10 toys kids will love (as much as you do)
Classic toys are that way for a reason — they’ve entertained countless children over countless hours and often over many generations. Toys like wooden blocks and little red wagons have stood the test of time because they engage children’s minds, bodies and imaginations in ways no newfangled gadget or gizmo can.
If you want to give a gift that’s guaranteed not to be cast aside before school starts back up again after the holiday break, consider one of these for the little ones on your list. And lots of them are majorly on sale!
We’ve chosen toys that can be enjoyed by a group of children of a variety of ages, because the real gift happens when all the kids play peacefully together!
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Radio Flyer Classic Red Wagon —ON SALE
The Radio Flyer Classic Red Wagon is the stuff of toy legend. Built to last and with an extra-long handle that folds down for easy storage, it’s a symbol of childhood that invites endless possibilities. Use it to cart anything, anywhere — from dolls to balls to plants to children!
Shop it: Radio Flyer Classic Red Wagon, $119), walmart.com
Every playroom should play host to a collection of board games — and there are a few iconic boxes that deserve their spots on the shelf. You won’t be Sorry when you blast past your opponents — and send them back to home base — as you move your pawns around the board in this old-school edition of the beloved game. And when you’re done, you can continue the game night fun with other classic games such as Candy Land, Chutes and Ladders, and Monopoly.
Shop it: Classic Sorry!, $18, walmart.com
It’s so satisfying to make — and eat! — your own sweet treats. With their bright fruity colors, refreshing taste, and ice you can shave and scoop yourself, snow cones are the ultimate kid pleaser. Children of the ’80s will remember the archetypal Snoopy Sno-Cone Machine as a summertime staple. Now’s the chance to take a trip down memory lane with the whole family, thanks to a retro version updated to be more stable and even easier to use than the original.
Shop it: Snoopy Sno-Cone Machine, $13, walmart.com
Lincoln Logs 100th Anniversary Tin—ON SALE
Invented a century ago by architect and toy inventor John Lloyd Wright (son of architect Frank Lloyd), these notched miniature logs can be stocked to build small forts, buildings and houses for action figures. The 100th Anniversary Tin of this nostalgic toy features over 100 pieces — enough to stand on its own or complement an existing set.
Shop it: Lincoln Logs 100th Anniversary Tin, $25 (was $45), walmart.com
Melissa & Doug Toy Shopping Cart With Sturdy Metal Frame
Whether they’re pretending to go food shopping or just collecting toys and trinkets from around the house, kids love filling up and emptying toy shopping carts. This version from Melissa & Doug looks like the real thing and is just as sturdy; it even comes with a seat for a favorite doll or stuffed animal. Best of all, when it’s not in use, this toy shopping cart can store play food or other playroom toys.
Shop it: Melissa & Doug Toy Shopping Cart With Sturdy Metal Frame, $53, target.com
Magna-Tiles 32 Piece Clear Colors Set
Compared to the other toys on this list, Magna-Tiles are newbies; they’ve only been around for 21 years! But what Magna-Tiles lack in longevity they make up for in sheer brilliance. These flat plastic shapes with magnetic edges are easy to stack and form into patterns and 3-D shapes. The more you practice, the more intricate your structures can become. This 32-piece set is plenty to kick off a Magna-Tiles collection or add to an existing stash. If you really want to splurge, you can go for the pricier 100-piece set.
Shop it: Magna-Tiles 32 Piece Clear Colors Set, $50, walmart.com
KidKraft Uptown Espresso Kitchen
There’s no telling how much fun kids can cook up with a play kitchen in their midst. Whether they’re prepping family meals just like grown-ups or playing restaurant, they’ll engage in all sorts of healthy and delicious pretend play that they’ll never fill up on. Made by KidKraft, this top-selling Uptown Espresso Kitchen has a chic look adults will envy and realistic features like a pretend ice machine, loads of doors to open and close, a paper towel holder, a cordless phone, and a chalkboard surface on the freezer door.
Shop it: KidKraft Uptown Espresso Kitchen, $119 (was $170), amazon.com
Melissa & Doug Standard Unit Solid-Wood Building Blocks With Wooden Storage Tray
There’s a reason you’ll find a set of wooden building blocks in every preschool classroom: These simple construction toys are powerful learning tools. They help develop motor skills, hand-eye coordination, spatial reasoning, and creative thinking — and they’re tons of fun. This 60-piece set of standard unit solid wood blocks from Melissa & Doug comes with its own handsome wooden tray for easy storage (though you may have trouble packing away the royal castles and towering skyscrapers your budding engineers are sure to come up with).
Shop it: Melissa & Doug Standard Unit Solid-Wood Building Blocks With Wooden Storage Tray (60 pieces), $55, amazon.com
Learning Resources Pretend & Play Doctor Kit for Kids
Role playing the doctor’s office can help ease children’s anxiety about checkups; it also engages their interest in care-taking and their fascination with bandages and boo-boos of all kinds. Boasting enough medical tools to fill an operating room, this Pretend Play Doctor kit from Learning Resources can easily occupy the junior surgical staff that has taken over your living room. We also like the sturdy case that’s easy to take on house calls.
Shop it: Learning Resources Pretend & Play Doctor Kit, $28, amazon.com
Playskool Mr. Potato Head Super Spud
The premise is simple — pretty up a plastic potato by adding ears, eyes, shoes, a hat, a nose and a mouth. The surprising part is how much fun it is! Now at almost 70-years-old, Playskool’s Mr. Potato Head franchise has grown with the times. In addition to Mr. & Mrs. Potato Head, you can now find potato heads in themes like pirate, Sesame Street and Star Wars. This Mr. Potato Head Super Spud Set comes with Mr. and Mrs. Potato Head bodies, two pet potatoes, over 45 accessory pieces, and a container in the shape of Mr. Potato Head where you can store all the pieces.
Shop it: Playskool Mr. Potato Head Super Spud, $30 (regularly $40), kohls.com
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