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Best Screen-Free Toys for Kids: Fun, Engaging, and Parent-Approved!
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items As a mom, I’m always looking for ways to keep my kiddo entertained without relying on screens. Over the years, I’ve found some amazing toys that encourage creativity, problem-solving, and good ole-fashioned fun. Whether you're looking for a birthday ...
Sections
5
🧱 Building & Construction
🎭 Pretend Play
🧠 STEM & Learning
🌳 Outdoor Play
🎨 Arts & Crafts
🧱 Building & Construction
These toys are a favorite in our house for hands-on, creative play! LEGO sets offer endless building possibilities, wooden blocks are perfect for little hands and it never hurts to have some playsets! Great for hours of screen-free fun! 🚀🏗️
✅ MUST HAVE! This set is INTERACTIVE! I My kid has been playing this for hours. It makes them feel like they are actually in the game, but without the screen. Absolute game changer for Legos!
LEGO Super Mario Adventures with Interactive LEGO Mario Playset 71439
You can use this with the interactive Mario set. I still can't get over how amazing these scanner functions are with the Lego set!
LEGO Super Mario Goombas' Playground, Super Mario Toys and Playset 71433
Duplo Legos are a great way to get your little one started. This set also teaches daily routines!
LEGO DUPLO My First Daily Routines: Bath Time Toy Playset 10413
Duplo for the Disney lover! This is a great first set for your Mickey loving kiddo!
LEGO DUPLO Disney Mickey & Minnie Birthday Train Toy 10941
We love the smaller sets that can be used for reward systems. These are great to stock up on and have on hand.
LEGO Marvel Spider-Man Car and Doc Ock Spidey Toy 10789
If your kiddo doesn't like to keep sets together, the 3 in 1s are PERFECT! You can make something and then change it to another make!
LEGO Creator 3 in 1 Space Shuttle & Spaceship Toys 31134
I actually used this for a game at work and my kiddo wanted one for himself! We love the 3 in 1 sets.
LEGO Creator 3 in 1 Magical Unicorn Toy Animal Playset 31140
This was the first set my kiddo kept together and put on display! He did it when he was 5, so might be ok for younger than the reccommended age with some parental help.
LEGO Creator 3 in 1 White Rabbit Toy Set
My kid got this for his 2nd birthday and still plays with it now that he's 6! We do toy rotation, which helps, but a train set is such a good investment!
SainSmart Jr. Wooden Train Set for Toddlers
🎥 Review of the Lego Marvel webspinner headquarters! This is another set that has managed to stay together!
Lego Marvel Webspinner Headquarters Set
🎭 Pretend Play
I love watching my kid’s imagination run wild with these toys! Play kitchens turn them into little chefs, doctor kits make checkups fun instead of scary, and so much more. These toys keep kids engaged, creative, and having fun—no screens needed! 🍳🩺...
✅He has played with this for 4 years! I even tried to donate it, thinking he was done playing with it and then he started back. So much fun having him make us meals with his play food!
Little Tikes Super Chef Kitchen Blue & Cream
This was a Christmas gift that has brought hours of entertainment. Not only does it teach them to learn the trick, but you can also put on a show with the things you learn! 10/10!
Nat Geo Kids Blue Marble Magic Set - 45 Tricks
We love the Princess castles! It's a great way to pretend to be Elsa or Anna for a day!
Mattel Disney Frozen Anna Stackable Castle
Our Doctor kit has been well loved over the years. I think the toys that require the most imagination, stick around the longest in our house.
Kidzlane Doctor Kit for Toddlers 3-5
If your kid loves pretending to be super heros, these are a MUST have for making it feel like it's real life.
RioRand Kids Superhero Capes Set 5PCS
We originally got this for our Disney trip, but he dresses up in this thing all the time and loves pretending he's on a safari!
Kids Explorer Vest & Hat Costume - Ages 3-6
🎥Review of the Elsa playset! We have loved this so much and use it with our Anna set.
Princess Elsa Toy - Must Have for Lovers!
🧠 STEM & Learning
These toys are perfect for sparking curiosity and learning through play! Marble runs are great for building problem-solving skills, Snap Circuits introduce basic electronics in a fun way, and who doesn't love a good science kit? They’re all about mak...
✅ Mom Approved! This was given to us as a gift and I think it even made me smarter, haha. My kiddo LOVES building with these and it truly does make his brain work in unique ways.
MindWare Q-BA-Maze Bright Lights Marble Maze
These puzzles are mesmerizing for my kiddo! They have magnets in them and you can change them into different shapes to make various designs! We have multiple puzzles.
SHASHIBO Meow Wolf - Magnetic Puzzle Cube
The Nat Geo sets are probably my favorite out of all of the science kits we've tried.
NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC Amazing Chemistry Set
One of my favorites, it makes the cutest creations, but also teaches kids so much about electricity! We do activities like this on the weekends all the time.
KLUTZ Circuit Clay Science/STEM Activity Kit
One of our favorite projects was putting this terrarium together! It was a bit of science and art mixed together.
Creativity for Kids Grow N' Glow Terrarium: Science Kit for Kids, Educational Toy, Includes Jar, Figures, Stickers, Rocks
🎥Review of the Paw Patrol sensory bin! We love hiding other things in the bin as well and it's great for those days when you are needing some sensory input!
Paw Patrol Sensory Bin for Kids - Find the Pups!
Tonie boxes are a great way to hear stories and music without screens!
Tonies Disney Audio Player Bundle
🌳 Outdoor Play
Getting outside is always a win! Bikes help build coordination, sidewalk chalk is perfect for creative fun, and bubble machines never fail to bring joy. These toys get kids moving, exploring, and having a blast—without screens in sight! 🚴♂️🚀🫧
✅ Great bike for beginner and you can take the training wheels off later! Our kiddo LOVES this bike!
Dynacraft Hot Wheels Kids Bike - Colorful Design
You can never have too much sidewalk chalk! We sometimes draw roads and bring our monster trucks outside too!
50ct Sidewalk Chalk Set with Yellow Box - Mondo Llama™: Jumbo Outdoor Kids Chalk, 4.2" Length, 50 Pieces
So many bubbles!!! This is great for a warm day outsdie.
Link Ready. Set. Play! Bubble Machine Giant Bazooka Blaster Toy 69 Holes Automatic For Kids & Adults of All Ages Great For Indoor & Outdoors - Purple
MUST HAVE! A water table is an absolute must if you have young kiddos! Even the dogs will love it, haha.
Step2 Rain Showers Splash Pond Water Table
🎥 Review of the Dynacraft Hotwheels bike! This bike has already taken many miles with many more to go.
Dynacraft Hotwheels Bike with Training Wheels
🎨 Arts & Crafts
Creative play is a hit in our house with these fun, mess-friendly toys! Washable paint sets let my kiddo express themselves, Play-Doh sparks imagination, and sticker activity books keep them engaged for hours. Perfect for screen-free creativity and h...
✅MUST HAVE! If you don't have any other art supplies, these paint pucks are a must! They last FOREVER and you can even take them outside.
Sax Non-Toxic Giant Tempera Paint Cakes
You can never have too many playdoh sets! This one has been fun and we use it with our play kitchen sometimes too!
Play-Doh Swirlin' Smoothies Blender Playset
I get a bunch of crafts like this to do in the mornings before school! It's nice to have some inexpensive things on hand to pull out, so you can avoid the TV!
3pk Paint-Your-Own Wood Dinosaur Set - Mondo Llama™: Non-Toxic Craft Kit with Acrylic Paints & Brushes for Kids 3+
We love having these little crafts on hand from Target to help with those moments when you just need something new and fresh!
Paint-Your-Own Ceramic Unicorn Kit - Mondo Llama™: Painting Kit with Brush & Paint, Ceramic Animal Craft for Ages 8+
We have so many rolls of coloring paper on hand, it's not even funny! We LOVE these and it breaks up the day a bit. We put them on the floor or table and both color together!
Kids Drawing Roll Paper, 2 Sticky Rolls
We always had 5 or 6 of these on hand! Our kiddo was a huge from from about 2-4 years old. Definitely hours of fun.
Melissa & Doug Prehistoric Sticker Pad
🎥Review of the playdoh blender set that we love so much! You can use it in combination with your play kitchen.
Playdoh Blender Set - Great Gift for Kids!
✍️Check out this blog post on ideas for getting messy with your kiddos while being creative!
Colorful Chaos: Outdoor Messy Painting with Kids