Summer break is exciting for about three days, and then comes the question every mom asks at least once an hour: “What do I do with you right now?” If you’re trying to cut back on screen time without losing your sanity, you’re in the right place. You just need a few products that actually hold a kid’s attention.
This list is built from real use, drawbacks included. For even more summer ideas, take a look at our full guide on things to do with kids at home in summer.
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Outdoor Play
- Best for: Ages 2-8
- Why moms love it: It’s hands-free fun – no blowing required, so even a 2-year-old can chase bubbles while an older sibling joins in.
- How long it typically keeps kids occupied: 30-45 minutes, longer if a second kid (or the family dog) gets involved.
- Any drawbacks: It burns through bubble solution fast, so keep a refill bottle on hand.
- Best for: Ages 5-12
- Why moms love it: It’s a serious energy burner – running, jumping, and launching, with built-in sibling competition.
- How long it typically keeps kids occupied: 20-40 minutes of repeated launches.
- Any drawbacks: Foam rockets can land in trees or bushes, so it works best with a bit of open space.
Splash Pad (Under $20)
- Best for: Ages 1-6
- Why moms love it: It’s an instant cool-down on a hot day, sets up in minutes, and packs away small for storage.
- How long it typically keeps kids occupied: An hour or more on a hot afternoon, especially with snacks nearby.
- Any drawbacks: Needs a flat grassy spot and a hose, and the vinyl can develop a slow leak over a season of heavy use.
Sidewalk Chalk Set (Under $20)
- Best for: Ages 3-10
- Why moms love it: It’s the kind of mess you actually want – outside, not on your walls – and it doubles as a creative outlet.
- How long it typically keeps kids occupied: 20-30 minutes, longer if it turns into hopscotch or a full driveway mural.
- Any drawbacks: Rain washes the artwork away, and it can temporarily stain hands and clothes.
Looking for more ways to get them out of the house? Browse our full list of outdoor products that keep kids occupied for more backyard and driveway inspiration.
Creative & Craft Activities
- Best for: Ages 2-6
- Why moms love it: It’s zero-mess “coloring” – just water, no crayon marks on the walls, and it’s reusable.
- How long it typically keeps kids occupied: 15–25 minutes per sitting, but toddlers tend to ask for it again throughout the day.
- Any drawbacks: Drawings disappear as they dry, which can mean repeat requests to come admire the artwork before it fades.
Friendship Bracelet Kit (Under $20)
- Best for: Ages 6-12
- Why moms love it: It builds fine motor skills and keeps hands busy and kids love giving the finished bracelets away.
- How long it typically keeps kids occupied: 30-60 minutes once they get into a rhythm, sometimes much longer.
- Any drawbacks: Younger kids may need help getting started, and the string can tangle if it isn’t stored well.
Highlights Hidden Pictures (Under $10)
- Best for: Ages 4-8
- Why moms love it: My 5-year-old daughter loves doing this one. It keeps her genuinely focused, and it’s easy to store.
- How long it typically keeps kids occupied: At least an hour in our house, sometimes longer.
- Any drawbacks: Once a book is finished, it’s finished – worth grabbing a couple at a time.
- Best for: Ages 3-7
- Why moms love it: They’re quiet and mess-free, which makes them perfect for restaurants and waiting rooms.
- How long it typically keeps kids occupied: 15-30 minutes.
- Any drawbacks: Stickers can lose their stick after a few rounds of repositioning.
Worried about the mess factor? Our roundup of kids’ activities that don’t wreck the house is full of low-cleanup options like these.
Independent Quiet-Time Activities
- Best for: Ages 3-10
- Why moms love it: Open-ended building means no instructions to lose and no “wrong way” to play, solo or with siblings.
- How long it typically keeps kids occupied: 30-60+ minutes, and it tends to become a daily favorite.
- Any drawbacks: It’s a bigger upfront investment, and pieces have a way of disappearing.
- Best for: Ages 6-12
- Why moms love it: It’s focused, screen-free concentration with a real sense of accomplishment when the build is done.
- How long it typically keeps kids occupied: An hour or more for bigger sets, often spread across a few sittings.
- Any drawbacks: Stepping on a stray piece barefoot is its own special kind of pain, and small parts need supervision around younger children.
- Best for: Ages 2-5
- Why moms love it: Zippers, buttons, laces, and buckles all in one place – great for toddlers who just need something to do with their hands.
- How long it typically keeps kids occupied: 15-20 minutes per page, longer with a little help.
- Any drawbacks: Younger toddlers may need an adult assistance for the trickier fasteners.
- Best for: Ages 4-10
- Why moms love it: It’s a calm, focused activity that works well for winding down before bed or filling a quiet afternoon.
- How long it typically keeps kids occupied: 20-45 minutes, depending on piece count.
- Any drawbacks: Missing pieces are eventually inevitable, especially with a toddler in the house.
Need a few more solo-play ideas? Check out our quiet-time activities that actually keep kids busy, and our list of the best quiet activities for kids.
Travel & On-the-Go
Melissa & Doug Water Wow Books (Under $10)
- Best for: Ages 3-6
- Why moms love it: No markers, no mess, and the pages are reusable – perfect for car seats and restaurant tables.
- How long it typically keeps kids occupied: 15-20 minutes per book.
- Any drawbacks: Pages need to dry out between uses, so it helps to pack a small towel.
LCD Writing Tablets (Under $10)
- Best for: Ages 3-10
- Why moms love it: Instant erase means no markers or loose papers to lose, which makes it a road-trip and waiting-room favorite.
- How long it typically keeps kids occupied: 20-30 minutes at a time.
- Any drawbacks: Drawings can’t be saved, and you will need to replace it occasionally, as they aren’t the highest quality product. I typically purchase in bulk – we keep one upstairs, one downstairs, and one in the diaper bag too.
- Best for: Ages 2-6
- Why moms love it: Endless restickability means no cleanup afterward, which makes for quiet, happy car or plane rides.
- How long it typically keeps kids occupied: 15-25 minutes.
- Any drawbacks: Stickers can lose their tackiness after a lot of repositioning.
Pop The Target Game (Under $10)
- Best for: Ages 3-8
- Why moms love it: My 5-year-old daughter loves hers – she’s had it more than a year, and it still keeps her busy. It’s compact enough to toss in a bag.
- How long it typically keeps kids occupied: 20-30 minutes, longer with siblings playing along.
- Any drawbacks: It can be exciting even for older siblings, so you may want to get more than one.
Trying to get a little breathing room of your own? Our guide to things kids can do without you has more ideas worth bookmarking.
Backyard Fun
- Best for: Ages 5-12
- Why moms love it: It burns serious energy, and it’s easy to rearrange for a new challenge every time.
- How long it typically keeps kids occupied: 30-45 minutes, especially with friends or siblings racing the clock.
- Any drawbacks: It needs decent yard space to lay everything out.
- Best for: Ages 4-10
- Why moms love it: Simple rules make it easy for siblings of different ages to actually play together.
- How long it typically keeps kids occupied: 15-25 minutes.
- Any drawbacks: Rings have a way of wandering off into the grass and disappearing for a while.
- Best for: Ages 4-12
- Why moms love it: It’s a backyard classic that’s great for cookouts and keeping several kids entertained at once.
- How long it typically keeps kids occupied: 20-30 minutes.
- Any drawbacks: Bags get dirty or damp fast on grass, so they may need a quick wash now and then.
- Best for: Ages 3 and up
- Why moms love it: We have the one with LED lights, a sprinkler, and a basketball hoop, so it works for my daughter and even the older boys in the family.
- How long it typically keeps kids occupied: An hour or more, especially on summer evenings.
- Any drawbacks: It’s a bigger investment and needs yard space, and younger kids should bounce with supervision.
And if the weather turns on you, pivot indoors with our easy indoor games for kids when they’re stuck inside, so the screen-free streak doesn’t have to end.
Final Thoughts
No single product is going to fill an entire summer, and that’s okay. The goal isn’t to keep your kids busy every minute of every day – it’s to have a few reliable, screen-free options ready for the moments you need them, whether that’s 20 minutes to make dinner or an hour to just sit down. Pick a couple from each category, keep them within reach, and give yourself some grace on the days nothing seems to work.
