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Screen Free Toys that Teach
40
items I've had enough of toys that entertain my kids for two seconds and create mess or make a lot of annoying noise. You know the ones. This is a list of toys that 1. entertain my kids, and 2. teach an important skill. Would recommend these to any mom!!
Sections
8
Sensory Play
Imaginative Play
Games
Early Math Skills
Fine Motor Skills
Early Letter Recognition
Sensory Play
Sensory play is exploratory, and perfect for building the muscles necessary for writing in the future!
We love sensory play. You don't need anything fancy! In fact, my kid's favorite sensory play involves a kitchen bowl, dried beans, and these scoops/tools. Lay some ground rules to avoid messes, but it's given me HOURS of quiet play.
Sensory Play Scoops & Tools
I use these for my homemade play dough but also a ton of other craft supplies!
Homemade Play dough canisters
Can confirm this is the best recipe. It's SO soft
The BEST homemade playdough recipe - I Heart Naptime
warning, this can be messy! But so fun!
Kinetic Sand Recipe
A perfect, cheap sensory activity!
Make Rainbow Rice in 5 Minutes!
A huge hit for my preschool group on Halloween, but fun year round!
How to Dye Rainbow Spaghetti for Sensory Play
Great for sensory play, and crafts!
How to Dye Pasta the Easy Way!
I honestly get beans in bulk from the grocery store, but these are so, so cute!
Pastel Beans Sensory Bin Filler - 1LB
These have the paints on the sheets and a paintbrush included! All you need is water. So good for fine motor skills and creativity.
Paint with Water Coloring Books for Kids
Imaginative Play
These toys are pretty open ended and allow imagination to run wild!
Okay, this one isn't necessarily quiet, but music is so critical for children's development! We love this set of little noise makers
Montessori Wooden Musical Instruments Set
Every child needs a baby doll. This one is so good for imaginative play, but was also a huge help for prepping for new siblings, and potty training!
Dream Collection Drink & Wet Baby Doll 14”
We use our easel constantly. I love how compact and versatile this one is!
Easel
Perfect for imaginative play, great way to learn about different members of the community and jobs!
Dress Ups
You don't need a fancy play kitchen, but a play kitchen has provided HOURS of entertainment for us!
Pithfor Wooden Play Cooking Set for Kids
I've yet to meet a child that doesn't love to play vet!
Meland Toy Doctor Kit for Kids - Role Play Set
My kids love to play with makeup when I get ready, but I will absolutely not be cleaning up messy makeup. This one is a winner!
Mess Free Makeup Play Kit
Listen to me, do NOT fall for the adorable little finger puppets. They will get lost in your couch cushions!! These are great though!
Melissa & Doug Animal Hand Puppets (Set of 2, 4 animals in each) - Zoo Friends and Farm Friends
Games
Playing games as kids teach critical social skills and create good sports! These are some of our favorites.
Kids need to learn how to take turns, and win & lose well. This is also a very simple, fun math game! Great for counting, number recognition, and fine motor skills too!
Hi Ho Cherry-O
Another great way to learn some important social skills!
Candy Land Kingdom Of Sweet Adventures
I miss the old design, but the game is a classic!
Hasbro Gaming Chutes and Ladders Board Game
Early Math Skills
We love these toys for early introducation to counting, sequencing, patterns, and math!
Dinosaurs. Every kid loves dinosaurs, and these come with sorting bowls for color matching, you can use them to count as your child gets older too. They come with tiny tongs for excellent fine motor skill work that my kids haven't gotten bored of in ...
Yetonamr Counting Dinosaurs Montessori Toys
This toy can be used in a lot of ways, sort by color, a counting exercise, and it is also a great way for kids to start learning how to hold pencils. It's fun to shake and use the magnet tool, best of all, it's virtually silent and completely mess fr...
MTYOKILN Magnetic Color & Number Maze Puzzle
This toy is perfect for imaginative play, like restaurant. It has cards with orders that help kids follow basic instructions, work on sequencing, etc. Super fun!
Wooden Burger Stacking Toys for Kids
So good for imaginative play, but also number recognition, counting, etc.!
Learning Resources Pretend & Play Cash Register
Fine Motor Skills
Kids need to work on fine motor skills before they're ever able to draw and write. These toys are some of our favorites!
A new favorite for us! What kid doesn't want to play with power tools? We use this one for fine motor skills, learning patterns, and just creative play. This was fought over on Christmas and keeps my kids busy for a long while!
Design & Drill Bolt-It Bucket, 56 Pieces
I know it's just a box, but all the exchangeable tops and parts help teach cause and effect and fine motor skills. This is easily one of our most used toys! Still played with going on 3 years!
Adena Montessori 4 in 1 Wooden Play Kit
So good for color/shape sorting, lacing (fine motor skills), building/stacking, pattern recognition, etc. The options truly are endless with this toy!
Melissa & Doug Lacing Beads - 30 Wooden Beads
The cutest lacing boards. Great for fine motor skills, and totally quiet!
Wee Gallery Jungle Animals Lacing Cards
Early Letter Recognition
some basics for early letter recognition! Warning: lots of parts! The alphabet is long :)
Pretty self explanatory. Learning letters/phonics means lots of repetition. This puzzle is cute and fun. I pull the letters off all the time for different activities.
Wooden Alphabet Puzzle for Toddlers 3-5
Absolutely will be purchasing for upper and lowercase letter identification
Smart Snacks Alpha Pops, 26 Pieces, Age 2+
Large Motor Skills
These are our get out your wiggles toys! Perfect for too hot or too cold days.
We create a lot of obstacle courses, and get lots of wiggles out with this toy!
Kids Balance Beam Stepping Stones Set
My kids LOVE slides. I will pay extra for one that folds away.
Avenlur Indoor Folding Slide for Kids (Blue)
Soooo good for getting wiggles out! And imaginative play.
UTEX 3 in 1 Kids Play Tent with Tunnel
When I'm too tired for rough housing, we get this out.
Mini Trampoline
STEM
For the little scientist!
Nature Fun - Field Microscope, Kids Ages 4+ - Hape Backyard & Park | Maisonette
The only rule with this is that anything caught, stays OUTSIDE
OOOK Kids Explorer Bug Catching Kit
I don't know why magnets are so fun, but they are. These are just like the ones I played with in science class!
Learning Resources Super Magnet Lab Kit
Wooden blocks are the OG STEM toy
OOOK 100pcs Wooden Building Blocks for Toddlers
So good for learning about colors and mixing!
McCormick Food Colors & Egg Dye, 1.5 fl oz
This one is pretty self explanatory, but also sooo fun!
hand2mind Blue Nestable Bucket Balance Scale