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I love toys where children can use their imagination to build and create various objects. These types of toys exercise children’s brains by teaching early math skills and spatial awareness.
Below are imaginative toys that my son loves!
These toys occupy his time, provide fun educational opportunities, and bring out his inner engineering skills.
Let’s get started!
1. Magnetic Tiles
This is such a versatile STEM toy. My son has built letters, numbers, rocket ships, ferris wheels, towers, and cars with this toy. It has an instruction book to teach you how to build various objects. It is a great way for kids to use their creativity and engineering skills!
2. Learning Resources Gears
Gears are a great STEM toy that encourages kids to sort, group, count, construct, design and solve problems. My son has built homes and traps for his action figures with this toy. He also likes to build letters and numbers with the gears and widgets.
3. Legos DUPLO Town Truck & Tracked Excavator
This is a great toy for children who love cars, trucks, and construction vehicles. Whenever we pass by a construction site, my son can name all the vehicles because of the books we have read and hands-on learning provided with these Legos. We have also created stories around the characters and vehicles to incorporate literacy. The package says it’s for children ages 2-5 but my 7-year-old cousin played with these and had a great time!
4. Sum Blox
This amazing toy taught my son how to add numbers 1-10. The “height of each number corresponds to its value.” For example, the “1-block” is the shortest number and the “10-block” is the tallest number. If you stack the 5-block on top of another 5-block, then they will equal the same height as the 10-block. Your child will learn that 5+5=10 by building creative structures such as walls, towers, bridges, etc. These blocks are a bit pricy but worth it, in my opinion.
5. Wikki Stix
My son and I love this simple yet fun toy. It keeps his attention through church services and in waiting rooms. Wikki Stix allows your child to create any object they want. They come in fun colors and require no mess. Boredom is NOT an issue when it comes to this toy.
6. Flexi Rods
This is not exactly a toy but a hair product. I had unused flexi rods in my closet and gave them to my son to play. He played with these for 45 minutes! These rods twist and turn in to various shapes and objects. My son likes to create letters and numbers with them. My pediatrician said it strengthens his hands and is a great fidgeting toy.
7. Automoblox
I discovered these during a playdate. Your child can take these cars apart and rebuild them. It teaches kids to problem solve, color recognition, and coordination. When my son and I are racing the cars, sometimes I will take one apart and pretend he is a mechanic. His job is to rebuild the car so we can race again. He loves this game!
8. Steam Dinosaur Toys
This is a great toy for kids who like dinosaurs. Children can take the dinosaurs apart and rebuild them using kid-sized screwdrivers. It develops hand-eye coordination, puzzle solving skills, and patience. The dinosaurs have wheels on the bottom so you can slide them on the floor and race them.
9. Snap Circuits Jr.
This toy is recommended for children ages 8 and up; however, my three-year-son and I love building with it. This kit allows you and your child to build working models of a photo sensor, flashing light, and adjustable-volume sirens. Your child should have a basic knowledge of letters, numbers, and putting together puzzles in order to maneuver this toy. Parental supervision is needed if your child is under 8. I advise you to learn how the circuits work then present it to your child.
10. Bristol Blocks
My son received this toy for his birthday. He has built cars, airplanes, robots, letters and more with these blocks. They have built his hand strength and eye coordination. He has learned how various geometrical shapes can be connected to make a masterpiece. Our favorite activity is to build something and make up a story around what was created.
Please tell us which toy your children like! All of these are a hit in our household!
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great ideas! will for sure be using this guide to buy my son gifts this year!
Thank you for reading Alison! Please let us know which toys you choose!
What an awesome set of toys! Those addition blocks are super cool. My son loves LEGO it’s his favourite for sure.
Nicole | The Professional Mom Project
Thank you Nicole for the comment!!! Yes the Sum Blox are great! They are fun and very educational!
Thanks for this post. I am going to buy some Wikki Stix, I think my daughter will love them.
My kids have and use the Bristol Blocks and the Mag Formers and also love Duplo.
Oh great! The Wikki Stix are a wonderful toy. You will see your daughter’s imagination come alive with this toy!
Some great ideas here we love the magnetic tiles – you can build so many different things with those!
Thank you for reading Talya! Yes I think magnetic tiles are my favorite!