1. Duplo and Lego

These are the all-time winners in our house. Duplo is perfect for little hands and quick builds—towers, farms, zoos, anything. As kids grow, Lego adds layers of complexity and creativity. They often use both together, with Duplo as the base and Lego as the details.

Some of their most joyful play sessions come from mixing old sets with new ideas. When we get a new set, they can display the build until it breaks. Then once it falls into bits, it joins the rest of our collection in a giant lego drawstring bag that makes it a snap to put away. No matter how many times they’ve been played with, the kids still pull the Lego bag out on rainy days and quiet afternoons.

2. Wooden Blocks

If there’s a single toy that has quietly supported more magical play in our home than any other—it might just be the humble wooden block. They’ve been used to build the tallest towers, the prettiest castles, the biggest zoos. No batteries, no instructions—just the raw material of imagination.

We’ve been gifted extra sets over the years, and the fun only expands as the kids grow. There’s no such thing as too many. Colourful, tactile, durable, and surprisingly versatile. You truly can’t not have these.

3. Magnet Tiles

If I had to choose just one toy on this list, it would be this. Hands down. Magnet tiles have been in constant use in our home for years—and they never get old. From stained-glass castles on rainy days to futuristic towers with fairy lights inside, these tiles invite creativity across every age and stage.

We’ve added extra sets over time, including a compatible marble run expansion that quickly became one of my son’s favourite toys of all time. Grandparents often contribute themed packs as gifts—there’s no such thing as too many magnet tiles.

4. Dolls and Figurines (Barbie, People & Animals)

Dolls and figurines have endless play potential. Whether it’s a baby doll, a set of farm animals, or Barbie in a cardboard camper, they help kids explore empathy, storytelling, and identity. All dolls have an important place in every kid’s toy collection.

I once thought we’d skip Barbies—but now they’re a cornerstone of pretend play. Some of my favourite memories are when Barbie met Paw Patrol, and the kids built entire worlds around their combined favourites. We’ve spent many a rainy weekend creating our own handmade clothes, furniture and vehicles for dolls. Lately, it has even been a n outlet for my husband’s eagerness to teach the kids how to 3D print. Accessories for their dolls—tiny laptops, hairdryers, and even bunk beds, all printed from rainbow-coloured 3D filament are strewn about the house.

5. Puzzles

Quiet, focused, and deeply satisfying. Puzzles offer a chance to develop logic, fine motor skills, and patience—all while creating something beautiful.

They can get surprisingly addictive. Once you start, it’s hard to stop chasing the little dopamine hit you get when a piece clicks into place. But it’s a much better dopamine hit than the kind delivered by screens. Puzzles promote problem solving, regulation, visual literacy, and collaboration—and they can be done solo or with the whole family.

We often keep a puzzle on the table over the weekend. It’s amazing how naturally the kids wander over to it mid-morning and start working together without being asked. It’s amazing how naturally the kids wander over to it mid-morning and start working together without being asked.

6. Stuffed Animals

These soft friends show up in the most surprising ways: in hospitals, cafes, talent shows, and forts. They’re not just comfort objects—they’re characters with names, stories, and roles to play.

Sometimes I’ll find them tucked into beds made of scarves or lined up for a vet check-up. They’ve become part of our family’s emotional world. They’re also bedtime snuggle besties and forever favourites—the ones the kids never outgrow. More than just teddies, these ‘stuffies’ (as we call them) are true companions. They offer comfort, friendship, and familiarity during uncertain moments. In so many homes, they’re the one toy that stays close well into adulthood—stashed in memory boxes, tucked on shelves, or quietly kept on beds long after childhood ends.

7. Dress-Up Box

As a teacher, I’ve seen firsthand how powerful dress-ups are for children’s confidence and communication. The simple act of putting on a costume gives kids permission to experiment, take risks, and step into different roles. It helps them try out new language, navigate social situations, and even solve problems they might shy away from in their everyday identity. It’s a kind of playful mask—one that opens the door to oral language development, empathy, and imaginative thinking.

At home, our dress-up box is still going strong after all these years. It’s the go-to for school events, discos, and impromptu dance parties. A cape and crown still have a regular place in our lives. Even now, I’ll see them rummaging for just the right piece to complete a character. It’s theatre, identity, and fun all in one. Gold.

8. Drawing Supplies

Not technically a toy—but utterly essential. Early mark-making is a critical prewriting skill, enhancing fine motor development and visual literacy. Giving children space to scribble, draw, and experiment with lines and shapes lays the foundation for handwriting, spatial awareness, and creativity later on. It also helps them understand that communication can happen through many different mediums—not just speech or writing, but colour, shape, and image too.

From a parent perspective, it’s also one of the easiest and most joyful ways to celebrate your child’s creativity. Display their art with pride—on walls, fridges, or in a rotating art frame box—and you’ll smile every time you walk past. You’re not just showcasing their work; you’re showing them it matters.

Most pretend games in our home end with someone making signs, menus, or backstories. Drawing extends the play and becomes the invisible thread that ties everything together.

9. Toy food and kitchen sets

Children love to role play what they see—and they learn through it too. And let’s face it, food preparation and eating take up a lot of space in everyday life, so it makes perfect sense that food play is so engaging. It mirrors the routines they experience daily, which helps them process, understand, and connect with the world around them.

My nine-year-old still loves taking orders and making me breakfast in her “restaurant,” complete with barista-style service using a coffee machine she builds out of magnet tiles. Food play just never seems to get old.

We’ve mixed in real kitchen items—wooden spoons, muffin tins, even a tin teapot from the op shop. That simple blend of real and pretend makes the experience richer.

10. Mobilo

Sure, it’s a bit of an investment—but for a toy that stands the test of time and toughness, it’s one of the best purchases we’ve ever made. We gifted it to our son for a birthday one year. Of course, we explained that because it was a bigger gift, there would only be one present to unwrap. But honestly, it’s the ultimate gift that keeps on giving. My son couldn’t have been happier.

Mobilo is a hit in our house—a construction toy that withstands engineering ideas, imagination, and rough play. My son invented a game called Smash and Crash, where vehicles collide head-on and the toughest build wins. It’s part engineering challenge, part demolition derby.

It is worth investing in the Giant Bucket set if you can. This one lives in the living room and gets used nearly every week. It stores neatly in its own tub and is a total gamechanger

Final thoughts

Final Thoughts

You don’t need a toyroom full of things. Just a few well-chosen, well-loved items—and the time and space to play. These are the toys that have seen our kids through sick days, slow Sundays, playdates, and long stretches of school holidays.

They’ve grown with our children. And they’ve reminded me, again and again, that the simplest things are often the most enduring.