I have two boys, and although our 5 (maybe 6) toys of shelves say otherwise, I have probably only bought them a dozen toys or so each. It’s the gifts from friends, family members, hand-me-downs, Happy Meals, etc. that have really filled these shelves over the years.
Don’t get me wrong, we are extremely greatful and fortunate. But when my first was about 2 years old, he started complaining about not having anything to play with (meanwhile you couldn’t even see the floor), and I knew I needed a system for our toys.
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That’s when I started putting some toys away, and strategically keeping some out. I’d keep out a puzzle, a craft, some blocks, and maybe a stuffed animal. I wanted variety of toys (even though he loved to build and always wanted 100 types of blocks at all times).
This became the foundation for my 11 toy categories and my toy rotation system.
Mix It Up!
Here’s the thing I hear from parents all the time: “I’ve done twenty rotations and my kid got bored every single time.” They feel like it’s not worth the effort.
I always ask about what kinds of toys their kids are playing with, and what toys are put out for an example rotation. From one parent I heard:
- Duplo trains
- Magna-Tiles jungle animals
- And a Melissa & Doug contstruction kit
Are the ones I remember. By themselves, these are all great toys (I probably recommend all of these at least once in my toy guides). But as a whole all I see are blocks.
Another parent:
- Baby doll
- Stuffed animals
- Little People set
Again, by themselves these are all great toys. But as a whole all I see are dolls.
So it dawned on me that sometimes it’s tricky to see that the toys that you’re putting out are all the same. And if you’re expecting your kid to play with these for close to a week, they are going to get bored.
Enter Toy Categories
I didn’t intentionally set out to categorize my toys. But I remember for each toy rotation thinking to myself, “no I don’t want to grab those Mega Bloks because I already have Duplo,” or “I don’t want to grab all of that pretend food because I have other toys with lots of pieces.”
I started being more aware of what I was picking and why.
That turned in to me writing out charts for birthday and Christmas lists. One book. One set of blocks. One puzzle. One game. One doll. I didn’t want my kids to wind up with 20 Paw Patrol figurines (even though that would be the BEST. THING. EVER. in the moment for THEM).
Instead, we would wind up with:
- A Paw Patrol book
- A Paw Patrol puzzle
- A Paw Patrol game
- A Paw Patrol figurine
- A Paw Patrol remote control
You see the point. It was all Paw Patrol, but they were all different types of toys.
The 11 Toy Categories at a Glance
Here’s the short version. Tap any category to jump to the details and our picks.
| Category | What it means | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| Gross motor | Big, whole-body movement | Balls, balance bikes, trampolines |
| Fine motor | Small movements, mostly hands | Scissors, lacing, pegs |
| Open-ended | No rules, no right answer | Play silks, forts, loose parts |
| Close-ended | One right answer or steps to follow | Puzzles, games, sticker-by-number |
| Blocks | Pieces that connect to make something else | LEGO, Magna-Tiles, gears |
| Musical and multimedia | Making or listening to music and stories | Instruments, Yoto, record players |
| Art | Creating, at your mess tolerance | Crayons, mess-free paint, clay |
| Sensory | Touch, texture, pouring, squishing | Kinetic Sand, slime, dry pasta |
| Pretend play | Being someone else | Costumes, kitchens, figurines |
| Nurturing | Taking care of someone or something | Dolls, plants, pets, self-help |
| STEM (bonus) | Cause and effect, experiments, engineering, coding | Marble runs, circuits, scales |
Gross Motor Toys
Gross motor skills are the big, full-body movements: running, jumping, kicking a ball, swinging a bat, climbing. Inside, that can be balance boards, spinning seats, indoor swings, hopscotch, and “the floor is lava.” Our gross motor toys guide is full of ideas for small spaces.
By age: babies work on this during tummy time and rolling (see our newborn toys). Toddlers want to push, ride, and climb, so a ride-on or push toy is the classic pick for the 18 month old crowd. By 3 to 6, it’s jumping, balancing, catching, and bikes.
Ingenuity 3-in-1 Baby Jumper and Activity Center
I think my oldest might have lived in his activity center if we let him! He would jump and spin, play with the toys, and be happy as a clam!
- 3u2011inu20111 design grows with baby: jumper, activity table, and floor toy pieces
- 360u00b0 rotating seat with 3 engaging toy stations for allu2011around play
- Lightu2011up greenhouse with music and nature sounds encourages causeu2011andu2011effect fun
- Jumper adjusts to 4 heights for a justu2011right fit through early development
- Activity table mode features modern wood legs for a stylish, open play space
Little Tikes Cozy Coupe
I have the sweetest memories of my oldest zooming around the house and driveway in his Cozy Coupe. For years this was his favorite toy.
- Made in the USA. The Little Tikes Company is located in the heartland of America.
- GROWS AS KIDS DO. The removable floorboard makes this ride-on transition easily between parent-controlled and kid-powered modes
- Includes: working doors, steering wheel with working horn, moving, clicking ignition switch, gas cap open and closes, rugged, durable tires, front wheels spin 360 degrees
Radio Flyer Steady Start Balance Bike
Once your child is walking, they are ready for a balance bike! We had an indoor balance bike that no longer exists. I chose this one because of the super wide wheels (easy to balance), and rubberized wheels (keeps scratches off your floors and kids from slipping on wood and tile surfaces).
- STABLE 3-WHEEL DESIGN: A wide front wheel and dual rear wheels help the bike stand on its own – no kickstand needed – making it an ideal training bike for toddlers as they ride on sidewalks, paved driveways, and indoor floors.
- QUIET RIDE, INDOOR & OUTDOOR: Wide, treaded wheels deliver a smooth, quiet ride on hardwood, carpet, cement, or paved paths – making this the perfect kids bike for playtime anywhere.
- GROWS WITH YOUR TODDLER: The tool-free adjustable, padded seat and comfort handgrips provide a secure, comfy fit as your child grows, ensuring years of active play for toddlers and young kids.
Fine Motor Toys
Fine motor is the small stuff. Mostly hands and fingers, but also hand-eye coordination and even the small muscles in the mouth and toes. Think cutting, writing, sewing, squishing Play-Doh, snapping LEGO together, and playing instruments.
By age: babies grab, bang, and pass toys hand to hand (the 6 to 8 month stage is all about the reach). Toddlers push pegs and turn knobs. Preschoolers start cutting, lacing, and holding a crayon the “school” way. Our fine motor toys guide goes deeper.
Fiskars Starter Toddler Scissors
These were the first scissors my reluctant youngest finally accepted. They are spring loaded so they do a lot of the work and you can just focus on where you are cutting. The plastic blades have no problem cutting through paper, but aren't sharp at all.
- SCHOOL SUPPLIES FOR KIDS 2+: Featuring plastic blades and a straight, easy-grip, no-loop handle, Fiskars Starter Scissors are a safer, easier way for kids age 2 and up to learn how to cut; #1 teacher-recommended brand
- SAFE FOR KIDS: Minimal opening angle allows kids to comfortably open safety scissors blades without losing their grip; Accommodates both right- and left-handed users
- LONG LASTING AND RELIABLE: Perfect toddler scissors for introducing arts and crafts to your child; Fiskars craft supplies and materials are built to last
- COMFORTABLE AND CONVENIENT: Spring-action design allows kids to focus on developing the closing motion and snipping paper; Straight, no-loop handle makes them easy to grip
Learning Resources Spike The Original Fine Motor Hedgehog
My kids loved this more than I would have expected for how simple it is!
- FINE MOTOR DEVELOPMENT: Spike the Fine Motor Hedgehog helps toddlers strengthen hand muscles, improve coordination, and build the pincer grasp needed for future writing skills
- COLOR SORTING & MATCHING FUN: Practice color recognition, sorting, and matching with colorful quills that make this one of the most engaging color sorting toys for toddlers
- BUILD EARLY LEARNING SKILLS: Numbered holes encourage counting, sequencing, and problem-solving while supporting fine motor skills toys for toddlers through hands-on play
- PORTABLE STORAGE DESIGN: All 12 chunky quills store neatly inside Spike, making this toddler toy perfect for travel, restaurants, daycare, and learning on the go
LEGO DUPLO Classic Cars and Trucks Brick Box 10439
Even though we've graduated to regular LEGO at my house, my kids still love playing with Duplo!
- Educational STEM toy for vehicle-loving preschoolers aged 18 months and up u2013 The Cars and Trucks Brick Box playset comes with an assortment of bricks and pieces to set toddlersu2019 creative cogs in motion
- Car toy playset with lots in the box u2013 Firing toddlersu2019 imaginations to create fun 4-wheeled adventures, this creative toy includes 3 wheelbases, 1-2-3 bricks, 2 child figures and a bee figure
Open-Ended Toys
Remember tests in school? Open-ended questions were the ones where you had to write a sentence or two to explain your answer. Maybe you got it right, wrong, or partial credit. Multiple choice tests were different. It was either right or wrong.
Open-ended toys are the ones that can be played with in lots of different ways. No “right,” way to play with them. Take a puzzle on the other hand, and that’s a close-ended toy. It can only be solved in one specific way (like the multiple choice test.) More in our open-ended toys guide.
By age: for a newborn, a silk scarf is just a new texture. For a 2 year old, it’s peekaboo. For a 5 year old, it’s a cape, a rope, and the roof of a fort. The best open-ended toys grow with your kid for years.
Newcotte 5 Set Magic Color Silk Scarf
One minute you're running these silks through your newborn's fingers for sensory play, the next your toddlers are wearing them as capes, tying them into ropes, building forts, and more.
- More Fun Than You Realize: can use it as a game prop, play hide and seek with their friends, throw the handkerchief and more, offering a diverse range of open ended play experiences
- Versatile: we can use this play scarves as carriers, scarves, capes, grass for rocking horses dance props and even to build forts with play clips, and also can be a sling for a doll or stuffed animal, a decorative backdrop for a make faith scene, there is more fun waiting for you to discover
- Durable: our large square scarves are made of durable reusable satin chiffon fabric ideal for playing dress up, doll blankets, dancing and twirling, capes, activities and songs, Halloween costumes, picnics, traveling, movement, juggling, and more
- Promotes Motor Coordination: the flowing scarves are ideal for dance and movement activities helping to improve balance coordination and rhythm they can also for tossing catching waving and storytelling promoting physical development and boosting confidence
Nugget The Original Play Couch
Our friends have a Nugget couch and the kids love to build forts, make slides, secret hideouts, and just jump around on piles of cushions.
BRIO World Lift & Load Warehouse Set
We love trains at my house! The are great for building tracks, understanding hills and valleys, and more! They are pricey, so try and find them second-hand to grow your collection without breaking the bank.
- Timeless Keepsake: Built to last, this enduring wooden toy train accessory will ignite your child's imagination and foster creativity through engaging play.
- Effortless Compatibility: Expand your child's imagination with this versatile elevator, vehicles, and wooden tracks.
- Planet-Friendly Choice: Made from sustainable materials and thoughtfully designed, these wooden train and railway sets and accessories support responsible forestry. They're easy to clean and a durable choice for parents who value quality.
- Unmatched Safety Assurance: all BRIO products undergo over 1,000 safety tests each year to ensure they exceed safety standards.
Close-Ended Toys
These are the multiple-choice test of toys. They have gotten a lot of bad press lately with open-ended toys being the buzzword of the season. In a world of tiny creators (open-ended toy players), I need to know that they can deposit or withdraw money from the bank, wait in a line, put together some IKEA furniture, etc. All close-ended skills.
So while these are not in the spotlight, they are just as important, and I explain this in even more detail in the close-ended toys guide.
By age: chunky peg puzzles and shape sorters for 1 and 2 year olds, floor puzzles and simple games like Candy Land for 3 year olds, and real rule-following games (with real winning and losing) by 5 and 6.
Melissa & Doug Wooden Magnetic Ice Cream Puzzle
There is not enough room to write about all of the reasons why I love this toy so much. But let's start with the fact that it's a magnetic puzzle that kids love AND the pieces stick together to make icecream cones. My kids will play with this for hours!
- Build your own sweet treats! Piece together colorful ice cream sundaes, cones, and cups with this 16 piece interactive wooden puzzle and magnetic pretend play set
- Magnetic play meets puzzle fun u2013 Use the scooper to lift and stack magnetic ice cream scoops and toppings onto cones, cups, or a banana split sundae dish, helping kids build hand strength and coordination
- 2-in-1 Puzzle and Pretend Play u2013 This ice cream toy set blends the problem-solving of jigsaw puzzles with the hands-on fun of pretend food play, inspiring early learning and imaginative ice cream shop role play
Battat Save and Count Learning Toy
This was a surprise toy. I didn't think my kids would love it as much as they did. But boy did they! It's great to practice fine motor skills, as well as counting, color recognition, and more.
- Piggy Bank: Have a ton of educational fun with this piggy bank and play coin set
- 10 Coins: This learning toy comes with 10 numbered coins in bright colorsu2014great for practicing counting and color recognition
- Playbook Included: Discover educational play ideas and an illustrated story inside the playbook
Chuckle & Roar Magnetic Dot Art Designer
Blocks and Building Toys
Hear me out on this one, because blocks are sneaky. When I say blocks, I don’t just mean LEGO. I mean anything with multiple pieces that connect to make something else. Duplo, Mega Bloks, Magna-Tiles, gear sets, those snap-together flower kits, K’NEX, Blockables. They’re all blocks.
This was something that took a while for me to key in on. The boxes look different, but it’s the same kind of play. Blocks belong in your rotation (both my boys love them), just not three of them in the same week. Our building toys guide covers every kind.
By age: soft and chunky blocks for babies, big interlocking ones like Duplo for 2 year olds, and magnetic tiles, gears, and small LEGO bricks as fingers get stronger.
LEGO DUPLO Classic Cars and Trucks Brick Box 10439
Even though we've graduated to regular LEGO at my house, my kids still love playing with Duplo!
- Educational STEM toy for vehicle-loving preschoolers aged 18 months and up u2013 The Cars and Trucks Brick Box playset comes with an assortment of bricks and pieces to set toddlersu2019 creative cogs in motion
- Car toy playset with lots in the box u2013 Firing toddlersu2019 imaginations to create fun 4-wheeled adventures, this creative toy includes 3 wheelbases, 1-2-3 bricks, 2 child figures and a bee figure
Classic Magna-Tiles
My kids have had the same 2 or 3 sets of Magna-Tiles since they were 3, and they look and work just as well today as the day they came out of the box.
- 32 translucent geometric shapes in 6 different colors
- This set includes Squares (2 Large, 14 Small) and Triangles (8 Equilateral, 4 Right, 4 Isosceles)
- Developmental: Certified STEAM toy, per Dr. Gummeru2019s Good Play Guide, in partnership with The Toy Association, for aiding in the development of fine motor skills, bilateral coordination, cognitive skills, executive functioning, creativity and more!
- Safety Guaranteed: All MAGNA-TILES pieces are built to withstand countless hours of playtime. Our signature lattice prevents cracking, while fastening rivets keep magnets safe and secure.
Mega Bloks First Builders Building Bag
These were the first building blocks we owned and our kids will still play with them (even though we've graduated to LEGOs!).
- PERFECT FIT FOR LITTLE HANDS: Easy to grip, stack and pull apart, our blocks are designed for little hands
- FIRST BLOCKS IN HOME: Features 150 big building blocks including special shapes
- CREATIVE LEARNING PLAY: TODDLERS can build anything they imagine and learn colors
Musical and Multimedia Toys
I call this one musical, but it’s really musical or multimedia. Instruments count, of course. So do a Yoto or Tonie player, a kids’ record player, or an old cassette player. A couple of pots and wooden spoons make a fine drum kit, and we have basically every Dollar Tree instrument ever made.
Music is great for imagination, and if you have a musical kid, tapping into that early helps. See our musical toys guide for more.
By age: babies love cause-and-effect sound toys and tap pianos (see our 4 month old toys). Toddlers bang, shake, and dance. By 3 and up, audio players and real instruments like a recorder or ukulele come into play.
Fisher-Price Classic Record Player
I remember playing with this toy at my grandma's house as a child. It is super fun and sensory while encouring a love of music.
Yoto Mini
I could go on and on about how much we love Yoto players at my house, and I do in my full Yoto review! These are a part of our daily routine, and come with us wherever we go.
- SMALL SPEAKER FOR BIG ADVENTURES: Yoto Mini lets kids explore their imaginations as they explore the world. Fill road trips, car rides, flights, long journeys & play dates with inspiring audio!
- EASY TO SET UP & USE: Children from 3-12+ use physical cards to explore the best audio content on the move. Simply pop an audio card into the Mini to play & remove to stop. Adjust volume or tracks with the dials. Alternatively, control the Mini via the free app!
- KID-FRIENDLY WITH PARENTAL CONTROL: Enjoy up to 14 hours of safe & screen-free entertainment per charge. No cameras. No mics. No ads.
- MULTI-PURPOSE: Features a pixel display to bring the audio to life, play sleep sounds, use as bedtime storyteller, an OK-to-wake clock, a portable audio speaker or use with headphones!
- CONTENT THAT GROWS WITH KIDS' MINDS: Explore 1000+ cards of bestselling audiobooks, music, educational activities, free podcasts, radio, soundscapes, timers or even create content with a Make Your Own card!
Toniebox 2 Disney Bundle
We love our Tonie player so much that I have a whole review dedicated to it. Plus Tonies have come such a long way since our original player!
- Screen-free music and stories for children
- Hundreds of audio choices or make your own audio
- Kids can control with the simple buttons
Art Supplies
🎨 Art does have to equal mess. And art does not have to mean mom doing an hour of setup. It can be sewing on a pegboard, finger knitting, crayons and paper, or full-on paint, glue, and glitter. It really depends on your tolerance and how much you’re willing to help.
My tolerance is high in one room (the art room has paint stains on the floor and Play-Doh in the carpet) and I’m at peace with it. In the rest of the house? I prefer little-to-no-mess crafts. More in our art supplies guide.
By age: palm-grip crayons and mess-free finger paint for 1 year olds, big markers and paint with water for 2 and 3, then scissors, glue, clay, and craft kits from 4 to 6.
Blue Squid 3000+ pcs Arts and Crafts Supplies
Having an art supplies crate is great for arts and craft projects, but also to use as sensory toys (we loved making pom-pom soup, and tickle feathers).
- Blue Squid's Premium Crafts Chest, the All-in-One kit packed with over 3000 Arts & Craft Box.
- It includes an assortment of Pipe Cleaners, Pom-poms, Wooden Shapes, Wooden Beads, Plastic Beads, Safety Scissors, Feathers, Googly Eyes, Sequins, Gem Stickers, Coloured Strings, Popsicle Sticks, Buttons, Glitter Glue, and much more.
Crayola Color Wonder Mess Free Fingerprint Activity Book
This is a fun kit to take on the go. The invisible paint pots won't dry up, and they won't show on skin or surfaces other than the special paper. It's fun for kids to get the sensory experience of finger painting without the mess.
- COLOR WONDER FINGERPRINT INK SET: Features 1 Ink Pad Tray (including 5 Ink Colors) and 27 Mess-Free Fingerprint Ink Painting Activity Book Pages.
- MESS FREE PAINTING: The Color Wonder Clear Fingerprint Inks are invisible! They only reveal their color on special mess-free Color Wonder Paper, not on skin, clothing, or walls. Ideal for toddlers and young kids.
- LONG LASTING COLOR: The mess-free fingerprinting inks are designed to prevent drying out and keep creativity flowing without hassle.
- ADAPTIVE TOOLS & SENSORY TOYS FOR KIDS: The Crayola Color Wonder Fingerprint Ink set uses tactile and mess free art, perfectly suited for kids and artists with diverse needs.
Crayola; My First Crayola; Palm-Grip Crayons
These egg-shaped crayons let little ones understand grasp and making color on paper without needing help.
- 6 palm-grip egg shaped crayons are sized to fit toddlers' palms so they can easily make their first marks
- My First Crayola art tools provide children their first art supplies made especially for their little hands so they can create
- Introduces toddlers to color exploration as they develop Physical and Thinking skills
- AP Certified nontoxic
Sensory Toys
Just like art, sensory play does not have to be messy. Sure, it can be goo, slime, Play-Doh, Kinetic Sand, and bubbles. It can also be a tray and two cups for pouring water, or a bin of big uncooked pasta, like bow ties or penne, for scooping and feeling. Spilled pasta is easy to pick up (uncooked, I promise). Our sensory toys guide has plenty more.
By age: textured books and teethers for babies, water play for toddlers, and sand, dough, and slime for preschoolers (with supervision on the slime, trust me).
Play-Doh Starter Set
This was the exact first set I bought, and it's still in circulation 6 years later! Granted the play-doh itself has long been dried up, mashed together, and stuck to my carpet… But the tools and case remain!
- Reusable storage is bas great for storage and to take Play-Doh on the go
- 9 tools & 4 cans of doh
- Rigorously tested for quality, Play-Doh compound is made primarily with flour, salt, and water, making it a great choice for arts and crafts for kids who love modeling clay (contains wheat)
Kinetic Sand Beach Sand Kingdom
This was our first Kinetic sand set. We love that it comes with natural sand (I won't buy the colored stuff), and that it has familiar sand tools like you'd find at the beach.
- AWARD-WINNING TOY: 2018 PAL Award Winner for promoting play that advances language in children, Winner of the Good Housekeeping Best Toy Awards, and Parentsu2019 Choice Fun Stuff Award
- BRING HOME SAND FUN WITHOUT THE MESS: Kinetic Sand feels cool to the touch u2013 just like wet beach sand, but never sticky! The play sand magically flows through your hands! Itu2019s easy to clean, shape, mold!
- 8 CASTLE-THEMED MOLDS AND TOOLS: The Beach Sand Kingdom has everything you need to create epic sandcastles! Use the molds to create walls, bridges, and towers. Use the 2 multi-use tools to cut, dig, and shovel!
- GREAT GIFTS FOR KIDS: Kinetic Sand toys are great building toys gifts for creative kids! Alternative to kids crafts, slime kit, modeling clay, & fidget toys. Add to your craft kits and learning games!
Nuby Wacky Waterworks Pipes Bath Toy – Baby Bathtub Toy with Interactive Features for Cognitive Development
Pretend Play Toys
Pretend play (I also call it role play) is anything where your kid is pretending to be someone other than themselves. A costume. A little cleaning kit so they can sweep like mom and dad. A doctor kit. Figurines count too: a mommy Barbie and baby Barbie, PAW Patrol pups on a rescue, Bluey and Bingo being silly. Our pretend play toys guide has lots more.
By age: copying you (stirring a pot, pushing a mower) around 12 to 17 months, simple figure sets like Little People for toddlers, then costumes and full storylines by 4 year olds.
Melissa & Doug Super Smile Dentist Play Set
We bought this for our son who was apprehensive about his first dentist visit, and we wanted to show him all of the tools that he would see at the office. He brought the kit to the dentist with him, and too this day they call him "doctor," when he walks in 😂
- Complete Dentist Play Set: Featuring oversized teeth & big, chunky dental toolsu2014a vibrating drill & polisher, cavity stickers, floss, wiggly teeth, braces & moreu2014just like in a real dental office
- Skill-Building Pretend Play Toys: Kids can role play teeth cleaning, putting on braces & even tooth extractions, with premium-quality dentist toys, that will complement any doctor kit for preschoolers 3-5
- Open-Ended, Screen-Free Play: Teaches dental hygiene & preschool learning activitiesu2014counting, hand-eye coordination, memory & empathyu2014using kids' dress up & pretend play to keep them active & engaged
Step2 Kitchen Playset
We've loved this kitchen at our house for years.
- 25 Pieces and accessories
- Dog/pet feeding area
- Realistic lights and sounds
Fisher-Price Little People Animals Farm Playset
I think it's universal that all kids love farms. This one teaches kids to care for animals, pretend to be a farmer, and folds up for easy storage.
- 3 Smart Stages learning levels grow along with your child & teach counting, opposites, animal sounds, and colors with fresh songs, sounds & phrases
- Playset comes with 1 farmer figure, 4 animal figures & 2 food play pieces, all sized for small hands to grasp & move, helping to strengthen fine motor skills
- Helps foster fine motor skills and encourages imaginative storytelling play for toddlers and preschool kids ages 1 to 5 years old
Nurturing Toys
Nurturing play is taking care of someone or something. The classic is a baby doll (which is often pretend play too). But it can also be a plant your kid waters every day, an interactive pet, or taking care of themselves, like using a step stool to get their own cup of water. Our nurturing toys guide explains why this category gets overlooked, but it so important.
By age: soft dolls and stuffies from about 18 months, doll accessories and self-help tools (step stools, toddler potty seats) for 2 and 3, then plants, gardening, and interactive pets for 4 to 6.
Corolle 12" Soft Baby Doll
I love Corolle dolls from when I lived in France as a kid. There are other great baby doll brands out there like JC Toys and Melissa & Dog.
- Perfect First Doll: Ideal soft baby doll for toddlers; Lightweight 12-inch size with bean-filled body makes this cute baby doll easy to grasp and carry; Realistic baby doll girl features create special bond between child and toddler baby doll for nurturing play
- Sensory Experience: Delicate vanilla-scented vinyl skin appeals to the senses; Soft body baby doll with realistic features including eyes that open and close; Perfectly sized doll babies for little hands to hold and cuddle. muu00f1ecas para niu00f1as
- Quality Design: Trusted Corolle brand with over 30 years of experience creating realistic baby dolls; Designed in France with premium materials; Soft body construction allows doll to be posed like a real baby for lifelike play
- Developmental Benefits: Baby doll for girls ages 18 months and up encourages nurturing skills and imaginative play; This real baby doll becomes a treasured companion for years of loving playtime experiences, like a realistic reborn baby doll
National Geographic Flower and Herb Garden Activity
Teach your kids about plants and lifecycles, as well as giving them responsability for something living. Routine watering and pruning teaches them nuturing skills.
- GROW YOUR OWN GARDEN – With this complete set, kids will have fun decorating their pots, then planting cosmos, nasturtium, and basil seeds. The included materials make growing an herb and flower garden easy!
- PAINTABLE POTS KIDS CAN DECORATE – This super-fun kids garden kit includes three durable, stainless steel pots that are perfect for decorating! Kids can use the 15 stickers and 6 paints included with the kit to make their garden beautiful!
Tamagotchi Original
A Tamagotchi might be too advanced for a 6 year old. But mine (even my 4 year old) got the hang of it after a few training sessions. They love "flushing the toilet," "feeding," and "hugging," their Tamagotchi.
- The Original Tamagotchi digital pet you loved in 1997 is back! Feed it, turn lights on/off, play with it, give it medicine, flush after its used the bathroom, check itu2019s health and discipline your Tamagotchi if he bothers you when heu2019s happy, fed and all cleaned up.
- Raise your Tamagotchi from egg to child to adult and how you take care of it will decide which of the 7 Adults youu2019ll get.
STEM Toys (the Bonus Category)
STEM is my bonus category. It’s the cherry on top to prepare our children for future career choices. It covers cause and effect, testing a guess, experiments, engineering (structures, gears, tools), and early coding. Our STEM toys guide sorts our favorites by type and age.
By age: for babies, it’s pushing a button and getting a light (that’s cause and effect). For toddlers, it’s dropping balls down ramps. By 5 and 6, it’s circuits, science kits, and early coding (see the 5 year olds and 6 year olds guides).
MindWare Start-Up Circuits STEM Toy
- Toys that Teach: Start-Up Circuits from MindWare is a fun way to teach your child the abstract concept of circuitry. The switch blocks and action tops are easy to snap together and the buttons are the perfect size for little fingers.
- Curious Kids: With a light that glows, a fan that spins and a siren that whistles, Start-Up Circuits from MindWare will delight children as they learn how a circuit is a circle that can make fun things happen.
- Mix and Match: Your curious child can mix and match the switch blocks and action tops simply by snapping them together. Make sure the red line is continuous across both pieces to complete the circuit.
- Interchangeable Pieces: Your child can experiment with each different combination to create actual working pieces. A bright red line represents the wire inside each piece. When the line makes a continuous path across a switch block and action top, and the switch is pressed or pushed, the Star-Up Circuit springs into action.
Learning Resources Coding Critter Ranger & Zip
- EARLY CODING SKILLS: Code along with your first coding friends and their screen-free storybook coding adventure
- PLAY MODE: Play fetch, hide and seek, and more with brave Ranger and mischievous Zip
- KID CODING ROBOT: Design your own endless coding challenges with the 22-piece pet Playset. REAL PET PLAY: Feed, pet, and take care of your interactive pets in play mode
- Super STEM Skills: From science and technology to engineering and math, STEM learning help kids build critical thinking and other skills they need for success in school and beyond!
Snap Circuits STEM Electronics Kit
These kits might be a little advanced for a 6 year old, and definitely need supervision (the circuits use electricity). But my oldest looooooves experimenting with circuit building. We have several Snap Circuit kits.
Toys That Cover Two or Three Categories
You’ll notice that most (maybe even all?) of my toy recommendations fit in 2 or more categories. So if you’re planning out a gift list or a toy recommendation, know that most toys will fit multiple categories, and you can use that to your advantage!
- A doll is nurturing and pretend play.
- PAW Patrol blocks are blocks and pretend play.
- Play-Doh is sensory, art, and fine motor (depending on how it’s played).
- A doctor kit is pretend play and nurturing (taking care of patients).
- A toy shopping cart is gross motor, pretend play, and (with a doll in the seat) nurturing.
How This Connects to Toy Rotation, Quiet Time, and Independent Play
The categories are the engine behind three systems we run at home:
- Toy rotation. Keep most toys out of sight, put out no more than 8, and you (not your kid) decide when they change. The categories make picking those 8 fast. That’s the whole two-shelf system.
- Quiet time. Open-ended toys, art, books, and screen-free audio work best for a kid playing alone. I skip puzzles, because a stuck kid either yells for help or gives up.
- Independent play. A few different kinds of play on the shelf help a kid find something to do without you having to step in.
FAQ
I sort toys into 11 categories: gross motor, fine motor, open-ended, close-ended, blocks, musical and multimedia, art, sensory, pretend play, nurturing, and STEM as a bonus. Books sit outside the categories because they should always be available.
Ideally, yes. But if you only put out 2 to 4 toys, you won’t hit them all, and that’s fine. Think about what you’re putting away and pull different categories next time. Since most toys cover two or three categories, you may hit them all sooner than you think.
Close-ended toys are the word bank or multiple choice question: one right answer or steps to follow, like a puzzle. Open-ended toys are the essay question: no rules and no wrong answer, like a pile of bricks with no booklet. Kids need both!
Check for sneaky repeats, especially blocks and dolls. Also check for too many pieces. My kids would get toy overload when there were hundreds of pieces of toys scattered all over the floor!
Generally we like to keep 8 out at a time. I bet, as I write this, that there are 20+ toys in my living room. Sometimes the wheels get loose or fall off the wagon, and that’s ok! Just keep the fundamentals in mind and do the best you can 🥰
Grab the Free Toy Rotation Guide
A simple two-page system for cutting the mess and making playtime more fun & last longer!
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