25 Open-Ended Toys for Open Ended Play (2024-2025)

Magnetic Tiles

This is the first on our list because it is one of our most used toys. We use magnetic tiles every single day. Social skills and problem-solving skills improve when a group of different ages builds together.

Why Connetix? Better magnets and stronger connections to prevent breaking. Yep, Connetix is compatible with other brands you have.

Magnetic Tiles ROADS

Connetix has roads!! Eek, these are a beautiful addition to your collection of magnetic tiles. Yep, Connetix is compatible with other brands you may already own.

Magnetic Tile Ball Run

If you are ready to add to your collection, this ball run is better than a marble run! Kids create loops, twists, and turns, and the magnetic tiles work well with other compatible brands.

Magna-Tile Roads

These Magna Tiles roads are another alternative to adding on to your existing magnetic tile set. These are another great addition for free play.

Yoto Audio Player

This is an audio player without the noise of YouTube or the internet. Use the Yoto to listen to your child’s favorite podcasts, songs, and stories. The face also shows a digital clock and has an alarm clock. My six-year-old has NOT put this down.

Yoto Mini Player

If you do not need an alarm clock in your child’s room, the Yoto Mini makes the perfect gift. My boys listen to theirs nonstop.

V-Tech Kids Camera

In the early years, my boys took this camera on hiking trips. We come home and download the new pictures on the computer.

Many new kid cameras are on the market now that a few years have passed, but I like this one because it doesn’t print. My boys could snap all they wanted, and we could download them. (They don’t take high-quality photos.)

Remember that this kid’s camera has games that can be locked in parental settings. Directions are in the owner’s manual. It also comes in a variety of styles. I have noticed my boys lose interest in the games when it becomes less of a battle.

Kids Wheelbarrow

This wheelbarrow has been a big hit with all three of my boys. They find ways to use it in outdoor play daily and no longer have an excuse to leave their belongings in the backyard. (wink, wink)

Colored Tape

The colored tape makes a unique, open-ended toy. It offers unlimited possibilities for decorating cardboard boxes, using it on paper, or generating other creative ideas for everyday play. Tape is the best thing for the cardboard boxes, crafting with open-ended materials, and creative ways to play.

Sensory Table

Ready to upgrade your sensory play? Use this standing sensory bin in addition to your current sensory table or on its own. Investing in a table like this has been a game-changer for us! Add small toy animals to create small world play.

Wooden Balance Board

Did you know that balance can help improve reading and brain development? The vestibular system contributes significantly to reading eye movements, eye-hand coordination, balance, motor planning, etc.

Sometimes, I catch the boys wobbling back and forth; other times, the board is flipped over to make a hideout for stuffed animals or a slide. This wooden balance board offers many ways to play! 

Wooden Block Set

This wooden block set is a must. Block play encourages creativity, explores balance, tests spatial awareness, and reinforces weight. Sadly, schools do not get time to integrate as much block time as they have in the past. If your child enjoys building, get this set of blocks.

Plus-Plus Big

This toy is, hands down, one of our favorite open-ended toys. Plus-Plus big gets so much use in our home. The boys play with it at home, and we take it to restaurants and on road trips. Plus-Plus comes in two sizes; however, I will always prefer the big size.

Play Scarves

Gear up imaginary play with these play scarves! Each large scarf measures 35 x 35 inches. Use for blankets with dolls or stuffed animals, twirl and dance, costumes, movement, imaginative play, and more—a true example of open-ended toys that children can use for years. Play scarves are a great open-ended toy.

Color Counting Bears

You know we love these counting bears! For under three, stay close because they are small, or save for your child’s age. 

Use these animal figures for cognitive skills such as imaginary play, color sorting, counting, and patterns. These were necessary for my classroom and continue to be so at home. These counting bears make a terrific addition to open-ended play!

Jumbo Droppers

These jumbo droppers are the best for our outdoor play! These are perfect for little hands to strengthen small muscles, which will help with handwriting, opening snack containers, and other self-help skills. This is one of my favorite toys for fine motor skills.

Lacing Beads

From color sorting to stacking, we cherish these lacing beads. The colors are bright, vibrant, and inviting. You will notice these lacing beads used with my preschoolers in many Breakfast Invitations and with the other wooden building blocks.

Hot Wheels

One of my favorite things with my five-year-old is picking out Hot Wheels. We’ve been doing it for years! He checks out the little details and ensures the selected car is just right. Get started with this collection. 

High Rise House

I love the simple creativity of this dollhouse. It is compact for small children and allows imaginary play. – Imaginary play is another thing that can be cut short once kids reach school age. Allow your children the time to dive deep into imaginary play and discover ways to express their emotions with this dollhouse. This dollhouse is wonderful for open-ended play.

Hape Track Set

Wooden tracks are another winner here. They have come in and out of play over the past three years but never disappeared.

Every time my boys take out their tracks, something new is created. I have watched these tracks go from simple setups to endless twists and turns from the kitchen into the living room. I will undoubtedly miss them once they hit their teenage years.

Motorized Trains

These trains still get played with!!! Kids enjoy building paths with wooden train tracks and watching Thomas chug around the loops. Highly recommended and under $15.

LEGO Classic Set

Are you ready to introduce LEGOS but not sure where to start? We started with this classic set. It is the perfect collection of colors, accessories, and sizes to make ideas come to life and spark your child’s imagination.

Mega Bloks

My oldest received these Mega Blocks on his first birthday. Again, they use them daily. We keep our set in the bathtub. Play possibilities are endless with Mega Bloks.

Balance Bike

Our balance bikes are hands down one of the best gifts my boys have ever received.

We use these multiple times per week, and I have watched their balance and coordination soar because of it! They come in many different colors and are perfect for every young kid in your life.

Shopping Cart

Per my oldest’s request, this cart MUST be in my grocery shopping trunk. It is a must-have item.

Not only does it give my children the ability to explore imaginary play, but it also gives them a purpose at the grocery store. My oldest knows what we get and follows along, knowing what goes inside.

Ice Cream Scoop Set

We ADORE our ice cream scoop set. Everyone who walks through our door is handed a menu and an ice cream cone. This set makes the perfect icebreaker for children to begin conversations with new family and friends as they role play.

Hape Mud Kitchen

Gah, I just adore this mud kitchen. When the boys were little, they loved playing in the rain. This Hape kitchen is a great way to take outdoor play to the next level, rain or shine. (I can also see it being super fun in the snow!)

Simple Play Kitchen

The simplicity of this kitchen set officially won me over. There are no over-the-top lights or buzzers, just a classic kitchen where my kids can cook up a creative snack to offer their grandparents—who apparently will eat anything.