33 Open Ended Toys Kids Will Play with for Years

Marble runs are wonderful educational building toys for kids of all ages, with endless possibilities for creating structures of all sizes. The connectors in this Marble Genius set fit together snugly, ensuring a stable structure, and are easy for kids to put together.

Erin P. said:  This toy is such a hit during the summer months! We usually set ours up next to the kiddie pool and the kids enjoy hours of outdoor fun!

Got a creative builder who's dreaming of skyscrapers? This magnetic construction set features 100 colorful tiles that connect to form amazing 3D structures — from simple shapes to elaborate castles and towers.

Kelly R said:  The concept is simple, but this is probably the most versatile and often-used toy in my house. Our magna-tiles have become skyscrapers, racetracks, villages, mazes, and rockets. They are fun for all ages and will see many years of use. I recommend investing in the largest set possible, and you will still wish you had more. I love giving gifts like this because even if the kid already has a set, duplicates aren't a problem. They can just build bigger and cooler stuff!

Classic wooden building toys for kids, a set of high-quality building blocks will last a child for years, inspiring a whole variety of open-ended creative play and learning.

Plastic building toys for kids that have withstood the test of time. Always a good, safe gift option for the kid who has everything.

3D building toys for kids that offer diverse ways to play. The large magnetic frames and 3D panels can be connected in various ways to build structures and tracks that kids can then play on.

Alexandra F. said:  What I love most about this magnetic building toy is how it inspires kids to be creative by building - and testing, and improving - structures they can actually play with once they’re done. Unlike other magnetic building toys, Squaregles actually hold together well without randomly collapsing, and the set comes with fun pieces like ramps and towers for making things like castles or racetracks. It takes a little practice to master putting the pieces together, but even my three year old loves building with them, and my older kids (and me!) get a kick out of trying out new creations every time we play.

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.

Schleich animal figurines are highly detailed, hand-painted toys that bring the animal kingdom to life. They are crafted with precision and authenticity, making them both fun and educational for children.

Kelly R said:  All of the Schleich animal figurines make the best toys for 4 year olds, and will see many hours of imaginative play. They are so much more durable, realistic and beautiful than other brands, and our trusty T Rex still looks pretty cool in our tween's room years later! They are some of my favorite ideas for stocking stuffers that will get used for years and years. The reindeer is a perfect nod to Christmas!

Baby Stella dolls all feature magnetic pacifiers, life-like toes, fingers and belly button, perfectly plump tummies and embroidered facial features. With removable and interchangeable doll outfits and diapers, these ultra-soft and huggable first baby dolls truly are Baby's First Friend.

Kelly R said:  Baby Stella was the perfect first baby doll for my daughter, and I love that Manhattan Toy offers diverse 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.

This line of larger, colorful building blocks is specially designed for toddlers and young children as early learning toys that promote creativity through safe and easy construction.

Alexandra F. said:  These chunky bricks have been been used pretty much constantly in our home for the last 15 years, and are one of my favorite open ended toys because they can be used from such a young age and still be fun to play with even when kids are ready for the smaller LEGO sets. A couple of building plates, a set or two of classic bricks, and a few DUPLO figurines have been some of our most played with toys these last couple of decades.

Bristle Blocks are versatile building toys for toddlers and preschoolers made of soft, flexible plastic with tiny bristles on all sides. They connect in any direction, allowing for endless creative possibilities and helping children develop fine motor skills, spatial awareness, and problem-solving abilities.

A classic open-ended toy beloved by kids, and which can be found in countless shapes, styles and sizes.

Alexandra F. said:  All four of my kids have used their stuffed animals in some of their most creative, elaborate and imaginative games over the years. I don't love how they tend to accumulate, but I’ve found there are a select few that get used over and over, so I just do a purge of the others every once in a while. My kids especially love having “moms” and “babies” for their games, and animal toys over any branded characters. Jellycat makes some of the softest, cuddliest stuffed animals I’ve found, but my kids also love the realistic Wild Republic stuffed animals they always seem to sell in zoo gift shops.

Lisa R said:  Every week my daughter attends an under 2 playgroup, and every week this is the hot item that all the babies are eyeing. Sure there are plenty of other push toys available, but you just can't beat having something that looks exactly like the real thing. We had other types of push carts at home, but they tipped over or slid forward too quickly when my daughter was just learning to walk, and then she quickly lost interest once she mastered them. Not so with this shopping cart, which is stable, easy to steer, and offers years of imaginative play.

Erin P. said:  This is a great pretend play toy with lots of fun pieces that may be familiar to your little one from visits to his or her doctor's office! It is so fun to see what they remember and imitate when you return home. This toy has the added benefit of possibly relieving some of the stress and fear that may surround visits to the doctor!

Erin P. said:  Melissa & Doug makes a lot of great costumes which come in handy on many a rainy or snowy day. It is great fun to see just how observant children truly are once they start playing doctor, police officer, fire chief or construction worker. These costumes are great gifts for 4 year olds with a big imagination.