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27 Toys That’ll Keep Kids’ Attention Long After They Unbox ‘Em

Trust us, these will be heavy in the rotation for a while.

Posted 10 hours ago

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by Kathleen Shea-Porter BuzzFeed Contributor

I've been a BuzzFeed Contributor since 2020 and I'm always on the lookout for products that are the perfect blend of form and function — especially if it's in the realms of parenting, travel, and home goods and décor.

1. An inflatable double-sided easel to keep your mini Monets and petite Picassos occupied with their latest masterpieces – all without the messy cleanup afterward for you.  

www.amazon.com

Promising review: "Great product, easy to inflate and use! Great for kids, great for hours of outdoor fun! Saves parents the hassle of indoor messes!" —Dlaw

Get it from Amazon for $44.99.

2. A Kinetic Sand set for the kid who was born to be at the beach 24/7, which is, unfortunately, just not possible. (For most of us, anyway!) Keep this in a sealed bag, and it's like a mini vacation you can always revisit.

www.amazon.com

Promising review: "My kiddo loves this Kinetic Sand! It's soft, moldable, and mess-free compared to regular sand. It keeps her entertained for hours and is great for sensory play. I really appreciate the resealable bag for easy storage. Perfect for indoor fun and imaginative building. Highly recommend!" —Wawi

Get it from Amazon for $15.17+ (available in three sizes).

3. A Lite Brite Classic, because you know from personal experience that this will deliver a smile that will light up their entire face. And the designs you can make? Endless!

www.amazon.com

Promising review: "I ordered this for my daughter and we both absolutely love it. Easy to store away and keeps her entertained for a few hours. Would recommend!" —Mindy

Get it from Amazon for $9.39.

4. A scavenger hunt card game for when you're searching for some fun around the house... And the only answer is to take things outside.

www.amazon.com, www.amazon.com

Promising review: "The card game was a great choice for my kids. They had a blast playing it both indoors and outdoors. The game cards are colorful and easy to understand. It encouraged them to explore and sparked their curiosity. The durability of the cards is impressive, and the storage box is handy. Overall, I highly recommend this game for hours of fun and active play." —UMmba

Get it from Amazon $9.99.

5. Asuction cup archery set with two bows and 14 arrows that will be a total bull's-eye with the fam. You, ahem, aim to please.

www.amazon.com

Promising review: "This archery set is an absolute must for kids! My son spent hours playing with it, and it was so much fun to watch him play. The suction arrows are safe and stick well, making it both fun and worry-free. Having two bows in the set is a great bonus, allowing siblings or friends to play together. This toy is durable, engaging, and perfect for outdoor adventures. Highly recommend for endless fun and creativity!" —William C.

Get it from Amazon for $29.98 (available in three colors). 

6. A Kanoodle Ultimate Champion, which is like the original but even better, because this one has a timer and a guide with 500 new puzzles. This will get them to stop asking "Can I watch TV?" and instead ask "How much more time do I get?"

www.amazon.com

Promising review: "My daughter spends hours on this. It is a great alternative to reading, when some down time is needed or great car game." —ANO

Get it from Amazon for $19.97.

7. A cardboard castle ready for a royal time of coloring and imaginative play for your petite princesses and princes. And you? Sometimes you're the jester, sometimes you're the dragon, but if you get this for them you will be their QUEEN.

www.amazon.com

Promising review: "Our littles loved this so much and this provided HOURS of entertainment!! I was nervous as it's cardboard, however it was durable and survived four rough toddlers playing princesses and knights!! Would definitely recommend! Ages ranged from 3-years-old to even my 12-year-old niece thought it was cute to go inside!" —Ashley W

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

8. A Play-Doh Kitchen Creations restaurant play set, so your little can whip up the tastiest pretend creations... and you might have a few minutes to get the real deal ready in time for dinner.

www.amazon.com

Promising review: "This and the coffee shop set keep my daughter entertained for hours. And when you think she would get tired she asks for a different color and starts all over again. Even the extra utensil help keep her amused longer. Gives me enough time for mom projects like dinner and dishes and it's actually very easy clean up she does most of it herself and she's only 3!!" —Lizzie

Get it from Amazon for $16.89.

9. A set of two walkie-talkies that are begging to be used for a backyard game of spies... A game so fun that it somehow grows from two kids to the whole neighborhood gang — and nothing is better.

www.amazon.com

Promising review: "I purchased these for my son and I think I'm enjoying them just as much as he is! We opened them up and we've been outside running around from the front to the back yard for three hours. Lol... Love them so much! Cant put them down!" —ladybug

Get it from Amazon for $22.49 (available in seven color combinations).

10. A mega-size Rainbow Loom bracelet-making kit, which will lead to a lot of good times with a serious side of nostalgia for you. This could keep a '90s kid occupied for HOURS, and your kids must learn from the best.

www.amazon.com, www.amazon.com

Promising review: "Our daughters are 6 and 9 and received a smaller Rainbow Loom kit as a gift. They loved it and used it so much that we decided to purchase this for them. They love all the colors and the multi-colored fastener doodads. My favorite part is when they're making bracelets; they play together nicely and give me about an hour of peace and quiet. 10/10 definitely recommend. Worth every penny." —Kindle Customer

Get it from Amazon for $24.99.

11. A Silly Poopy hide-and-seek game that gets the giggles going just by saying its name. Where's the grownup hiding? In the kitchen, enjoying a cup of coffee (while it's still hot!), and the kids are independently playing.

www.amazon.com

Promising review: "This hide and seek game is so fun. We randomly hide Silly Poopy in house all the time. The song will get stuck in your head and never leave so be prepared for that. But also hours of fun both inside and outside. We also do a little dance when we find Silly Poopy and he plays the song. My 6-year-old loves it and this it’s so fun and silly. Great gift!! I had this in my cart for awhile before I bought it and wish I would have sooner." —Schub22

Get it from Amazon for $8.07+ (available in four styles).

12. A set of 12 ribbon wands, which are amazing for many reasons — one of which is that they appeal to such a wide age group. Even your phone-obsessed teens and tweens will want to give these a whirl.

www.amazon.com

Promising review: "My granddaughters played outside for hours. I wanted something entertaining for them to do outside away from the tv, phone, tablet…mission accomplished." —Nunny

Get a set of 12 from Amazon for $8.54 (also available in a two-pack).

13. A GlowCity light-up basketball for the baller who doesn't let nighttime slow their game. Just one bounce turns the light on, and it automatically shuts off when it's not in use. Basically, this is a slam dunk.

www.amazon.com

Promising review: "Kids keep stealing it cause they can play basketball after dark. That's great, but this is the second one I've had to purchase in the summer. The kids act like moths to a flame with this ball. The teens like it too because it's not too far off from a court ball. It's a rec ball for outside play, of course. I just sprayed the hoop with glow-in-the-dark paint, and they play for hours. I haven't had to replace the batteries because someone takes it home when I'm not around, so I give up. The light is pretty bright. These are great Christmas gifts I guess. For every grad party (I have had four), they play for hours, so it keeps the boredom down for teens. Good grip and bounce. Good purchase." —Kika

Get it from Amazon for $29.99+ (available in two sizes, two materials, and in various bundles).

14. A 150-piece marble run set that is ideal for those times when you're stuck indoors and about to lose YOUR marbles if those kids don't find something to do IMMEDIATELY.

www.amazon.com, Amazon

It comes with 85 pieces and 65 marbles.

Promising review: "My kids played for HOURS with just three pieces of track. Love the independent play this facilitates, and the sturdiness means mommy can get housework done while the kids play! Great quality. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED. We even purchased the super set the very next day after receiving this set. The kids (and mom and dad) love it so much." —Karen

Get it from Amazon for $54.99+ (available in four sets).

15. A Skip It, which was the OG step counter for some of us. Show your kids how it's done (you've still got it!) and then watch them go round and round and round. 

www.amazon.com, www.amazon.com

Promising review: "Bought this for my granddaughter and her friends to play with on the beach. They LOVED it! They took turns and played for hours. It was a great purchase!" —CarolBern

Get it from Amazon for $22.99 (available in two colors).

16. A Yoto Mini for a screen-free way to enjoy your little voyager's favorite stories, music, and more. Plug in those headphones and let them get lost in a good audiobook...and you might be able to actually read that new book everyone's been talking about.

www.amazon.com

Yoto cards are available to purchase here. You can also download free content through the app. 

Promising review: "We already love our Yoto Mini! My nine year old has spent hours listening to favorite audiobooks, podcasts, and music. It is very easy to use, especially when setting up your account and creating cards. The sound quality is great and seems very durable, especially being moved around a lot (we take it with us pretty much everywhere we go). It's been a great investment that we have been using nonstop!" —Cristina

Get it from Amazon for $79.99.

17. A 100-piece set of Picasso tiles, a magnetic building system that will get used over and over and over again. Pro tip: commit to one building toy type and then just keep adding to it! It will still feel new to your crew and cleanup will be MUCH easier.

www.amazon.com, www.amazon.com

Promising review: "These tiles are amazing! So many different ways to be creative. Our 2-year-old loves it so much and even the adults can have hours of fun with it. These are great for individual play for our toddler and can keep her engaged for 15–30 minutes at a time. They are also amazing for interactive and pretend plays, from building houses to car ramps. Love these so much and highly recommended!" —Buu nguyen

Get it from Amazon for $39.99.

18. A Skillmatics Guess in 10 Animal Planet game, which is so fun your crew won't even realize that they're (gasp!) learning. My kids absolutely adore this one and I'm not going to lie... I do, too!

www.amazon.com

Promising review: "My kids, 4 and 5, LOVE this game! It has been awesome to see them learn about different animals. My favorite thing about this game is the hours of fun it has brought my family! My kids can’t read but they love to describe the animals and it allows them to feel engaged and part of the game." —Amazon Customer

Get it from Amazon for $14,22+ (available in 12 editions).

19. An absolutely darling magnetic dress-up set that is so fun whether you're traveling or at home. There are more than 25 different magnets in this self-contained kit, so get ready to see your kiddo get creative.

www.amazon.com

Promising review: "This set is wonderful! My child loves mixing and matching outfits, and it keeps them entertained for hours. The pieces are colorful, easy to use, and inspire creativity — perfect for imaginative play." —Lourdes Gendreau

Get it from Amazon for $14 (available in four styles).

20. A set of four parachute toys, which are simple but brilliant. How many times can your kids run up the stairs and throw them down? The limit does not exist.

www.amazon.com

Promising review: "I didn't realize just how awesome these were! Because of the netting, the strings don't get tangled! They were cheap, but not cheaply made and have already created hours of fun by my kids, even after only having them for a week. They're a good size for little kids, big kids, and adults. They work well outside or inside." —Amber

Get it from Amazon for $7.99 (available in three colors). 

21. A kid excavator, perfect for sandboxes, days at the beach, or even that weird pile of dirt in your backyard where nothing seems to grow. Trust me, the kids will really, well, dig it. 

www.amazon.com

Promising review: "Really fun toy for kids. It may be a bit challenging for smaller children at first, but once they figure it out, they can play with it for hours. It’s sturdy, entertaining, and a great choice for kids who enjoy construction and sand play. Overall, very happy with it." —CCF

Get it from Amazon for $44.95+ (available in three styles). 

22. A Melissa & Doug race car steering wheel toy for any aspiring gearhead. Pop this in the car with you and you'll find that your errands and rides are a lot easier — all thanks to your backseat driver.

www.amazon.com

Promising review: "My kids love this thing! It’s amazing. My 2-year-old will play with it for a solid hour. The different sounds and buttons keep him entertained; he dances to the 'radio music,' and vrooms to his heart's content. 10/10 recommend if your kid has any interest at all in cars." —SKVS

Get it from Amazon for $53.89.

23. A KlutzCat's Cradlebook, which can entertain older kiddos for hours and hours on end with nothing but a piece of string and some really great instructions. (Turns out, kids don't need much!) The Klutz books played a big part in my childhood, and I can't wait to share this with my own kids.

www.amazon.com

Promising review: I recently introduced my kids to the classic children's game Cats Cradle, and it's been a hit in our household! This timeless game holds up well even in the digital age, providing hours of entertainment without screens or batteries. It's reminiscent of simpler times, evoking nostalgia for the 1990s, when I first learned to play. Watching my kids master the different string patterns and create intricate shapes together brings me joy and reinforces the value of traditional play. Cats Cradle is a delightful addition to our family game night rotation." —Alycia

Get it from Amazon for $9.95.

24. An epic sticker book with more than 300 stickers in the theme that your child likes the most, whether it's cats, dinosaurs, sports, or even axolotls. (There are 45 different options!) Just make sure they *ahem* stick to the golden rule: Stickers can only go in the sticker book...and not anywhere else.

www.amazon.com, www.amazon.com

Promising review: "This animal habitat sticker book is fantastic! The scenes are colorful and engaging, and it’s fun matching each animal to its natural environment. It keeps my kid busy and entertained for hours, and the stickers are easy to peel and place. A wonderful mix of learning and creativity — highly recommend!" —Natasha Zekova

Get it from Amazon for $14.98+(available in 45 titles).

25. A set of 100 dominoes from Lily Hevesh that will take your little some time to set up (more time for you to do whatever you need to do!) and lead to some pretty cute giggles and screams when they fall. The domino effect here? You'll probably end up joining in on the fun.

www.amazon.com

Promising review: "My 5-year-old loves these! She’s been asking for a set since she saw them used in a Bluey episode. The neon colors are so cute, and they provide endless hours of fun. We will definitely be purchasing more boxes." —Amazon Customer

Get it from Amazon for $28.97.

26. A pair of inline skates, which adjust with your child as they grow, so you might actually get a few seasons out of these! A neighborhood game of street hockey is the stuff childhood dreams are made of. And by the way, these come in adult sizes too... just saying. 

www.amazon.com, www.amazon.com

Promising review: "These are beautiful skates. My daughter has been skating around my house and outside since the day I let her open this present. They really made these well, and the light-up wheels are very nice, and she loves them. These skates are good quality as well, not loose around the wheels, and decent weight. It's a good purchase." —Angela

Get it from Amazon for $49.98+ (available in seven colors and in four sizes). 

27. A hockey net and stick set to get that aforementioned neighborhood game going. Just be warned: once your child starts playing hockey, they will become obsessed with it. 🥅 🏒

www.amazon.com

Promising review: "This has been a perfect outdoor activity for my 8- and 9-year-old boys. They have spent hours playing with it while on their roller blades. All the equipment is holding up well (after about 2.5 months and hours of play). I imagine my boys will enjoy it for years to come." —H. Pollei

Get it from Amazon for $46.31. 

Want to see even *more* of our recommendations for parents? Try these:

* If You Want To Encourage Your Kids' Independence, You’ll Want These 30 Products

* I’m Sorry It Took Me So Long To Tell You About These 27 Parenting Products

* Just 30 Essential Products For Road Trips With Kids

* These 27 Products Will Help Turn Your Yard Into Your Kid’s Favorite Place

* Things For Parents Who Want To Get Their Kids Excited For Back-To-School

Plus, kids' rugs and chairs, and finds from Uncommon Goods, Target, and Walmart.

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Reviews for this post have been edited for length and/or clarity.