Let’s get you a list of the best open-ended toys your kids will grow with. Does this sound familiar? Baby number one, you bought all the things. Child number two, you buy some things. Baby number three comes along, and you are ready to donate much of your toy collection. The solution? Open-ended toys your kids can continue to use as your family grows. There are different ways to reach young children; the best toys are gold.
With my degree in education and three boys now ages 8, 10, and almost 12, I can confidently suggest the best toys. I’ve seen what one-year-olds love and what five- and eight-year-olds still play with! Enjoy this gift guide, a special collection of diverse materials designed to spark the joy of play.
RELATED: Many open-ended toys we grow with begin at the toddler gift-giving stage.
What are open-ended toys?
Open-ended toys do not have a predetermined start or end to the play activity. True open-ended toys include everyday objects that can be used for imagination and creativity, such as rocks, sensory materials, and wooden blocks.
These toys are open-ended because they do not dictate what children need to do as they play. It is up to the child to take the lead. If you have heard about loose parts, natural materials are examples of open-ended toys. Reggio and Montessori classrooms often use open-ended toys to guide a child’s learning journey through exploration and play.
TOYS FOR 2025
Gah, these toys are the best. UPDATED for 2025. These are the best toys for kids.
What are close-ended toys?
Close-ended toys are the opposite of open-ended. These toys suggest to the child what to do with them and lack a variety of ways to put them together. Some examples of close-ended toys are puzzles, Legos, Duplos, board games, and racecar sets. I added them to this toy list because we have grown with them.
Open-ended toys invite the most imagination into play, but depending on your child’s interests, there is room for both. The benefits of an open-ended toy are endless.
So, what does this mean for the toy industry? Sometimes, they come close; other times, they miss the mark, still labeling the toy open-ended.
When choosing the best toys for my boys, I aim to select toys that will grow with them as they explore new play methods. And yep, I also have some smart toy storage solutions for these toys. Open shelves and clear containers make a great addition to your play space, allowing children to find precisely what they need.
Open-ended toys
When reading this list, remember the true meaning of open-ended toys. This list combines open-ended toys, close-ended toys, art supplies, and pretend play toys that are on the cusp of being considered open-ended. This fantastic list will invite much play into your daily life.
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Colored Tape
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 crafting with open-ended materials and creating innovative ways to play.
Rainbow Streamer
This rainbow streamer is perfect for the child who enjoys (but is not limited to) imaginary play, spinning, and dancing—a big win for your creative kiddo.
Plip
These Plip Links are not only fun to put together, but they also make the best sound when taking them apart! Great for your child who likes to fidget.
Yoto Mini Player
The Yoto Mini is the GOAT. All three of my boys (ages 8, 10, and 12) listen to it daily. Do not sleep on the Yoto!
Magnetic Tiles
My boys use magnetic tiles every single day. Social skills and problem-solving skills improve when a group of people of different ages work together.
Why Connetix? Better magnets and stronger connections to prevent breaking. Yep, Connetix is compatible with other brands you have.
Connetix Light Up Tile
Ever wonder what would happen if you add a light to a magnetic tile? Now you know. Add this playful set to your collection to inspire play. (Yep! Compatible with other tiles.)
Bright Tiles
This is another new set from Connetix. This time, they made the tiles even brighter than before! (Didn’t think that was possible.) Grab this set from Target to add to your favorite toy.
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.
Bilibo
If you have a child who likes to wiggle, this is the toy for them! Sit in it, spin, put it on your head, or collect your favorite toys. This Bilibo is unassuming but a true gem.
Tot Tube
Hold the phone. This was not available when the boys were younger, but they would be all over this now!!! I can see them using it now in their tween years, and we will likely gift it to my ten-year-old.
Blu Track
We added the Blu Track to our collection of open-ended toys, and it is worth the hype. This has been a fantastic alternative to screens, keeping the boys engaged during their downtime. Use the suction cup to create a drop.
Air Toobz
When I first saw Air Toobz three years ago at the New York Toy Fair, I knew they would be an instant hit. Check any Reddit feed to hear more about why families love them!
Clixco
This was a spectacular booth at the 2025 New York Toy Fair. There are so many designs you can create with these well-made pieces. Let the play unfold according to your child’s imagination!
Stepping Stones
If your floor is lava (of course, it is), you need these stepping stones. Use inside and out.
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 have been released in the market over the past few years, 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 can be found in the owner’s manual. It also comes in a variety of styles. I have noticed that my boys lose interest in the games when they become less of a challenge.
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.
Enchanted Play Scarves
Gear up for imaginary play with these play scarves! Use for blankets with dolls or stuffed animals, twirling and dancing, costumes, movement, imaginative play, and more—a true example of open-ended toys that children can use for years.
Color Counting Bears
You know we love these counting bears! For those under three, stay close because they are small, or save for when your child gets older.
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 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 developing small muscles in little hands, which will help with handwriting, opening snack containers, and other self-help skills. This is one of my
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 to do with my youngest 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 for imaginary play. Imaginary play is another thing that can be cut short once kids reach school age. Allow your children to immerse themselves in imaginative play and explore 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.
Brio Mega Spiral Set
I saw these at the New York Toy Fair when I was visiting Brio and knew they were a winner! Sometimes my big kids still build with tracks, and this is the perfect addition to keep the play alive.
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!)
What makes a great toy?
- Exploratory – Encourages exploration. Does this roll? Stack? Attach? How can I make these two pieces fit together? Do they even go together?
- Hands-On -Your preschooler can feel the parts, and they move! Sometimes they even have a fantastic texture. This play will engage your preschooler’s senses.
- Unlimited Play – There is no official start or end to the game. Preschoolers manipulate the object(s) in endless amounts of ways. This play encourages curiosity, creativity, and problem-solving.
These toys encourage creativity, imagination, and discovery. They are also exploratory and hands-on; your child grows with them over the years. Toys on this list align with why the AAP believes play is essential!
Open-ended toys are more child-directed than adult instructions.
More Toy Lists:
Frequently Asked Questions
Open-ended toys do not have an established start or stop to the play activity. True open-ended toys include everyday objects that can be used for imagination and creativity, such as rocks, sensory materials, and wooden blocks. These toys are open-ended because they are not dictating to the child what they need to do as they play. It is up to the child to take the lead.
Examples of open-ended toys are play scarves, magnetic tiles, wooden balance boards, blocks, and Plus-Plus. Most open-ended toys last for many ages and stages because they can be played with how the child sees fit.
There are several toys we will never give away. They are magnetic tiles, counting bears, wooden blocks, Plus-Plus BIG, and Legos/Duplos. I have watched my children play with these toys as toddlers and now as big kids at eight.
Thank you!! This is amazing!!
I am so happy you love it!!
Great list! I have a 2.5 year old and we have (and LOVE) many of the items on this list. New this year will be the Picasso Tiles, a pintoy fire station and engine, and a train set from lakeshore learning. Happy to see similar items on your list! I adore open ended toys that change and grow with the child. The only problem I’m running into is we buy new items but don’t have to get rid of any old toys since he’s not actually “outgrowing” them, and it feels like we have a lot of stuff!
I have a similar problem, Danna! I am just going with one day it will be all gone and replaced by boring things that don’t have to do with childhood. LOL