
To help you plan upcoming birthday celebrations, Kate Moreland shares her own kids' favorite toys, from toddlers to elementary school.
Some of the best toys my kids have loved have been ones that I never would have expected. If you, too, are in the market for little-boy toys and need some inspiration, these are some of the more oddball toys that my boys have loved. Most of these have also been favorites of visitors as well, proving their rights to be considered list-worthy toys.
Some toys are known favorites, like LEGO and Magnatiles, and I have not included them here simply because we all already know about them. This list is for the ones that are not always as well-known, but that bring great enjoyment to toddlers and elementary-age kids alike.
The Radio Flyer Scoot ’n Zoom
This toy is great. The Radio Flyer model linked looks like it has the same easy to ride design and loose wheels, so likely would be just as good as the recalled version. The wheels spin very easily, and it is so simple to control that this little car has allowed my three youngest to keep up with their racing about siblings even before they could walk. This one is a daily hit. I can attest that the recall of an older model of this toy due to children’s ability to fall off in every direction is absolutely a real consideration. It is especially a danger if multiple children are pushing the rider. Be forewarned.
The Goofy Little Farmhouse
The LeapFrog Sing-And-Play Farm, now discontinued, is one of the very few toys that has been considered worthwhile enough to have its batteries not only kept in, but replaced. I have linked to a similar toy that looks nearly identical. Most battery toys have their batteries removed post-haste, because in a house with five boys we do not need to add additional noise. This farmhouse, however, is relatively tolerable and every child who has played with it has liked it. Visitors, my kids, toddlers, babies, and preschoolers all like this toy. It has buttons, doors, switches, and keys to turn, making for very happy and occupied little hands.
Grave Digger
Lovely name, I know. But this hideous vehicle has withstood two years of hard indoor and outdoor use from all five of my boys, outliving at least five other RC cars of far higher value. It is so easy to charge, easy to drive, and it goes over everything. If it does not manage to get over an obstacle, it hits the obstacle with enough enthusiasm to flip over dramatically, or crash and roll back up again. It finally died when the USB plug snapped off the cord, and we will likely replace it as it has provided so many happy play hours.
Building Supplies
Wheels, boards, PVC tubing, rope, and the like are all items that provide endless scope for the imagination. With the right dose of creativity added, they can be made into forts, vehicles, tools, weapons, and anything else a young mind might desire. As an added bonus, it gets the kids outside — which is good for everyone, on so many levels.
Balance Bike
I am not a fan of training wheels because they limit the terrain a little explorer can traverse, so we use balance bikes for the early riders and switch to pedals in the preschool years. It has been an easy switch for every kid so far, and my toddlers are frighteningly adept on their pedal-less bikes. They get up and down hills, on the grass, through ditches, and keep up with the horde of big brothers amazingly well. For the older ones, a bike is speed, freedom, and a creative outlet. There are many boyish accessories one can find for a bike, from noisemakers that attach to the back and amplify the wheel sounds to colored spoke add-ons to simply repainting the bike to whatever color one prefers. Like building supplies, a bike is a great toy as it provides creative outlet and physical activity.
There are many more toys besides these, but these are the winners in the Moreland Household Toy Contest and would stay even if I had to get rid of everything else. Hopefully they will bring fun and laughter to your household as well!
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Copyright 2024 Kate Moreland
Images: Canva
About the Author

Kate Moreland
Kate Moreland is a graduate of Franciscan University who spends her time homeschooling her five sons. Writing is her way to share her many opinions with someone other than her very patient husband. When not teaching or cleaning up after various people and animals, she enjoys grocery trips alone and frequently-interrupted discussions about family, parenting, and faith. Find her at her LinkTr.ee @kate.more.land.
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