33 Open Ended Toys Kids Will Play with for Years

Kelly R said:  This open-ended toy set includes a cutting board, knife, and veggies that can be sliced and reassembled over and over again. My kids loved this at age 2 and it still gets played with a few years later. Great for developing fine motor skills.

This popular line of construction toys for kids includes colorful gears, axles, bases, and other building elements that can be combined to create a variety of moving machines and structures. They make excellent STEM toys for toddlers.

Erin P. said:  2-year-olds love to mimic what they see their grown-ups doing, and while I wish that I could say that my two-year old witnessed me using my grown-up versions of these a bit more often for household chores, these toys are a hit with her and with her older brother! ;)

Tracy Snyder Molina said:  When my boys were younger, our train table was the highlight of their playroom. One of the best things about the table is it keeps all the tracks and accessories off your floor and higher up at the kids' eye level. This train table comes with 120 colorful pieces that are also compatible with Thomas & Friends and Brio wooden train sets. Here's an extra tip: as your kids get older you can convert the table into a LEGO table. There are lots of how-to videos available online about how to make one!

A beautiful and creative wooden toy that encourages open-ended play. The colorful arches can be stacked, nested, or used to create tunnels, bridges, and imaginative structures.

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. :)

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:  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!