There’s no doubt the summer of 2020 will be different from any other summers we’ve experienced so far. There will most likely not be any summer camps and public pools and water parks might stay closed indefinitely. This got me thinking…how am I going to make this summer fun for my kids and save my sanity?

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Below, you’ll find my favorite kids’ summer products most of which have been personally tried by our family. You will find plenty of water-fun products to replace a day by the pool. What kid doesn’t like to run through sprinklers or have a water balloon fight? I just ordered this Hydro Swirl Spinning Water Sprinkler and Self-Sealing Water Balloons. We are so excited for the hot days to come to try these out! I can just see our kids running through the splashing water and having water balloon battles in our driveway!

You can also create a fun summer night by having a movie and s’ mores in your backyard or driveway. Just use one of these High-resolution LED Projectors (they come with the screen!) and get the fire going to put these Marshmallows Roasting Sticks to good use. These are the summer nights your kids won’t forget. You can even have a movie night in your driveway by inviting your neighbors to join the fun and put their chairs 6-ft apart. Bring on the popcorn and s’ mores!

Another product we have been using for over five years and it’s used at our house almost weekly is the Crazy Fort Building Set. The set consists of 64 pcs of sticks and balls designed to create cool forts of endless designs (think mega-size tinkertoys). Just have your kids build their dream fort and then drape bed sheets over it to give them their own little sanctuary. It’s a better alternative than having them constantly using your couch cushions!

One of my favorites tech gadgets is the Relay Kids Phone. When our son asked for a phone last year so he can start riding his bike to and from school, we weren’t ready to get him a smartphone. The distraction of constant access to the web and social media was not something my husband and I were ready for. So, after much research, we decided to purchase the Relay. This device works as walkie-talkie but is connected to your smartphone (you can connect it up to 10 people) through an app you install on your phone but unlike other walkie-talkies, this one works across the USA. You can let your older kids go for a bike ride and still keep tags on them by tracking their GPS location on your phone and then you can call them with a push of a button when it’s time to come home. In addition to the Relay,  I recommend getting the lanyard instead of the wrist band. Since the device is bigger than a watch, the lanyard just feels more practical, plus kids can hide the device under their shirts when playing outside.

Another product my son loves and has been using a lot during COVID-19 is the Laser-X Two-Player Gaming System. This set is super cool! When I feel like sitting in a driveway with my mom-friends, this gaming set keeps our kids busy while allowing them to stay six or more feet apart. Just attach the provided vest harness to your kids and they can play laser tag without getting anywhere near to each other. When they are hit, the device will sound off an alarm and will deduct from the number of lives they have been given. The player to run out of lives first loses. Another great thing about this product is the batteries seem to last “forever”. Who likes replacing batteries?!  We have not had to replace the batteries in these laser guns since last August! I’d say that’s a win!

And how about a quieter activity to give us moms a little break? If you have children ages eight and up who love adventure, you will be happy you came across the Hatchet Book Series by Gary Paulson. My son loved the book Hatchet so much that I ordered the rest of the series to keep him busy during the long summer days. These books are full of adventure and survival teaching skills.

Another product that’s been around for ages but is experiencing a revival of sorts during this pandemic is sidewalk chalks. We seem to be using them more than usual, especially for writing positive, uplifting messages for our neighbors, friends, and teachers. The one we use is Yoobi Washable Non-Toxic Sidewalk Chalk.

Now, let’s be honest moms, how many of you are tired of slime? It’s messy and it’s gross and good luck getting it out of the carpet! I am SO ready for something better. If you are feeling the same, here is a great, non-toxic, mess-free National Geographic Sparkling Play Sand. It even comes with castle molds or you can have your kids use their clay molds or sand toy molds instead. Super easy to clean up and it can be reused as many times as you like. 

For younger children, I recommend the Amazon Fire 7 Tablet. It comes with a kid-friendly case, a two-year warranty, and one year of Amazon FreeTime Unlimited giving your kids access to over 20,000 apps, games, videos, books (all with parental control). We purchased one for our daughter last Christmas and it’s been a wonderful tool to help her learn and watch kid-friendly programs when she gets tired of playing and doing art projects and just wants to do a quiet activity.

Two products haven’t tried yet, but I have been hearing about a lot, are the Ginkago Wubble Bubble Ball and WOWMAZING Giant Bubble Wands Kit. You guys, these two products look like so much fun! I am definitely adding them to my son’s birthday list. 

I hope you found this list of my favorite kids’ products helpful. I would love to hear from you about the products and games your kids love, or if there are any other products you think I should have on my list. Also, keep in mind, all these products would make a great gift for drive-by birthday parties.

Happy summer!