Top 10 Classic Toys for Year-Round Play-Based Learning
A Parent's Go-To Resource for Open-Ended Toys that Inspire Play, Learning, and Development
In no particular order, here is ETP’s TOP 10 LIST of classic, open-ended toys!
At Elevate Toddler Play (ETP), we believe in the power of open-ended toys — simple, versatile, and full of endless learning possibilities. Whether you’re shopping for a special occasion, planning a thoughtful gift, or looking to add new toys to your collection, we’ve created a go-to list of our top 10 recommendations. These are toys we use regularly during therapy sessions and highly recommend to parents for encouraging language development and play-based learning.
How We Organized This Guide:
Each toy includes three options to help you find the perfect fit:
Budget-Friendly: Affordable without compromising on play value.
Solid Selection: A tried-and-true option for quality and durability.
Premium Playtime: For those seeking something a little more luxurious or aesthetically pleasing.
This list is designed to meet a range of preferences and budgets, so you can choose what suits your family best. We encourage you to think about the toys you already have at home! With just a little creativity, many open-ended items can be used in new ways.
Note: This post is not sponsored, and we do not receive commissions from any of the links shared. However, our signature play guide pairs perfectly with any of these toys to help support your child’s communication skills!
Get your hands on the exact play strategies we use as Speech-Language Pathologists (and with our own kids), curated toy activities, plus done-for-you concept lists, and guidance on how to boost your toddler’s language skills—all for just $35.
01
FARM TOYS
Why we love it:
E-I-E-I-O! The fun of farm toys lies in their incredible versatility, making them a favorite among speech therapists! These engaging sets are perfect for teaching early speech sounds like /m, p, b, d/ and helping little ones master consonant-vowel combinations, such as “moo,” “baa baa,” “cow,” “eat,” “up,” and “neigh.”
They provide endless opportunities to develop key language skills! Whether it’s working on requesting, exploring cause and effect, building vocabulary, understanding prepositions, or answering “wh” questions (like “who,” “what,” and “where”), farm sets open the door to rich, imaginative play. Plus, they’re fantastic for practicing action words, following directions, expanding sentences, and encouraging pretend play. See why we love it now?!
Budget Friendly:
Melissa & Doug Take-A-Long Barn Toy
Solid Selection:
Learning Resources Peekaboo Barnyard
Premium Playtime:
Related post: Basic Concepts: What You Need To Know
02
Bubbles
Why we love it:
Pop! Pop! Pop! Simple, affordable, and endlessly fun! Bubbles can be used to encourage joint attention, social skills like turn-taking, and early language through requesting and commenting. They’re also a great way to get kids moving and engaging with their surroundings.
Budget Friendly:
Solid Selection:
Curious Minds Bubble Blower Toy
Premium Playtime:
Spike Botanical Bubbles (GREAT for indoors!)
Fubbles Sky High Bubble Machine
Related post: Why Play Matters
03
BLOcks
Stack them high, knock ‘em down, build a castle, a bridge, and a village to explore. Build whatever you can imagine and build language while doing it. 😉😉
Why we love it:
A classic, timeless toy, blocks help with problem-solving, fine motor skills, and spatial awareness. They’re also a great tool for teaching prepositions (like "on," "under," and "next to") and for developing creative storytelling as kids build structures and imagine different scenarios.
Budget Friendly:
B.Toys Stacking + Building Blocks for Babies
Solid Selection:
Premium Playtime:
04
House
Why we love it:
Dollhouses or playhouses are fantastic tools for helping children reenact daily routines, navigate social situations, and practice problem-solving through role-playing. These versatile toys allow children to explore emotions, understand sequencing, and learn important language skills like labeling, object-function, and prepositions. What we love most about dollhouses is how they bring real-life events into play, giving children the opportunity to practice sequencing, recognize and express emotions, and develop problem-solving abilities in a fun and engaging way.
Budget Friendly:
Melissa and Doug Fold + Go-Wooden Dollhouse
Solid Selection:
Hearth & Hand Toy Dollhouse and Furniture
Premium Playtime:
Pottery Barn Sherwood Dollhouse
Related post: Daily Routine Series #1
05
vehicles
Vroom, Vroom! Beep, Beep! Get ready to GO! Vehicles are perfect for a toddler who carries around small toys in their hands.
Why we love it:
The answer is easy! Vehicles are engaging and timeless! Whether it’s cars, trucks, or trains, vehicles are endlessly engaging and encourage lots of language opportunities like commenting, pausing (“think ready, set… (pause) GO!”), repeating words (you can target many words multiple times), and following directions.
Budget Friendly:
Solid Selection:
Gigglespace Wooden Race Car Ramp
Premium Playtime:
06
Ball
Why we love it:
As if a game of kickball wasn't good enough, using a ball will help your toddler build their understanding of basic concepts, action words, prepositional concepts, and descriptors. Of course, there’s more! From rolling, bouncing, and throwing to practicing turn-taking, basic concepts, and action words, there’s no end to the fun and learning that a simple ball can provide.
Budget Friendly:
Solid Selection:
Infantino Textured Ball Set for Babies
Premium Playtime:
07
dolls + stuffed animals
Who doesn’t love a soft and huggable toy you can bring along on any adventure? If you’ve got a toddler who enjoys comfort, learning, and imagination with a tag-a-long-friend, then consider this a motivating toy to use.
Why we love it:
Dolls and stuffed animals are great for teaching social-emotional skills, body parts, and early verbs. These toys encourage pretend play and are ideal for little ones who love to nurture and care for their toys.
Budget Friendly:
Melissa & Doug Mine to Love Baby Doll
Solid Selection:
Premium Playtime:
08
Nesting + Stacking cups
Why we love it:
Simple, yet engaging, these cups help toddlers learn spatial relationships, problem-solving, and early math concepts. They’re also great for practicing taking turns and following directions, using target words and phrases, and practicing imitation.
Budget Friendly:
Solid Selection:
Melissa & Doug Nesting and Sorting Blocks
Premium Playtime:
09
food + kitchen
Let’s get cooking! A kitchen and food set is the perfect way to encourage real-life experiences and build happy, healthy habits through sensory and tactile play.
Why we love it:
These sets inspire creativity and pretend play while promoting language development by helping kids build vocabulary, practice sequencing, and follow directions.
For younger children, focus on using basic vocabulary and simple step-by-step directions. As they grow, these sets offer even more opportunities to develop social skills, work on executive functioning, and engage in more complex role-playing and language tasks, making them ideal for preschool to early elementary kids.
Budget Friendly:
Solid Selection:
Premium Playtime:
Pottery Barn Mini Play Kitchen
Related Post: Daily Routine Series - Meal and Snack Time
10
musical instruments
Get ready to make some noise! Musical instruments are a fun and motivating way for children to practice using sounds and words while exploring rhythm and movement.
Why we love it:
Drums are perfect for teaching exclamatory words like “bam,” “boom,” and “bang,” while wind instruments help kids develop awareness of their mouth, lips, and breath control — all essential for speech development.
Instruments not only introduce kids to sounds and rhythms but also help build motor skills and coordination. They encourage self-expression, teach important language concepts, and provide a playful way to support speech development through breath control and sound production.
Budget Friendly:
B. Toys Make a Melody 9 pc set
Solid Selection:
Coco Village Wooden Musical Instruments Playset
Premium Playtime:
Lakeshore Learning 10-Player Rhythm Set
Ready to make playtime magical? Check out The Play By Play and give the gift of playful learning all year round!
If you're new to the blog and want to get an idea of what we're all about, this is a great recap that we hope will encourage you!
Power Words for Toddlers - The first set of words to focus on for communication skills.
Beyond the Milestone Chart: Celebrating Your Child's Unique Journey - A reminder that milestones matter, but so does celebrating everything your child can do.
The Best Way to Support Early Learning: Guided Play - A "no-fail" guide to play for parents.
Developmental and Educational Toys for Toddlers - Toy recommendations categorized by age, developmental milestones, and interests.
The Secret to Academic Success for Toddlers - Foundational language skills that carryover into early academic skills.
Basic Concepts: What You Need to Know - The foundation for following directions and participating in daily routines.
Daily Routine Series - Yes! Your toddler can learn while brushing their teeth. In this series we walk your through 4 daily routines and show you how to incorporate language. Start here and explore: Getting Dressed; Brushing Teeth; Meal and Snack Time; Bath Time
If you have any questions or topics you'd like us to cover, our team is ready and willing to help you out! Don't hesitate to ask. Comment below and let us know. :)
