Toys with Staying Power for Kids ages 3-10
Are you shopping for a kid between the age of 3-10? I'll make your life easier. I've already done the hard work of talking with lots of moms about which toys have staying power.Meaning, which toys get played with every time they're pulled out of the toy box even years later when the newness has long since worn off?
So what kinds of toys are toys with staying power? Usually:
the toys can be played with in more than one way.
The toys let the imagination take over.
I asked other moms to weigh in on what toys they see standing the test of time at their house. I noticed a lot of similarities. Many of the same kinds of toys were mentioned repeatedly. So I'm sharing with you our list of toys with staying power in hopes it helps if you're shopping for a kiddo or so you can pass this list on to people who are asking what they should get your kiddo(s) as gifts.
Keep reading to find out which toy was recommended most by moms.
This list is full of affiliate links to Amazon. I do earn a small commission on anything you purchase through the link from this site. However, this is not a sponsored post. I only link to items I truly think others will find valuable.
Artistic Toys
Art Supplies: We started with only washable paints, but our cabinet of supplies has filled with much more over the years. I pieced together our own supplies, but I'm linking to this set to get your little artist off to a good start.
Xylophone: Just admit it, even YOU want to play with the xylophone. It NEVER gets old. Ok, after the kiddo has been banging on it for a while, it gets old to the parent, but not for the kid. Just when I thought we were done with our xylophone, I realized how helpful it is to practice some musical concepts (such as solfage) to help us with piano practice.
Musical Instruments: These are fun for kids in a wide range of ages. My daughter enjoyed them immensely when she was 2-3. We bring them out every time the young cousins come over, and my daughter has fun with them all over again (even though she’s now 9).
Sarah’s Silks: In our house, hero capes, fairy wings, pirate swords, and magic wands continue to get lots of play time. I’ve seen kids from ages 2-10 have a blast with dress-up. Whether it’s the dress-up costumes or the giant scarves used to build “blanket forts,” the quality of Sarah’s silks never ceases to amaze me. I know it sound counterintuitive to say that silk is durable. I was a skeptic too many years ago when my sister talked me into trying them. These things hold up so well. It’s incredible. So go ahead and order some, you know you want to play with them too. The only problem is choosing which color scheme to go with.
Outdoor Toys
Sidewalk chalk: For outdoor fun, this just never gets old for little kids and for older ones too. We try to add new accessories to our collection whenever we see them. These stencils provide a great jumping off point for the imagination.
Bubbles: They just never get old! They're fun for kids of all ages. Even adults really (as long as you're not the one blowing them the whole time). For that idea alone, a bubble machine is worth it.
Scooter: We've had this scooter for three years. It gets ridden a lot and is still in very good condition. It's adjustable so it can grow with the child.
STEM Toys
Blocks: We have so many different kinds of blocks, it's kind of silly. But they are all fun in different ways.
Lego: We do have some of the kits, but a big bucket of bricks allows for great imaginative play.
Tegu Blocks: Yes, these magnetic wooden blocks are definitely an investment. But they are a quality built toy. We've had ours for three years and the paint hasn't worn off and the wood hasn't chipped at all. They still look brand new even though they've seen lots of play time by lots of little hands over the years. Because they're magnetic, they provide great entertainment in the grocery cart, and they're great for travel too. I'm so excited that they make a set for babies now.
Foam blocks: These large foam blocks provide fun for kids in a variety of ages. I like this set in particular because the pieces are larger than those in most other sets so it doesn't have any choking hazards. They are soft, which means when they come tumbling down, no one gets hurt and they're practically noiseless.
Crazy Fort: If your kid likes making blanket forts (and who doesn't), then they'll love this. We've had the Crazy Fort for over five years now, and we've had lots of fun with it. We made a castle as added fun for my daughter’s Princess birthday party one year. We've made lots of blanket forts with it. Currently, her favorite thing to do is put dark sheets over it and call it a tiger cave. Originally we had to help her assemble it, but now she can do it independently.
Magnatiles: Yes they're pricey, but we've had ours for 6 years and counting. They've provided a ton of entertainment for lots of littles in our lives ages 2 and up. (Although their recommended age is 3+)
This is the No. 1 Toy with Staying Power recommended by every mom I talked to in preparation for making this list.
Other Toys
Indoor trampoline: Pooky (and her friends and cousins) can not get enough of the indoor trampoline. It's such a great way to burn off energy when you're stuck indoors.
I talk more about this Ride On Wiggle Car in my post Active Toys that Wear out Kids. The bottom line is this car has seen a lot of use over the years and for less than $30, it has definitely proven its staying power.
Board Games and Puzzles: There's something about sitting around a table together with snacks and family that draws kids in. Here I'm including a couple of our favorite games that the kiddo is always excited to play.
Stuffed Animals: My daughter never gets tired of these, (even now at age 9), and from what I hear, that's true for so many kids in this age range.
Based on conversations I’ve had with other parents, the American Girl doll is another toy with a lot of staying power. It often brings joy to its young owner for several years. The nice thing is you can buy off brand doll clothing and accessories as gifts to add to the fun. This gift is probably best for kids ages 6-11.
Tablet: If I'm being honest, this list of toys with staying power wouldn't be complete if I didn't include a tablet. I love this Fire Kindle Kids edition. It's so durable. Ours has seen years of use. We have it loaded with books and educational games as well as all the fun stuff it comes with.
I think you'll see that most of the items on this list have one thing in common. There's more than one way to play with them. In fact, there are pretty much endless ways to play with most of them. The only limit is the imagination.
Use that as your guiding principal when shopping for toys with staying power.
Do you know of another toy with staying power that isn't on this list? Please mention it in the comments, I'm sure other readers would appreciate the suggestion.
Be sure to pin the image below so you'll have this list for later.
For gift ideas for younger kids check out my list of Gender-Neutral toys.
