Do you have a closet full of toys, yet only a few are actually used? You’ll get the most mileage out of these picks.
If I had to redo some part of motherhood, I’d redo the toys. Perhaps I’d need to negotiate with the kids on the exact number, but I really think they don’t need most of the toys they own. Did you ever notice that most toys aren’t actually played with; they’re just “taken out” and then they all need to be cleaned up. Perhaps 10% of the toys we own are actually played with.
I’ve narrowed my essential toy list to 5 toys and games that my kids have used over and over again. This would be my must-have, keeps kids busy, basics I would keep. And then I would throw in 2-3 random games to keep things new and interesting.
Sophie the Giraffe – This is the only, and I mean only, toy a baby under 6 months needs. Babies really love it. It’s a great teether (Read all those Amazon reviews and you’ll see how much people like it) and bonus for the moms is that it’s actually cute!
Tomy Hide and Squeak Eggs – Move past the 6 months stage and this is one toy that can keep a sitting baby busy. As they grow older they learn to put the eggs together and place them in the proper shape, but until then they love clacking and playing with them. (Find an imitation version here.)
Magna-Tiles – Once a child hits 14-16 months, this building toy is by far the most useful, played-with toy. It’s worth every penny. Kids up to 10 years old (and even older) enjoy building with this and you’ll be using it for many years. You can buy Playmags for half the price and they’re just as good. Just make sure you don’t mix and match the sets as they don’t stick together.
4-7 year olds need a simple dry erase board and they are good to go. They can draw and erase to their hearts’ content. I write out a, b, c or alef bais and they like to copy it over and over again. I’ve gotten active 5-year-old boys to sit for over an hour drawing on the whiteboard. I don’t recommend hanging whiteboards on a wall because they have a hard time learning that they can’t color on the wall. I place the whiteboard on their lap or on a table and I very clearly state (a few times) we only write on this special board.
Chocolate Fix is a game that teaches thinking skills and it’s easy and fun for young kids. The recommended age on the box is 8+ but I’ve seen kids ages 6 and up figure out the puzzles. Once a child gets the hang of how they want the puzzles to be solved, they need minimal help. It will keep them busy long enough for you to read a magazine on Shabbos afternoon.
Edited to add: So many great suggestions in the comments. I guess with so many favorites this is the reason why our toys keep on growing. Two games I thought worth adding after I wrote this post are Ticket to Ride Jr (adorable jr version of everyone’s favorite board game) and Clics (a classic).
Should we round up our favorite toys for older kids? Sound off in the comments below.
clics! clics! clics! my kids never get bored of it.
perplexus brainy maze, i call it the shabbos DS. my kids play with it on the long shabbos afternoons.
Yes! Clicks I guess would be my number 6 🙂
You’ve convinced me!!! Have these all but could never justify Sophie, going to try it now, my baby is 6 months old though, do you think she’ll still get use out of it?
And yes, yes, yes!!!! Please do the best toys and games for the next age group!!!!! Would LOVE to see!!!!
Not sure its worth buying at that age. She would be outgrowing it quite soon.
Thanks for your recommendations! I love the dry erase board, but I absolutely HATE the stains the dry erase markers create on clothing. I don’t know if you’ve ever had experience with that, but they are literally IMPOSSIBLE to get out! As far as games for older kids – my kids love Perpetual Commotion, Ticket to Ride, Even Stevens Odd, Rat-a-tat Cat….
I have dry erase crayons for the kids to use- not as much fun but doesn’t stain.
Also new hot item is playstix!
Great choices for older kids. Did you know they made a Ticket to Ride jr? Really adorable for ages 5-9. I wrote this post before I got that game.
My kids love manga tiles. They can play & build for hours. But let’s not forget to mention Mitzvah Kinder Mentchies. My babies teethe on them while the older kids use them in all their building activities.
True! I guess this is how the toys keep on growing. So many favorites.
set is hands down one of the best games around
Great card game for older ages!
I vote for the Magna tiles. I actually have ones called magsnaps by popular playthings. They officially are stronger magnets and more durable than the real thing, as per what the guy from toys for thought told me. All my kids love to play with it. It is one toy that I can say gets played with every single day…
After the magna tiles I think the duplo, clics and play sticks are tied for best building toys. But, my kids love all of them with the mitzvah kinder mentchies, large animals and cares. Best games: Ticket to Ride (for the slightly older), Banana Split, Uno, mancala-they’re all favorites.
All really good games.
My kids also like the classics: Othello, Monopoly, Sorry, although lately playing faster version of Monopoly Deals, and Top Trumps, Liver Chacham. . .
Crayola makes washable dry erase markers in tons of amazing colors. I bought a big pack from target! I could throw out all my toys because all my kids use it their easel (half dry erase half chalk)
Great great post, thank you!!
Hi Leah! Thanks for your post. I was considering Sophie, but heard terrible stories about mold 🙁 Have you looked into that?
Sorry, realized I didn’t reply to this. I read the mold reviews. I guess if someone keeps it for a while it would develop mold. Ours disappeared after a few months. We loved it while we had it.
Yeah, I’ve also heard horrible stories about mold growing in the Sophie toys – even after just a short while. I wouldn’t feel comfortable buying for my child.