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20 Boredom-Busting Target Products Your Babysitter Will Be So Grateful You Bought
Activities right in that sweet spot of high results with minimal risk.
1. A seriously fun — and seriously well-reviewed — card game that everyone can enjoy. The premise is simple — just slap matching cards — but things get wild fast. And with about a 10-minute per-game runtime, it’s perfect for keeping things fun without locking your poor sitter into hours of strategic play.
2. Or an easy-to-follow game great for younger and older kids alike! The game is simple — just calling out the matching pictures — but it’s tough enough that older siblings and even adults will have fun trying to find matches. Any game that kids of all ages can play with together is a must in my book.
Target
My family has this game and I am constantly surprised how adults and kids are all having fun with it. I usually dread playing some of the board games for little kids, but this one has us all laughing and interacting without getting bored. It’s also great because if a card ever gets lost — because, you know, kids — the game still works completely perfectly.
Promising review: “I have not found anyone who has not enjoyed this game. It is quick and I like to pack it for trips since it is small. My 4-year-old can play this but I enjoy it as well. Would work great even at a doctor’s office or restaurant.” —Momof3
Price: $7.99
3. An always classic and always fun game of Bop It! because this childhood staple has NOT 👏 LOST 👏 ITS 👏 STEAM. It’s simple, fun, has literally no clean-up, and is fun for kids, teens, and adults alike.
Target
Promising review: “Great family night game for adults and kids alike. Many hours of laughing and just plan fun.” —EggMazing Egg Spinner
Price: $15.99
4. A ball run to keep everyone focused and occupied for a long time. Both simple and exciting — your sitter is going to look like a genius when they help create a ball run masterpiece.
5. A comprehensive and open-ended Lego set that will keep everyone occupied. This set includes plenty of wheels for making vehicles and an easy-to-follow instruction book for those who need a bit more guidance. And with an included box for storage, there’s a significantly smaller chance of your poor sitter stepping on a piece.
Target
Promising review: “My daughter has always displayed a huge fascination with Legos. This was a perfect starter set to see if she enjoyed Legos without throwing out 200 dollars on a more specific set, and the chance of her never playing with it. We go through one of the creations each night, and she uses the pieces to create her own objects.” —Kevin
Price: $19.59
6. An inflatable tent for the perfect indoor fort that inflates in minutes and stays cool inside. Have them throw in a blanket, some snacks, and a movie, and your kids will think they’ve won the cool-sitter jackpot.
7. A low-to-the-ground wooden play structure which can help your kiddo burn some energy without your sitter wondering if they’ll be able to get them down from something high. It converts into a climbing structure, a slide, a rocking arch, or a fun place to calm down for a bit — making it a versatile option for keeping kids entertained.
8. A large water doodle mat that *magically* becomes a blank slate every time it dries. Just fill the pens with water and let the kids be as creative as possible without having a huge mess of papers and markers to clean up.
9. A versatile balance beam kit to help your sitter set up an extra awesome obstacle course or an epic game of the floor is lava. This beam has eight bars and five sensory step-stones that can be set up in any number of fun combinations — keeping things interesting and definitely memorable.
10. A pack of glow-in-the-dark Whoa Dough for totally leveling up the modeling dough experience. Whoa Dough is similar to Play-Doh but is free from gluten, peanuts, eggs, milk, and soy — making it both glow-in-the-dark awesome AND safe for many allergy families.
Targer
Reviewers mention that the dough needs to charge in light first, like most glow-in-the-dark items.
Promising review: “My kids love this stuff. Hours of creative sensory play!” —Ashleyrane
Price: $4.99 for four colors
11. A two-pack of RC Cars so they can teach your kiddos the humility of getting completely demolished by a pro. These cars are durable, fun, and crash-ready for ultimate competitive racing.
12. A kid-friendly walkie-talkie set so they can send the kids into another room and have a little peace and quiet while chatting with them in a completely different room. Ah, some *chhhhhh-over* peace and *chhhhhh-come-in-over* “quiet.”
13. A simple and self-contained painting craft because having a babysitter is an awesome way to have some one else lead your kids in a craft AND keep them excited and engaged for something other than screen time.
Target
Promising review: “We LOVE a good craft in our house. These are the perfect option for an afternoon of fun. The kit comes with paint and a paintbrush. The ceramic is heavy duty so I don’t have to worry about it being super fragile. My toddler was so proud of his art and couldn’t wait to display it! We love all the different shape options and the price point is great 👍🏻” —Courtney
Price: $5 (also available in rainbow, dragon, dinosaur, butterfly, and unicorn)
14. A playhouse kiddos can color themselves which can keep them occupied for literal hours. Whether it’s coloring or playing in the playhouse — this thing is tons of creative fun.
Target
Promising review: “If you’re considering this as a gift for a child — ABSOLUTELY. I had these cardboard houses as a child myself and I worked on it for MONTHS!! I purchased for my 9-year-old sister and we enjoy working on it together. It also makes for an easy fort if you put a lightweight blanket over the top! Spacious enough for the dog and my sister to sleep, haha.” —acalkins
Price: $34.99 (also available as a garage or with dinosaurs)
15. A mess-free coloring book so your sitter can run to the bathroom without having to worry about a new masterpiece on the floors or walls. Plus, these are magical even for adults, so they can enjoy some coloring time, too.
Target
Each pack comes with five markers and 18 coloring pages.
Promising review: “The Color Wonder packs are our go-to for little kid gifts, and the Bluey coloring sheets are so fun. They’re a safe bet for gifting to toddlers (and not being responsible for giving something that’ll ruin the walls). We have several packs in our house and feel comfortable letting our own young kids enjoy these without much supervision.” —Mamasaur
Price: $8.29
16. An easy-to-use wagon in case they want to take the kids for a trip to the park. This wagon has a buckle feature for keeping kids safe, has pockets for water bottles, and isn’t too heavy, making it an easy way to keep kids secure and in one spot.
Target
Promising review: “I debated on getting this wagon. I have an almost 2-year-old and a 5-year-old and wanted something for walks to our community pool/play ground and zoo trips and the ball field. Needless to say I absolutely love it and so happy I caved and got it! My girls love riding in it. My littlest stays content with her snack and drink while riding. The cup holders are great and the bigger pouch on the back side is great for storing snacks, tablet etc. Just get it if you’re debating.” —Blessedmama18
Price: $105.99
17. An extra large pack of sidewalk chalk for creating some calm outdoor fun and artwork when inside gets boring.
18. A bubble machine that’ll allow babysitters to keep the kids occupied without even having to get up. Although if they ARE sitter of the year, they’ll release their inner child and chase some bubbles, too.
19. A visual timer to help keep things calm if your kiddo struggles with transitions. With a visual timer, “five more minutes” actually has some meaning as they watch the rainbow count down.
Target
20. A karaoke machine with Bluetooth that allows them to watch or perform any number of kid concerts. This is what we pay our sitters for, people!
Target
Promising review: “Love how you cab turn volume up and down separately on microphone! This is perfect for the kids.” —Happy customer
Price: $59.95 (originally $89.95)
Reviews have been edited for length and/or clarity.
