because there is no need to worry about batteries. no complaints here." —Julie Gutierrez

Promising reviews: "Great for toddlers. Keeps them busy for a long time. I had to buy one for each kid because they love it." —Katie Acquafredda

"I have a wild 3-year-old who has more energy in one day than I've had in my entire life. From sunup to sundown, 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 eight months, and it's been a lifesaver! I was worried it would take 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 pounds 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

Promising reviews: "This keeps my 19-month-old busy for a long time...it is very cute in his room, it doesn't take up too much space, and it is very durable. My 3-year-old grandson even plays with it as well." —Danielle Townsend

"I went out and bought this after my grandkids showed interest in basketball. It was so easy to put together, it is sturdy enough for the kids to slam dunk, and it's durable enough to leave outside in the weather. Very happy with this purchase." —Amazon Customer

These tend to slip, so if you do want to use them on smooth surfaces, grab some grip tape.

Promising review: "I love this toy because it will keep little ones busy. It reminds me of when my kids were little and they would hop around trying to avoid imaginary 'hot lava!'" —heidi

Get a pack of 10 from Amazon for $49.99.

Promising reviews: "These are great to use at restaurants. It keeps the kiddos busy and entertained without a screen. You can play together or individually. The small pieces and a reasonable amount of them make it easy to keep track of and also have enough to play well with. Would buy again and again." —Ashley Mann

"Out of a haul of toys we purchased to keep our two very active young boys busy on a flight, this was hands-down the most loved. They are satisfyingly tactile shapes. The pieces fit neatly back into the tin, and it is so easy and compact to slip into a backpack pocket! Would absolutely recommend — awesome toy." —Alexis P

Get it from Amazon for $19.97+ (available in three styles). 

My daughter has had this for a few months, and whenever I pull it out for her to play with, it definitely keeps her busy and holds her attention thanks to its variety of activities. She specifically loves pushing the button that opens a little mirror. Not gonna lie, this toy is pretty amusing for me, too, when she is off playing by herself, and I wanna give her a little independence. I like the one that spins with the little balls lol.

Promising review: "I cannot express how awesome this toy is and how much entertainment my 15-month-old gets out of it!! I had my eye on it for a while because the price point was in Christmas-present territory for me, but it's absolutely worth it. My son plays with this toy every time we drive somewhere, and it hasn't lost its novelty after about a month, which is a big deal for a toddler toy. He plays with the tiles, he throws the tiles around the car, and bangs on the board, it's just a lot of fun." —Roz Roth

Promising reviews: "Kept my kids busy for hours during a long car ride." —Katechuks

"Best entertainment for the money! No assembly required, which is great for my little kids. Easy to pack up and go, small enough to travel. Amazing quality and overall great fun for all my kids ages 3–10." —abs

Get a 10-pack from Amazon for $15.99 (available in two versions and in a 20-pack).

My daughter is 18 months old and has had these for a couple of weeks now. They definitely keep her busy, though I'm sure not to the extent of some older kids. While she isn't using them quite as intended, she loves pulling them out of the bag and playing with them. She is in a big dress-up stage, so she likes to use letters like "P" and "B" as bracelets. These are going to be great for growing with her as she learns her letters and words. And let's not forget, they are soft as heck, and the bean bag chair is actually comfortable to sit on when all the letters are inside. 

Promising review: "Exactly as seen on TV, these letters are bright and well-made. The pouf ottoman they come in is wonderful for storage and a useful seat for a child. All in all…a beautiful, well-considered design and tons of fun! Very happy I purchased it for my grandson. Imaginative toys are by far the best investment." —elizabeth K.

Get them from Alphapals for $195 (available in two bean bag colors; also available in other versions here).

Promising reviews: "My grandkids love these and keep them busy looking through them at many things." —Tammy

"These are absolutely the best for preschool-aged children. There is no need for adjustment. You just look into the binoculars and see a clear image. My son used these this past summer for getting a closer look at the hummingbirds at our feeder. We also took these with us on nature walks. He really enjoyed using them, and after a full summer's use, they are still in great shape. Anything that makes a child curious about nature and the environment gets an A+ in my book." —Rachael P.

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Plus, kids' mattresses, baby shower gifts, storage and organization solutions, travel must-haves, quiet toys, toddler tricycles, and finds from Walmart.

The reviews used in this post have been edited for length and clarity. 

BuzzFeed Shopping is service journalism first: our writers and editors spend all day shopping so you don’t have to, vetting products, fact-checking brand claims, and surfacing what actually helps in real life. We center readers over revenue, recommend products with authenticity (using real experiences, not ad-speak), and reflect our diverse audience, inclusive of a variety of price points, people, and needs. We cut through fake deals, favor useful info over glossy fluff, and recommend both budget and splurge options with context so you can decide what’s right for you — and still have a little fun along the way.

Jessica Hall is a freelancer and former BuzzFeed Shopping writer, and is based in Cincinnati, OH where you can find her curating lists on ~a little bit of everything~ (and adding a few things to her own cart in the process).