My last post was all about Pretend Play and why it is so critical to healthy childhood development! In light of that post, I wanted to follow up with a open-ended toy gift guide! This guide will consist of small shop and box store ideas to appeal to all!

An open-ended plaything can be simply defined as a toy that has no “rules” and that is able to be played with in different ways – it should support a child’s imagination, not replace it. (How to Cultivate Pretend Play.)

The beauty of these kinds of toys is that they can be used in countless ways and in countless play scenerios. Open-ended playthings truly are the best “bang-for-your-buck!” As a small shop toy maker, I can say that many of us are committed to continue crafting toys that help our kids as they grow and develop. This is the beauty of shopping small and handmade!

And just a FYI, a lot of these ideas grow with the child so consider the age ranges below to be suggestions. But always be sure to reference the precise age range before purchasing for safety reasons.* 

**Some blog posts may include affiliate links to products that I love and trust (or links to similar items.) I may earn a small commission off of these links, but this does not affect the cost for you.**

Without further ado…

Babies

1. Small Shop: Opal and Fig
2. Small Shop: Lewie and Berg Plush Crochet Toys
3. Small Shop: Borrowing Color Baby-Friendly Plush Playthings
4. Amazon: Wooden Stacking Stones
5. Amazon: Soft Baby Dolls Set
6. Amazon: Rainbow Wooden Semispheres

Toddlers

1. Small Shop: Feeding Pickle Activity Mats
2. Small Shop: The Della Rose Boutique Wands
3. Small Shop: Behold by Borrowing Color Play Silks
4. Amazon: Waldorf Wooden Rocking Play
5. Amazon: Wooden Animal Toy Trio
6. Amazon: Loose Parts Play Set
7. Amazon: Toddler Block Playset

Preschoolers

1. Small Shop: Little Lu Beginnings Peg Dolls
2. Small Shop: Urban Farm Dolls
3. Small Shop: Borrowing Color Naturally-Dyed Plush Playthings(Releases November 21st at 8pm EST) 
4. Amazon: Wooden Building Block Set
5. Amazon: Nature Inspired Montessori Balancing and Stacking Blocks
6. Amazon: Magna-Tiles
7. Amazon: Climbing Cube and Tunnel

School Age

1. Small Shop: Kinland Co. Newborn-size Dolls
2. Small Shop: Wildernaut Shop Animal Bonnets/Tails
3. Amazon: LEGO Classic Large Creative Brick Box
4. Amazon: Wooden Castle Dollhouse
5. Amazon: Wooden Tool Toys + Pretend Play Toolbox 

I hope that this guide was helpful to you as you currate a play space in your home that encourages open-ended play!

It is important to me to support make-believe and independent play as much as possible, and I know it’s important to you too! Because of that, I always ensure that the plush playthings that I offer foster open-ended play scenarios that allow children to practice their social skills! That is the beauty of a 100% natural, non-plastic, non-battery operated toy.

Which Plaything is perfect for you?

Take the quiz below to find out!

Plush Plaything Quiz

Did you find this post about play helpful? You might want to take a look at my last post: How to Cultivate Pretend Play at Home (And why you want to!)

Well Friends, 

I hope that these ideas have helped you as you currate the playspaces within your home. If you want to find more inspo, follow me on Pinterest (I’ve been obsessed with pinning things lately!) and then join my group board Cultivating Creativity to share some of your ideas!

xo Alex

PS – I have learned so much from a Scholastic article that inspired these posts. Please check it out here!