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You are here: Home / Gift Ideas / best toys for open ended play

best toys for open ended play

November 13, 2014

The season of gift giving is upon us.  This year, we are scaling back and observing our children.  What ignites their curiosity and creativity?  What makes them think and use their senses?

Here is a list of open-ended toys and gifts that are perfect for inspiring independent and authentic play for your children.  I have split our list into two categories: store-bought items and do-it-yourself or “find them” toys that may be in your house already, but simply need to be repurposed!  Here are our favorite toys to encourage open ended play for children!

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{This post contains affiliate links, please see my disclosure policy.} 

Blocks and items for purchase….

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HABA Technics Wooden Blocks {See our recent review here.}

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Tegu Blocks

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Grimms Four Elements Building Sets

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MagnaTiles

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Basic Building Blocks

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Fort Magic {see our review here}

Spielgaben v4

Spielgaben

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Kapla Blocks

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Zoobs

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Montessori Knobless Cylinders

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Legos or Lego Duplos

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Texo Building Set

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Window Blocks or make your own

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Kinetic Sand

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Play Silks

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Peg people and rainbow blocks

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Budsies Stuffed Animals: Turn your child’s work of art into a stuffed animal!!

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Toobs

 

And sometimes the best gifts aren’t bought, but are created…..

how to make tree blocks an everyday story Weekend Project: Make some tree blocks

Tree Blocks

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Playdough

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Loose parts: Children can create, and imagine, so much with small parts; they can be from nature: shells, rocks, sticks or acorns, or they can be things you have laying around the house: scraps of fabric, poms, gems, or small blocks!  {Ensure children are always supervised!}

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Chalkboard, mirror, or wooden board to play on

DSC07998 Recycled materials: cardboard tubes, bottle tops, boxes, plastic tubs, anything you would throw in your recycling bin can be imagined, or here I created a simple slot game, into something else!

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A cardboard box

71SkfhPIIcL._SY450_ Try Light table play or make your own

DSC01005Bucket of water and kitchen bowls, pans, and utensils — this play can be brought indoors by putting a sheet down!

 Pin it!!

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I hope you enjoyed our list of best toys for open ended play! This post is a part of the Kid Blogger Network’s Holiday Gift Guide for Kids 2014. Make sure to head over to see over 75 different amazing gift lists for kids of all ages!!

You can check out my other gift guides here:

  • Montessori learning tools
  • Gifts for a one year old
  • Gifts for a three year old
  • Baby toys 3-6 months
  • Baby toys 6-9 months
  • Baby toys 9-12 months
  • Baby toys 12-18 months

Displaying kbn gift guides landscape.jpg

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Comments

  1. Christine says

    September 17, 2018 at 10:34 am

    Our kids LOVE Brain Blox. Solid wood, simple planks for building. Total must have.

    Reply

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Amy is a former Kindergarten teacher, M.Ed., turned homeschooling mom. Sharing her imperfect life and her love of teaching & learning, reading, herbal remedies, parenting and more.
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