Being intentional with your time, money, and relationships is so important in a world of more-more-more. Keeping simple toys in your home for your kids teaches them this same intentional behavior. From a young age, they learn to appreciate what they have, to truly play, and to grow their imaginations.
“Wise parents also think about the number of toys that children are given. While most toy rooms and bedrooms today are filled to the ceiling with toys, intentional parents learn to limit the number of toys that kids have to play with. I’m not anti-toy. I’m just pro-child. So do your child a favor today and limit their number of toys. (Just don’t tell them you got the idea from me.)”
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13 (Favorite) Simple Toys Kids Love
We have most (if not all of these toys) in our home! They bring lots of joy and entertainment on a daily basis. We keep them stored in our playroom as Montessori styled as we can.
If you’re overwhelmed with toys (like I once was) here are are some tips to declutter and organize your toys. But this list might also help you learn which toys are the best to purge (hint: if they’re not on the list, you might consider tossing them!)
What is a simple toy?
I don’t know about you but my babies ALWAYS loved a good-ole empty water bottle. Seriously, they would be entertained for hours in the car by the crinkly sound!
A simple toy leaves it up to the child for a little imagination and fascinates them despite being seemingly boring (to adults). It’s not too flashy or bright and gives the child an opportunity to actually play rather than just explore. A simple toy also engages the senses. They can touch, taste, smell, hear and see appropriately stimulating materials.
Open-ended vs Close-ended Toys
Remove the toys and kids play more! I would argue this is especially true about the close-ended toys but also applies to minimizing open-ended ones! When I removed half the kids’ toys and focused on open-ended toys and toys that really brought us joy, the kids actually started playing again!
I think they were too overwhelmed with all their choices beforehand.
Open-ended toys have multiple uses and do not have a defined purpose. Close-ended toys are designed and developed with one purpose in mind. Examples of open-ended toys are wooden blocks, silk scarves, legos, etc.
The Best Simple Toy Ideas for Kids
Wooden Blocks
Research has found that preschoolers who play with blocks perform better even in high school.
Wooden Train Set
These accessories combined with a basic wooden train set can be the stage for an adventure or the meticulous plan of a future engineer.
Balloons
My 18 month old seriously loves balloons! And I attribute a huge part of his gross motor skills to him chasing and kicking these around the house. Of course, always want to make sure it can’t be put in anyone’s mouth!
Water
Pouring water. Splashing in water. Water guns. Water balloons. Dumping water. Waterfalls. All of these can entertain for hours. If you’ve got a small spot on your back porch that is shaded, the kids love a water table outside! Or, just throw them in the bathtub to distract them for an hour!
Play-Doh
The classic play-doh can be bought or made at home with a simple DIY playdough recipe. Just do your best to let the kids JUST play and mix the colors (if they want). Good luck with that. Hah!
Sand and Buckets
Kinetic sand is so fun to play with! Bring a little bit of the beach to your home. Not going to lie though… I’m not a fan of dealing with the mess.
Art Supplies
My kids love good ole colored pencils, construction paper, and scissors. Chalk is a favorite too!
Bristle Blocks
This simple toy leads to some creative designs! Bonus = they aren’t as expensive as magnet tiles!
Bubbles
Have you ever seen a child laugh harder than when they are popping bubbles? Seriously, so much joy is found right outside our front door when we pull out the bubbles!
Wooden Puzzles
We might have a ‘puzzling’ problem, but I’m okay with that! The kids love to work on this 6-in-1 block puzzle for hours on end.
Jumbo Cardboard Blocks
They are fun to build-up. They are fun to knockdown. What more could you want from pre-made cardboard blocks?
Magnetic Tiles
A little bit more on the expensive side, but still so many options to create and inspire imagination. Let’s encourage our kids to create not just be on the receiving end of creativity.
Board Games
A simple card deck for War, Uno, or a game like Sleeping Queens builds a ton of family memories! The kids love their game nights! We received Max the Cat board game as a gift and the kids love it! We as a family also love classic Candyland.
Last thoughts about simple toys (especially as gifts)
Simply remember gift-giving is about the joy and anticipation at the moment. But, giving the right gift to your child could also mean setting a foundation that will eventually lead to success in school and in the world. Be intentional and you’ll do great! Don’t compare to others, simply pick what’s best for your family and your kids!
Other posts you might like from Simplified Motherhood:
How to clean you house in 30 minutes (for guests)
Reliable Family Routine Examples to Simplify Your Day
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[…] are tons of DIY gift ideas on Pinterest or these simple toys might be perfect for the little elves in your family. Either way, remember that it’s the […]
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