20 All-Time Favorite Childhood Toys

By Jessica Hartshorn
April 25, 2017
Each product we feature has been independently selected and reviewed by our editorial team. If you make a purchase using the links included, we may earn commission.
Credit: Jeffrey Westbrook
Kids love and learn from these classic toys, all of which are recommended by our exclusive panel of academics, retailers, and toy reviewers.
Start Slideshow

1 of 20

Rattle

Credit: Jeffrey Westbrook

First you shake it, then one day your baby will grab it and wave it, honing fine motor skills, says Ahren Hoffman, director of education and training for the American Specialty Toy Retailing Association. Winkel, $15, birth+.

Advertisement
Advertisement

2 of 20

Bicycle

Credit: Jeffrey Westbrook

“There’s a nature deficit among kids, and a bike entices them outdoors,” Hoffman says. She likes a pedal-free balance version to start. 12 Sport Balance Bike, $120, 18 months to 5 years.

3 of 20

Stacking Toy

Credit: Jeffrey Westbrook

A tower can be mastered quickly, giving tots a sense of confidence, says Meredith Sinclair, ambassador for The Genius of Play, an initiative of the Toy Industry Association. Stack & Count Cups, $4.50, 6 months+.

Advertisement

4 of 20

Toy Vehicles

Credit: Jeffrey Westbrook

They’re “pretend-play paradise,” says Claire Green, president of Parents’ Choice Foundation. Choose cars, trucks, or trains your child can “drive.” Hot Wheels, $10 for nine, 3 years+.

5 of 20

Lego

Credit: Jeffrey Westbrook

Named “Toy of the Century” by the British Association of Toy Retailers in 2000, Legos inspire creativity, especially when kids ignore the instructions and build their own structures. Classic Large Creative Brick Box, $60, 4 years+. 

6 of 20

Barbies and Action Figures

Credit: Jeffrey Westbrook

Children live vicariously through toy characters. Barbies can do or be anything that a child can dream up, and figures like superheroes appeal because “kids are hardwired to want to be one of the good guys,” says Richard Barry, merchandising executive at Toys “R” Us. Barbie Fashionistas, $10, 3 years+.

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

7 of 20

Puzzles

Credit: Jeffrey Westbrook

Tackle one as a team! First puzzles introduce shapes and colors. Also, “putting pieces together with your preschooler builds her foundation for problem solving,” says Cristina Medellin-Paz, Ph.D., assistant research scientist at playLabNYU in New York City. Animal Alphabet 20-Piece Puzzle, $6, 3 years+.

8 of 20

Microscope

Credit: Jeffrey Westbrook

A microscope is an old-school way of honing STEM skills, says Sinclair. Learning Resources Primary Microscope, $50, 6 years+.

9 of 20

Puppet

Credit: Jeffrey Westbrook

First you make it talk. Next, give your child a turn. “Puppets are language-builders, storytellers, role-players, and confidantes,” says Green. Your child may say things to or through the puppet that you’d never otherwise hear. Gund Sesame Street Cookie Monster Hand Puppet, $15, 12 months+.

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

10 of 20

Ball

Credit: Jeffrey Westbrook

Perhaps the world’s most versatile toy. From baby games to soccer matches, a ball invites active, social play, says Stephanie Oppenheim, who cofounded Toy Portfolio with her mother, Joanne. Melissa & Doug Giddy Buggy Kickball, $10, 2 years+.

11 of 20

Crayons

Credit: Jeffrey Westbrook

They fuel imagination, and "if you’re stressed, coloring calms you down," says Ariana Gentry, 11, Toys"R"Us President of Play. Blank paper wins over a coloring book for letting your kid get creative. 96-count Crayons, $8, 4 years+.

12 of 20

Musical Instruments

Why is banging on a pot with a spoon so satisfying? The rhythmic patterns can help kids regulate emotions, says Dr. Medellin-Paz. Toy instruments, like shakers and drums, give your tot options beyond what’s in the kitchen. B. Parum Pum Pum drum set, $22, 18 months+.

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

13 of 20

Rubik's Cube

Credit: Jeffrey Westbrook

“Everyone wants to be able to solve one,” says Barry. Nearly 2 million YouTube videos about the 1980s STEM-friendly puzzle have made it a viral sensation, with kids memorizing methods and racing to become the fastest finisher. Rubik's cube, $13, 8 years+.

14 of 20

Push-Toy

Credit: Jeffrey Westbrook

Once your baby stands, something he can steer might encourage him to put one foot in front of the other in order to see the toy’s fun effects. “It can also steady a wobbly walker,” Green says. Corn Popper, $10, 12 to 36 months.

15 of 20

Favorite Doll or Plush Animal

Credit: Jeffrey Westbrook

Nurturing a beloved character helps kindness blossom. “Having one favorite is important,” says Junlei Li, Ph.D., codirector of the Fred Rogers Center, in Latrobe, Pennsylvania. “The more there are, the less fun it seems to be.” Jellycat 12-inch Bashful Bunny, $22.50, birth+; Corolle Bébé Calin Bisou, $50, 18 months+.

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

16 of 20

Blocks

Credit: Jeffrey Westbrook

A set should allow unscripted building, so your kid decides what the structure becomes. “Blocks are wonderfully open-ended,” Oppenheim says. Junior Rainbow Blocks 20-piece set, 2 years+, $27.

17 of 20

Dress-Up Clothes

Credit: Jeffrey Westbrook

“Pretending is how kids make sense of the world, and costumes help them fully immerse in dramatic play,” Sinclair says. A cape can aid a superhero or magician or even be tied on as a skirt. Superfly Kids 22-inch cape, $9, 2 to 7 years.

18 of 20

Cardboard Box

Credit: Jeffrey Westbrook

Wait, what?! “A box should be a required plaything,” says Green. Think of all it can be: a car, a house, or almost anything! Dr. Li agrees, adding, “Choose one that’s big enough for your child to crawl inside.” Uboxes 20x20x15-in. moving boxes, $24.50 for six.

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

19 of 20

Classic Board Games

Credit: Jeffrey Westbrook

“Games help you teach kids to be good winners and losers while enjoying screen-free time together,” Oppenheim says. Asked for a recommendation, 11-year-old Gentry named Candy Land as a great first game. Candy Land Game, $8, 3 years+.

20 of 20

Play-Doh

Credit: Jeffrey Westbrook

“It conforms to any shape, whether via a child’s imagination or a mold,” says Dr. Li. Homemade dough is easy, but it’s hard to replicate the colors and slow-to-dry goodness of the brand-name stuff. Super Color Pack, $15, 2 years+.

Replay gallery

Share the Gallery

Up Next