Quality Toys for Endless Play - Where Learning Meets Fun!

I've put a lot of effort into avoiding buying toys that will eventually end up in a donation pile. Most of this list promotes open-ended play which I love for many reasons but mainly because kids need to learn to play without adult or directions telling them what to do. This fosters creativity, problem-solving and social emotional development. This post contains affiliate links, meaning I may earn a small commission if you purchase through the link at no cost to you. Here are my favorites:

1. Play couch- I dragged my heels on this one. My friend kept recommending it and said her kids used it every day. I was skeptical and asked how it was different from our cushions we have here? She said it just is and she was right! First of all, my couch stays put together at all times now and these are plain fun. I wanted a set that had more pieces for less of a price tag and was OEKO-TEX/CertiPUR-US certified because many foam items come with some nasty chemicals. This checked all the boxes! It has 14 pieces and the brushed velvet is beyond soft. The material cleans up easily with a wet cloth but the removable and washable covers were a must. My baby has loved climbing on these, helping with his gross motor skills in a safe way. My friend was right, my kids use it every day (making forts, obstacle courses, pretend cars or boats, spots to watch tv) and I don't regret buying it for a second. 

2. Magnetic tiles- these are trendy because they are amazing! My boys will spend hours building elaborate structures and playing pretend. They play more creatively because the options are endless and there isn't a set end product. I only purchase MAGNA-TILES and Picassotiles which are compatible. There are cheaper options but I never want to risk broken tiles; if magnets are swallowed together it can be dangerous and some of those sets don't hold up as well. 

This Marble Run has been so much fun and it comes with a lot of standard pieces to add to your building collection. We have several animal sets and this dinosaur set that encourages interactive character play. These come with different building pieces you can't find in a standard set and the sloth in that jungle animal set? My favorite animal and it's the cutest!

3. Lego- it's been around forever for a reason! All my kids play with Duplo. My older kids started with Lego when they were about three. I love Lego because we can all play together and I don't get bored with it. It also strengthens reasoning skills, concentration and following visual instructions. We have two bins of Duplo and more Lego than I could ever count. Here's a few of our favorites. Duplo starter set has all the different building pieces and the slide is a hit. We have several of these base plates. 

Now into the big kid Lego. This is a great starter set for building anything you want. The 3 in 1s are a smart buy because you get 3 build options like this camera which has been a huge hit with my 6 year old. He built the video recorder and walks around pretending to make videos... ha! Any 3 in 1's that involve vehicles are another favorite over here like this 3 in 1 jet, helicopter and speed boat. 

What would you add to this list? I'd love to hear!