Let’s talk toys!  

It’s so easy to become overwhelmed with all the options out there, you may think the fancier or the more expensive, the better – right? Not necessarily! Kids needs toys that are open ended to be able to use the full extent of their imagination and really do the “work” of play. This allows endless options for them to explore and turn that bowl into a hat, a pot of soup, a drum or whatever else they can think of. Read on for more tips when selecting toys and for a list of some of our favorite toys by age group!  

 Tip 1: Avoid the “One and Done” toys.  

These toys often will have batteries, buttons, flashing lights and sing songs. They seem great for entertainment and learning and are marketed this way, however these toys don’t grow well with your child. They keep their attention for a short while and then end up on the shelf. They also do a lot of the work for your child. They make noise so your kiddo doesn’t have to, they tell your child to push another button and where. We don’t want this!  

Tip 2: Pick “open ended” toys.  

These toys will grow with your child. They give your kiddos the space to do the work of play. These allow for imagination, creation and infinite options. They can practice life and social skills too!  

Tip 3: Quality over quantity  

Rather than a lot of inexpensive toys, consider fewer, higher quality pieces that will hold up and stand the test of time. This doesn’t mean you need to break the bank! Spending your hard earned money purposefully will go a lot further than buy a bunch of things.  

Tip 4: Books are toys too… 

And so are boxes, bowls, spoons, sticks, rocks, crayons, markers, cards, post it notes…anything! (Keeping in mind your child’s age and safety) Providing items like these help to spark creativity in your child and gives them lots of room to use their imagination.  

Tip 5: Go back to basics:  

Think about what you had when you were a kid…legos, blocks, cars, farm, kitchen. Keep it simple.  

Here’s some of our favorite toys: 

0-6 Months: 

• Noggin Rings Rattle  

• Oball Toy Ball Rattle 

• Sassy Tummy Time Floor Mirror 

• Tummy Time Books  

• Manhattan Toy Ball  

6-12 Months:  

• Fat Brain Spinny Pins 

• Fat Brain Rock and Roller Piano 

• Roly-Poly Owl  

• Rubber Blocks 

• Fat Brain Spinagain Stacking Toy  

1-2 Years: 

• Family Picture Book 

• Kitchen Bowls 

• Large Knob Puzzles  

• Num Num Spoon 

• Poke-A-Dot Books 

• Spike the Hedgehog Toy 

2-3 Years: 

• Play Barn and Animals 

• Learning Resources Barns  

• Cutting Foods 

• Play Mailbox 

• Squigz 

• Puppets 

• UNO Moo 

Preschool Age: 

• Dress Up clothes 

• Board Games 

• Doctor Set 

• Pop the Pig  

• Melissa and Doug Scoop and Stack Ice Cream Cone 

• Sneaky Snacky Squirrel  

• Animal Figurines  

• Kitchen Play Set 

• Little People Figurines 

• Marble/Ball Runs  

School Age: 

• Spot It 

• Headbandz 

• Legos 

• Blokus 

• Play Doh/ Kinetic Sand 

• Suspend 

• Walkie Talkies 

• Perler Beads