Getting started or transitioning to open ended toys can be a daunting and overwhelming task. With so many options and companies to choose from, combined with the price tag, you want to make sure you’re getting your money’s worth and that your kids are going to play with the things you buy.
The nice things about open ended wooden toys is that they grow with your child. My 1 year olds and 6 year old often play with the same toys, the way they play with them is just different. This means that in general, you can start your toy collection with the same basics, regardless of age, making sure to take into consideration the interests of your children.
The other nice thing about wooden toys, is that they tend to retain their value. I often try to buy second hand before purchasing new, however most of these toys sell quickly and at near or almost the cost of retail. This means that if a particular toy really doesn’t get much play or interest from your children, you can sell them and quickly.
I’ve rounded up all of my favorite basics that I would start out with, if I were to do it all again. Remember, too many options overwhelm. You don’t need a lot of toys to occupy kids, you just need to present them in different ways and rotate them periodically. I would recommend having 9-12 toys at most, available to play with if you only have 1 kid. For my family of 5, I try and put out 15 or so options (3-4 toys per kid).
1 | 2 | 3 | 4| 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10
1. Blocks || Building blocks are a main toy for open ended play, and one of the first pieces I would start with. *Update 2023* I’ve since changed my opinion on which set I would start with. If you’re in the market for Blocks, I would 100% recommend you start with a set of Unit Blocks. Everwood Friends has lots of traditional options, as well as blocks with gems, windows, castle accents and more.
2. Grimm’s Rainbow || Our first Grimm’s piece, back before I knew what Grimm’s was. Stack them, use them as tunnels or bridges. Make ball runs or tracks, color sort or build sculptures. There is an endless number of ways to use this rainbow. It also comes in a variety of color options, so make sure to grab that one that speaks to your style.
3. Grimm’s Rainbow House || Stack it into a tower, fit it together like a puzzle, use it as a house for your Nins (more about these later), or a tunnel for cars. There is so much imagination to be had with this stacking toy house, and the fact that there are fewer pieces means it’s a great piece for your littles to learn with.
4. Pebbles || These ones tend to baffle adults, but kids love their simplicity. They are the perfect sizes for little hands that love to carry things around. They are easy to stack, which means they’re great for teaching balance, and they can be used in small world play as things like platforms, ponds, etc. The more sets you have, the more challenging it is to stack them, which is also great for older kids.
5. Stacker || There are so many options here, so you really can’t go wrong. I love to get ones with bigger pieces, because they’re easier for little hands. Stackers are great for hand eye coordination and fine motor skills. Plus the colors are beautiful.
6. Wooden Cars || These cars and their size are a favorite around here. The windows make them easy to grip, and they fit perfectly on the Way to Play track (we’ll get to those in a different post). The colors are bright and fun, and they come in a variety of shapes. Keep them at home or throw them in the diaper bag to occupy during appointments or while waiting for food at a restaurant.
7. Grapat Mates || These cups are perfect for little hands, and my kids love to stack them and put the Nins/Wizards in them. They also use them as cups, and food dishes for animals; and they’ll throw them in the sensory bins when we doing a dry activity (rice, beans, etc). They’re a great tool to teach colors, balance and fine motor skills when paired with the Nins.
8. Grapat Nins or Wizards || These are the people of open ended wooden toys. The kids use them to create stories in the structures that they’ve built and they are the perfect size for smaller hands, but still large enough that they aren’t a choking hazard. The dyes are also non-toxic, so you don’t have to worry about them ending up in mouths. Just like the Mates, they can help teach colors, matching, sorting, and numbers.
*An alternative to Grapat Nins and Mates is Grimm’s Friends in Bowls, same concept, just fewer colors.
9. Grimm’s Stacking Bowls || These bowls are great for stacking, sorting by size, building towers, collecting treasures and so much more. Plus they come in a variety of colors, so pick your favorite (I personally love the Red Outside or Natural).
10. Sarah’s Silks ||It’s a cape, a blanket, a cover for a fort. The options are endless. They are also safe for water play. Give one (or two) to your kids, and watch the endless ways they use them in play. You can also grab play clips, to help secure them better when making forts.
Happy Shopping! Hopefully you’ve found this helpful. I can’t wait to hear what you grabbed!
Make sure you’re following me over on Instagram for a GIVEAWAY later this afternoon!!