These Toys Will Last Your Kids At Least A Year

We all want a ton of activities to keep our kids busy, so we often fill their rooms with a wide range of toys, but that isn’t necessarily the best approach. Children don’t actually need that much (toy rotation is a great tactic to try to maximize use) and while there are no guarantees – a toy one child may love, may not appeal in the least to another – it’s often better to be strategic and focus on quality rather than quantity.

Toys that encourage discovery of skills through hands-on tactile play and ones that encourage imagination are important. Besides quality in design, quality in material is also important to bear in mind. Better toys not only last longer – in terms of passing down from one child to another but also, usually, in terms of how long a child will be entertained by them. Try to have a few toys made from natural materials in your mix (think wood) as they’re the healthiest, safest and often best for encouraging imaginative play.

Here’s a look at beautifully made toys that provide fun and educational value, plus entertainment for at least 12 months. They suit a variety of age ranges.

More Ways to Keep Kids Busy:

These Toys Will Last You At Least A Year

Coco Village

Coco Village is one of the BEST places to shop for toys. Everything is beautifully made and sustainably designed. You don't need to worry about noxious chemicals lurking in anything they sell and all of their toys provide educational value for very long periods of time. Their Learning Tower, for example, is amazing for getting kids involved in the kitchen. Children are always more excited to eat food when they've helped prepare it.
Kiko+ & gg*

You'll want everything Kiko+ & gg* make if you click over to their website. The brand makes thoughtfully designed toys that will last for years. The one pictured, for example, could entertain a 4 year old just as well as a 7 year old.
Tiny Love

Tiny Love makes seemingly endless toys that last 12+ months. What's best about them is they highlight specifically how their toys can be adapted for different age ranges. This one, for example, goes from baby to walking toddler.
The Dough Project

The Dough Project was started by a preschool teacher after finding that play dough was a classroom hack. All the brand's doughs are made with simple, all-natural ingredients and are fun for pretty much any age (even adults often find smushing it relaxing). You can buy them as individual jars or by themed "projects."
Skip Hop

Children love music. Instead of letting them passively listen to it (though that's important, too), encourage them to be an active participant with picks like this Skip Hop Farmstand Rattle Melon Drum that works beautifully as of six months.
Totter and Tumble

Totter + Tumble is a mom-founded brand specializing in design-led playmats. These work great for newborns through crawling and beyond. They're actually nice enough to use as a carpet! They're non-toxic, antibacterial - you just need to wipe down with a gentle cleaning solution and cloth - and they have specially designed cushioning to encourage exploration.
Plus Plus USA

Made in Denmark with non-toxic material this building set from Plus Plus USA works for ages 5 to 12.
iPlay, iLearn Bouncy Pals Yellow Hopping Hors

Kids from 18 months through age 5 will love bouncing around on this plush toy from iPlay, iLearn (it comes in a few iterations).
Magna-Tile

Children as young as 3 can safely play with these tiles, and older kids will continue to be stimulated by them as they work to build 2D and 3D shapes (the tiles connect easily with magnets). The tiles are designed to teach math skills, problem solving, etc.
Doodle Hog Dot Markers

These markers are ergonomically designed to fit little fingers. They use non-toxic, washable ink and the caps are vented for safety - they have holes in them to help avoid suffocation in case they are accidentally swallowed.
HABA

Designed for ages 2 to 8, kids will love watching the ball of fire roll and roll and roll at "top speed" around this beautifully designed track. Older kids will have fun - and be challenged - building it.
Yellow Scope Science Kits

These science kits for kids come with high-quality equipment such as beakers, test tubes, lab notebooks, lab goggles, etc. and enough materials for hundreds of experiments that keep kids learning and engaged.
Schleich

Made for ages 3 to 8, this set is beautifully crafted and versatile to make for years of imaginative play.
Slumberkins

Adorable Slumberkins are recommended for ages 0-8. The snugglers (lay flat, like a lovey, ideal for infants and toddlers), are great for ages 0-3. The Kins are more like a traditional 'stuffie' and recommended for ages 3-8 when kids really get into imaginative play and want a friend they can physically manipulate.
Red & Olive Co

Red & Olive Co is a fair trade doll brand that hand-knits all of their designs (recommended for ages 1-10). Every detail from whiskers to shoelaces are handmade!