As a mom of a 7 and 8 year old, I’ve seen my fair share of toys. (In fact, I feel as though we are drowning in them!) That being said, I’ve narrowed down my list of “must haves” to my top ten open ended toys.
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Without further ado, I give you…THE LIST.
Things to Build With
10. Wooden Blocks
Is there anything you can’t do with some good old fashioned wooden blocks? I love that they’re sturdy and will last forever. Our favorites are the gigantic ones at our local children’s museum (but since we don’t have the space for those, these will do!) BONUS: These are for ages 2+.
Melissa & Doug Wooden Building Blocks Set 100 Blocks in 4 Colors and 9 Shapes FSC Certified
9. Pattern Blocks
While this particular set comes with boards, other sets are just pattern blocks. The boards are nice for giving kids a tangible goal (construct the picture shown) but pattern blocks by themselves are open ended. Ages 3+.
Melissa & Doug Pattern Blocks and Boards - Wooden Classic Toy With 120 Solid Wood Shapes and 5 Double-Sided Panels, Multi-colored - STEAM Animals, Tangrams Puzzle For Kids Ages 3+
8. Interlocking Blocks
My kids LOVE these! Again, endless possibilities for constructing–just a different texture. Ages 3+.
7. Magnetic Tiles
There are so many different kinds out there. I tend to stick to two brands (in case they aren’t compatible with one another). These are our favorites:
MAGNA-TILES Combo 62-Piece Magnetic Construction Set, The Original Magnetic Building Brand
PicassoTiles 100 Piece Set 100pcs Magnet Building Tiles Clear Magnetic 3D Blocks Construction Playboards, Creativity Beyond Imagination, Inspirational, Recreational, Educational Conventional
Again, these go along with the theme of “things to build with”. Add in a lightbox and you get hours of fun!
PreTrans Kids Light Box 16" Bright LED Light Table for Kids, Perfect for Art & Learning Activities (Blue)
6. Interlocking discs
I love love love these! They are so versatile and fun. They are for ages 5+ so keep that in mind if you have littles!
Brain Flakes 2500 Piece Build ‘n’ Build Kit – A Creative and Educational Alternative to Building Blocks – Wheel Pieces and Special Parts Included – A Great Stem Toy for B...
5. Building Bricks
You can dump a bunch of building bricks in a bowl and go to town…or complete a kit. (Or both!) These are our favorites:
LEGO Bluey: Bluey s Beach & Family Car Trip - Toddler Learning Toy for Kids 4+ - Includes Bluey, Bingo, and Mum Minifigures - Birthday Gift for Boys and Girls, Ages 4+ - 11202
Ok, this is a two-for-one because it combines a show the kids LOVE with a defined end product.
LEGO Classic Large Creative Brick Box 10698 Building Toy Set, Toy Storage Solution for Home or Classrooms, Interactive Building Toy for Kids, Boys, and Girls
This is wonderful for just open ended construction.
Things to Squish and Shape
4. Sensory Items
Playdough, kinetic sand, and slime are three of our favorite media to work with! (Well, not so much slime for me but…)
Play-Doh Modeling Compound 36-Pack Case of Colors, Non-Toxic, 3 Oz Cans of Assort. Colors, Back to School Classroom Supplies, Preschool Toys, Ages 2+ (Amazon Exclusive)
Kinetic Sand, 2.5lbs Blue Play Sand, Moldable Sensory Toys for Kids, Resealable Bag (Packaging May Vary), for Ages 3 and up
Original Stationery Galaxy Slime Kit & Maker Set with Glow in The Dark Stickers - Dark Powder for Glitter & Cosmic Slime, Fun Kit for Girls 8-12
PSA – If you do decide to get slime, proceed with caution!! My kiddos love it SO much but it can get MESSY.
Dramatic Play
3. Dress Up Clothes and Props
In all honesty, the kids’ favorite dress up clothes are probably from mom and dad’s closet. 
But…if you are looking for a bit of variety, here are a few options.
Disney Princess Dress Up Trunk Deluxe 21 Piece Officially Licensed [Amazon Exclusive]
Jeowoqao Boy's Dress Up Costumes Set, Kids Role Play Set 11pcs Dress Up Trunk Pirate, Chef, Construction Worker, Policeman Costume For Kids Girls Toddler Age 3 4 5 6 Christmas Birthday Gift
Melissa & Doug Fire Chief Role Play Costume Dress-Up Set Pretend Fire Fighter Outfit With Realistic Accessories, Firefighter Costume For Kids And Toddlers Ages 3+
Of course, dramatic play requires props!
TOTALLY in love with this multicultural food set. I would have loved this as a child!
Learning Resources New Sprouts Multicultural Play Food Set - 15 Pieces, Ages 18+ Months Pretend Play Food for Toddlers, Preschool Learning Toys, Kitchen Play Toys for Kids
Of course, a baby doll (or two) is a must.
JC Toys La Baby Caucasian Baby Doll Set 11 Inch Soft Baby Doll | Washable |Removable Pink Outfit w/ Hat & Blanket | For Children 12 Months +
Not exactly a toy…but my kids love using this to play hotels, library, grocery store…the possibilities are endless!
SUNALLY 3 Tier Rolling Cart with Drawer, Bathroom Storage Organizer with 2 Lockable Wheels, Multifunctional Rolling Storage Cart for Bathroom, Kitchen, Office, Craft, Makeup, Baby Essentials, White
Beads and Bobbles
2. Fuse Bead Kits
Note: definitely not for small children! Teeny tiny parts!
Fuse bead kits can be a source of great creativity and entertainment or massive frustration. (Sometimes both!) The beads are SO incredibly small and can be difficult to manipulate. That being said, my kids have made some pretty impressive creations out of them.
Perler Beads Cupcakes and Butterflies Craft Kit for Kids, 2005 pcs
My advice would be to start small with a kit (like the one shown above). If the activity sticks, move on to bulk beads and more/different boards.
Perler Multi-Mix Fuse Beads Jar, Assorted Colors, Pack of 22000 (PER17000)
20 Pieces 5mm Fuse Beads Pegboards Clear Animal Shape Plastic Pegboards Craft Tray with 20 Pieces Colorful Cards for Kids DIY Craft Beads
1. Bracelet Making Kits
There are SO many options here! Our personal favorite:
Rainbow Loom® Loomi-Pals MEGA Combo Set, Features 60 Cute Assorted LP Charms, The New RL 2.0, Happy Looms, Hooks, Alpha & Pony Beads, 5600 Colorful Bands All in a Carrying Case for Boys and Girls...
There is a small learning curve but once the kids get the hang of it, there’s no stopping them!
Another option involves beads. There are wooden, plastic, foam, clay…
Gionlion 6000 Clay Beads Bracelet Making Kit, 24 Colors Flat Preppy Beads for Friendship Bracelets, Polymer Clay Bead with Charms for Jewelry Making, Crafts Gifts for Girls Ages 6-12
Also…let’s not underestimate the power of recycled items around the house! Paper towel rolls, empty milk jugs, caps, etc. make for amazing art/creations!
Hope this gives you some inspo for building, creating, and growing. 
Happy constructing,
