Here is a list of my favourite toys and resources for young children aged 2 to 6, which all promote open-ended play, curiosity, independence and creativity!
Over on my Facebook page recently many readers asked me to put together a list of all my favourite toys and resources for young children. This has been really fun for me to create as I’m passionate about truly good quality, creative and intelligent toys for kids. Having taught with fairly energetic classes of Reception kids for many years, as well as having my own now, I’ve bought, handled and played with a LOT of toys over the past decade and have a good idea of which ones are the best types for creative play. This list either contains products that we own, I have used in the classroom or I have currently on my wish list for my own children.
There are way too many for one post, so I’m starting with a general, go-to supply list for toys, and will follow up with other themed lists soon, including art and sensory products, baby toys and educational materials. I have stated that this collection is suitable from age 2, even though many of the products themselves are recommended from ages 3 and up. My own have been fairly reliable from age 2 and don’t habitually put things in their mouths after this age. Please use your own knowledge of your child
when thinking what to buy.
Construction toys
Natural Wood Tree Blocks
Branch Wood Blocks
Colour Window Blocks
Castle Blocks Play Set
Schleich Toy Animals
Schleich Fairies and Elves
Animal Hand Puppets
Bake and Decorate Wooden Cupcakes
Rainbow Scarves
Melissa and Doug Dressing Up Costumes
Wooden Cakes Set
Wooden Ice Creams and Lollies
Farmyard and Animals
Wooden Kitchen
Rosebud Dolls’ House
Dolls House People
Wooden Train Set
Wooden Pirate Ship
Role Play Toys
Corolle Baby Doll
Wooden Doll’s Pram
Doll’s High Chair
Wooden Tool Kit
Construction Vehicle Set
Games, Puzzles and Beads
Tummy Ache Game
Shopping List
Wooden Peg Puzzles
Farm Floor Puzzle
Latches Board
Snakes and Ladders and Ludo
Sensory and Investigation Toys
Or make your own like our one here!
Water / Sand/ Messy Play Table
Large under-bed storage boxes
Wooden Rainbow Sound Blocks
Mirror Exploratory Box
Safety Mirrors
Musical Instrument Set
Discovery Bottles
Salt dough
Cloud dough
Water Beads
Finger paint
Also see our Top Toys for Babies and Toddlers list here!
[This post contains links to Amazon via my affiliates account. That simply means that if you buy anything after following a link, it will make no difference to you but I may earn enough to buy a cup of coffee, as a tip. Thanks!]
Thanks for the list, it’s really helpful. I’m always after things for my son to play with that offer something more, whether it’s educational, stimulating, creative or just fun. My problem was sifting though endless web pages of toys – so much choice and so little time! Now my only problem is convincing relatives what to buy him when they seem bent on getting ugly plasticky things that will get thrown aside after a few minutes and that we don’t have space for!
Wow, great ideas for Christmas. I love your website, it had re inspired me to be creative with my girls with ideas that work!! I teach English to French children in France, i use your ideas with them too….so much language is used when playing hey?!!
So a big, big thank-you
Fantastic list Anna, everything on there I either have or want! 🙂
What a fab list! I have bookmarked lots of the links as i want to buy them for my daughter. Keep up the fantastic work! 🙂
Fantastic toys- looking forward to your next lists now!:-)
I love the ideas! I am always looking for new ideas for the clinic and we often have parents asking what to get their kids for the holidays or for birthdays. I will definitely share this list! I think games and toys with pieces are a great way to incorporate repetition and imagination in! Thanks again.
Great list Anna. Im glad that I either have most of it or its on Jake’s xmas/bday list. 🙂
What a great list! Pinning this. No wonder people want to come over to your house and play!
Excellent list, I’ve pinned it and ordered the tap-it board from the link. Looking forward to the other lists as well. Thanks!
Absolutely fab list – I just shared it on my Facebook page. 🙂
WONDERFUL list I have been sharing it all day – Do you have any specific recommendations for a wooden kitchen we’re after one for T but there is so much choice
what a great list. my 3 1/2 yr old does still put things in his mouth – and am loving the puppets – he’s really into monkeys too. Thanks for sharing
Super d duper!! What a useful list to have 🙂 We have ordered the mirror blocks – I’ve been looking something like these for ages and was so excited when I saw them here AND even better where to order them! Thank you so much. Looking forward to seeing the other lists now x
what a great list thank you, just a quick question how do you deal with relatives buying for your children? I’m making a wish list on amazon of items I would like my son to have but I don’t think the in laws will pay much attention, all the toys they have for my son at their house are the noisy plastic type which I just don’t want my son playing with. x
Great list but two of the links (wooden cakes and wooden lollies) said 404 not found- and I’d love to pick them out if you have a link!
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This are the perfect toys for the 2-6 year olds kids, as its the age of growing both physically and mentally so this kind of toys allow kids to make there efforts and show there thinking power.
Anything that stimulates the process of discovery and learning will enhance the educational and developmental process of children. Wooden toys of all sorts can fit into this category.
thank you some grate ideas i was going crazy like every 1 else trawing through endless lists and so much chat abought edless nonsense x