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The days are long, but the break is... really long.

I am a contributor who has been writing for BuzzFeed Shopping for two years, with a focus on products that make parenting just a bit easier — and hopefully more fun — home decor, kitchen gadgets, and whatever deals I can scope out.

Promising review: "I bought this as a gift for a 3-year-old. They loved it and immediately started looking for items for the sails and decorations. Once done, we were looking again both inside and out for more decoration materials. It was a lot of fun watching them play with the boat, and it's very seaworthy!" —Jackstng

Promising review: "Cuter than I even expected it to be! Love that the inside parts are removable and that it comes with the cup to match. Great gift for any snacker!" —Lex

Promising review: "The camera is such good quality! It feels sturdy and is a perfect size for her tiny hands to hold. She loved the filters and found the camera easy to navigate to the screen to view pictures and then back to the camera. It's also great that she can hang it around her neck and take it with her everywhere. All in all, a hit for a Xmas present!" —Pri

This kitchen includes a mud kitchen, chalkboard, a pot, a ladle, two bowls, two flowerpots, a sieve, a water tank for actual flowing sink water, a sink, a faucet, and an oven plate.

Promising review: "Long-lasting fun for my two sons. They are entertained by this for long periods, which is definitely a mom win! So many things to look at and color, love that it washes out and we can reuse over and over again!" —Melissa

Price: $30 (also available in a world map version)

Promising review: "My kid loves these!!!! She has glow-in-the-dark bath time, and it's great. They're easy to clean and great fun!" —Carter

Price: $21 (available in two color combinations)

Promising review: "Simple and easy to understand. My 8-year-old loved coloring it in and flipping to see his work. Empty set allows them to attempt to make their own after completing the first sets." —WI mom

Promising review: "Kids love it. Great way to get out extra energy. Easy to set up in a garage or basement on hot or rainy days." —A Mom

Promising review: "So much more than a book! Bought this for my son a couple of years ago, and it's still getting good use. Being able to choose but also having chance involved with the spinner keeps things interesting, and it makes for a fun family activity since there are several things to do. I also like that there are real-life stories and survival tips through the book — my son loves interesting facts, so this is an added bonus. We've bought many books as gifts!" —ESMILTHY

Promising review: "My kids are loving this — coding their own game is wonderful!" —Whitney

Promising review: "So rad. Got two as gifts for nephews, and they are obsessed. The toy looks so simple but is endlessly fascinating and fun..funscinating?!?!" —Andy B

Promising review: "Assembly requires adult help, but it's straightforward and works great once assembled. It zips along in the sun." —Ac

Promising review: "This was so great. I googled cardboard cutting for kids, and this popped up, and I couldn't believe it. It looked perfect. I bought it for my 5-year-old grandson, but because he has a 3-year-old brother and a 7-year-old sister, I bought two sets. After the presents were opened, the two children set about to work on the cardboard boxes I had brought with me. All you could hear was the cutting of cardboard! They were very engrossed." —Nanan

Promising review: "Quality materials and unique tricks. I love that there are many levels of tricks. My 6- and 7-year-olds could perform some tricks right away and work up to the harder ones, which was great. For sure, a confidence and resiliency boost. I love that it has them practice 'public speaking' too!" —Sarah in Colorado

Promising review: "We have had for a few years now. I HIGHLY RECOMMEND IT. We use it regularly." —Mama OKiddo

Promising review: "Our family of four (mom, dad, and kids, 7- and 10-year-olds) had a blast with this escape room game. The puzzles and challenges are varied and fun enough to keep everyone engaged and we all had a great time working together as a team." —Mahpara

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Plus, finds from Amazon, Uncommon Goods, Target, 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 for this post have been edited for length and/or clarity.