Minimalist + Intentional Toy Gift Guide for Toddlers + Young Kids
We are on a journey of more intentionally choosing toys for our kids to play with.
This post shares some of the reasons we are prioritizing a more minimalistic approach to our playroom, my favorite toys to include, and a great place for sourcing toys and baby gear more affordably! 🧸
With the holidays right around the corner, we are trying to be intentional about the toys we have in (and bring into) our home! I wanted to share the less-is-more approach that we are trying to lean into this holiday season— plus what has stood the test of time in our own home.
Plus, my favorite place to intentionally save money (and reduce waste) when purchasing gifts this holiday season.
Why A Minimalistic Approach to Toys is Better.. For Everyone
Every parent knows the never-ending toy struggle—wanting them to be accessible and convenient for your kids to play with, but also trying to keep them somewhat organized and tidy… ish. After being a parent for nearly 5 years, I have learned that the phrase “less is more” is true for so many areas of parenting. (Fewer toys, fewer clothes, less guided play, more opportunity for imagination… but I digress)
As for toys, I can confidently say, when we took a more minimalistic approach to toys, it was better for my kids and me. With fewer, more intentional options, my kids play independetly for so long. I get to watch their imagination and creativity blossom with open-ended toys. We have block cities that come to life for weeks at a time with my 4.5 and 2-year-old.
Instead of fighting over toys, I get to see them play collaboratively (now don’t get me wrong, there are still very much times where they fuss about who has the red block, they are young kids after all).
And fewer toys helps me to have more time playing with my kids, rather than cleaning up after them.
Why We are Prioritizing Quality over Quantity
Over the last couple of years, I have been on a journey of seeing how quality really is worth the investment. Whether it's quality food, clothing, furniture, home goods, or toys, intentionally choosing quality items tend to last longer, require fewer upkeep and repairs, and save me money in the long run (by not needing to replace them as frequently).
I think toys are a special area to choose quality in. My grandma still has dolls that she played with as a child, that now my daughter can now play with. How special to have some keepsake, heirloom toys that can stand the test of time through generations.
Now, oftentimes when you hear “high-quality”, you have an instinctual flinching reaction, thinking that it’s going to be super expensive. And while yes, some of the items on this list may be more expensive, I am intentionally buying my kids fewer toys that they can more intentionally play with for longer. For example, instead of buying a toy that they will developmentally grow out of in 6 months, I want to intentionally purchase a set of higher-quality blocks that both my children can play with for the next 10+ years.
(Plus, I’ve learned some tricks for purchasing great items at a discount— one place is REBEL, an open box discount retailer. I’ll share more about them later in this post if you’re curious how they work!)
Our Favorite Intentional Toys
This toy was so much more of a hit than I could have guessed. The options really are limitless for how they can arrange the pieces to create complex roads and towns. My husband and I both agree that it’s our favorite toy to play with our kids!
Montessori Arch
We did not get this until my daughter was 4 and my son was 2 and I so wish we had it for them when they were younger. They are constantly climbing on it, flipping it over to rock in, or using it as a chair while we read books together. It is also often used as a fort with a blanket thrown over the top.
I love the versatility and longevity through different developmental seasons.
Double-sided Roadway System
Okay, this is THE TOY of probably the last year in my house. My kids use the versatile pieces to construct huge towns. Play cars cruise on the “streets”, or they use animals to follow the path. They build up houses and buildings to create little shops. And the best part is this is one of my favorite things to get involved in, playing with them.
This is also a fan-fave for my husband, who is an engineer.
Maileg Dollhouse Set
I’m new to the Maileg scene— and I am already obsessed! Not only are they the most precious little mouse characters, but they are also often crafted with sophistication and quality. This allows my 4-year-old to play with them now, but also continue to play with them as she gets older (since they aren’t “baby-ish”).
My husband and I plan to intentionally purchase 1-2 items to build her collection over the years. We love Hazel and Fawn for the cutest mice and accessories!
Wooden Building Blocks
These are a childhood classic, and developmentally such a great addition to your playroom! When your kiddos are in the tummy-time phase, they are great to lay out for them to reach for. As they grow, they help develop fine motor skills and spatial reasoning. My kids play with their set of wooden blocks every single day. They are used to build houses, roads, beds for their animals, rocketships, and sometimes they are projectiles as my son tries to knock other toys over 😅
Animal Figurines
Realistic figurines (not cartoonish) encourage imaginative storytelling and can be paired with sensory play like rice bins or sand trays.
We constantly have random animals floating all over our house (and car, and bags… pretty much everywhere at this point haha)
After nearly 5 years of parenting, these are our most favorite animal toys, despite being a little bit more expensive. Unlike most animal figurines, these are actually proportional to one another in size. That means your elephant is bigger than the horse, which is bigger than the duck.
While that may seem like a minor detail, it helps little ones perceive size and relativity. You can also support this by having them order them from small to large, or asking which one is bigger.
Magnetic Tiles
Another open-ended toy that gets played with every day in our home! Also, I had no idea how many fun, creative ideas there were to use these. I’ve been inspired multiple times on Pinterest :) But we pop them on our fridge, use flashlights to make the tiles “glow”, or use them as “tangrams”. We love the versatility of this set (that’s a lot more affordable than the name-brand option).
Wooden Play Food
This is not something we always have out in our toy rotation, but I still consider it a great option to have. Whenever I do pull them out, my kids love cooking and serving their different creations to us. We have had this set for the last 3 years, and it’s held up great!
We love love love the pillow that comes with this Montessori Arch— it allows you to flip it over and it becomes a fun rocking chair. I would say this is how my kids use it 90% of the time. Not to mention I love this gender-neutral print!
My Favorite Place to Purchase Toys and Kid Gear
A few months ago, REBEL reached out to me with an opportunity to work together. They sent me a Montessori Arch and Wooden road set that has been on my wish list for my kiddos for quite a while. I always tell companies that I need to be personally familiar with their brand for a minimum of 30 days before I decide whether a company is a good fit to share.
After seeing how their customer service, delivery, and online selection were all up to standard, I am so excited to share this resource for families! As someone who is intentionally trying to choose healthier, high-quality items to bring into our home, I know first-hand how expensive some of these items can be…
Rebel helps to save money for the consumer and also reduces waste by finding the right home for these pre-opened items (instead of opened packages ending up in landfills). You can find top brands at up to 70% off retail prices, which makes a huge difference when trying to honor your family’s budget.
You can save $15 off your order of $100+ with code WELLNESS-15 ✨ You can also shop their gift guide here and see all their current discounts!
latest on the blog…
What if I told you that fewer toys would help your kids to play longer? This post shares my favorite intentional toys to include in our playroom for endless play.