Before you rush out to buy toys, let me share a little secret from my own parenting journey. Like many soon-to-be parents, I stocked up on essentials like a cozy bouncy seat and a co-sleeper. I also couldn’t resist picking up a few adorable toys, like a plush bunny and some colorful stacking blocks, even though I knew it would be ages before my little one would actually use them. Friends and family generously gifted us everything from wooden puzzles to tiny cars, but in hindsight, I can confidently say that none of those toys turned out to be worthwhile.
If I could travel back in time, the advice I would give my pregnant self is simple: skip the toys entirely! Instead, focus on these 25 everyday items that will keep your kids entertained for hours, if not days or even years:
- A post-it pad, perfect for sticking random notes in unexpected places, like your open makeup drawer.
- An empty tampon wrapper that transforms into “pirate treasure.”
- A bunch of twigs, repurposed as part of a “Blair Witch Project” installation.
- Everything from the junk drawer—trust me, even the sticky pennies will captivate them.
- A quirky coin purse that your child picked out from the dentist.
- Seventy-five earplugs to stuff inside that coin purse.
- A ripped page from a pricey pop-up book.
- My shoe.
- Daddy’s shoe, which complicates our date nights.
- The soup ladle, now a magical wand.
- My toothbrush—another wand!
- All the spatulas, bananas, and even more tampons as wands!
- Every colander in the house, perfect for a “car wash” game.
- A broken monster truck spring, waiting to be fixed.
- Anything phone-related: my phone, its box, or the old rubber case—gold for kids!
- Torn-up paper confetti that the vacuum will never catch.
- Anything from the fridge; to my toddler, it’s pure paradise.
- Shoes stored away for a potential future baby—these have been more entertaining than I ever imagined.
- The bathroom faucet, a toddler favorite, next to the fridge.
- The toilet, where they think they can discover hidden treasures.
- Rocks, bugs, and maybe even a squirrel carcass—until someone notices.
- A turkey baster.
- A screen door, which is also a delightful plaything.
- The turkey baster making perfect holes in the screen door.
- An empty binoculars case that’s now a beloved sleep companion.
What I’m trying to say is, skip the toys and instead embrace the treasures lying around your home—like your good kitchen tongs, which you’ll probably never find again. Or consider holding on to things you want to toss but instead turn them into part of your child’s imaginative play. The stuffed bunny? Forgettable. The blocks? Unused. But that post-it note? That’s a keeper!
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In summary, forget about buying those toys and look around your home for the real treasures that can spark joy and creativity in your little ones.