Finding the right products for a big family can feel overwhelming, so I’m sharing 30+ of my personal favorite items we use every day—whether for homeschooling, camping with our family of 9, or managing laundry and meals. These essentials have made life easier and more organized, and I’m excited to share them with you!
This post contains affiliate links, including Amazon and other brand affiliate links (such as CooDoo and FUNWATER). That means I may earn a small commission if you click through and make a purchase—at no extra cost to you. We only share products we use and love in real life. Thank you for supporting our family and blog!
👩🏫 Homeschool Must-Haves
1. Kids Kindle
One of our favorite homeschool tools! It keeps all your books in one place, and it’s super lightweight and easy to carry. My dyslexic daughter loves being able to change the font, and it connects with Audible for read-alongs. Plus, it has fantastic parental controls and comes with 6 months of Kindle Kids+ free! A must-have for learning on the go.
👉 Shop Here!
2.Magnetic Letters These magnetic letters are a homeschool essential for early readers. We use them for hands-on phonics, word building, and playful spelling practice—perfect for sensory learners! The included board makes it easy to display words or use during lessons on the go. Great to keep on the fridge too!
👉 Shop Magnetic Letters Here
3. Pencils
They actually sharpen well and don’t break every five minutes (homeschooling moms, you know what I mean). Stock up on pencils for the year!
👉 Grab them here
4. Electric Pencil Sharpener
Game-changer for our homeschool table. It’s fast, safe, and makes pencil prep easy for all my kids. Yet, sometimes pencils can be sharpened a little too long by some procrastinators, but still worth it!
👉 See it on Amazon
5. Stapler
A stapler is a must in homeschool supplies! This one is a deal! It works hard—great for student packets and homemade flashcards.
👉 View Here!
6. Composition Notebooks
I grab a stack every year for journaling, writing practice, and all kinds of subject notebooks. Even give the toddlers a personal one, so they can feel they are part of school too!
👉 Stock up here
7. Folders I grab a fresh pack of folders every school year to keep the kids’ work simple and organized. These come in a variety of colors — perfect for individualizing by subject or child!
👉 Shop here
8. Binder Pouches These are perfect for large family homeschooling! Each of our kids has their own binder for schoolwork—and these binder pouches are a total game-changer. They hold pencils, erasers, sharpeners, markers—everything they need in one place. No more wasted time searching for supplies, and the kids love having their own little setup.
👉 Shop Binder Pouches Here
9. Yoto Mini
We love our little Yoto Player for audiobooks! It’s completely screen-free, and the kids can independently choose which stories they want to listen to. It’s super durable (perfect for busy little hands) and makes an awesome gift for birthdays or holidays! We love our little Yoto Player for audiobooks! It’s completely screen-free, and the kids can independently choose which stories they want to listen to. It’s super durable (perfect for busy little hands) and makes an awesome gift for birthdays or holidays!
👉 Grab the Yoto mini here
🚐 Camping + Travel Favorites
10. Neso Beach Tent
This beach tent is a total game changer for lake and beach days! We love how lightweight and packable it is — it easily fits in our beach wagon and doesn’t blow away like umbrellas. Just fill the anchors with sand and relax in the shade. Absolutely worth grabbing for your next family outing! Add this to your beach essentials list — you’ll be so glad you did! 👉 Shop the tent
11. Camping Mattress
We upgraded the mattresses in our Jayco tent trailer with these—and it made a huge difference. No more roughing it when we don’t have to!
👉 Shop Here
12. Over the Ear Headphones
These have been my teenage son’s favorite headphones!
We love the over-the-ear style for better sound and comfort—perfect for road trips, flights, or quiet time at the campsite.
👉 Shop the sale!
13. Glow Sticks
Our kids never go camping without glow sticks—it’s one of the easiest and cheapest ways to make nights extra fun. We use them for games, dance parties, and making bedtime a little more exciting for the littles. 🎉 Most importantly, helps us keep tabs on the kids at night! On Prime Day, I love stocking up with the bigger packs so we don’t run out mid-summer.
👉 Shop Glow Sticks Deals Here
15. S’more Sticks
These extendable s’more sticks are a total game-changer—no more hunting for clean sticks in the dark! They pack down small and keep fingers safe from the flames, and they even come with a storage bag! $8 for the whole set — 👉 Grab Our Favorite S’more Sticks
15. FunWater’s Inflatable Paddle Board
We finally got an inflatable paddle board last summer and it’s been one of our favorite family buys. It folds up small but holds up great—even with a kid (or two) riding along. It’s awesome for lakes, rivers, and coastal trips. Prime Day is the best time to grab one of these for less. 👉 Shop Paddle Board Deals
16. Mini flashlights These mini flashlights are a must for any big family—especially during camping trips. They are easy to carry and we always have a nice stash in the RV, so everykid can feel safe with an individual light.
👉 Shop Our Favorite Mini Flashlights
🎲 Games & Family Fun
17. Ticket to Ride A family favorite! Easy to learn, fun for all ages, and sneakily educational with geography built right in.
👉 Purchase Here
18. Trekking the National Parks – Perfect for our travel-loving crew. It’s educational and competitive—in the best way.
👉 Shop here
19. Codenames – A fast-paced word game great for teens and adults. We love it for camping trips or after the little kids go to bed.
👉 See the Game!
👶 Toddler + Learning Gear
20. CooDoo Magnetic Building Tiles
My younger ones love building with these while I teach the older kids. These tiles are designed to encourage creativity and hands-on learning, making them a perfect, screen-free quiet time activity. Made with safe, high-quality materials, they’re ideal for little hands and a favorite distraction that helps me get homeschooling done!
👉 Get them here
21. Montessori Busy Board This toy is a must-have for road trips and plan travel for toddlers! It is a very good screen-free entertainment! 👉 Order Here!
22. Water Table
A water table is one of our go-to summer staples for little ones! It’s perfect for hot days outside and keeps toddlers happily entertained with sensory play. We set ours up every summer
👉 Purchase here
23. Ninja Line This is a favorite for both our toddlers and big kids! Our backyard Ninja line keeps everyone active and entertained—it’s like a mini obstacle course that helps burn off energy in the best way. For large families, it’s a total essential. Great for coordination, strength, and just good old outdoor fun. 👉 Shop Our Favorite Ninja Line
🍳 Kitchen Appliance Must-Haves
24. Instant Pot
From frozen chicken to chili in 30 minutes—it saves dinner more often than I’d like to admit.
✅ Prime Day Deal Alert!
👉 Grab yours here
25. Breville Espresso Machine
This is our favorite Espresso machine for 27% off! What a deal! With 7 kids latte’s are a must! It is a splurge, but well worth it! We have even brought it camping.
👉 See it on Amazon
26. Ninja Blender
Daily smoothies are a stable in our house! This lightweight Ninja blender does the job well and keeps up with the large family smoothie and cooking demands!
👉 Check the deal here
27. Shark Vacuum
This one actually keeps up with our messes! Lightweight and powerful.
✅ Marked down for Prime Day!
👉 Shop now
🏠 Home Organization & Clean-Up
28. Zipper Pouch Game Organization
Tired of the board game pile-up? These zippered pouches are a total space-saver and perfect for storing card games, small board games, and all their pieces. No more ripped boxes or missing dice! They stack neatly in bins, drawers, or shelves—and make game night so much easier to set up and clean up.
👉 Shop the pouches here
29. Microfiber Mop This microfiber mop makes it easy to do a quick clean-up after dinner. It’s lightweight, easy to rinse, and perfect for doing quick clean—without dragging out a heavy mop bucket. Even my kids can use it, which means I’m not always the one cleaning up!
👉 Grab the mop here
🌿 Natural Wellness Essentials
30. Elderberry Syrup – A staple in our house for immune support. I always stock up when it’s on sale.
👉 Grab it here
31. Activated Charcoal I keep this for tummy bugs, minor detox support, and food sensitivity flares.
👉 See it on Amazon
32. NAC This supplement really helps support your body when those tough respiratory viruses hit! 👉 Shop Here!
👕Clothing Favorites
33. Men’s Athletic Shorts
Just grabbed these for my husband—his drawer was looking a little slim in the shorts department. These are comfy, breathable, and come in 3 neutral colors.
✅ Prime Day Deal: 27% off
👉 Check them out here
34. Girls’ Basic T-Shirts (Multi-Pack)
Solid-colored tees are a wardrobe win for my girls. Easy to mix and match, and perfect for everything from playing outside to homeschool days.
✅ Affordable bundle – lots of color options! 40% off!
👉 Shop the deal
That is a Wrap!
These are items we truly use—nothing trendy or overhyped. Let me know if you snag one (or a few) of these deals, and be sure to check back—I’ll update this post if I find more favorites!
🛒 Happy shopping + saving, from our big family to yours!
💌 Want more real-life stories, printables, and family tips?
Subscribe for free!
📷 Love behind-the-scenes family life? Come hang!
You May Also Like:
Gratefully Wild Home 
Leave a comment