(From a kid who has spent HOURS searching!)
I’m really not sure how this got started, but my kids love to shop on Amazon. They get $5 a week in allowance, in addition to money they earn from additional jobs, gifts from grandparents, etc. We allow them to look online for 15 minutes each, only on Saturdays. I suppose this is sort of the modern day equivalent of how I used to spend my money at the mall? In any event, I can say with complete confidence that Ella is a total expert at finding the best of anything she might use on Amazon. I decided to let her loose on summer toys so I could provide you with her top picks. Here they are! And who knows? Maybe some of them will be on sale for Amazon Prime Day.
Whether you’re in the pool or just hanging in the backyard, these are a unique twist on the usual squirt guns that shoot straight and boring. Perfect for the Fourth of July!
Perfect for a rainy day with a minimal mess, but maximal creativity. Ella mentioned that it would be really fun to make a whole bunch of these and then leave them on our friends’ doorsteps with little notes to let them know we’re thinking of them over summer break.
Though we have restrictions on screen time (it’s not a free for all during the summer at our house, unfortunately), this is interactive and active screen time that the kids are allowed to do for 30 minutes each day. It reminds me of early Wii games, where your body is the controller. Ella loves the dancing games and they release new updates, songs and games every month that automatically download to your unit.
While this would be super fun in the pool, I think it would get even better use when we head to Florida for the beach a little later this summer. I’m a big fan of letting my kids take pictures to sharpen their creativity. Ella, in particular, has developed quite an eye for a good snapshot opp!
Bug Catcher + Magnifying Glass, $10
If you yearn to send your kiddos into the backyard for a self directed scavenger hunt, this might be just the ticket. Ella thought this would be perfect for the crayfish they find at the creek plus any other little creepy crawlies that Linus finds as he does his “yardwork.”
This would be great for road trips, in addition to a beachside activity in case the kiddos need a break from the sun and sand.
Interactive Drawing Robot, $55.99
Screen free, artistic fun for kids as young as 5! This is a totally self contained activity that can keep a kiddo occupied for hours while mom works or … RESTS! Kids can try to copy the drawings or just color in the ones that come from the robot.
Ella will continue to add her favorites to this Amazon storefront – feel free to check back in throughout the summer for the latest finds she digs up!
Less & More: The WFH Mom Edit 
Leave a comment