Current Favorite Toys for My Toddler and Preschooler

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The easiest way to find a good toy is just to ask another mom. Skip the endless scrolling, skip buying three things that get ignored, and just hear what's actually working in someone else's house. I actually practice this with more than just toy inspiration, but that's a blog for another time.

Since having our third, I'll be honest: I've been easily overwhelmed in our home. The clutter, the noise, the constant needs from multiple little people... it's a lot. So I've been slowly simplifying what we have. And when I say slowly, I mean slowly. Turns out having three kids makes getting anything done take a lot longer. We're aiming for fewer toys and if we're getting new ones, they better work for the crowd. I need toys that both my two and five year old can actually pick up and play with on their own, without me needing to set it all up or sit on the floor running it... and that don't have a million little pieces. That's become my whole criteria right now. It's helping me stay just a hair more sane. Here's what's making the cut:

Wooden Puzzles — The realistic animal pieces are chunky enough for little hands and have held up to some serious toddler enthusiasm. We've had these out for kids ages 1 through 5 and everyone finds their own way to play with them. Simple, beautiful, zero batteries.

Watercolor Set — We've used this in restaurants, on road trips, and sitting in the sun for long afternoons in the backyard. The colors are genuinely vibrant (I may have used them myself more than once), and the non-toxic formula means I'm not panicking when someone inevitably licks a brush. My two year old likes to mix colors and my five year old enjoys drawing and coloring what she finds outside. The three best features about watercolor are that they are washable (yay), they last a long time, and I don't have to spend a million minutes setting them up. Paint, brushes, water and paper - that's all you need!

Dinosaur Color Sorting Sensory Squeeze Toy — Okay this one is just fun. Squishy little dinosaurs in different colors that kids can squeeze, sort, and carry everywhere. It's become our airplane and long car ride essential. Also a really thoughtful pick for kids who seek out sensory input — calm, quiet, endlessly entertaining.

Wooden Peg Dolls — Twelve wooden gnomes in rainbow colors. On paper they're a sorting and counting toy. In practice they become characters, passengers in toy trucks, and apparently very important guests at pretend tea parties. They're hefty and smooth and have that satisfying wooden quality that just feels good to hold. We've had ours out since our youngest was around 12 months and they still get grabbed daily.

Ok friends, that's the current lineup! That's the current lineup! Drop a comment if your little one is obsessed with something we should know about — we're all ears!

xo

Kelsey