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No matter your budget, these gifts will actually get some serious use.

Promising reviews: "This is probably one of the best Christmas gifts the kids got this year, but I think it’s good for anyone, even adults. It’s very easy to use and the pen is rechargeable so there are no cords or batteries. The “ink” comes out warm, so it’s safe to touch for youngsters." —Rebecca Kruck

"This pen is so cool. My daughter makes a lot of stuff with it. We’ve already had to buy more filament because she is obsessed with this. Easy to use." —Ivy Trifiletti

Promising review: "I bought this item for my pre teen/ teen daughters who like to fidget. The item has been thrown around quite often provided the many other siblings in the home who like to use it. It is safe to say it has survived the chaos. The item does have a slight scent but it’s not as anything cumbersome. The texture is very soft and has a slow rise movement which is very satisfying. It’s a bit sticky which may cause some lint attraction. However, my kids like to put them in plastic zip bags to manage the lint accumulation. The size is perfect and can fit in their backpacks. My kids use the item in school very often, especially during down time or when they are in need of stress relief. I highly recommend this product!" —Hilde Flores

Get it from Amazon for $11.99+ (also available in a Hawaiian rolls version and in packs of one, two, three, and six).

Promising reviews: "I bought this and we have used it several years in a row. It goes way higher than you would expect it would. It's a great system and it's reusable, which is great." —MHbus

"We have purchased two of these. It’s a lot of fun for us adults and our kids (16, 12, 5). Very easy to set up and operate; just need a stand-up bike pump. We introduced it to a few neighbors and they have purchased it for their homes!" —erin m crenshaw

Promising review: "Fun and educational talking microscope! This is by far one of the coolest products I’ve ever seen! My 4-year-old loves this talking microscope! Every day while her baby sister naps, I spend some quality one-on-one time with her, and this was the perfect product for our special time together! She didn’t want to stop looking at all the different slides, and I love how each slide has three images and the fact mode shares fun facts about the slide chosen! I love that she was learning new facts while looking at it up closely! She has been having so much fun using it and asks me daily to use her new microscope! This is such a great learning tool in a fun, different way for a 4-year-old, and it is a big win in my book, especially because it can be used for many, many years! It also includes a quiz mode that we haven’t used yet, but it’s nice that it has different modes for older kids. Highly recommend for all preschoolers and older kids!" —JC Mommy

Promising review: "Our family is hard on things, we just play HARD. After a ton of research last year around this time, I bit the price tag bullet and bought the nugget. I can’t rave enough — from forts that my children make all on their own (6 and 4) and caves to hide the stuffy thieving uncle (haha) to chairs to read their library books on and ramps for the kids, trucks, and dogs alike.

It’s served as a bed for guests who much prefer it over the air mattress or couch, and has blocked the largest of sharks from swimming out of the kitchen ocean. I can’t ever stop thinking of ways I’ve seen my children enjoying this, and am DEFINITELY about to buy another one.

Also, my house isn’t 'large,' but I’ll give up space for another one of these." —Emmilee D

Get it from Nugget for $249+ (available in four fabric options and 20 colors).

Promising reviews: "This little silly poop is hilarious! My 8- and 3-year-old love it! It kept them both entertained and playing nicely together for hours! It is seriously the cutest little game! I was hesitant to purchase but I’m so glad I did!" —

"I bought this after watching a video review and let me just say, my kids absolutely love this! It's a very simple idea but it works so well. My 3-year-old and 6-year-old love playing together and have actually stumped me while hiding it. It's a very simple game to play as you just hide it and press a button, which activates the hiding mode. While the kids are looking for it, the poopy will make sounds — thus giving clues to its location. Once the poopy is found, you press the button again and it sings a victory song. Who knew that poop can be so much fun!! This product is reasonably priced, much less expensive than many other toys that won't keep the attention of a child. This is perfect for rainy days indoors and a great alternative to watching TV. This is probably one of the best purchases that I've made in regards to activities and every household should have one." —Michael J. Deldue

Get it from Amazon for $9.99+ (available in three versions).

Promising review: "My 18-month-old LOVES these. As a future OT, I love that it’s promoting grasp patterns and scribbling! We are going on week three or four of using these every single night for bath time and she’s still not bored. Easy to clean up and seem to hold up well! I would recommend for creative play, fine motor, writing development — all the good things for baby’s brain!!" —Carly Jackson

Get a pack of 10 from Amazon for $8.44+ (also available in a 120-pack).

Promising reviews: "A great gift for my 4-year-old and 6-year-old loves it too! Bought a cheap box fan at Walmart to use for it which works great, so very versatile in box fan you can use! Hours of fun and imaginary play! Great investment and I feel like it will last a long time. Not too difficult to setup and folds up into a small bag..super compact for storage!" —Shannon

"Bought this for my son's birthday almost 2 years ago, has always been a big hit. His cousins and friends always love playing in it. We're a family of 4 and all of us fit in it, with spare room. Great for play time, or even to have a fun movie night in it. 10 out of 10 recommend." —Courtney

Get it from Amazon for $49.95+ (available in six designs).

Promising reviews: "Ok. I am going to admit I was skeptical about this product at first. Was it going to be another one-and-done toy?! Nope! My kids, 6 and 9, love it! It has many different things to do. From Bluetooth abilities to drum lessons — they love playing on it. The other bonus: A HEADPHONE JACK! They can play, and I don't have to hear all the noise. So if you have a music-loving kiddo, definitely snag this drum set — you will not regret it!" —Keri

"My kid loves this thing. And I do, too! I even used it for a drumming presentation at work. It has quality pads that give you bounce like a real kit." —Dustin F.

Get it from Amazon for $69.97+ (available in two colors).

Promising review: "These paint markers are perfect for art projects and crafts! The colors are bright, bold, and show up really well on paper, wood, and even rocks. They flow smoothly without streaking, and the tips give nice control for both fine details and coloring larger areas. My kids love using them, and I appreciate that they don’t make a big mess. A great value for anyone who enjoys creative projects!" —Rebecca Roy Hains

"Quite frankly, these are some of the best markers I've ever used. Easy to use, colored in a wooden magnet as well as a stained glass coloring page. The fish on top is much more sharp and vivid than a different brand. No smudges or smearing so far. Even tested coloring over one another, and I'm very impressed. Great gift for creatives of all ages!" —migs

Get them from Amazon for $8.99+ (available in four pack sizes).

Promising review: "Fun, colorful, durable, educational, storable etc. This is a perfect brain exercise at any age, but I brought it for my 7-year-old, and it's been used since being purchased without me nagging to use it." —Amazon Lover

This gaming system has five pre-loaded games, but you can subscribe to a bigger library of games for $89 a year.

Promising review: "This is the best thing we have ever bought for my 5-year-old (and me!). I was saving it for Christmas, but decided to bring it out early during a long, rainy weekend. Hours and hours of active fun for kids and adults! She plays it every night, and, only after she has collapsed from exhaustion, asks for her iPad or TV time. We play a lot of the games together, and I am getting quite the workout, too! I started doing some of the adult workout games while she is at school, and am having a blast. The games are very well-made and thought out, and I am impressed with how well they continue to track her, even when she moves out of the zone. Great way to be active and have fun, family time when the weather is rough." —gaelhusk

I got my kids a balance board a few years ago, and it's been fun for everyone. I'm able to use it, too, and there's something just really simply fun about it. Sometimes when my ADHD kiddo gets antsy, she'll grab the board and balance/wobble while watching a show or movie, making it a really great tool for that ADHD toolbox.

Promising review: "So many uses! I bought this for my toddler to climb and rock on while the weather is questionable and keeps us inside more. We both love it and launch cars down it all the time, in addition to climbing and rocking on it. I have included it as something to step on around a pike and arch setup. My point is that this is an amazing quality and can mix in beautifully with other toys. I have been mixing it into my workouts, and it’s a blast. My legs burn on this thing after five minutes. So highly recommend as it really is fun for the whole family." —BerryBabyMama

Get it from Amazon for $39.99+ (available in two sizes and three colors).

Promising review: "Got them for my toddler last year and she still uses them to this day! I think it was so worth the money. We as a family love them to play with, very versatile for different play styles, and I love how you can stack them up out of the way for later. Has silicone-like product, not the bottoms, to make them not move either, so I never had to worry about them sliding out of place on the carpet. Definitely worth the money very very durable and last forever. Just get it them they are worth it!" —Allie

Get a pack of five from Amazon for $34.99+ (available in two color combinations and in a pack of ten).

Promising review: "This tablet has entertained my 4-year-old grandson for hours at a time. He loves that he can erase at will and that the drawings are multicolored. I highly recommend this item for 18 months old and up. I bought a pink one for our 18-month-old granddaughter, and she, too, is just as enthralled with it and the 'power' she has to erase, create, erase, create! They loved them so much that we bought another set of two different colors so that they would have them at home as well as at 'Grammy's.'" —Kindle Customer Red Heart

Get it from Amazon for $15.99+ (available in four sizes and six colors).

My daughter's occupational therapist suggested a sensory swing for our family and WHOA the use that thing gets. Both of my kids use it literally every day for resting, relaxing, swinging, or climbing. This particular one comes with all mounting gear and holds up to 220 pounds — meaning it's going to get years of use.

Promising review: "This is hands down the best toy we have got our kids in a while. They are very rambunctious 3- and 5-year-olds, and they love this. I already went ahead and bought another one because they constantly fight over who gets it first 😆 We moved recently and decided to keep the play room simple with just this swing, a play couch, and basketball game. Best decision ever! They love it! My husband said it was super easy to hang also! —Amazon Customer

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

Promising review: "Bought for our cabin and grandkids from ages 6–11 couldn’t stop playing. Definitely worth getting, simple but so fun!" —Ted Hartwig

Get it from Amazon for $69.99+ (also available in a four-player version).

Promising review: "This camera is worth every penny. It's would be awesome for any age. My granddaughter is almost 9 and she loves to take lots of photos. With the type of thermal paper it prints on it make a great scrapbook product. Prints great pictures for what its intended. Does not take long to print out. Not matter the age is a perfect fit for some fun. It also as a nice weight to it that your hands are comfortable holding onto it. I bought separately a case to keep the camera safe and to store extra rolls of paper. I would buy again and recommend it to family and friends." —Robert & Cristy

Get it from Amazon for $33.99+ (available in four colors).

My kids have this toy and it's definitely a favorite. I love that there are games my younger child loves and more challenging game for my older one. It's become a calm play favorite in our house and my kids are still working through all of the stories in the Groblies story set. It has slightly a higher starting price point than other audio players, but the games are about the same price as Toniebox figurines and are so much more interactive.  

Promising review: "I bought this for my grandsons. They love the option to play games, listen to stories and music. I personally love the wood structure and the happy face theme. The kids love the oversize knobs on the side. Can't wait to order more games and themes." —Maria B.

Promising review: "Adorable, great quality, and so comforting my son absolutely loves it." —A. Navarro

"This is a lovely companion for kids and adults alike. My kids love to have their capybaras on their laps, the weight is just right. I like the realistic look of it and the removable pouch that can be heated or cooled. Overall a great purchase." —Bunnybear

Get it from Amazon for $36.99+ (available in five animals).

Promising review: "Fun for adults and kids. This game is fast paced and goofy enough to create genuine laughter and joy for all ages. One of our top game night, card game choices." —Apatey467

"Fun for the whole family. Even the little kids love playing this game. Very easy instructions and allows you to be silly. My family laughed for hours playing this." —Christina T. 

Get it from Amazon for $9.95+ (available in two sizes).

Reviewers say this is a great toy for all ages — from 3–12.

Promising review: "This is the perfect fun yet educational gift. Purchased for my 4-year-old puzzle lover. Buying another because the 10-year-old can’t stop playing with it also." —T MARTEL

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 for a 5-10-year-old child, 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 $24.99+ (available in four versions).

Promising review: "My 2-year-old LOVES these! I Bought these to entertain my toddler, and they do that! She can color for hours! They’re easy to use, easy to clean, and aren’t a huge mess! So I love them too!" —Caitlin Moore

Get a set of 24 pens from Amazon $19.99. 

Promising reviews: "My grandkids really love this course. They have hours of fun on it." —Jerry W.

"We purchased this set as a birthday gift for our twin 8-year-olds. They’re gymnasts who are currently obsessed with American Ninja Warrior. They LOVE it. They ended up removing the bottom strap, but played on it every day until they could cross it easily. This has very quickly become one of their favorite outdoor toys. (We have many!)" —Jason

Get it from Amazon for $99.99+ (available in four styles).

Promising review: "I got this as a gift for my 4-year-old, and it has been a FAMILY HIT. Super easy to get it set up to Bluetooth, so you can play whatever music you want. It can get very loud if you want that! Our family has had so much fun singing duets and playing with the different voice options. It's definitely worth the money, and the build quality is good enough that even though we've lost it behind the couch a few times (we live in a madhouse), it still works very well. Fun!" —Dinah Sawyer

Get it from Amazon for $24.99+ (available in 13 colors).

Unlike a lot of cheaper bounce houses, this one includes the blower — you know, the thing that actually makes it work. 

Promising review: "We bought this four years ago at the start of the pandemic when we had two toddlers. They loved it then, and we still love it four years later now with three kids (7-, 5-, and 2-year-old now). It was totally worth the money. My husband commented today that he couldn't believe it's held up through so many years of use :) FYI, we've used it exclusively indoors. It's very easy to blow up and take down" —Amazon Customer

Get it from Amazon for $351.11+ (available in two options and a much larger version).

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

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.

Raylyn Paquin is a freelancer 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 she can scope out.