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Ultimate list of open-ended toys for creative play
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items Unstructured play is essential for fostering creativity and critical thinking in children. It involves engaging with toys and activities that are open-ended and do not have a predetermined outcome. I prefer sticking to the basic versions of each toy ...
Sections
6
Blocks
Toy animals
Sensory plays
Magnetic tiles
Pretend play
Trains and tracks
Blocks
When my son was 2 years old, one of his favorite toys was blocks. The best part for him was building with them and then crashing the structures, which always made him look very satisfied.
These wooden blocks are considered as open ended toys because one can make a castle but others can make a space ship from the same set of blocks!
Wooden Blocks
Includes 50 pieces of high-quality wooden blocks combined with colorful, transparent rainbow gems, creating a visually stimulating and engaging building experience.
50 Pieces Wooden Building Blocks Set, Transparent Rainbow Gem Stacking Game for Kids 3+
Endless Builds - Includes 65 LEGO DUPLO bricks plus familiar pieces to stimulate toddlers’ minds, including a toy car with moving wheels, windows, and flowers.
LEGO DUPLO Classic Brick Box Building Set 10913
Six hardwood stacking squares feature inset colored acrylic windows for stacking, sorting, building, sequencing and creating imaginative, colorful constructions!
Guidecraft Stacking Transparent Rainbow Pyramid Set - 6 Pieces
These 7 nesting Beechwood arches are stained in safety compliant colors which enable children to see all the rainbow colors with the natural grain of the wood.
TickiT Wooden Rainbow Architect Arches, Set of 7
Premium maple planks are tough, durable and stack perfectly time after time. Made in USA
MindWare Keva Maple 400 Solid-Wood Plank Set - Building Blocks - 400 Blocks
This 102 piece extra large starter set from HABA is suitable for beginner to expert architects ages 1 - 8 years.
HABA Basic Building Blocks 102 Piece Extra Large Wooden Starter Set (Made in Germany)
Build to new heights with this fantastic collection of realistic pretend bricks, blocks, and rocks! This set of lightweight foam builders stacks easily for endless creative building projects.
Kaplan Early Learning Brick, Blocks, and Rock Builders
Practice architectural theories, model scales and engineering with this 60 piece Little Bricks set. Included are 10 double-sided concept cards to give ideas for specific structures.
Guidecraft Little Bricks Construction Set - 60 Pieces
The 3D placement game Aerius from HABA stimulates the imagination of little thinkers from the age of 3 and can be placed, built and combined in countless ways.
HABA 3D Aerius - 20 Piece Wooden Building Blocks Set (Made in Germany)
The Pattern Blocks and Boards classic wooden toy lets kids explore shapes and colors hands-on as they fill wooden backgrounds with colorful wooden pieces.
Melissa & Doug Pattern Blocks and Boards - Classic Toy With 120 Solid Wood Shapes and 5 Double-Sided Panels
Toy animals
I don't know about you, but in my experience, my son learned to talk a lot by mimicking the sound of each animal ;)
Realistically-detailed Jumbo Forest Animals provide hours of imaginative play and are perfect for vocabulary development. Durable plastic animals are sized just right for small hands and can be wiped clean. Set of 5 includes moose, bear, fox, beaver,...
Learning Resources Jumbo Forest Animals I Bear, Moose, Beaver, Owl, and Fox, 5 Pieces, Ages 3+
Animal Planet brings the animal kingdom to life with the Animal Planet Mega Ocean Tub Collection.
Animal Planet Mega Ocean Tub
Teach counting, sorting, and classification, even as your child learns about exotic creatures. This set of 60 beautifully detailed jungle animals includes 12 different species, and includes "Did You Know?" animal fun facts.
Learning Resources Jungle Animal Counters - 60 Pieces, Ages 3+ Toddler Learning Toys, Educational Counting and Sorting Toys
This pack includes 45 pieces and is a whole lot of fun! The Mega Tub Collation also makes for the perfect gift for your little ones.
Animal Planet Dino Mega Tub Collection (Target Exclusive)
Sensory plays
Sensory play is essential for children, especially those under the age of 5. It is calming and allows children to explore different textures in the safety and comfort of home, which is beneficial for their development. Not only do typical children be...
Kinetic Sand is the original magical, moldable and mesmerizing sensory sand. It flows through your hands and never dries out so you can play again and again.
Kinetic Sand Sandbox Set Blue
This 2-pound resealable bag of green Kinetic Sand is the perfect arts and crafts activity gift for kids ages 3 and up, especially those who enjoy sensory toys and as an alternative to modeling clay or slime kits Stretch it, slice it, squeeze it or mo...
Kinetic Sand 2lb Green Play Sand
12 DELIGHTFUL CLASSIC COLORS: With bright red, purple, orange, green, yellow, teal, black, white, and a couple of shades of blue.
Play-Doh Bright Delights 12pk
12 CANS WITH RETRO DESIGNS: Add some Play-Doh history to your Play-Doh sets with cans featuring 6 designs from 1956 to today, plus the dates they came out
Play-Doh Retro Classic Can Collection 12pk
OPEN ENDED WALDORF TOY with ENDLESS APPLICATIONS - slide, stepping stone, bridge, kids table, cradle, soccer goal post, toy car racetrack and much more
NUTTY TOYS Wooden Wobble Balance Board 35"
The rotary sensory swing is specifically designed for fun and sensory input.
Ciouper Sensory Swing for Kids - Sky Blue
Magnetic tiles
Magnetic tiles have been a go-to toy for my 5-year-old. They never fail to entertain him and also stimulate his creativity.
The best starter set for larger families and classrooms. This is the Classic 74-piece set
MAGNA-TILES Clear Colors 74pc Set
Expand creative building possibilities with the Polygons 8-Piece Expansion Set! What’s Included: 8 magnetic polygon pieces, including 4 Diamonds, 4 Pentagons
MAGNA-TILES Polygons 8pc Expansion Set
With a spacious interior holding up to 300 Magna-Tiles and sturdy side handles, this portable storage bin is easy to use and move around.
Magna-Tiles Storage Bin/Playmat
Have an aspiring architect at home? This microMAGS and Classic tiles worked together to create unique builds!
MAGNA-TILES Combo microMAGS 62pc
Hey it has 200 pcs of magnetic tiles = more buildings to build!
Magnet Tiles Mag-Genius Magna Award Winning Building Magnetic Toy 199pc
Pretend play
I think most people would 100% agree that pretend play is the hallmark of children's play. They can pretend to be anything they want. My son loves to pretend to be a bad guy just because he never sees animations where the bad guy wins. Interesting, i...
Enchanted Playsilks are magical open-ended toys, children delight in finding creative new ways to incorporate Playsilks into their everyday play.
Sarah's Silks Enchanted Playsilk - Rainbow
This costume set is a dress-up and play set that includes a jacket, mask, cap, thermometer, stethoscope with sound effects, bandage, syringe, plush dog, and reusable name tag.
Melissa & Doug Veterinarian Costume Set
Includes jacket, helmet, badge, fire extinguisher, bullhorn, and reusable name tag
Melissa & Doug Fire Chief Costume Set
The Melissa & Doug Astronaut Role Play Costume Set is a dress up and play set that includes an astronaut’s jumpsuit, gloves, shiny helmet, and reusable nametag
Melissa & Doug Astronaut Costume Set
Includes jacket, cap, whistle, handcuffs, badge, walkie-talkie with sound effects, write-on name tag and ticket for pencil personalization (2 AA batteries required for walkie-talkie not included)
Melissa & Doug Police Officer Costume Set
REAL USPS MAIL TRUCK FUN: USPS mail delivery truck with a mail slot, opening rear door, and cool features like working headlights and a horn. Sits one rider between the ages of 3 and 5, max weight of 60 lbs.
Kid Trax 6V USPS Mail Truck Ride-On Toy
This tent makes cleaning up simple and helps keep play areas organized. Comes with a carrying case for neat storage.
Kid Trax USPS Play Tent for Kids, Large
This costume makes a very cute postman!
Toddler Mr. Postman Costume - M
Outdoor adventure toys kit; 5x power magnification binoculars, compass, butterfly net, magnifying glass, backyard exploration critter case, whistle, tweezers and bug containers, hat and backpack
ESSENSON Outdoor Explorer & Bug Catcher Kit
Trains and tracks
Playing with trains and tracks is a de-stressing activity for my kid. He sets them up and enjoys watching them moving choo choo…
A 84 piece toy train tract set. This toy set includes a track, trains, bridge, trees, windmill, cars, figurines, buildings and more to encourage imaginative play.
Toy Train Track Set 84pc - Hearth & Hand™ with Magnolia
Right Track's premium wood train tracks are ready for all your family's railroad adventures. 100 Pieces of Premium Wood Train Tracks
Wooden Train Track 52 Piece Set - 18 Feet Of Track Expansion And 5 Distinct Pieces - by Right Track Toys
100 Pieces of Premium Wood Train Tracks. Work with All Major Brands of Trains and Track
100 Piece Wooden Train Track Pack - Fully Compatible with Thomas & Friends Wooden Railway System - By Right Track Toys