This week’s 10 in 10 Blog Hop from iHomeschool Network is “toys that have lasted in my home”, and I thought I would share a few of our favorite toys. These are toys that we’ve had for a while that the girls still play with…and toys I anticipate they will continue to play with in the future!
Please note that these are not all inexpensive toys! Sometimes, I do find it to be a good investment to buy quality toys (or ask for them as gifts)!
1) Legos
Obviously you can’t use these with little bitty ones, although you can start with Duplos! Once your child is ready, they can start with simple ideas…and build as elaborate as can be (robots, model cars, and more).
2) Wooden Blocks
We have two sets of these Melissa & Doug wooden blocks and use them to build all kinds of things. When the girls were small, we built bridges and roads and made letters from the blocks. Now, they can build castles, zoos, and farms.
3) Magformers
These are expensive and I would’ve never thought to buy them myself, but a friend has given us a few sets of these Magformers. They are awesome! When your child is small, they’ll get a kick out of the magnetic properties and sticking them together. As they grow, they can make all kinds of structures with them.
4) Basketball Goal
Our basketball goal was actually a Father’s Day gift, but I purchased one that was adjustable. The girls love practicing now on the short goal, but we can easily move it up as they grow (or when dad and mom want to play)!
5) Play Kitchen
This one may be a stretch, but we got it as a gift six years ago, and they are still playing with it almost daily. Add in some old pots and pans and my girls will play happily for hours–especially if they can take the pans outside and make mud pies! If you can afford it, I would recommend a wooden play kitchen.
6) Craft Box and Art Supplies
I keep a box filled with various recycled goodies–boxes, cans, containers, lids, and more. The creations the girls make have changed over the years, but they still love a good craft or art project using materials from the box!
7) Animals or Bug Stuff
We have tons of miniature animals picked up from our local Orshelns. These are some of our favorites because they are so realistic compared to some of the cheapy plastic ones you can get. They are great for learning about animals, building zoos or farms, and more (we use them with the blocks and legos)!
Also, bug stuff is popular around here! Bug jars are easy enough to make (or you can buy a simple one), and they seem to keep kids of all ages entertained. We also love the Insect Lore Live Butterfly Garden.
8) Doll House
This one may only be pertinent if you have girls, but the girls got this one year as their Christmas present, and they love it. I, personally, love this KidCraft Majestic Doll House. It’s pricey (although I got mine about $45 cheaper than it’s priced right now and had some gift cards from Swagbucks), but all of the toys with it are wooden and it’s big enough for Barbies, too. You can see–it is an enormous dollhouse!
9) Board Games
I keep the game closet stocked with various board games. Classics like checkers, Blokus, and Jenga can be “adapted” to your child’s age. Sometimes we completely change the rules, too!
10) Swing Set
This is probably a favorite! I do wish we had saved up and gotten a little bit larger jungle gym. It’s served us well for the past three years, but my eight-year-old can swing high enough to make the leg come up sometimes! If I did it again, I would save up for a bigger swing set to last for many more years!
How about you? What is your one favorite toy that has lasted in your home?
melissa says
My kids aren’t very old, but one thing that I can see that will last are Wedgits. They love to follow the patterns, but also make their own!
Stacie Nelson says
I’ll have to check those out! It’s bad that I don’t even know what they are!!
Bobbi says
I have not seen the magformers, but they must be very similar to the also expensive magnatiles we have at preschool. The children play with them all year and never seem to get bored and none have broken like some of the other toys that can’t take the preschoolers’ rough play so I definitely want some for my home, maybe grandma will buy them for us! (o: Looks like the magformers are slightly cheaper than the magnatiles on amazon. Thanks for the tip!
Stacie Nelson says
Yes! We definitely love them–and none of them have ever broken or had any trouble. They are big enough I never had to worry about someone swallowing them or anything like that. They make all kinds of creations with them now!
Susan C. says
We have that exact same swing set, and I agree–it’s awesome and gets a ton of use, but I wish we’d spent a little more and gotten a bigger one–a wooden one would have been really nice. I would also like to add that we have a sand/water table and it has been one of our best purchases also. My son rarely uses water in it–he has sand in both sides–but he has gotten HOURS of enjoyment out of it and will continue to, I am sure.
Stacie Nelson says
Oh, sand boxes and water play! I forgot those! Great ideas!
Tara says
This is great! I don’t have kids, but I have a lot of friends with kids. I like to try to keep some toys at my house for them to play with when they come over. It is always hard to find toys that will entertain a variety of children.
One I would add for boys would be cars or trains… those always seem to go over well.
Stacie Nelson says
Definitely! I know cars and trucks are quite versatile…even in our all girl house. John would add farm toys, too! 🙂