This is a post a decade in the making, whew! These are the best gifts and items you can buy that last well past the baby and toddler years. My kids are now in middle school and upper elementary and a few years ago we moved to a different state, which is an incredible opportunity to take a good hard look at the stuff that has stood the test of time. This is not an exhaustive list! I was strict with things we’ve used for the most amount of years.

This list is as random as it is amazing, offering a diverse selection of items that have truly made a difference in our daily lives. Use this if you’re a parent, a caregiver, or a gift-giver to a parent with young kids seeking ideas for practical and engaging tools. These things have been a part of my kids’ lives from babyhood to now, serving multiple purposes over the years.

Of course, all kids are different, and my children are very different from each other in their preferences and interests, which makes this list even more special. Despite those variations, all of these items receive regular use in our house, fostering creativity, learning, and fun, and have done so consistently for 6+ years, proving their value in our family dynamic.

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In the Kitchen

We’ve owned everything listed here for 6+ years, many for more than a decade! These are kid tested, caregiver approved items that help at home and at school or camp. Each item has been selected to be on this list based on its durability and effectiveness in supporting my children (and myself!) We can confidently say that these products have become staples in our family, providing not just utility, but also joy and creativity in various environments.

Squeasy Gear: We love using Squeazy Gear for smoothies and yogurt. We’ve also found some extra, unique uses over the years, like storing dressing or other ingredients when traveling.

Stainless Plates and Utensils: We were lucky enough to be sent a set of stainless steel divided plates and utensils back when my now pre-teen was just a toddler. When I tell you we still use these nearly every day, I am not exaggerating. Whether it’s texture, melty-ness, or sensory needs to have foods separated, the divided plates are so helpful in accommodating various meal preferences and dietary requirements. I’ve linked the brand we use most, small business Kiddobloom (we love the plate set and the utensils), but also another set we have that works well!

We have several plates now, allowing us to enjoy meals with friends and take them on trips without any hassle. Traveling with plates may seem a bit over the top, but whether we’re on a road trip or camping, I’m consistently surprised at how often having our own plates and cups has come in clutch, making meal times not only easier but also more enjoyable. There’s a certain comfort in using our familiar dishes rather than the standard disposable options often provided in such settings. Also an excellent way to divide food fairly among siblings!

And drumroll, the best thing about high-quality stainless items for kids is that they’re practically indestructible, able to withstand rough handling and the inevitable drops that come with child use. That’s surely the only reason these items are still safely in our possession, continuing to serve us well through the ups and downs of caregiving kids.

Lunch Box: We bought our first Planet Box Rover in 2018 and haven’t looked back. We did purchase new magnets and a couple new organizer and leak-proof containers but the main lunchboxes have been used from preschool through middle school. I didn’t know if I was making a mistake buying such an expensive lunch box for my preschooler back in 2018 but cost per use has been outstanding. We also love using stainless picks or forks to help with cut up fruit or just to make the lunch more fun. As my kids get older we may also add a granola bar or other packaged snack to their bag but overall I’m impressed with how we can fit a filling lunch inside.

Toys

The cycle of finding and purchasing new toys and activities for our kids seems endless. I love getting inspired by my friends and neighbors, school, and what other caregivers are sharing online. It’s complicated to figure out where to draw the line, particularly when spending can get out of hand quickly. These are the toys that have lasted the test of time from toddlerhood to now. What they have in common won’t be a surprise: they’re open ended and high quality.

In a future post I am plan to share the toys that I still buy as gifts and recommend, even if they only are for a specific age or interest.

Loose Parts: For the most part, this can’t be purchased all at once. “Loose parts” by definition is a collection of items that work for the age of the child and are available in a basket, tray, or divided tray. Loose parts have been used to make mandala-like temporary art pieces. They are used as food for animal figurines. Natural materials like wood, felt or wool, and even glass have been my kids favorites. One of the only things we bought new for this “toy that’s not a toy” is felt balls. They’re still on my older kids shelf, and have been used much more than I anticipated throughout the years.

Play Silks: It seemed wild to pay good money for a piece of fabric but I am grateful to the grandparent who gifted us our first set of Play Silks for changing my mind. I shop sales when I can, but I think that silk costume and scarves are so valuable as part of any kids’ toy selection. My kids have used their play silks as capes, baby blankets, rivers, backdrops, juggling, decor, and even as accessories for specific ‘color days’ at school or tied onto a basket to match a Halloween costume.

Ferry: This is a surprising addition, but the Green Toys Ferry only recently was sent packing. There’s something about the fact that it is nearly indestructible, easy to clean, and floats in the bathtub or at the lake or creek that makes this toy highly revered.

Magnetic tiles: When this toy first came out it was a revelation. Magnatiles (our favorite brands are Connetix, MagnaTile and Picasso Tile) continue to capture the hearts and attention of kids and adults of all ages. Adding extras like large stable base tiles has upped our play and building capabilities. If you’re looking for a gift for a kid, this is an easy win.

The best multi-surface crayon: I think we have several dozen Woody Crayons still in use and rotation in our house. Some are barely a stub, clearly well loved. They write vibrantly on practically any surface (paper, sure, but also windows, mirrors, smooth tabletops!) and wash away with water. They write on legs and arms, and easily wash away with water. Older kids will enjoy that they’re bright and can be combined with a bit of water on a paint brush to create beautiful paintings. Writing on a window or a mirror is magical to a kid, and these are the best for it. I’ve tried others claiming to have the same qualities, but this brand is simply the only one I recommend.

Animal figurines: High quality animal figurines are still a staple for play and for activities. We started with wooden figurines, but they are very pricey. Great for babies and toddlers, but older kids may push them aside in favor of more detailed animals made of plastic and rubber. Our older kids have gotten into more fantasy animals but I think if they had those as smaller kids, they also would’ve been delighted. These are typically easy to find secondhand, particularly on resale websites, but if you want to buy new or you have a specific favorite animal in mind, we like the Schleich brand. I will say that I am disappointed with their lack of diversity of human figures. We do have this lovely mermaid with dark skin, and these horseback riders that are presumably not caucasian, but for the most part the characters are white. They stand up to years of tape, mud, baths, and hours of creative play time.

Baskets and trays: Baskets of all kinds are great to house toys, but baskets are also actively used in creative play as much as storing precious items. Check the thrift store for baskets and trays of all sizes and shapes. One type of basket we tend to buy because they’re hard to find secondhand (people rarely give them up, it seems!) are bolga baskets. Look for a local source if you can, but I have linked a few in various sizes if you want to look. We’ve gotten ours from small shops and markets, but here’s a link to what looks like a great source.

Indoor Physical Activity

Your mileage may vary when it comes to how much floor space you can dedicate to these, or the physical abilities of your kids. Here’s what has worked for us!

Trampoline: Getting a small trampoline was something we avoided for a long time but I regret it. I let my distaste of how large and clunky these can be dictate my actions. I highly recommend looking for a small trampoline that is designed to hold a large adult. Sometimes these are called rebounders. Maybe you or the adults in your house aren’t interested in using a rebounder, but I know that 2-3 kids will try and jump on your trampoline at the same time, and having one that was sturdy has made this item stand the test of time for us. For exercise, wiggles, or even anxiety, when the trampoline is set up in our home, it’s used constantly. I even caught my oldest child standing on it, gently bouncing while reading a book. I’m not sure I have that kind of coordination, but I can imagine it was quite calming.

Wobbel or Wavee Bent Wood Board: Like the trampoline, this is used more often and in more ways than I ever expected. Our bent wood ‘wave board’ saw use from crawling babies, toddlers, kids, and now pre-teens. It’s a slide, it’s a house for animal figurines, it’s a cave being explored by dolls or lego figures. It’s a place to lie down while reading or watching a movie. It’s a place to stand and harness nervous energy while having a conversation. There are brands out there that put felt on one side, but we found those can actually be quite slippery, and they attract a lot of dust (and if you have pets, their hair!) so I only recommend the wood-on-both sides version. The brand we have is no longer producing these, but we’ve seen and tested a variety that work well! Note that in our experience, the lower the cost, the lower the weight limit so just keep that in mind.

Balance Beam: I also love our wooden balance beam, though it doesn’t quite span the years that a bent wood ‘wave’ or ‘wooble’ board does. The company that makes ours is no longer in business but I’ve linked a few great looking options.

Nugget Couch: Our claim to fame (except, without the fame part) is that we bought our Nugget couch way before it was cool, way back in 2017 or 2018. We still stand by it and while it’s used less as a spaceship or slide now that kids are older, we still regularly find them using the Nugget couch as … a couch. And a bed. And occasionally, a fort.

Swings: Indoor swings for kids have gotten a lot more popular lately, and I’m so glad! The sensory input is unmatched. We recommend three kinds, which can be hung up all at the same time if you have space, or switched out depending on what your kids need at the time. First, a classic rope disc swing will provide excellent entertainment and requires coordination and core strength. Second, a fabric swing can act as a safe space and a fun activity. And lastly, we love to have a ladder swing to mix it up. This one ends up being a favorite if multiple kids want to climb and play at once. A couple play silks hanging off and it becomes even more magical.

What’s next?

It’s been such a pleasure looking back at our times over the years with all of these items. Please feel free to share your questions in the comments! I’ll do my best to respond and update the post with common questions that arise. Thanks for reading and please let me know what I should cover next. This phase of parenting older kids is so amazing, but I still have so much knowledge (and let’s be honest, strong opinions!) about toys and other things that work for kids of all ages.