The Toy Insider sent some of the year’s hottest summer toys that can be found for $25 or less to Good Day L.A. and some kid toy testers, who put them to the test. For more on the items featured in this segment, check out the product notes below, and for the complete rundown of the best toys of the spring and summer, be sure to check our complete Toy Insider Spring and Summer Gift Guide
PLAYFOAM SAND ICE CREAM SUNDAE SET

Kids can scoop up soft, shapeable Playfoam Sand and follow the ice cream order cards to make and serve pretend play ice cream orders. This set is designed to promote creativity and improve fine motor and matching skills through pretend play and early learning fun.
Buy Now
CRAFT-TASTIC NATURE: MAKE A BUG HOTEL

Kids can easily snap the wooden panels together and personalize their bug hotel with waterproof, hotel-themed stickers. Then, they can fill it with leaves, flowers, and other objects they find in nature. Once their hotel attracts critters, they can use the identification guide to learn about them.
Buy Now
SUNGEMMERS

Kids can create window art using pre-printed window designs, color guides, sun-catching stickers, and double-sided mounting tape. There are four different kits kids can choose from, each featuring more than 1,000 gemstones.
Buy Now
CREATE A CASTLE BUILDMASTER INDOOR ACTIVITY KITS

Kids can build castles using a sand (pictured) or snow compound with these indoor activity kits. The proprietary compounds are mess-free, do not dry out, and hold their shape when kids build.