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Summer is officially in full swing, and when it comes to kids, that can only mean one thing: It’s time for some serious fun in the sun. Enter Amazon! The same site that organized all of your back-to-school and college dorm needs into two handy stores has you covered on the toy front too. Amazon’s Summer Toy List 2018 is chock-full of ideas for keeping your kiddos entertained in the water, indoors, and in your own backyard. Easy navigation allows you to sort by your child’s age, toy category, or brand. With options this good, you might even find yourself inspired to get in on the playtime action again! Read on for 14 of our top toy picks.
Fox Print Princess Castle Play Tent
Did somebody say glamping? This pink tent is, naturally, fit for a princess and glows in the dark, giving your mini-me a built-in night light in the great outdoors. And when she’s ready to come back inside, it folds away easily for storage — though its stylish exterior makes for a nice bedroom décor addition as well!
Little Tikes Princess Horse and Carriage
Now that your little royal has her castle, she’ll be needing a horse and carriage. This tiny self-push car from Little Tikes will take her anywhere she wants to go — at least within walking distance, that is.
Kinetic Sand The One and Only
You don’t have to go to the beach to build a sandcastle. This kinetic sand, available in three-pound packs, brings the magic of the waterfront to your own backyard with mess-free, natural sand grains that stick to each other but not to your tots, making construction (and clean-up!) a breeze.
Intex Surf ‘N Slide Inflatable Play Center
Help your kids cool down with a tried-and-true summer staple with a shark-shaped twist! This 15-foot version of the OG Slip ‘N Slide comes with two “surf rider” slider seats and can be purchased with or without a pump.
Power Wheels Thomas and Friends Thomas Train With Track
A classic favorite, this battery-powered toy train comes with 18 feet of track to assemble, so you’ll have just as much fun setting it up as your child will have riding it. Well… almost.
Power Wheels <em>Jurassic World </em>Dino Racer
There are plenty of modes of mini-transportation for helping your toddler get around the backyard, but how many of them are shaped like Jurassic World dinosaurs? This battery-powered, parent-controlled four-wheeler can be revved up to six mph and features power-lock brakes for safety. The dino’s mouth also opens and closes, ensuring your kid will have the coolest ride on the block.
Step2 Naturally Playful Sand and Water Center
Get the best of both land and sea with this two-in-one play center, which includes one side for water and another for sand, both housed under an umbrella to keep your little ones safe from the sun’s harmful rays. Bridges, boats, pots, and a shovel are also included.
Melissa & Doug Sunny Patch Splash Patrol Sprinkler
Your son or daughter will get a gentle misting from each of the 12 Splash Patrol characters that adorn this adorable sprinkler. Cool, whimsical, and very necessary on those sweltering days.
Nintendo Labo Variety Kit
You can’t separate kids from technology these days, so embrace and add a DIY activity on top of it. This kit contains five different hands-on interactive experiences (including RC cars, a house, and a piano) that will create new ways to play for the whole family.
Intex Peacock Inflatable Island
We’ll see Taylor Swift’s now-infamous swan float and raise her this brightly colored peacock. In addition to keeping your kiddos afloat, it will help you keep an eye on them in the pool too — there’s no mistaking that plumage!
Little Tikes Fun Zone Dual Twister
Create your very own playground with this pint-size seated spinner. There’s room for two so your child can play alone or with a friend and get some relief from the heat to boot since the center button shoots water when activated. Two birds, one stone (er, spinner)!
Creativity for Kids Hide and Seek Rock Painting Kit
: Forget sidewalk chalk. This hands-on, waterproof kit gives you two activities in one, providing all the tools you’ll need to gussy up to 10 rocks and then play a unique game of hide-and-seek in the garden.
Your Décor by Horizon Group USA Water Bottle Coloring Kit
There’s no better time to teach your child about the importance of hydration than summer, and it’s never been easier than with this crafty kit. With a BPA-free water bottle, markers, and 20 peel-and-stick gemstones, it will enable them to create a pretty, one-of-a-kind vessel for all the water they’ll be drinking this season.
