Kids’ Toys and Games You’ll Keep Around for Years

Looking to change it up from your regular Play-Doh? Playfoam is a fun alternative that can be squished and shaped pretty much forever without drying out. It’s designed for ages 3+, but sure to draw in siblings of all ages for some sensory fun. ({{dynamicPrice}}, Amazon)

The classic Stomp Rocket will always be one of our favorite outdoor toys. But we’re also into this plane-themed version, which comes with three airplanes that do different tricks like loops, flips, and turns. It’s sure to be a summer playdate staple. ($27.95, Fat Brain Toys)

This play food set will fascinate the youngest in your household, and help you teach both colors and the names of different types of produce. Once they’ve graduated beyond the stage where putting all the red fruits into a bin is entertaining, you can use these toys to stock their play kitchen for years to come. ({{dynamicPrice}}, Amazon)

Both beautiful and fun to play with, this colorful set of blocks for ages 1+ has 70 wooden pieces in 18 different shapes. The included wooden storage box can even be used as a pull car, if you add wheels from the block collection. ($90, Lovevery)

Magna-Tiles aren’t cheap, and to build the most intricate creations, you’ll need a fairly large collection. But they’re absolutely worth the investment, because they’re well-made and will stand up to endless crash-testing (accidental or otherwise). With the various expansion sets that are available, you can make anything from cars and construction vehicles to a dino paradise. ({{dynamicPrice}}, Amazon)

These large, detailed toy dinos are perfect for the wannabe paleontologist in your life. A set includes five dinos—a Raptor, T. rex, Brachiosaurus, Stegosaurus, and Triceratops—and the plastic material is even dishwasher-safe, in case playtime gets super messy. If dinosaurs aren’t your kid’s thing, there are similar sets for forest animals, jungle animals, and more. ({{dynamicPrice}}, Amazon)

Duplos are the larger Legos for younger kids—but in our experience anyway, older kids still like playing with them. This basic set for ages 18m+, which comes in its own storage box, is a good place to start. Then, depending on your kids’ interests, you can basically expand forever. ({{dynamicPrice}}, Amazon)

Our love for kinetic sand knows no bounds. It scratches the sensory-play itch, is surprisingly easy to clean up, and best of all, stays usable for years if you find a good bin to store it in. Grab a set like this one with some fun tools, then top up your sand collection with whichever colors your kids prefer. ({{dynamicPrice}}, Amazon)

If you already have Legos and Magna-Tiles, add this set of maple house-building blocks to your collection. They’ve been around for more than a century and are made in the USA—and this particular set comes in a collectible tin perfect for storage. ({{dynamicPrice}}, Amazon)

It’s not as flashy as a tablet or smartphone, but for plenty of parents, that’s the whole point. Introduce your kids to the joys of an old-fashioned View Master—now with 3D image reels. It comes with three sets of images (dino-, ocean-, and safari-themed), plus a storage case and fun facts about the pictures on each reel. ($20.95, Fat Brain Toys)

Help your kids master the unique form of art that is Etch A Sketch drawing—with two knobs that help create lines across the screen. And then teach them the joy of letting go, when you shake the tablet together and the whole drawing disappears. ({{dynamicPrice}}, Amazon)

Another old-school classic for some completely offline fun. This set includes a loop string and a book with instructions on how to create five designs, like “cat’s cradle” and a witch’s broom. Since the string itself takes up virtually no space, it’s also a perfect travel toy. ($12.95, Fat Brain Toys)

Cha-ching! There’s just something so satisfying about the coins and buttons on this old-fashioned cash register toy. You can teach simple addition and subtraction, but also just have a ball ringing up pretend purchases all day long. ({{dynamicPrice}}, Amazon)