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Above-ground pools under $100, tie-dye kits, Twister Splash, and more super fun things that’ll make sure your kiddies are never bored.

I am a contributor and former BuzzFeed Shopping writer based in the DC/Maryland area who loves glitter, Marvel, Beyoncé, pink, wine, traveling, all things beauty and fashion, and shopping, of course!

Promising review: "We’ve had this jumbo outdoor Connect 4-style game for a few months now, and it’s been such a fun addition to our backyard. My husband and I play it just as much as our two toddlers do, which I honestly didn’t expect, but it’s one of those games that’s simple enough for little kids and still competitive for adults.

"We live in Florida, so our stuff gets put to the test with constant sun and random rain showers. I was a little worried about how it would hold up outside, but it’s done really well so far. The colors haven’t faded, nothing has warped, and it still feels sturdy even after being left out in the elements."The material is thick and solid — not flimsy or lightweight in a cheap way. It feels durable, and like it’ll last us a long time, even with toddlers being a little rough on it. Assembly was also super easy. My husband put it together quickly without any frustration (which says a lot).

"Overall, it’s been a great buy for our family and something we actually use regularly instead of just letting it sit in the garage." —Amanda K

Get it from Amazon for $119.99+ (available in eight colors).

The kit includes a surface cover, 12 pairs of gloves, 90 rubber bands, 18 bottles of dye, and a project guide.

Promising review: "I bought this kit for my kiddos, husband, and I for family day. I got some plain white shirts, and the colors came out vibrant. After many washes, the colors are still vibrant. It was easy to use. The instructions were simple. You have to use the colors once you pour water into them. It can be a bit messy, so I recommend using a tablecloth that you can dispose of and gloves. There are so many colors, and the size of the bottles is perfect. We made about six shirts, and we still have plenty of powder left for more." —Lupita

Get it from Amazon for $19.99 (also available in a mega kit with 36 bottles of dye).

Promising review: "We live in Texas where the heat is no joke. My kids love water balloons but hate having to clean up the mess. I saw a friend share about these, and I almost didn’t buy them because of the price…glad I did! Totally worth it. All the money and time spent on water balloons over the years have me convinced. Received them, and they work great! My kids can’t get enough and constantly beg to use them. They can fill them themselves, and they don’t hurt when hit. Super easy to use and clean up. Buying more for sure. My kids' ages are 2, 4, 6, and 8. All could use them easy." —Eden

Get a 12-pack from Amazon for $26.99 (available in other multipacks).

The kit includes regular slime activator, crunchy slime activator, butter slime activator, glow-in-the-dark slime activator, cherry limeade scented activator, glitter glue, clear glue, color-changing glue, glow-in-the-dark glue, and translucent glue.

Promising review: "My kids loved this kit. Hours of fun! Did it make a mess? Yes… but it cleaned up easily. I didn’t allow the slime on carpet or fabric furniture, so I don’t know how easily it would clean up off of that type of material. The mess was totally worth it for me. For reference, my kids' ages are 15, 10, and 7. They all enjoyed it." —Michael M.

Get it from Amazon for $29.53 (available in five other kits).

Dolphin Hat Games is a small biz that specializes in family-friendly card games.

To play, pass out all of the cards to players and have everyone keep their pile facedown. Everyone takes turns putting a card in the middle while saying "taco," "cat," "goat," "cheese," and "pizza" in that order. If the picture on the card that's placed down matches the word that's been said, everyone races to slap the center pile of cards, and whoever slaps the pile last has to add the center pile to their personal pile. Oh! And there's also "narwhal," where everyone makes a unicorn horn with their hands clapped together above their heads; "gorilla," where everyone bangs on their chest like a gorilla; and "groundhog," where everyone has to knock on the table. Whoever does the motion last picks up the center pile. Whoever runs out of cards first wins! You can play with three to eight players, and the *recommended* age is 8+.

Promising review: "I always think about games to play when at the pool — especially when there are 10-minute swim breaks and everyone is out of the pool — this is the perfect game! First of all, our family loves Taco Cat Goat Cheese Pizza. It's a game that's really easy to learn and is an energetic card game. (Perfect for kids!) To be able to bring this game around the water is awesome. I love how the cards are heavier, so they don't blow away as easily, too. The card ring makes them really easy to just toss in a bag, and I feel like it's indestructible. Honestly, we'll probably play this version of the game even inside just because of how indestructible it is (no one accidentally stepping on a card/ creasing it, etc.). Highly recommend!" —jessie

Promising reviews: "I got this for a summer party for my teenager and their friends to use. They had a blast! The size supported five of them, and it was great quality. The material isn't too thick, and didn't hurt the grass once we picked it up the next day." —Hillary

"It was easy to set up, very easy to follow instructions, and my kids and I had a blast playing. I thought it would throw just a bit of water to make the twister more fun, but boy, does it get you drenched in water, making it that much more slippery and fun!" —Laura Delgado

And here are some interlocking square pegboards that'll allow them to make their own creations! They come with reusable ironing paper, but you can also use parchment paper to place over their finished creation so that you can iron it together.

Promising review: "These are so much fun! I buy these for my kids every summer! My kids love these! They help build creativity and imagination! My kids will focus on these for hours on end! My kids that use these are ages 7–13." —Cameron

Promising review: "This screen seems so big in person — it worked well to display movies at night in our backyard. We used only the stand it came with, and the wind didn’t even blow it down. The projector we used with it actually came with a screen, but we opted for this one instead because it was noticeably sturdier. This was easy to set up and tear down, so we have no complaints taking it out each time the kids request a 'backyard movie.' We also used this at a church to display a slideshow for a funeral, and the photos appeared crisp and clear. Overall, this has worked great for us." —Rachel

Get it from Amazon for $66.49+ (available in three versions).

To play, each player draws cards that move them through the board. The first player to get all their pawns across the board and back home wins! Recommended for ages 6+.

Promising reviews: "Nostalgia made me buy this game, and I couldn't be happier. Got my kids to enjoy a game I enjoyed as a kid, and they loved it — I kicked their butt :)." —AK

"This was always a childhood favorite of mine. Still enjoy playing it now with my daughter. New rules make it more fun and quicker to play. The whole family enjoys it." —Jennifer Tavares

The kit includes 28 bundles of threads in 14 vibrant colors, letter beads, buttons, the bracelet maker, and five nonslip pads to securely attach to the table.

Promising review: "This is a must for all kids who love crafts. This makes it easy to do for new and old learners!" —danny glaze

Get it from Amazon for $21.65+ (available in 10 colors).

You'll get 7,000+ rubber bands, 300 C-clips, a rainbow loom hook, 12 gift bags, instructions, and a handy organizer case,

Promising review: "I have seven kids ranging from a 13-year-old boy down to a 5-year-old girl who all absolutely love making these bracelets. Keeps them busy for hours." —Keverly

Promising review: "The Trampoline Sprinkler Water Toy is a blast — easy to set up and perfect for cooling off. It sprays all around the trampoline, creating a playful water park vibe in your backyard. My kids loved bouncing through the mist — great for hot summer days." —KSN

Promising review: "I bought the Nintendo Switch for my grandchildren for Christmas. It was easy to connect to my TV. Learning to use the controllers was a breeze. The grandkids really enjoyed playing and so did my adult children. There have been no problems with it at all. I would buy it all over again." —MamaGBee

In this set, you'll get 85 translucent building pieces and 65 marbles, so the fun can go on and on.

Promising review: "Super hit! So glad I purchased this. We had rain for three days straight, and the grandkids (2, 4, and 7) couldn't go outside. This was the perfect solution. We — yes we — played for hours and hours each day! So much fun and creativity!" —Evie

Get the 150-piece set from Amazon for $49.99.

It comes with an inflatable basketball, volleyball, and soccer ball, four water guns, a hose assembly kit, a blower, eight stakes for the inflatable water park, two stakes for the blower, four repair patches, and a carrying bag,

Promising review: "Can I please just start off with THANK YOU!!! My husband and I talked for a long time about what to buy to entertain our kids, and let me tell you, we won PARENTS OF THE YEAR!!! Our in-laws are already planning out our summer get-togethers around our home!!! We literally are the hot spot for the summer! Thank you, guys, for bringing our family back together again!!! The materials on this thing are TOP NOTCH. Just unboxing our at-home waterpark from its box, we could tell it was made with durability in mind. I, a 31-year-old woman, got in there with three kids and had a blast!!! My kids couldn't get enough, and to tell the truth, neither can I. Thanks again!!!" —Stephanie Mayol

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

Promising review: "We love the simplicity of this product. The chest piece fits all sizes, and the laser tag guns are not so real that you are afraid to let kids play with them. There's even a laser beam sound effect if you don’t like the cracking sound of gunfire. It is exactly as it was listed. We get over 150 feet of range on cloudy days at dusk. We use it in our yard and in the woods. This is not just fun for kids — the adults in our family are having just as much fun. The seller was very easy to work with and very responsive to customer care and satisfaction, which I find very gratifying. Well packaged, we would definitely buy from them again. Thanks." —Risky business

Promising review: "These chickens are probably the most awesome pool floats we have ever purchased! We have two 12-year-old boys who are having a blast on these things! They also like to sit on them and battle with our pool noodles! They seem to be very durable and have held up well so far. They are not like the cheaper floats that you have to keep blowing up. Yeah, they are a tad bit on the pricey side, but trust me, they are worth it and tons of fun for adults as well." —Vanessa K

Get a set of two from Amazon for $69.95.

Promising review: "My son loves Legos, and this one was a great addition to his collection!" —Mary Bollinger

Promising review: "On our second year using ours! I wanted something all four of my kids could use, but also a lounge pool my husband and I could relax in together without having to bend our legs. I usually have to buy a new little pool every year, but this one has held up better than all the others! I re-inflate the top portion every morning, but I also drain and move it every night. Even with the kids hopping in and out all day, it doesn't deflate very much." —Michelle

Promising review: "We have had the pool for a few days, and it has been awesome. My kids have played nonstop, and my husband and I have escaped and relaxed in it. The pool is large enough for my 12-year-old to swim underwater with us floating on top. It is the perfect small/medium pool. Very easy setup. We use the Intex Pump and the Flippin' Frog for water treatment. Best purchase I have made in a long time." —David L

Get it from Amazon for $89.99+ (available in four sizes).

Promising review: "My son was in the third grade and raved about these books all year. After volunteering at the school's book fair, I learned how popular Dog Man was, and not just to third graders. Kids of all grades from second to fifth took an interest in Dog Man. The books were sold out by the third day of a week-long book fair. Needless to say, this was a great buy!" —Kysha

Get a collection of six books from Amazon for $42.73.

Promising review: "My 11-year-old son loves to bake, but a lot of recipes are too involved for him to do on his own yet. However, he recently received a pastry kit subscription as a gift, and these kits are perfect! The instructions are easy to follow, the ingredients are high quality, and the finished products are delicious. My son can make these recipes all on his own and is learning new techniques with each one. He is SO excited to receive the next one!" —Shayla

Get a monthly subscription from The Pastry Project for $35 (also available in a one-time purchase, and 3-, 6-, and 12-month subscriptions).

Promising review: "My kids love all things Dude Perfect, and this game didn't disappoint either! The nets stick perfectly on the end of the table. Fun game and great gift for birthdays, Christmas, or just because!" —Rae

BTW, make sure helmets are worn during bump-offs for safety!

Promising review: "Loved watching the grandkids bounce around in these things, my 3-year-old grandson thought these were the greatest! Even a few of the older kids squeezed themselves into them. I thought for sure they'd pop under the adult usage, but they didn't!! And these older ones didn't hold back at all!!! Great little game for outside play!" —Bruce & Jennifer

Get it from Amazon for $22.99+ (available in two other styles).

Promising review: "We used this at my daughter’s birthday party to distract the bigger kids. They played on this thing all night. It held up well and did not leak. The boards were the perfect size for the kids. We loved this slip and slide." —Kelci

Get it from Amazon for $34.99+ (available in 10 styles).

I have three of these coloring books (this one is on my wish list), and I'm obsessed with themmmm. I kept seeing them on TikTok and had to have them. Pro tip: grab some paint pens (these are the ones I bought). They make all the difference, and that's how the coloring pages end up looking so good. Plus, the paint pens don't bleed through! I have no regrets and plan to buy basically every single one of these coloring books. But for now, I'm loving the three I have (check 'em out — 1, 2, and 3).

Promising review: "I absolutely love the Disney Princess Color by Number books! As an adult, I find them incredibly relaxing and fun to work on, and they turn out beautifully every time. My kids enjoy them just as much, making it a great activity we can do together. The designs are detailed enough to be satisfying for adults but still accessible for kids. I’ve already purchased several more because we can’t get enough! Highly recommend for both kids and adults who love Disney and coloring. Perfect for display models, too!" —Jennifer

Promising review: "My son got this for a Christmas present and it was hands down the best gift. He has made so many cute films using the props in the kit. He has also become very curious about how movies are made and the different jobs people have to make a movie. Highly recommend this a gift for a curious kid." —Wünderbar Mutti

Promising review: "I love these books. My nephews and I couldn’t put this one down. We went through the whole book in 20 minutes." —Isaac Snyder

Get it from Amazon for $8.46+ (available in paperback and hardcover versions).

Promising review: "I ordered this for the kids to break up the monotony of the same boring pool games and floats, and it's been a ton of fun! It's fun for all ages, my husband and I have also been playing tic-tac-toe with it! Highly recommend!" —C Tucker

Get it from Amazon for $13.99 (available in three colors).

The bubble gun comes with two bottles of solution, a charger, one battery, and a plate to pour the solution onto (to dip the gun into).

Promising review: "This is a perfect summer kids' toy. My grandkids had a ball playing with the bubble machine gun. It creates thousands of bubbles, and the rechargeable battery makes things easier and less expensive. I recommend this fun and safe toy for outdoor activities for the kids." —Tray

Get it from Amazon for $26.99+ (available in six colors).

AirFort is a California-based small biz that specializes in mess-free inflatable forts that blow up in less than 30 seconds. Attach this to a floor fan and let the family fun begin! Easy to store, too! It comes with a carrying bag (only the size of a folded pair of jeans!) that it folds up and fits into.

Promising review: "I got this for my nieces and nephews, and we had a blast with it! I want to get one for my own house or over my bed! Super easy to use and incredibly roomy on the inside. Huge upgrade to the couch pillow forts we had to make as kids! Kids from ages 4–14 enjoyed playing with it, so I call that a win! And several adults hung out inside for a while; my sister’s husband even took a nap inside! Great value for fun, and folds down and takes up no space when not in use. Perfect!" —Jason

Get it from Amazon for $49.95+ (available in 16 styles/colors).

Promising review: "We ordered these for a pool party for our teen. The kids absolutely loved them, and I am convinced it contributed to extending the outside time late into the evening and kept them enjoying the pool longer. The ambiance was fun and great for all! The quality seems great." —Leanne Molter

Get a four-pack from Amazon for $23.98 (also available in an eight-pack).

Promising review: "We love this!! It's like light-up Jenga. We set it up, turn it on, and turn the house lights off. The kids love it!! Pieces are quality-made. Going to buy one as a gift for my brother!" —Janice Conklin

Promising review: "I absolutely love this floating game table! It’s such a fun addition to pool time. The table comes with four handy knobs to attach the chairs to, so no one floats away in the middle of a game — a clever and practical design.

"Occasionally, water splashes onto the table, and the only way to get rid of it is to flip it upside down, but honestly, that’s to be expected for a pool accessory. As a bonus, the chairs are comfortable and work great for just floating solo when not playing a game." —Kris

Get it from Amazon for $33.80 (available in two other versions).

It comes with a blank cover page, 20 blank storybook sheets, a guidebook, a pre-stamped mailing envelope, and 10 markers.

Promising review: "My daughter, who is 10.5 years old, is working on her own book! She loves this gift so much. It has given her a project where, instead of racing through it, she is taking her time. She cannot wait to finish her personal story so we can ship her pages back and receive her hard-bound book. She will soon be an author! Thank you for making an affordable, creative, hands-on project for anyone to enjoy." —Jessica L.

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Plus, finds from Amazon, Uncommon Goods, Walmart, and Wayfair.

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.

Reviews have been edited for length and/or clarity.