As with most any category that we lump a whole bunch of any one thing into, toys are no exception. Not all toys are created equal. I wish I had realized that better when my kids were growing up, but I didn’t. Since Christmas is next month and you will likely be making gift decisions very soon (if you haven’t already) what better time for a post sharing toy/activity suggestions?!
I don’t have a lot of regret regarding my parenting choices, thankfully, but if I could go back and do it over again, I know for certain that the toys we gave our kids would look different. I would have chosen more of what is being called today “open-ended” toys. (Toys that can be played with multiple different ways.) Items like a Hot Wheels Racetrack, or an Easy Bake Oven, are not open-ended because they have one basic intended way to play with them. That is not necessarily a bad thing, I just would have opted for less of those and more of the other.
Another change I would make if I could, is I would not have spent anywhere near as much money on the toys and crap that we sadly did. Especially not in the years from birth until about 6 years old. Why? Because believe it or not, it can be overwhelming to kids when they have too many options and then they don’t play with 80% of what they have. Too many toys just take up space, add to clutter, and waste money. As parents we often assume the more things our kids have to play with the more “entertained” they will be. Not true. Quality over quantity works best when it comes to staying engaged in a toy/activity.
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Below is a rundown of the toys I have chosen for this list and why I chose them… (*Note- all items but one I either currently own or have owned/used in the past and ALL are under $26. Many around the $15 dollar range and some under $10).
1. Classic Big Building Bricks – 50 pc 2. Magnetic Tiles- 60 pc 3. Melissa & Doug Wood Blocks Set – 100 pc 4. Building Block Set with Toy Drill and Screwdriver 5. Bristle Shape 3D Building Blocks – 120 pc
I love this whole category! If there is one thing that all three of my grandkids (ages 3, almost 10, and 11) will play with for a long time, and together even, it is the building toys. The kids mix and match sets and add people or animals or cars to keep the play going. Building toys are timeless, great for any age and obviously really promote imagination and creativity. We also have a bazillion regular sized Legos they love to create with, and tinker toys are another building favorite at our house.
6. Taboo Kids vs Parents Board Game 7. Mancala 8. Battleship 9. Sequence for Kids 10. Mastermind 11. Barnyard Matching Game
Games = Interaction. Multiple people are needed to play, which means games create the perfect opportunity to play with your kids. (Click here if you want to read Bryer’s post on that topic.) Taboo is my personal favorite on the list, but you have to be able to read and understand the word choices. Battleship and Mastermind are strategy games which is always fun, and Mancala is as well. And then who doesn’t love The Memory Match Game? A classic for sure and the littles can play too. You can modify for age/ability by the number of cards you set out. A lesser number of cards is best for the younger kids or kids whom more cards might overwhelm. I also love that you can buy a memory match game in so many different themes to fit the interests of the kiddo you buy it for. From Disney Princesses, to Paw Patrol or Superheroes, or just more general like the barnyard theme I chose here.
12. Origami Kit 13. Button Art 14. Melissa & Doug No-Sew Craft Kit 15. Paint By Sticker 16. Mushroom Peg Puzzle 17. Lite Brite 18. 3D Coloring Puzzle Set
CREATIVE – The thing I love about the items in this category is that even for those who don’t necessarily think of themselves as creative, these options allow you flexibility to be creative but within a structure. I am more of a “structured creative” person myself. (If that isn’t actually a thing I think it should be…) 😊 Options like Lite-Brite, Mushroom Peg Puzzle and Button Art provide pattern suggestions for you so you still have the accomplishment of creating, but you can also choose not to use the patterns and make original creations instead.
If you have never seen a Paint by Sticker book, you should definitely check them out. They are so much fun and made for all ages including adults. They’re great for long car rides too!
19. My Dragon Books 20. How To Draw Cute Stuff 21. 2020 World Records 22. What Should Danny Do? 23. My Body, Myself For Girls
BOOKS – I love Books! So much so that I have a collection of Little Golden Books. (Did you spot the one in my ABOUT collage? Go to my home page and then click on About and you’ll see it is among the things that “represent” me.
Reading is just SO important. There are many studies that show the importance of reading to your children, reading with your children and even the benefits of your children seeing you read! Children who love to look at books and read have a big leg up in school and this world. Think about kiddos you know that “hate” reading. It often means that battles ensue when homework starts or even during class (especially when they feel that the reading is too hard.) When a love of reading starts early, it usually sticks. You can never go wrong with buying a child a book!
I chose to go with more “specialty” books than regular age appropriate reading suggestions for this post. (I may need to do one later on JUST those though!) I love all of these books, but I will highlight three. My Body, Myself for Girls is a fabulously informational book. There is one for boys as well, but I noticed the cover has changed since I bought both, about 17 years ago give or take, for my own kids. They are educational and encourage dialogue between parent and child, which is important because the topic can be uncomfortable for some families. These books help to get the conversation going.
Another book I want to highlight is actually a series called: My Dragon Books and are part of a social skills curriculum I used at work. If you are looking for books that deal with topics like anger, anxiety, sharing, lying, consequences, etc. I think you will find these books to be helpful.
Lastly, What Should Danny Do? is a book that allows the reader to help Danny make choices. It has alternate endings that are determined by the choices that are made for the various scenarios in the story. It teaches that different choices produce different outcomes. Perfect for Raising Accountable Children!
24. Jumbo Wild Zoo Animals 25. Collapsible Portable Cornhole 26. Liquid Motion Bubbler 27. Mini Jungle Animal Toys – 54 pc
MISCELLANEOUS – Last but not least this category is exactly what it says. I added a few random items that I like. One of those items are animals. Both jumbo size for little ones (aged 2 and under) and then the other set with more animals, but for older kids. The thing I like about animals, as I shared above, is that there are so many ways to play with them, including building structures for them with the building items from above. Toy people are fun also, but they can be expensive, and the kids seem to have just as much fun with the animals. Toy cars is another fun one to use alone or with the other items.
The bean bag toss I included because it is really versatile, and I didn’t have anything else on the list like it. Again, cornhole is a game we own and love and can be played by all ages! The one I chose here folds up into a tiny bag for storage, can be played alone or with others, and is also great for indoor or outdoor.
Lastly, the Liquid Motion Bubbler I added because I used these often in my previous work. They are especially helpful to many children (or adults) in need of a calming or de-escalation tool. They can also be used as a timer (an amazing parenting tool that I will write more about in a future post) and are small and portable so easy to bring in the car or wherever you’re going.
Here are a couple other suggestions for maximizing play:
- Keep toys organized so that all parts are together. (Dollar store bins work great.) So much more enjoyable than grabbing bits and pieces from the bottom of a toy box.
- Rotate toys so that not everything is always out. The toys will feel “new” again when you pull out things they have not seen in a while.
- Adding popcorn seeds or dried beans to a kitchen play set, your own bowls, cups, and spoons or a dump truck or tractor is another great way to expand play.
Choosing toys that your kids will love and play with for a long time, and that also help them to imagine, strategize, create and grow while they’re at it, is wonderfully rewarding. Wishing you happy shopping this holiday season!
