What would you give to have a childhood do-over? You could go back to being that playing-outside, macaroni-cheese-loving, not-a-care-in-the-world youngster instead of the grinding-it-out-until-five, eating-fast-food-in-your-car, can’t-get-enough sleep adult that you most likely are. Childhood was awesome for the most part, wasn’t it? No responsibilities, very few rules outside of “brush your teeth” and “make your bed” and all the playtime and game time you could handle.
This list is all fun and games; no, really, it’s packed full of fun ideas and games that both kids (and kids at heart) will enjoy. Tiny trampolines, make-believe items, outdoor fun, and playsets for everyone from the budding veterinarian to the ice cream lover. Blocks, beads, and barns — oh my! Whether you have a toddler on your hands or a rambunctious pre-teen who needs to blow off some steam, this list is sure to please. And, of course, there are a few options in here for the kid in all of us, even after we’ve earned the title of “grown-up.”
Sit On My Lap
Not all of us can handle constant stimulation, despite living in a world that praises it continually. Some of us need to stay calm and relaxed by dampening the noises of the world around us. This weighted lap pad is great for kids with sensory issues or those who have trouble focusing. Soft on both sides with evenly-distributed glass beads inside, it’s the perfect foundation for studying, napping, or traveling in the car.
A Tot’s Travel Tray
Speaking of traveling, how many “Are we there yets?” can you tolerate before you want to boot a little one out of the backseat? (Metaphorically speaking, of course.) This travel tray was built to satisfy your tiny travelers with a no-drop tablet/iPad stand with a touch-sensitive covering that protects against spills; a dry erase board, mesh storage pockets, and a cup holder. The collapsible design works in cars, planes, or trains and folds away for easy storage.
Have A Seat
Kids spend a lot of time on bicycles … or, at least they used to. This premium gel seat cushion cover goes over a bike’s existing seat to provide a more comfortable ride — whether it’s across town or down the street. It features a non-slip underside that’ll stay in place and works only on kid-sized bikes so your husband cannot have a pink bike seat cover no matter how much he wants one.
Jump Around
What do you do when the weather’s bad and you have kids inside who need to blow off steam? You snag them this portable trampoline that comes equipped with a safety pad and a handle for stability. The 36-inch diameter here is perfect for toddlers and young children and don’t fret about set-up — it’s as simple as lining up the holes and inserting the screws.
A Vet Set
Do you have an animal lover in your house? Maybe you’ve already heard them professing, “I want to be a pet doctor when I grow up.” Now, they get a head start with this pretend pet hospital playset. It includes a plush toy kitty, two double-sided x-rays, a pair of tweezers, pill bottle, stethoscope, thermometer, syringe, and scale. This set is made of wood so it’ll last a good while.
Mental Block
Wooden blocks have stood the test of time and kids still keep coming around to play with them. Honestly, what’s better for their imagination than crafting something from nothing? This set includes 100 real wood blocks in seven colors and 14 shapes. You’ll get both a carrying bag and a tub for convenient storage and moving things from one room to another.
We All Scream For Ice Cream
I don’t know about you but to me, this looks like the perfect summer “lemonade stand” idea … just in ice cream cart form. This wooden playset boasts more than 30 ice cream pieces and an ice cream scooper to match this darling cart that they can “scoop” from and serve after dinner or even for breakfast. This begs the question: Are you a popsicle person or a cone person?
Blast Off
I’ve never known a little kid who didn’t have some kind of amazement at outer space or aspiration to be an astronaut. This wooden space rocket is a small glimpse into the celestial while also serving as a magnetic stacker that hones their development to build and imagine. A surprise astronaut is hidden inside to greet your little spaceman (or spacewoman).
A Mini Maze
A child’s brain does a lot of developing infancy and toddlerhood. (I don’t think that’s a word but whatevs.) This wooden bead maze is great for their development by nurturing hand-eye coordination and helping to differentiate between shapes and colors. This one is done in a playful nature theme that’s great for helping to craft creative stories that your little ones will love.
Future Farmers
If you think you might have a budding entrepreneur on your hands, this wooden farmers market stand is a great way for them to try their hand at running a business — a veggie business, that is. This set includes the farmers market stand, 25 fruits, and vegetables, fruit jams, a cash register, chalkboard for recording specials, and a shopping bag for their very own customers.
Bake My Day
Let’s keep the pretend play going because, frankly, I think it’s something we’re lacking a lot of these days. This wooden bakery playset will be a treat where they can (fake) bake some treats and then sell them to hungry customers. The stand includes a 25-piece set with play food, a chalkboard, a cash register, and trays as if you own your very own bakery.
These Creepy Crawlers Have Never Tasted So Good
The only bugs I want on my plate are these creepy waffle crawlers. The waffle pan is nonstick so you don’t have to worry about a messy clean-up. Your kids will love getting to play with their food and eat it too! It’s also available in mermaid, fairy, and poop emoji shapes – perfect for themed birthday parties.
Grill Master
Boy, meet grill. Girl, meet grill. This cook ‘n’ grill wood toy BBQ set is poised to help the next generation of chefs and grillmasters get an early start on preparing meals over an open flame. Except, there’s no open flame here and the meals are wooden burgers, steaks, and corn on the cob. Clicking knobs give the feeling of an actual grill and included skewers mean they can create endless food combinations.
Hatch A Plan
Stacking and sorting is the name of this game, thanks to this four-pack of stacking and sorting toys, which would also be perfect for Easter baskets. A 16-piece stacking and sorting set includes four different animals (chicken, duck, owl, and bluejay) in four different colors — blue, orange, yellow, and brown. Mix and match animals with this fully interchangeable system.
Nothing But Net Swing
I would have given my left arm to have this tree net swing when I was a kid but alas, I’ll have to live vicariously through your little ones. Sturdy enough to hold two children (or up to 220 pounds) at a time, this swing features a steel frame with foam safety padding and a rope seat that can be used indoors or out.
This Adorable Boba Blow Up Pool
This set comes with a blow-up pool and is accompanied by little floating “boba” beach balls and a blow-up straw. This is an adorable addition to your backyard and a great way to cool off in the hot months of the year.
These Giant Puppy Pancakes Will Brighten Up Your Day
Whoever said you shouldn’t play with your food has clearly never had this puppy pancake pan. This set includes 6 edible food markers for your kids to express their creativity and get to eat it too! The pan is nonstick so you don’t have to worry about a messy clean-up. It’s also available in a dinosaur, unicorn, and smiley face shape.
It’s Never Too Soon To Play Doctor
Has your little one expressed interest in helping others? This get well doctor activity center is perfect for those interests to be explored. It’s a 16-piece play-set that has everything they will need to practice with, including fake X-ray screens, a blood pressure cuff, a stethoscope, etc.
Double-Duty Desk
There are so many great uses for this wooden desk and chair set including coloring and crafting when desk-style. When you remove the knobs on the side, the desk and chair convert to a bench with a hidden storage compartment underneath. One reviewer said: “It is very spacious and I love the two different ways my child can sit and enjoy her time either coloring/writing, sitting down reading a book or simply sitting next to it playing with her toys.”
Garden Party
Anyone who knows me will tell you that I have virtually no green thumb at all. I don’t know how it’s possible with both a mother and grandmother who can coax plants to behave simply by whispering to them. Maybe it’s because I never had a wooden toy gardening center like this one. It comes complete with flower pots, seed packets, watering pot, shovel, hand rake, apron, and interchangeable flower heads, leaves, and stems.
Handy Helper
If you have a kitchen helper on your hands, you’ll save you and them a lot of aggravation, messes, and tears with this wooden kitchen tower step stool. Completely foldable to get it out of your way when it’s not needed, this stand has three adjustable heights, a safety rail and treads, and kitchen knob protectors. The plexiglass addition creates a safe space for doodling.
Scope Things Out
Ahoy, me hearties! Have I got a cool one for you here! This pirate ship telescope is the perfect addition to playhouses, playsets, and swing sets and can be mounted anywhere so your little swashbuckler knows when to batten down the hatches. Weather-resistant and able to tilt and rotate 360 degrees, your kids will be all “Hang ’em from the yardarm,” and you’ll be all, “What did you say to me?”
Tent Talk
Did you ever make a tent fort in your living room as a kid? You know, stringing blankets everywhere to create a series of rooms and tunnels? This canvas teepee takes tent play to a whole new level with durable 100 percent cotton canvas fabric and pine wood poles that extend the frame to five feet tall. It’s plenty easy to construct and dismantle, too.
Stacks On Stacks
This giant tumbling stack game is like Jenga on steroids. Composed of a 60-piece jumbo set with a heavy-duty carrying bag, this is one game you might take away from the kids after they’ve gone to bed. Made from solid wood, these pieces (if stacked properly) can eventually grow to stand almost five feet tall. Take it to game night, holiday gatherings, parties, and tailgating.
Give Me A Ring
This fun ring toss game includes three sets of rings, a wooden peg base, and a carrying bag. To play, simply toss the rings (rope and plastic) over one of the pegs and then calculate your score accordingly. It’s easy to play for everyone from ages five to 95.
Swing Low
What’s better than a tree swing? How about a tree swing that doubles as a place to balance and climb? This particular swing does all three, giving little ones the option to swing like normal, swing standing up, or even climb the rope to test their agility. It holds up to 120 pounds and comes with platforms, a carabiner, and a four-foot tree strap.
Have A Ball
Who wants to play with a boring old soccer ball when you can play with this hover soccer ball with LED lights? Battery-operated, this ball comes in a flat shape for smooth surfaces inside or out and has soft foam bumpers to prevent damage to your walls and furniture. The LED lights glow in the dark, adding extra fun to indoor play.
Purse Strings
When you leave your house, you seldom forget your purse. Now, your purse-obsessed kiddo can join you in searching for their own handbag before they get in this car. This purse toy has the look of the real deal with makeup, keys, and a smartphone, without the expense or aggravation. This eight-piece set is ideal for kids ages two to three years old.
Live By The Sword
Pirates, ninjas, and knights, take heed! This foam sword multipack will have them ready to vanquish foes and take their place at the “round table.” Made of foam that’s sturdy enough for play but soft enough to ensure safety, these swords come with both red and blue handles for team “fights.” These would be a great choice for themed birthday parties as well.
Did It Register?
I’ve always had a fascination with cash registers, from childhood through, oh, about the time I sat down to write this. This pretend-play cash register is great for teaching your kids about money, number calculation, and credit cards all while playing and having fun in their play pretend world. This set includes the cash register (of course), play money, credit cards, and pretend food basket.
Magic Trick
Kids are obsessed with magic; heck, adults are obsessed with magic. This magic kit includes a kid-sized costume (sorry, dad) and a deluxe set that includes a full array of tricks, from simple to advanced. You’ll get a deck of playing cards, a color-changing scarf, a magic coloring book, cups and balls, a magic silver coin, and a magic wand (of course).
Make Tracks
All you need is a set of cars and this road traffic playmat rug for hours of fun. This rug is an extra-large 79 inches by 40 inches, which provides plenty of room for play for more than one kiddo. The non-slip backing keeps things from sliding around on the floor and kids will note various areas of interest including a hospital, restaurant, and police station.
Clean Up
Barney may have popularized the song lyrics, “Clean up, clean up, everybody do your share,” but you can get your kids used to cleaning with this pretend-play housekeeping set. Just think how much less you’ll have to train your teenagers to do if you start early! This set includes a functional water bucket, cleaning agent bottles, broom, mop, duster, “Caution Wet Floor” sign, brush, and dustpan.
Farm Hands
Apart from the durability of wooden toys, I appreciate plush toys the most. They’re soft, they’re quiet, and did I mention they’re quiet? This plush farmhouse is a self-contained playset that includes four plush horses, a farmhand, and a horse barn that can be used for storage. The handle on the top is a great carrying hook for toting here and there.
Boots On The Ground
Little kids are fascinated by the military, aren’t they? Most little kids I’ve known have gone through some stage of “army guys.” This military camp and action figure playset is an upgrade from those plastic army guys and is complete with a uniform, rifle, bunk bed, locker closet, backpack, helmet, guitar, weights, hangers, clothes, slippers, and personal belongings. The fully poseable action figure can stand alone with 30 articulated joint points.
For All The Marbles
Your kids are probably responsible for you having lost most of your own marbles at this point so get them their own with this marble run superset, which includes 85 complete see-through pieces in 19 distinct styles. Eight solid bases including three large bases ensure maximum stability. Your purchase includes access to an instruction app with step-by-step guides, fun challenges, and other content.
Snow Way
You probably call your daughter your “little princess,” but she can get a taste of the princess life with this “Frozen”-esque snow princess cape. Available in sizes that’ll fit kids ages three to eight, this cape has no zippers, buttons, or hooks so they can easily slide it on and off without help. They can dress up as a fairy princess, an ice queen, or even a bougie Cookie Monster.
Sew Much Fun
Sewing is one of those things I wish I had learned to do at a young age. While I’m picking up some skills, it’ll never be Project Runway worthy. This sewing kit for kids has three theme options including sweets, owls, and unicorns, and includes an easy-to-follow stencil, multiple colorful and patterned fabrics, multicolored threads, scissors, and beautiful decorations. The carrying case makes it simple to transport anywhere.
Splish Splash, Taking A Bath
Bathtime is one of the best playtimes for kids if you ask me. You don’t have to worry about them making a mess or getting dirty. This baby bath toy has a water lab theme in an activity center that attaches to the tub and generates a double chain reaction of surprising water effects. Make the eyes roll or water stream from the mouth for less than $18.
Oh, Baby!
There’s no time like childhood to get kids to understand just how much crap babies require and this 33-piece baby care playset is a perfect illustration. With feeding bottles, bibs, sippy cups, plates and cutlery, a potty, brushes, and more, your tiny nurturer will enjoy feeding, clothing, changing, and, ahem, potty training their own baby. A clear zippered case makes storage a breeze.
Popsicle Floats
Summer is coming, which means it’s the perfect time to grab some of the cutest pool floats on the market. This one, shaped like a popsicle, will help you look cool while keeping cool — without the sticky hands. This product link will also give you alternative options as well, including a banana, a pineapple, a swan, and one pretty cool-looking wheel.