“I’m bored” is something most parents hear on a daily basis during summer vacation. Within minutes of the school doors closing, my kids had emptied the kitchen of snacks, scattered their belongings all over the house, and started nagging me about how much we never get to do anything fun. Entertaining kids is a tricky balance. Fun is important, but it’s wise to include at least some intellectual stimulation.
We’re bringing you a roundup of the best Prime Day toy deals on games, Squishmallows, and Lego sets. All of our picks have been tested by WIRED with the help of our kids. From building kits to rock tumbler sets to some of the best family board games, these deals offer a break from screens and a chance for you to spend some quality family time (or keep them busy while you work).
We test products throughout the year and carefully select these offerings. We will update this guide periodically throughout the sale event.
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Building kits are fun for everyone, and my whole family loved Clixo’s colorful and versatile snap-together magnetic pieces. Connect the magnetic ends and bend them any way you like to build 3D shapes, animals, and anything else you can think of. The pieces are durable and washable, and they stack neatly for storage. I especially love that you don’t need a flat surface to build on, because it means you can play with these kits anywhere. —Simon Hill
The return on investment on Magna-Tiles amazes me. My kids, now 7 and 9, received their first set of Magna-Tiles when my oldest daughter was 2. Even now, almost 7 years later, they can still entertain themselves for an hour or two by simply clicking these attractive, translucent tiles together to form 2D shapes and 3D objects. When they were 2 or 3, simply making an ice cream cone was enough to get them excited. Now, they can build entire towers, forts, and stables for their little Squishmallows or dolls. The sky’s the limit—or rather, my credit card is, as the sets are also infinitely expandable. We’ve got more picks in our guide to the best STEM toys for kids. —Adrienne So
If your child constantly has you filling their pockets or purse with rocks, this kit will be perfect for them. This rock polisher is one of the best STEM toys for kids. After a rock-hunting expedition, simply set out the samples, change out the polishing grits, and let the machine do the work. Over time, they’ll have smooth, polished rocks worth putting on display. Keep in mind that while this polisher is quieter than other models, you might want to keep it in the garage—after all, you’ll be beating rocks around a metal cylinder. It’s going to get a little loud. The kit includes four polishing grits, a sieve, an instruction guide, and nine different types of real, rough gemstones. —Louryn Strampe
I impulse-bought my first Squishmallow a few Black Fridays ago and the rest, as they say, is history. These plush toys are extremely soft and cuddly, and the 16-inch size is big enough for you to lounge on while taking a nap, on a long car ride, or just lounging in bed. Austin is undeniably cute and would make a nice, comfy addition to your couch or pile of pillows. Plus, he won’t start to go bad after exactly 35 seconds of exposure to air… unlike all those edible avocados you bought last week. —Louryn Strampe
I have built almost All of the Lego flower sets are the same, and this one is my favorite by far. You’ll build 16 individual, adjustable stems that range from colorful lupine to stunning (and satisfying) gerbera daisies. While it would be silly to say that Lego sets are sustainable, some of these pieces are made from plant-based plastic. That’s something. You’ll have to bring your own vase, but if you know someone who could benefit from a year-round floral arrangement, I highly recommend this kit. Just look at the little lavender bugs! Look at them! —Louryn Strampe
OffBits combines special components with common hardware items you probably have at home, like nuts and bolts. Each kit includes a special assembly tool and a robot, creature, or vehicle to build. My daughter enjoyed putting together the UnicornBit, and it’s easy to modify the designs and get creative. Some pieces were difficult to connect, so adult supervision is recommended.—Simon Hill
Inspired by the Royal Palace of Évora in Portugal, with its Moorish-style blue and white ceramic tiles, this tile game challenges you to make mosaics by matching patterns and colors to score as high a score as possible. One of the most popular family board games in our house, Azul is easy to understand, yet supports many different tactical approaches and has surprising depth. The components (particularly the beautiful tiles) are of high quality and it is immensely satisfying to fill the board. The game moves quickly and you can complete a game in under an hour, but you will likely want to play again right away. —Simon Hill
Want a quick and easy card game for family board game night? Exploding Kittens is very accessible, but there are layers of strategy as you organize your hand and try to avoid an exploding kitten card. This game takes inspiration from classic card games, but gives them a modern twist with just enough complexity to keep things fun without being confusing. The art is super cute, and cat lovers won’t be able to resist. This game is for two to five players ages 7 and up. It did go on sale once, but that was several months ago, and we think it’s a pretty good deal. —Simon Hill
Collect and trade resources on a randomly generated map of hexagonal tiles in this addictive board game. Gathering enough victory points takes clever strategy and some luck with the dice. It’s easy to learn and only takes about an hour to complete. Players can trade freely, but this can lead to ganging, and there’s a stealing mechanic that can lead to arguments, so set some ground rules. Modular randomization makes it great for replayability, and there are expansions that further complicate gameplay. This game is for three to four players ages 10 and up. —Simon Hill
As an adult, I don’t like this chaotic game, but if you ask my kids, they’ll tell you that it’s one of the best family board games you can play. The card game involves finding groups of three and passing the cards you don’t want, but certain combinations trigger crazy throwing attacks where people grab the squishy burritos in the middle and start throwing them at each other. It’s fun with small kids and very easy to pick up, but I suggest you play outside or at least not in a room with anything breakable. —Simon Hill
Kids love silly games, and this one is about as silly as it gets. Each card has a word on it, and your seemingly simple task is to describe that word without saying it, speaking only in simple syllables—which is harder than it sounds. There’s a time limit to build up the pressure, and if that’s not enough to get you nervous, consider that the opponent can hit you with the inflatable “No” stick if you get it wrong. If they’re anything like my kids, they’ll take delight in hitting you a lot. This game is loud, silly, and fun for players ages 7 and up, proving that the best family board games don’t have to be strategic or complex. —Simon Hill
There’s nothing like the satisfaction of completing a huge Lego build, unless it’s the satisfaction of knowing you didn’t pay full price for it. As I discovered when I wrote about how to build your collection, it’s not wise to skimp on Lego pieces. Tolerances are legendary—Bricks made decades apart will stick together and be stable. The company also has a Some other sets for sale along with the X-Wing set. —Adrienne So
My 7- and 9-year-olds love the Yoto. It’s one of WIRED’s top picks for kids and is an adorable little speaker with a pixelated screen that your kids can pick up and listen to anywhere without having to steal your phone. Instead, they insert cards into the top. You can also buy blank cards and create your own content. We haven’t tested the Mini, but it has all the same features as the original Yoto, just in a smaller, easier-to-carry format. All starter packs and various types of accessories, including cases, Yoto Headphonesand the Yoto Mini Travel Case have a 20 percent discount.Adrienne So
These sticker books are my secret power for getting my son anywhere that involves sitting and waiting for more than two minutes. Waiting for breakfast at our favorite restaurant? Sticker book. Grumpy waiting for dinner to finish after he gets home from daycare? Sticker book. Planning a plane trip only to get an ear infection and end up taking care of the baby alone? Sticker book!!! These Melissa & Doug sticker books come in three packs, which is great because buying just one will last you weeks of outings since you can alternate between them, and the stickers have stayed pretty sticky no matter how many times my son re-sticks them to his arms. This safari, barn, and squirrel-themed sticker set is on sale for 15 percent off.Nena Farrell
If you’re trying to foster a love of cleaning from a young age, this set will teach your little one a love of sweeping and mopping from the earliest days. It’s also helpful if your child is already oddly obsessed with the full-sized broom and gets frustrated by the fact that it’s clearly It’s not the right size for him to use. The set includes a mop, a duster, a broom, a dustpan, a small hand broom, and a stand to put all the pieces on. I keep it right next to my pantry in hopes that my son will choose his own broom instead of mine. You can get this set on sale right now for almost half off the standard price, though we can usually find it for around $34. The Prime Day price is still a steal anyway.Nena Farrell
Budding explorers can use this interactive globe to learn about the nations of the world. A companion app on your tablet lets your child scan the globe for augmented reality pop-ups. Each pop-up reveals facts about landmarks, animals, cuisine, and more. Fun voices make it more suitable for younger kids. (PlayShifu recommends it for ages 4-10.) The globe is a bit cheap and the augmented reality pop-ups tend to be choppy, but this is a different way for your kids to learn more about their world. —Simon Hill
This version of the classic Rubik’s Cube is Bluetooth-enabled and features smart sensors inside the light-up cube that connect to a companion app on your phone to show you where each block is located. It can teach you strategies to help you reduce solving time, and it’s fun to compete with your family. —Simon Hill
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Photography: Simon Hill