The Beauty of Open-Ended Toys (and the brands we love)

Open-ended playtime and the safe toys that facilitate that are such a joy to have around. The only noises they produce are generated from the child’s imagination.

We were clued in to this method of entertaining littles really early on, so we never bought the electronic toys that make such a racket (though they have their place on occasion). This has both saved some money as well as sanity.

We have also noted that these open-ended toys are of interest for much longer than the age bracket lists. Some of our favorites are from Hape (“ha-pay”), PlanToys, Green Toys, and Lego Duplo. We always opt for brands with excellent safety standards to be non toxic (yes, that is unfortunately something one needs to intentionally look for in a toy brand).

Rather than iPad apps, we opt for Super Simple Learning on YouTube. The content often fuels the open ended play narrative. Most of their content (especially all things Caitie’s Classroom), has a low-key vibe and is uber educational; all while being delightful and engaging.

Things are a bit different now in the world. Incorporating more of this kind of playtime and content can freshen up imagination as well as a routine!