The cheapest, funnest toy I have bought in the last 12 months is Splash Master's Dive sticks. $5.99 at Walmart gets you 5 dive sticks, 2 that flash lights and glow in the dark under water and 3 that just sink.

The premise is simple. These pencil like dive sticks sink to the bottom of the pool and your kids can race to the bottom to grab them. When I was a kid we used a quarter where you would almost drown trying to scrape it off the bottom. These sticks are easy to pick it up. And the ones that glow in the dark and blink make the game that much more fun.

If your kid is starting to get used to going under the water, these dive sticks make it more fun. My kid couldn't wait to bring them to swim lessons to show the teacher and the other kids.