BuzzFeed and our publishing partners may collect a share of sales or other compensation from the links on this page. Read More

Because summertime should include some breaks for you, too!

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.

Promising review: "Children absolutely love this bug catcher kit! So many items to help them catch, view, and house their newfound friends (bugs)." —KB

Promising review: "Very simple toy that entertained my nephew for hours. I purchased several toys for my nephew‘s birthday, and out of all of them, he liked this one the most." —Julie

Promising review: "Got the walkie-talkies and gave them to the kids yesterday, they are having the time of their lives. The range is great and the connection sound super clear. They have already taken a couple of drops, and they are sturdy. Had to tell them to go to bed and turn them off!! Love, love, love them! Great tool to keep them busy for a while!!" —Walmart customer

Price: $21.99+ (originally $31.99; available in four colors)

Promising review: "The item arrived quickly in discreet packaging. It was pretty easy to unbox and get started. After one demonstration, my kids (ages 4 and 7) were eager to try it out. They have played it almost every day, sometimes several times a day, ever since. We have even had family competitions, and this was such a fun, nostalgic game from my and my husband's childhood. Great way to make fun memories while helping the kids build motor and listening skills." —Lala

Price: $19.99 (available in two designs)

Promising review: "These are so fun! My son loves these water balloons, and they are so easy to fill!! Definitely recommend" —stephanie

Promising review: "It's a great game for everyone of all ages. If kids know what to do when they see certain cards, then they can play. The game can last a good while if you have a couple of people that play really well. Have gotten it for all the kids I know, and the parents love it." —Felicia

Promising review: "The 46-piece set of Magna-Tiles is awesome for my kids. Originally got them for my 3-year-old, but I have caught my 14-year-old and my 20-year-old playing with them! Even caught my husband playing with them! The magnets are nice and strong, so building is easy for little hands (and big ones)." —NOZIPPEPOCKETS

Promising review: "I mean... Wow. Just wow. Our kids (four and two) LOVE the puppet show. Built well all the way around!!!" —Thomas

Promising review: "I bought this for an elementary dance party outside, and the kids loved it. It makes a lot of bubbles, and I like the fact that this bubble machine rotates, so bubbles are flying everywhere. It also has colored lights that flash. Looks great at night for a yard party. The only negative remark about this bubble machine is that, while rotating, it sometimes gets stuck and makes a clicking sound. You just have to give it a turn, and it works fine again. It’s worth the money, and the better the bubble solution you use, the more bubbles you get." —goldlashes

Promising review: "Klutz books are a classic. Cat's cradle is something that I enjoyed as a child, and now my 7-year-old grandson is learning how to use it." —JT

Promising review: "Great for the price! Easy instructions. Comes with the mount to hold the rubber bands. My 7-year-old's new obsession!! Can bring this anywhere and everywhere. Love that it comes with a carrying case. And when the rubber bands run out, you can refill the case." —Walmart Customer

Promising review: "What a fun pack to keep our kids busy on a sunny day. They loved the different shapes and colors of chalk, with plenty of it to keep them occupied for quite a bit. Such a budget-friendly way to have loads of fun!"—Britt

Promising review: "My kids are loving their Stomp Rockets! They spend so much time outside playing with them and I have to admit I enjoy launching the rockets too! We love these so much we bought another one for a friend's birthday gift." —surreal73

Promising review: "My granddaughter loves it so much. 💕 She is three years old and has hardly played with her other electronic toys. She has not been on her tablet in days. Loves listening to stories and is talking more daily. She learned how to turn it on and change story characters in five minutes. Well worth every penny just to listen to her laughing and using her imagination for a change." —pam

Promising review: "This is a beautiful art kit! It comes with a wide variety of crayons, markers, colored pencils, and paper. Everything stays neat and organized in the case, making it perfect for road trips or just keeping the house tidy. The quality is typical Crayola — bright colors and long-lasting. My kids love using it for their drawing projects." —Sandra

Promising review: "This is making a great starter kit for our young girls. I like the bright colors and how they are consistent and painted well, not missing colors like sets I have had in the past. Great actually for 3 and up, as it helps with counting, colors, coordination, standing them up, and they make great pretend cookies coming out of their pretend kitchen. We have a 3, 4, 6, and 8-year-old. They are all enjoying these! I like the nice sturdy tin they come in. We actually purchased 3 sets for a better gaming experience." —Walmart Customer

Promising review: "Such a cute kit. Comes with a ton of little add-ons like all the toppings, a spatula, and a rolling pin. The plastic containers the toppings come in are hard for little hands to open, but they have so much fun playing with them, they don’t usually put them back in. All made very well and will last a long time. Will probably need to get more sand at some point as the colors get mixed together after a while, but the kids don’t seem to notice or care." —WalmartCustomer

Promising review: "I got this for a 2 year old boy who just became a big brother and he LOVED it! The parents also loved it because there is literally no mess and it kept him entertained for at least 20 minutes! Could not recommend more for car trips, restaurants, or just when mommy and daddy need a little quiet!" —Briana

Promising review: "My daughter LOVES this. She grabs her 'tools' every time she sees a mess that she can use them on. She sees dog hair in the corner... "Hold on, mama, wait right here, let me go get my broom!" — Dust on the TV stand..."Mama! I need my duster!" and gets so excited to be helping :) Get this set! It will change the game, and you will get some help with the everyday chores. Plus, it's aesthetically pleasing for being a 'toy' and made with great quality. Melissa & Doug toys never disappoint." —Ashley

Promising review: "The paint-by-sticker activity books are a lot of fun for the kids to do. They immediately started completing the pictures, and it kept them busy for hours. Kids love stickers, and they created art by following the directions." —Julie

Promising review: "My child can easily put pieces in and out of it. Toddler-friendly toy that lets him develop fine motor skills. The toy has been used every day since purchase and has not worn out yet. That was my concern with things you push together and take apart. For the price, it is great!" —anonymous

Promising review: "A nice basic Lego set to spark creativity! Our grandkids are almost 5 (boy) and almost 8 (girl.) Suddenly, they have become Legomaniacs! I love that they are away from screens, creating whatever they imagine, and relatively quiet, until the tower falls. :) Would like to have a handle on the bucket, but it is still nice that it comes in a study storage container." —Jean 

Promising review: "We bought it for our autistic daughter, who loves learning about the world. I can say she loves it, and my other two children really liked it, too. I think it's a great learning tool." —mominmiami

Promising review: "This set is super cute and perfect for those littles who have a big imagination. The quality is great. It does have a lot of pieces to put together, but it was pretty easy. Highly recommend. Colors are exact to picture." —Sammie

Promising review: "We love kinetic sand and my grandson has so much fun with it. He's almost 3 and gets so excited with each box. Love that it's relatively not messy and easy clean up. Hours of fun for us both." —Susan

Promising review: "The coolest dream house I've ever seen. At almost 30, I'm wildly impressed and jealous of my 6-year-old. It's so neat! The attention to detail and neat traits it has — like an oven light, stove top sounds, functional doors, toilet sound, and a whole elevator! Very cool. It's easy to put together, but it will take a little time just because it's a lot. Also, it's huge. Prob 3 feet high and 3 feet wide." —Charlene

Promising review: "Our 3-year-old LOVES it. It has push buttons that play rhythms along with the melody of prerecorded tracks. She plays along, sings into the mic and has us join in. I wish the built-in strap were adjustable, but she doesn't mind as she often walks around with the guitar hanging across her torso, looking for her next duet! Great family fun!!" —Zee

Price: $24.99 (originally $46.99; available in six colors)

* 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.

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 in this post have been edited for length and clarity.