Open Ended Toys That Promote Creativity & Problem Solving

Toys aren’t just for having fun! Great open ended toys help teach creative thinking and problem solving. What does open ended mean? It basically means that they don’t come with instructions and that kids can decide how to play with them. Here are some of our favorite open ended toys for all ages!

All Ages:

Magna-Tiles Clear Colors (100 piece set) $120

Learning Resources Gears! $29.95 $26.99

Reusable Sticker Pads (Available in tons of themes! These are great for the car too!) $4.99

Dress Up Costumes – price varies

Pattern Blocks – $19.99 $16.43

Pretend Kitchen – $79.99 $77.56

Play Tent – price varies on tent – This one has a puppet theater! I also really love the space station one! 🙂

Train Set – varies – this 100 piece set is $46.99

Doll house – varies – This house is $149.99 $111.57

Make Your Own Monster Puppet – $24.99 $19.78

Bicyle – varies (Did you know that as soon as your child can walk they can ride a Strider bicycle? They are super cool!)

Don’t forget art supplies! Paints, clay, craft kits, chalk, crayons and lots of paper! 🙂

Five and Under:

Mega Bloks First Builders Big Building Bag (80 piece set) $24.99 $14.99

Tobbles $28.95

Wooden Bear Family – $14.99 $13.46

MixMates (This is the Monsters+Superheroes set – they have many to choose from!) $14.95

Magical Tea Set – $17.99

Pretend Food – Price Varies – My favorites are by Melissa & Doug!

Five and Older:

K’nex Classics 50 Model Building Set $34.99 $26.99

ZOOBMOBILE Fastback H2H – The Head 2 Head Racing Challenge $29.99 $18.49

Draw & Write Journal $8.97 (This would be good for younger children too for an adult to ‘scribe’!)

Melissa & Doug Deluxe Magic Set $34.99 $26.99

Fashion Design Activity Kit $16.99 $11.94

ZAC – The Zoob Alien Creature $39.99 $26.32

Would You Rather or You’ve Gotta Be Kidding! $9.99

Does your child have a favorite open ended toy?