10 Best Open-Ended Toys That Promote Creativity and Learning

Best Open Ended Toys For Kids of All Ages

As a pediatrician and mom of two, my selective list of best open-ended toys encourages communication, exploration, creativity, visual discrimination, and problem-solving skills for a wide age range.

This gift guide has been curated by what has entertained my children (ages 7 and 10) and their friends, my teenage nephews, and even myself. I wrote the first version of this post several years ago, and the recommendations have remained constant.

Therefore, I call these “forever toys” – toys that will grow with your toddlers, preschools, and elementary school-aged children!

10 BEST OPEN-ENDED TOYS FOR KIDS, BOYS AND GIRLS

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Minimalist’s guide to shopping for open-ended toys

Less is more: the benefit of few toys

Clutter is the ultimate distraction, scarcity encourages creativity, and oceans are filled with plastic.

Over the years, I have decluttered and donated most toys…and we still have a lot!  But I strongly believe few toys are better than multiple mediocre ones.

As I wrote the first draft of this article, my kids were playing in an impressive chair and blanket fort. They’re still all about their DIY cardboard box house, too. And nothing beats going outside to the park and beach!

When loved ones insist on gifts

I have been trying to institute a “no gift” rule in our home for years. However, most friends and family still insist they need to gift something.

I can’t seem to change their minds, but at least some ask for recommendations. (Wink, wink – this article is the wish list!) It’s a win-win: they feel happy to give, while we are more likely to receive useful, quality, open-ended toys.

We now get fewer breakable plastic toys that would end up in the trash – whew!

What makes the ideal toy for kids?

My personal checklist for deciding whether to purchase toys reflects the American Academy of Pediatric (AAP) guidelines and includes the following:

[ ] Open-ended

Kids can play independently without instructions or guidance from parents. 

The same toy can be used in multiple ways, and their purpose can change as they grow.

These toys are gender-neutral, timeless, and free of commercial branding.

In addition, an open-ended toy should encourage critical thinking and questions such as:

  • I wonder how this looks if I put it here?
  • Does this fit together or not?
  • Will it roll or stay in place?

[ ] NO Batteries

The big downside of battery-operated, cause-and-effect toys is that they often interrupt focus and limit imagination.

On the other hand, toys without electricity allow your kid to make up their own sounds! 

Open-ended toys also encourage kids to feel and move different parts independently.

As stated by the AAP:

Electronic and digital add-ons increasingly found even in physical toys may actually hinder caregiver-child interactions. The harmful effects of screen time also are an important consideration, especially for young children.

BONUS: no digital toys means no annoying sounds to bother Mom and Dad!

[ ] Environmentally-friendly

My children have seen photos and videos of the consequences of plastic, which motivate our preference for natural materials like wood.

That being said, there are a few circumstances where we use plastic, but I will include alternative materials when available.

10 Best Open-Ended Toys That Kids Will Love For Years!

Send this list of the best open-ended toys to relatives and friends who insist on getting something for your kids!

You can also find many open-ended toys conveniently listed on our Amazon Shop.

  1. Magnetic tiles and blocks
  2. Building bricks (Lego, Eco-Brick)
  3. Play silks
  4. Plain wood blocks
  5. Realistic toy animals
  6. Mini vehicles
  7. Easel
  8. Jumbo droppers
  9. Grimm’s Rainbow Stacker
  10. Wood peg dolls
  11. Runner up: 100 Board

1. Magnetic toys: Magnatiles, Tegu blocks

Child playing with magnetic tiles
Playing with magnetic tiles

Most of our friends agree that colorful magnetic tiles are among the best toys for kids. We have the original Magnatiles; my kids continue discovering new ways to explore building possibilities. They love using magnetic tiles for color mixing and light reflection. While playing and creating, they are learning about geometry, too.

If you want to compare prices with knock-off brands or look for wooden alternatives, I’ve included a few other options below.

Where to buy:

2. Open-ended toys: LEGOs and Eco-Bricks

Lego organization bins sorting by color
LEGO toys organized by color

Whenever I ask parents of teenagers which toys were the last to be outgrown, they immediately reply, “LEGOs.” We used to gift our nephews a new set every Christmas, and they only recently outgrew them. Now, our children are busy building with the hand-me-downs. To promote creativity, consider open-ended creative brick boxes.

Where to buy:

Of course, building kits are a fun challenge, too! Check out our reviews of favorite Chinese LEGO sets for kids.

3. Play silks / Play scarves

Memory journal with letters to children: free, meaningful holiday or birthday gift
Rainbow silks

My kids have played with play silks almost daily since they were babies! Back then, my kids squealed with delight using the transparent fabric for peek-a-boo.

These days, they use the play silks to create forts and blankets for their stuffed animals. We also use play scarves as an eco-friendly way to wrap presents.

Where to buy:

4. Open-ended toys: plain wood blocks

playing with open-ended wooden block toys
Getting creative with wooden blocks

The staple of all open-ended toys is the humble, plain wood block! Natural colors let kids focus on size and weight discrimination while building.

My kids have noticed that triangle blocks can be combined together to make bigger triangles, squares, or rectangles, depending on the orientation and shape.

Where to buy: Melissa and Doug Wood Building Blocks

5. Realistic toy animals

Schleich animals - best realistic toys for kids
Realistic toy animals

I once debated between plastic toy animals versus wood toy animals, but the details of the plastic toys are impressive. Each animal looks so realistic. Even their footprints are different in play dough!

My children adore their toy animals, and my 7-year-old still makes roaring sounds with them on the weekends. (My 10-year-old is attached to her favorite animals, though playing less often.) We’ve also used them to learn geography, such as with our felt world map, animal atlas books, and animals of the world printables.

Although we’ve been collecting the Schleich brand, many parents have recommended the more affordable Safari LTD Toob animals. If you’re worried about plastic, keep an eye out for these toys secondhand in thrift shops.

Where to buy:

6. Mini toy vehicles

Use body language to enhance communication with bilingual kids
Playing with toy vehicles

In our home, little vehicles and matchbox cars have been as popular as mini animals. My children have enjoyed sorting the cars by color and size, making engine sounds, and racing around the house. Whenever my son gets a new toy car, he gazes lovingly at the tiny details for hours, haha!

Where to buy:

7. Easel

Melissa and Doug Easel - whiteboard & chalkboard
Scribbling on the easel, bamboo step stool, rope baskets

The easel is the centerpiece of our children’s play-and-learn area. We have had our Melissa and Doug Easel for nearly a decade!

It’s been amazing to see my children’s scribbles turn into decipherable doodles and messages over the years. I have also used the easel to teach my kids Chinese, and our former nanny used it to teach Korean.

Due to the adjustable height, the easel can grow with a child from toddlerhood to tweenhood. It’s currently at the highest position, just the right height for my big kids.

I’ll list other whiteboards that caught my eye so you can compare reviews to see which works best for your family.

Where to buy:

Recommended: Fun Ways to Learn Hangul with Korean Alphabet Toys

8. Open-ended toys: droppers and pipettes

Learning Resources Jumbo droppers pipettes for kids
Playing with pipettes

Droppers and pipettes are affordable, and my kids have gotten so much use from them! Toddlers can practice simple transferring of water and will love squirting water out. Older kids can enjoy doing science experiments with droppers and pipettes.

Where to buy: Learning Resources jumbo eyedroppers

9. Open-ended toy: Grimm’s rainbow

Grimms rainbow stacker and pom poms
Grimm’s rainbow toy

Ahh, the iconic Grimm’s rainbow! Relatives have generously gifted us various Grimm’s toys. If I had to choose one, the rainbow stacker is the best. My kids get so creative with these toys. It even looks pretty on our shelf when they aren’t playing with it.

I previously purchased a cheap wood rainbow from Etsy, but the wood was rough, and the pieces did not stack well.

On the other hand, Grimm’s toys are of amazing quality. The surface has a subtle texture so the pieces can balance, but there are no rough edges. Recently, my husband accidentally dropped our Grimm’s rainbow semi-circles down a flight of wooden stairs, but they were all intact. Whew!

However, beware of the Grimm’s addiction! The more Grimm’s blocks you get, the more you can build. The natural version allows my children to focus on size discrimination, while the colorful Grimm’s rainbow brightens our otherwise neutral room.

Where to buy:

10. Wood peg dolls

Learning Chinese grammar and how to form sentences
DIY Cardboard playground with peg dolls

When we first got wood peg dolls, I immediately regretted them. They sat on the shelf untouched until my daughter gave them all names one day; the rest is history!

Now, my son adores them just as much as his big sister. He’s used them for color matching, and they both use the dolls for imaginative play, such as with our cardboard playground.

Because diversity is important in our children’s toys, we have light and dark wood peg dolls.

Where to buy:

Runner-up: 100 Board

The Hundred Board is one of the best hands-on educational resources for kids between 3 and 9 years of age. It comes with colorful wool balls for color matching and pattern formation.

Toddlers past the mouthing (choking hazard) stage can improve fine motor skills and pincer grasp by putting the balls into different holes. Older kids can work on skip counting and other math exercises. My daughter also enjoys rolling playdough balls into the different slots. You can purchase number coins separately and pair the activities with our printable hundred chart.

Read our review of the Wooden Hundred Board for learning ideas and where to buy.

What are your favorite open-ended toys for children?

Which toys are your child’s favorite? What seems to capture their attention the longest? And which toys haven’t worked for your kids? Please share in the comments below. We’d love to learn from your experience.

More toy and gift guides for kids

What is your child curious about? Here are more educational gift guides for holiday and birthday shopping!

13 Comments

  1. Hello! I love love your playmat!
    Where did you get it?

    Grimms rainbow are a hit here too, we have the natural, pastel and they’re original.

    Grapat are also a favorite of mine as well 😆

      1. Hi again! I just noticed that the medium size of our playmat in the photos is back in stock on Amazon here.

  2. Could you update the link for the knockoff Grimms semicircles?

  3. Barumba Play says:

    Love this list and totally agree! Less clutter, less toys in the land-fill, more creative play! I would add play couches to this list as well as another fantastic option.

  4. Meena Monjazeb says:

    Cut pieces of yarn are great too. This was one of the best websites on the subject. Thanks

  5. JENILEE VILLOSO says:

    My kids love to play with legos. My son is constantly building the sets and then changing them up however he sees fit. My daughter loves to play dress up but is starting to get into the legos too! Building things and playing pretend seem to keep my kids attention the longest. So far I haven’t had much luck with board games, but they are still pretty young for that.

  6. Hi, I have red a few of your posts which are all so inspiring! Are you able to write more about the early stages of your parenting and language learning, activities and toys you would recommend for under 3? My baby is now 14 months and I’d love to know where to start! Thank you

    1. Hi Olivia! Thanks so much for reaching out! Yes, here are some posts that I wrote and hope they can help:
      1. Raising a Bilingual Baby: 5 Things Parents Should Do
      2. How I’m Learning Chinese as a Busy Parent: Speaking, Reading, Writing

      As for toys, honestly my kids loved tupperware and the Swiffer a lot as young toddlers 🙂 I don’t think they need much at that age. Otherwise blocks can go a long way – my 7 year old still plays with them plus magnetic tiles. Let me know if I can help with anything else!

  7. Callum Palmer says:

    All of these toys seem really great for kids. Once my wife and I have our first, we’ll be looking to get some. Don’t know which ones yet, but probably at least one from this list.

  8. Great ideas, we do have almost all of these and love them. We also love our mobilo here. My two boys (6yo and 3yo) play with it constantly and rarely pick up anything else. My daughter (1yo) carts the pieces everywhere and loves when her brothers build her something to play with too. It’s so incredibly open ended and is something we will keep collecting as our kids grow as I’m sure the possibilities will grow with them. Even I enjoy building with mobilo!

  9. Elizabeth says:

    These are great ideas! Thank you! I especially love the rainbow.

    Also, perhaps a strange question, but can you tell me what that flooring is? I’ve been on a quest to find it and I’d really appreciate your help if you know.

    1. Hi Elizabeth! Sorry for the late reply. The floors are engineered wood, but I can’t remember the details. The slightly distressed look hides minor dents and scratches well, but the dark color is unforgiving for dust!

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