When it comes to our kids, we want to see them happy. It’s easy to fall into the habit of buying lots of inexpensive toys and trinkets to bring immediate happiness. But the truth is, the way we buy for our kids will teach them. And if we want to teach them to be responsible consumers and protectors of our environment, then we need to teach them to buy less and buy better. The following 15 toys are some of my favorite simple toys for children. You’ll find a short list of items made of higher quality that can be used in new ways by children of different ages, genders, and interests.
Of course, don’t go and buy them all right now. But take notes and see if you can start moving towards more intentional toy buying in your home.
Simple Wooden Doll House
This looks like a basic wooden doll house–maybe even a little boring in the eyes of a grown-up. But for a child, the possibilities are endless. This could be a doll house, a barn, an office building, or police headquarters. Recently, my daughter turned hers into a fridge by taping pieces of cardboard to the compartments to make 4 doors. The one shown here is from IKEA. It is a cost-effective option, but there any many others.
Scarves + Fabric
One of my favorite childhood memories is playing with a lace apron. I used that apron to become a bride with a veil, to be a chef, and to cover up my favorite dolls. Although I am a huge fan of silk scarves, I also encourage you to go to the craft store and buy a variety of pieces of unique fabrics. Gift those pieces of fabric along with some clips and your kids will have an endless wardrobe of dress up opportunities. If you have a gift-giver who likes to give packages with lots of pieces, this is a fabulous way to do it.
Dome Climber + Accessories
This is the only pure outdoor toy for the list. I love this dome climber because it is dynamic. It can be used to climb and hang, but you can also put a swing in the middle. If you throw a large sheet or parachute over the top, you instantly have a cozy hiding place. This structure can easily be moved around in the grass to mow. We have the Lifetime Brand, but watch as the price fluctuates. We paid $179, but I’ve seen it as high as $399. Scout out a good deal!
Wobble Board
If you’ll be stuck indoor more than you like, there will be a need for indoor-friendly ways of burning off childhood energy. The wobble board can be used on any floors to hone balance skills and can also be used in conjunction with other block materials. Flip it over and it can be a ramp for cars, a hideout for dolls, or anything else your kiddos can dream up.
LEGO Education
Last year we bought our kids a set of LEGO Classic. I quickly found that LEGO Classic ain’t so classic. These kits contain a significant amount of highly specialized pieces meant to be used to make specific design ideas provided by the company. These type of pieces make it hard for younger children who are just starting out with LEGO. LEGO Education Set is reminiscent of the LEGOs of my own childhood–simple pieces that can be used to innovate numerous creations.
Real Instruments
We’ve had kits with toy instruments. Sure, they are fun. But they break and sound lousy. You can buy a kit like I have pictured above, but instead, I recommend investing in higher-quality small instruments that make a beautiful sound and will hold the interest of children as they grow. For grandparents who like to buy series of gifts, a new instrument could be added to the collection each year. A few ideas are a real tambourine, a recorder, or a drum. Who knows, maybe you will feel inspired to learn a new instrument right along with your kids?
Green Kid Crafts Box
My kids adore this subscription box. It provides simple, eco-friendly craft activities for kids of variety of ages. It’s great for Pinterest-averse parents like myself. Boxes like this can be helpful to leave for babysitters or for extended family visitors who like activities that are more structured. You can even gift a box to a friend as a birthday gift.
Gonge Hilltops
The Hilltops are an excellent start to making an obstacle course. I love this set because it nests inside of each other, making it really easy to store away. We know that kids need to move and it’s our job as parents to find the space and time to give them the movement they need. These can also be flipped upside-down and made into basketball hoops or Bozo’s Grand Prize Game (if you are an 80’s child, then you know…). Target makes a less expensive alternative.
Magnatiles
There’s nothing quite like Magnatiles to pull the whole family in for fun. These little plastic pieces are simple, durable, and addictive. We have found 100 pieces to be the magic number for our family of 4–but you can buy a smaller box and slower build up a collection. The Magnatiles bring in opportunities for cooperative play, mathematical and pre-geometry concepts, and endless creations.
Collapsible Tunnel
Put this together with the Gonge Hilltops and you’ll have an instant fun + creative energy burner. Sometimes it’s hard to get moving indoors, so I wanted to include another toy that promotes large body movement. This one can also be folded up and stored in a small space. Think big on this one, it’s not just for crawling through. Your kids will find new, fun ways to put the tunnel into play.
Chalk Wall/Dustless Chalk
When children are learning to write and draw, the upright position of the chalk wall helps them to build the big muscles they need to stabilize the small ones. Not only do the muscles benefit, but so does the brain. Skip the easel, because the large open space also gives way for a lot of right brain and left brain integration–this happens when kids draw big pictures like rainbows and footballs. Anytime that arms cross back and forth in front of the brain it stimulates these areas that impact important physical and academic milestones. You don’t even have to do a whole wall, I’ve seen people do small sections of even paint pieces of dry wall. Oh–and always dustless chalk! You will thank me for that one.
Guidecraft Unit Blocks
Unit blocks don’t look fancy and won’t elicit any squeals of joy, but they will provide countless options for creative play and innovation that can be woven in with other toys. You don’t need to buy a house, a horse barn, or a race track. You can build them out of blocks. Having open-ended toys like this will evoke creativity and avoid the need for buying more toys. These are pricey, but you can start with a smaller set and add to your collection as your children grow. This would be perfect for a group of gift givers to give together or for the grandparents to build on each year. P.S. All the brands are pretty much the same. Bonus if you can find them at a consignment store!
Sit-on Scooters
Besides just burning off energy, research shows us that movement is important for learning. The sit-on scooters (which easily slides under a sofa) provide a great resource for gross motor exercises and movement. You can find a slew of fun scooter activities here.
Flashlight
The number of ways that my children find to play with a flashlight continues to astound me. Children love to explore the contrast between dark vs. light and experiment with shadow play. It’s such a simple thing that can go a long way.
Doctor’s Kit
This is a classic toy that can be used for years. But if you prefer to opt out of the toy version, you can choose to buy some real medical equipment. If you have a child older than 3, consider a real stethoscope, blood pressure cuff, plastic thermometer, and band-aids.
