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I might just cave and buy a set of Magna-Tiles for myself.

If your family isn't going on vacation this spring break, you might want to arm yourself with some of these products that'll keep your kiddos entertained (and, hopefully, out of your hair for a bit). From a 5-pound bucket of Crayola Air Dry Clay and a mini coloring book to a BaubleBar DIY charm kit and a Disney Jr. Mickey Mouse Clubhouse Deluxe playset, these suggestions have got you (and your kids!) covered in the Fun Department.

Promising review: "I love this book. This is the second time buying it. My youngest bought this book when he was 8. He was not interested in it at the time, but I was. As an adult, I had fun following along and doing all the activities. It was a very comprehensive storyline and lots of twists and turns. It was so much fun, and now I am buying it again for my 11-year-old. I would recommend this book for kids who like a challenge or even an adult who wants a cute, easy-going story that has some fun mysteries to solve in it." —Jennifer

Promising review: "My sister and I are neurodivergent and on the autism spectrum. I was looking for sensory play and this. is. it. It smells delicious! The sand is so soft and moldable. So far, it hasn't melted or degraded. As long as you wash your hands before play, the sand will last forever. The accessories are okay, I definitely enjoy scooping the sand and shaping it like ice cream. I wish I had this growing up and if you are getting this for a child, I'm sure they'll enjoy it. The sand doesn't stick to your hands or leave residue as long as your hands are dry. The sand doesn't stick to many surfaces, even wood and paper are safe! If you are getting it for a child, you should probably take some mess precautions as it is still sand. I can definitely see this being a great gift for someone looking for sensory play. All in all, this has been my version of a zen garden and a perfect fit for me! 10/10" —Anonymous

Promising review: "Perfect condition box. The bunny looks so cute next to my botanical collection. And it is going to double in my Easter display this year. Cute three-bag build, fast assembly, no loose connections." —Jennifer H.

Get it from Amazon for $8.59 (available in six styles).

Promising review: "I bought this flower garden as a gift for my 3-year-old daughter. She absolutely loves it! She has always enjoyed blocks and this is something different that has kept her engaged for hours! We highly recommend this product to others!!" —Ashley Petersen

Get it from Amazon for $13.49+ (available in two sizes).

When their pets evolve into Super Bitzees, they can find cool outfits and mini games. In a rare turn of events: AA batteries are included! 

Promising review: "My 8-year-old loves this thing so much that she hasn't put it down since she got it. It was the star of the show for Christmas, and I got so many hugs for getting it for her.

This is basically the modern take on the old school Tamagotchis, but it has a fluttering LED bar that zips up and down at an extremely high rate of speed to mimic the appearance of an actual digital pet floating in midair. Seems weird at first, but that fluttering light bar also allows you to feel like you are really touching the animal — very cool in action. If you are a parent looking for the perfect gift, then do yourself a favor and grab one of these; you will not regret it! Really awesome toy for a very reasonable price." —M. Myers

Get it from Amazon for $22.49+ (available in five styles).

Psst — a lot of reviewers use silicone or plastic molds to get specific shapes! 

Promising review: "It’s honestly just a really nice material to work with! If you want to create things with clay, this is definitely a good choice! It’s definitely not for professional use, but I feel like that’s a given. I mean, it is Crayola. But all in all, great for those who want to use it for fun!" —Amazon Customer

Promising review: "This toy was a hit with the kids, and it actually climbed walls. The kids were so excited to see, and the birthday boy had a blast, and did not want to stop playing with it. It’s very easy to use, and it’s lightweight and flexible." —Jeanette Rivera-Cruz

Get it from Amazon for $24.97 (also available in glow-in-the-dark)

It comes with a Barbie, three Play-Doh cans, a pre-made Play-Doh pattern sheet, a ruffle maker tool, and more.

Promising review: "Loved the ease of play! Lots of independent play time, designing and dressing the doll." —Dylan

These activity pads have become one of my go-to parenting products! My son will sit and "color" for a decent amount of time, and I love that he learns while he does. All you have to do is fill the pen with some water, then securely twist the back onto it so it doesn't leak out all over (been there). I packed one as a surprise for a recent flight, and my toddler was *SO* excited. It kept him busy and didn't make a mess — big win for Mom!

Promising review: "This kept my little one entertained on a 5-hour flight. I especially love how it can be used over again once it dries back up! Great price!" —morenog

Get it from Amazon for $5.97+ (available in seven styles).

About 5 to 8 players can join in on the fun!

Promising review: "This game comes in a small regular deck, and it is seriously so much fun. The rules are extremely simple and seem age-appropriate for nearly everyone. I think kids would especially have fun, but I could definitely see getting great laughs amongst a group of adults. The cartoon nature of the art is really fun, and I was beyond pleased with the value of the deck. We can't wait to play this with our friends and family on our next camping trip. Good clean fun!" —Miscellaneous Reviews

Promising review: "Our kids love this stepping stone set of building bricks to play the floor is lava. They are bright and easy to clean. Stack beautifully in the corner when done. Lots of fun to play with and learn motor and balancing skills. Completely waterproof, so you could float them in a pool and play games with them. Very strong and sturdy material. Loads of fun for the kids and great to see them invent new games to play with." —††† Have Faith †††

Get them from Amazon for $28.99+ (available in four colors).

My son has entered the everything-is-about-poop era, and while it has been extremely irritating, it did give me an excuse to break out this game. He LOVES it. And it's been a perfect winter activity. He's almost 4 and doesn't *fully* get the concept of hiding it on his own (he puts it in plain sight and then tells us where it is when it's our turn to find it), but he has a blast looking for it. Plus, my almost 2-year-old gets a kick out of the silly song. It's been a go-to for my entire family during this super cold winter.

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

I have this mini coloring book and it is just SO cute. I love that there's only one, simple-to-color icon on each page. I own a handful of "cozy" coloring books and never get a chance to finish them — this one has the potential to ACTUALLY get entirely colored! If your kiddo wants more of a challenge, you can also check out Gaynore Carradice's The Heartwarming Love Coloring Book. 

PS - Be sure to include some colored pencils, markers, or crayons to complete the gift.

Promising review: "If you wanna keep children busy for hours, get these. You can’t beat this price for that many, and they are reusable and washable. Just rinse them and rub them under the water, and they are like new again. Our 1- and 3-year-olds love them. Highly recommend these products." —E2j2c4

Get a pack of six from Amazon for $11.48+ (also available in a pack of 16).

The set comes with translucent magnetic pieces to build 3D creations all day. Recommended for ages 3 and up. And! Magna-Tiles is a small business!

My 3-year-old is a BIG fan of Magna-Tiles and, honestly, so am I. They're really fun to play with! There's so much you can build with them! You can choose to follow the guidebooks that come with the sets or go rogue and make your own masterpiece. We're also loving the glittery Magna-Tiles castle (it comes with a dragon!) My favorite thing about them is how easy they are to clean up. While we *also* love Lego, they are a serious pain to clean. The Magna-Tiles take seconds to clean up because you can quickly stack them all magnetically, then put them away. I'm aiming to make my life even EASIER by getting this Magna-Tile storage bin (which also comes with a cool play mat).

Promising reviews: "These magnets are great for independent toddler play! My 3-year-old loves building and creating with these. I suggest you buy a larger set. We have a set with over 100 pieces, but I bought this set as a Christmas gift! He is always wishing he had more pieces to finish his masterpieces." —Kayla M

Get it from Amazon for $49.99 for a 32-piece set or $119.99 for a 100-piece set.

You can snag some basic Hot Wheels tracks to create your own race course for $16.11!

Promising review: "I purchased this set of cars as a birthday present for a little guy who loves cars. OMG, was he excited! These are the cutest little cars. I try to find him fun, unique cars. These did not disappoint. I highly recommend purchasing them." —Kim L

Learning Safari is a small business based in Wyoming that sells pop culture-themed sensory kits.

Get it from Learning Safari on Etsy for $6 (available in nine styles and with or without glitter).

To play, you'll need to collect items that Rumi, Mira, and Zoey need to make the concert a success and seal the Honmoon! The first player to assemble three complete sets wins. 

Promising review:  "Bought for my 17-year-old for Christmas — even though my 10-year-old loves this movie. The game was a hit! She played with friends, cousins, etc." —Amy

Promising review: "Such a fun toy. They're easy to take to play with in a restaurant or while waiting. Very versatile. They can be made into just about anything. A fish, a bracelet, a rocket ship. They can be used many times." —Nicole Hadley 

This brand makes a bunch of tiny games, so if you're looking to expand your collection further, you should check out their iterations of World's Smallest Catan, World's Smallest Hungry Hungry Hippos, and so many more!

Promising review: "Had so much fun playing this, but it’s worth it to mention that you have to play with a toothpick or something like that to be able to move the pieces around the board. SO fun though!!!" —Goodvibes Designs

If you don't already own a Toniebox 2, check out my review here!

Promising review: "The song quality and selection on this is great — can’t say that for all tonies! My 2.5-year-old son loves it — We have had this one on repeat. If your little one has seen the movie / heard any of the songs, they will love this." —Reina B.

It comes with 275 beads, six double-strand keychains, coordinating cords, and double gold lobster/key ring hooks.

Promising review: "I’ve been a BaubleBar customer for years and was thrilled to see this kit available. It’s even better in person! The beads are adorable, and everything feels so high-quality. I originally bought it as a Christmas gift for my daughter, but now I’m tempted to get one for myself too. I'll definitely keep this in mind for future birthday gifts for her and my friends!" —Dolss

This is one of Oprah's Favorite Things this year! Check out our list of the best kid-friendly items on the list. 

Promising review: "I bought this sticker book for my Taylor Swift–loving daughter, and it did not disappoint! She uses the stickers on everything from cards to water bottles. They didn’t forget any era either! Super fun and cute — stickers are good quality too." —Ele W.

My kids are obsessed with this soap and, honestly, so am I! I've tried a variety of "fun" soaps to keep them excited about bath time, and so many have turned their skin red, left them feeling a bit itchy, or stained my tub. Not with the Whippity Cloud Kids Foaming Soap! It's made by Dojo, a small business owned by parents who wanted soap for their own kids that was free of harsh chemicals. I'm "in charge" of it during bath time and dole out sprays — otherwise my kids would go rogue and use an entire bottle in one sitting. It's tactile and genuinely fun to play with while also ensuring my kiddos get clean!

Promising review: "My 5-year-old usually fights bath time, but with this soap, he plays with the foam and stays in the tub longer. It smells nice and doesn’t dry his skin out. Only downside is he uses more because it’s fun to pump." —Morgan W.

Get it from Dojo for $18 (available in four scents).

Promising review: "I love that it has two mics and is easy to connect via Bluetooth. We pull up Spotify with the lyrics and are good to go! The sound isn’t perfect, but it’s great for such a little machine. The lights are also fun to have and change. Love the color options as well. Perfect for a young child, tween/teen, and adults! You can’t go wrong, it would make a great birthday gift as well!" —EVALSWA01

Here's a TikTok that shows how to play. In short, you pick a 2D or 3D puzzle from the guide and set it up to match the image. Start the timer and work to solve the puzzle with the remaining pieces. When done, stop the clock and record your time. Friends can challenge each other, or you can play solo to try and beat your own best score. It requires AAA batteries, so be sure to grab some!

BuzzFeed contributor John Mihaly has this to say about this game: "We love the classic version in our home, and it's been in heavy rotation since we got our hands on it. The object of the game is to finish a puzzle using all 12 Kanoodle pieces. The 2D version lies flat, while the 3D version (you can play both with this set) requires you to build a pyramid of pieces. Simple, fun, and challenging (harder puzzles reveal fewer pieces to start)."

Promising review: "Very easy to use and fun for all ages. Great gift idea and is small and compact, so you can take it anywhere with you!" —Jocelyn

My son is obsessed with watching tiny baking videos on YouTube (sigh, I know), so when I surprised him with this kit, you can only imagine how excited he was. We had to open it and "bake" IMMEDIATELY. I'm admittedly not a great chef (or even a good one, TBH), and crafts are my downfall, but even I was able to dive into this with my 3.5-year-old. He had the best time mixing, pouring, and "baking" his cake in the microwave. He learned to be patient and wait for his cake to cool before frosting and decorating his creation. And, of course, loved eating it. It was a fun way to spend the afternoon.

The kit comes with: a mini measuring cup, mini spatula, mini bowl, food-safe silicone molds, tiny microwave-safe cardboard “oven," icing piping bag, and icing tip

Promising review: "This is great for my daughter. I love how many fun options and flavors it comes with. It's super easy to use, and cleanup isn't too bad. The flavor isn't bad for something this quick and easy. The small size makes it a lot of fun. The designs are super cute." —Amber B.

Each kit comes with six garments, eight accessories, a kid-friendly plastic needle, thread, a fox, and easy-to-follow instructions. For ages 5+.

Craft-tastic is a woman-owned small business based in Michigan. All their products are focused on teaching kids new skills and limiting screen time.

Promising review: "This craft was a hit! The fox was very easy to put together, and it turned out so cute! You have to make the tutu by tying a bunch of knots, but other than that, all of the clothes are ready to go and do not require sewing! The fox came with a little fabric bag to conveniently store it for travel. The materials in the craft are of good quality and hopefully will last a while. My daughter loved this little cute fox!" —Olivia O.

Get it from Amazon for $15.49+ (also available in mouse, pony, and unicorn versions).

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

Promising review: "A must-have. My 2-year-old son is obsessed. Always asks to play the 'find you' game LOL. Then we play it and every option on 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 $11.04+ (available in four styles).

Promising review: "I bought this for my daughter's eighth birthday and she LOVES it! It actually works way better than I expected! It makes a perfect 3D sticker every time, and the sticker choices are great! I love that you can add sprinkles, confetti, or stars to the inside of the 3D sticker. My daughter likes shaking it around and thinks it's really cool :)" —KBrick216

Promising review: "So fun! Our 2-year-old loves it. He is too young to build his own run but I enjoyed building one and he loves to drop the marbles down and watch them go. I like that they are transparent so you can see the marbles easily. Great quality too. I think this will grow nicely with him as well considering that I even had fun with it as an adult." —Amazon Customer

Get it from Amazon for $49.99+ (available in four styles).

Several reviewers said they used this tape on airplane tray tables to entertain their kids while traveling. PlayTape is a small business!

Promising review: "I was so excited to gift this tape to a 4-year-old boy and to see how it was. It's very light and stuck to a table very nicely. It left no residue on the table and could tear easily to make a turn in the road. You could put this anywhere in your house and not be worried about damage. Very cool!" —Courtney S.

Get a 30-foot roll from Amazon for $11.98 (available in multipacks).

Promising review: "We live in a very rural community and have no Legos in town. I was so excited to order these for my 8-year-old son and me to play with, just like in my childhood. This set came with a fun booklet to build things together, and I'm loving all the nostalgia. The colors are great, just like I remember, and they still hurt to step on, just like I remember!" —Rayna

Get it from Amazon for $39.49, and don't forget to add a baseplate for $5.79.

We took this along on a five-hour road trip to Maine, and my almost 4-year-old son was (and still is) obsessed. He calls it his "pad" and loves feeling like he is just like Dad (who usually unwinds with his iPad). It's continued to keep him entertained even though he's now heard the same stories a ton of times — even my almost 2-year-old enjoys pressing the buttons and hearing the various songs it plays! The "eReader" has a bunch of quizzes built in that my son loves taking over and over to challenge himself (I'm pretty impressed, TBH). This is definitely going to be a go-to item I gift to the other kids in my life.

Promising review: "This set was so much fun, with a great range of colors for my toddler to play with. She loves mixing the colors and letting her creativity run wild. The texture is very soft and easy to play with, even for a 3-year-old. Overall, a great value." —Gb

Mickey Mouse Clubhouse+ is currently my daughter's favorite show, so you better believe I'll be getting this for her. It's so cute, and I can just hear her excitedly squealing over all the mini figures of her favorite characters.

Promising review: "Oh wow, this comes with so many accessories. I got it for my 2-year-old initially, but my 6-year-old also plays with it." —Carlos Garcia

Promising review: "My 1-year-old loves to touch the different animals and hear the book say their name and animal sound. He has a good vocabulary, but we’re working with him to encourage him to use more and more words. His doctor recommended teaching him about animals and the sounds they make, so this is a great addition to what we’re already doing. A great toy that is both fun and educational. They learn through repetition — and this was just what I was looking for! I also love that this toy will grow with him. He is currently using the name/sound mode, but he also has a mode that provides facts for when he’s older, which includes Spanish. 10/10 recommend." —Jessica Grace

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

My toddler is obsessed with this toy. He makes us close his curtains and turn off the lights so he can project onto the wall and really see the lighting effects. I love that it actually reads the story out loud and that it's simple enough to operate — my 2-year-old has no issue playing with it on his own. It also doubles as a white noise night-light and has built-in cartridge storage on the side. I'm planning to gift this to the other toddlers in my life. This starter kit comes with three Little Golden Book stories and one display character (which adds lighting effects in nightlight mode). My son also loves the Trolls Special Day Story Collection.

Promising review: "Love this! My toddlers, ages three and four, are obsessed with reading. Though they normally enjoy us reading to them, they really loved this! It is the cutest little projector that is easy for them to use by themselves, it is durable, and the picture quality is great! Easy to adjust when blurry." —Mikaela Laughlin

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.

This piece is by Heather Braga, a Shopping editor (and mom to two toddlers) who covers a variety of topics, including things that'll make parents' lives (hopefully) easier, exciting gadgets, cozy products (think: home goods and fashions that'll make you want to snuggle), and any magical Disney item that crosses her path.