The Best Toys & Games for Summer (Screen-Free Edition)

Long summer days call for toys that keep little hands busy, imaginations moving, and the “I’m bored” moments to a minimum. Whether you’re heading on vacation, filling slow afternoons at home, or looking for activities beyond a screen, these are some of our favorite toys and creative kits for summer fun.

At Monkey Barrel, we love toys that encourage creativity, imagination, and hands-on play. These picks are playful, engaging, and perfect for bringing along wherever summer takes you.

Rail Cube

Rail Cube is the ultimate STEAM toy for kids who love to build and create. With interchangeable cubes and magnetic monorail tracks, kids can design their own 3D train courses again and again. It’s imaginative, hands-on, and one of those toys that somehow keeps getting more fun every time they play with it.

The Woobles

The Woobles are beginner-friendly crochet kits that turn crafting into a fun new hobby. Each kit comes with everything needed to create an adorable plush character, making them perfect for summer downtime, travel days, or cozy evenings after a long beach day.

Undercover Art by Ooly

Undercover Art kits from Ooly are packed with coloring pages, markers, stickers, and creative activities kids can jump right into. They’re colorful, portable, and perfect for restaurants, road trips, flights, or quiet afternoons at home.

Sketch Pals

Sketch Pals are clip-on doodle boards that let kids draw, erase, and start all over again endlessly. Lightweight and easy to toss into a beach bag or backpack, they’re one of our favorite easy screen-free travel activities for summer.

Scratch & Sketch Books

Scratch & Sketch books make kids feel like little artists instantly. Using the included stylus, they scratch away designs to reveal bright colors and hidden artwork underneath. Creative, mess-free, and perfect for travel or quiet time.

Let’s Go! Activity & Coloring Kit

Let's Go! Activity & Coloring Kits are packed with coloring pages, games, stickers, and activities that make summer travel so much easier. Whether you’re heading out on a road trip, flying somewhere fun, or just need an easy screen-free activity for lunch out, this kit keeps kids entertained while letting their creativity take over.

Toys They’ll Reach for All Summer Long

The best summer toys are the ones kids naturally keep coming back to. The activities packed for vacation, brought to restaurants, and pulled out during slow afternoons at home. At Monkey Barrel, we love finding toys that encourage kids to play, imagine, create, and stay curious all summer long. Stop by the shop and let us help you find your next screen-free favorite. ☀️🐒