36 Open Ended Toys Kids Will Play with for Years

Jennie Utsinger said:  This gorgeous hand-carved rainbow offers endless play possibilities. It's one of those perfect versatile toys for 4 year olds, but delights kids of all ages - and grownups too! Balance the pieces on top of each other, create bridges for cars, rock your dolls, or practice your colors.

A perfect first tea set! The Green Toys set is made out of recycled materials, it is non-toxic (does not contain BPA, phthalates, or lead paint), meets FDA food contact standards and is dishwasher friendly.

Kristy Pepping said:  My seven-year-old and her friends are really into playing American Girl dolls these days. However, there are so many 18-inch dolls on the market, a doll purchase does not have to break the bank.

Erin P. said:  This easel is such a hit in our house! It has a chalkboard on one side and a dry erase board on the other side. It also has a paper roll holder for painting. My four-year old especially loves painting with it! The family portrait that he painted the other day in which the baby floats like a giant marshmallow over the rest of us brought smiles to all of our faces. :)

Kelly R. said:  My kids both loved having a little tool set at age 3, and still played with it years later. Whenever my husband or I would fix something around the house, my son would grab the toolbox and come running to help.

Jennie Utsinger said:  We love everything made by Green Toys, but the helicopter is one of my son's favorites! Made from 100% recycled plastic milk jugs, it withstands crashes and is a great size for flying around. It's also dishwasher safe, so easy to clean.

Jaclyn Keifer said:  The little climber/Pikler triangle is a beautiful open-ended toy to promote self confidence, gross motor skills, balance control, muscle growth, and expand creativity. Our children are 18m and 5YO and love climbing around on this. Accessories: rock climbing wall and slide.

Jaclyn Keifer said:  Inspired by Waldorf Toys, play silks allow children to use their imaginations. Use them for capes, dress up, doll blankets, costumes and accessories, and more! Bundle comes with 6 bright colors; red, blue, yellow, green, purple, and pink. Loved by both boys and girls. Your children will love to dance, move, and dress up with these scarves.

Alexandra F. said:  Waldorf play stands are the ultimate open-ended toy, and I wish I had known about them when my first was born so we could have gotten a couple of decades of use out of them! The simple, versatile design inspires imaginative, open-ended play, serving as a play kitchen, market, fort, reading nook - whatever your kids can imagine! Plus, they are functional AND beautiful. This is the set I’m planning to get, but I've seen other beautiful play stands on Etsy. Though pricey, they are one of those toys that will get used over and over again over the years, and can replace other possible toy purchases (like a play kitchen). Some stands can also be purchased individually.

Alexandra F. said:  My toddler will spend HOURS outside digging in the dirt or sandbox with his construction truck toys, and this excavator is definitely the favorite. I love how sturdy and well-made all Bruder trucks are, and my truck-loving kids love that they are so realistic.

Sarah Calamita said:  A train set is the perfect gift! Your 2 year old will spend hours connecting trains, putting pieces together, learning colors and shapes and just amazed at everything that comes with a train set!

Kelly R. said:  Baby Stella was the perfect first baby doll for my daughter, and I love that Manhattan Toy offers both sizes of its Baby Stella dolls in a range of skin tones. The doll and its accessories are completely plush and huggable, and my daughter got a kick out of the magnetic pacifier that attaches to baby's mouth.

Sarah Calamita said:  If you have a 1-5 year old, this is the best gift! Pair with some fun fake food (Melissa and Doug has great produce, boxed goods, pizza pie, ice cream scoops and cupcakes). Hours of entertainment!

Jaclyn Keifer said:  The classic Waldorf balance rocker reimagined! The Wobble stimulates balance and poise. It invites movement for young and old—and for everyone in between. Get fit while playing together! But it's so much more: a bridge; a shop; a fort; a seat; an elephant's back; a slide; and so much more!

Alexandra F. said:  We got this tool bench for my 2-year-old because he and his 4-year-old brother love playing with their toy tool sets so much, and it has been THE biggest hit. It will honestly keep them (and their older siblings and cousins!) entertained for so much longer than most toys, and the set is really well made and super easy to put together.