Made for Play

Explore child development through play, find inspiration for your next DIY project, and discover tips for selecting the perfect toys for your little ones.

Behind the Design Part 2: From Prototype to Playroom

Behind the Design Part 1: From Spark to Blueprint

Backyard Recess: The Benefits of After School Activities

Behind the Design Part 2: From Prototype to Playroom

Part 1 of Behind the KidKraft Design was all about the creative process of our toy and playset designs, from initial inspiration to mood boards and trend research. In Part 2, we’re focusing on what happens next: bringing those concepts to life through prototyping, collaboration and production. Get ready to discover how sketches become computer-aided design (CAD) models, concepts evolve into real products and collaboration ensures every detail is just right before landing in your child’s hands. Turning Playset Designs into Prototypes How we design a playset starts with translating ideas into tangible form, and at KidKraft, structural design and mood board creation happen side by side. Early in the process, the team prepares for a concept approval meeting, where executives review CAD models or sketches alongside mood boards and “moments.” These “moments” are the small but memorable details—like a working elevator in a dollhouse or a cozy nook in a playset—that capture both the overall art style and the emotional feel of the design. These checkpoints ensure that the product’s story is clear, the functionality makes sense, and the look ties back to the original inspiration. Style previews further bring the vision to life, helping the team visualize how these details will appear in a child’s world. Hands-On Collaboration With Manufacturers Prototyping is only the beginning. From there, our designers work in close partnership with manufacturers in China and Taiwan to bring each concept to life with precision. This collaboration allows us to maintain meticulous control over details that many brands overlook, such as color consistency, texture and gloss levels, making this approach truly unique to KidKraft. The process is highly interactive: designers send Adobe Illustrator files overseas, manufacturers print and return samples, and the KidKraft team conducts rigorous checks to ensure every element matches the original vision. Even something as simple as a color swatch can go through multiple rounds of review before approval. By carefully managing these details, we guarantee that every product, from dollhouses to playsets, looks and feels exactly as intended, right down to the smallest finish! Testing, Feedback and Adjustments Toy and playset design is a team effort, and not everyone involved speaks the same “design language.” Interpreting feedback from non-design stakeholders can sometimes pose challenges. But it’s all part of the process. When feedback comes in, our designers collaborate across teams to rethink, rework and refine, whether it’s improving usability, enhancing safety or simplifying the assembly process for parents. The goal is always the same: a toy that delivers lasting fun while being safe, sturdy and easy to set up. Designing for Longevity and Everyday Play KidKraft goes well beyond chasing trends, making sure our designs are created with longevity in mind. Some dollhouse designs from 15–20 years ago are still in production today, loved by new generations of kids! At the same time, our team is just as excited about refreshing those legacy designs, breathing new life into classics so they feel modern, relevant and ready for years of play ahead. We also love embracing new ideas, like designing kids’ furniture. This requires a different mindset that draws heavily on color, wood stain and natural fiber trends in exterior and landscape design. Our team is also working on outdoor products like playhouse and wooden playset designs, which bring in more architectural design elements along with updated stain and plastic colors. With every new or updated design, our focus always remains on quality materials, timeless color palettes and durability that stands up to everyday play. How Play Inspires Design Evolution The most valuable insights come straight from the playroom. Our design team digs into customer reviews to better understand what families love—and where there’s room to improve. They also incorporate a hands-on research approach by regularly visiting homes to see how kids actually interact with toys in real life. These in-person observations and direct feedback loops often lead to meaningful innovations, such as the “open and closed” dollhouse concept, which was born from seeing the need for a toy that could double as storage. This gave kids more ways to play while offering parents a practical solution that keeps play areas tidy. Blending imagination with functionality results in toys that are fun while also fitting seamlessly into family spaces. This immersive research process helps our team continuously improve designs and create toys that kids want to play with and parents want to buy. Bringing It All Together: From Factory to Playroom Once the design is finalized, it moves into full-scale production and quality assurance. Every detail is double-checked so families receive a product that’s safe, durable and true to KidKraft’s design vision. For the design team, the most rewarding moment is seeing their work come to life in homes—knowing that what started as a sketch is now a centerpiece for play, learning and imagination! Discover the Finished Designs From bold ideas to beautifully crafted toys, every step of the KidKraft design journey leads to one thing: more imaginative play. Explore the full KidKraft collection, including play kitchens, dollhouses and activity tables, and see where creativity comes to life in your own home.

Behind the Design Part 1: From Spark to Blueprint

All of our toy and playset designs start with a story. At KidKraft, that story is shaped by imagination, research and a team of designers who never stop thinking about how children play (and how families live). In this two-part series, we’re pulling back the curtain on our toy and playset design process. This first part will take you inside the earliest stages, from the first spark of inspiration to the blueprint that lays the foundation for every kitchen, wooden playset and dollhouse designs we create. Where KidKraft Playset Designs Begin Ideas at KidKraft come from two main places: requests from our sales team or retail partners and the free-flowing creativity of internal brainstorms. Sometimes a retailer asks for a specific product to meet the needs of their customers. Other times, our team imagines new possibilities during yearly brainstorming sessions. Either way, it’s never a solo effort. Industrial designers, engineers and product graphic designers collaborate from the very beginning, ensuring every idea balances creativity with practicality. Together, they start shaping toys that children will love—and parents will be happy to bring into their homes. Gathering Inspiration for KidKraft Designs Creative sparks don’t always happen at a desk. To get inspired, our team steps outside the office. Off-site brainstorms might include excursions in a designer's city, with visits to museums, historic homes or stores to observe design trends in the wild. These experiences fuel days of sketching and sharing ideas back at the studio. From there, mood boards take shape. Our designers gather visuals that highlight color palettes, textures, and architectural details. For wooden playsets or outdoor products, inspiration might come from timeless design elements in nature or real homes, which is why many KidKraft products feel both imaginative and authentic. The Designer Behind the Designs Meet Riley Burrus, Product Graphics Manager at KidKraft Every KidKraft toy begins with a spark of imagination. But behind that spark are real people who pour their creativity and heart into each design. One of those people is Riley Burrus, who has been part of KidKraft for nearly a decade. Riley’s path to toy design wasn’t exactly planned. With a degree in illustration, she imagined herself creating children’s books, weaving stories through words and pictures. But after graduation, while working as a barista and searching for her next step, she stumbled across a LinkedIn job posting for dollhouse illustration. It caught her attention immediately. “I liked children’s book illustration because I love kids and telling stories,” Riley recalls. “When I interviewed for the dollhouse role, I realized this was just a different way of telling stories—one where the artwork itself inspires play.” Today, Riley helps guide KidKraft’s designs from concept to reality. She and other designers often sneak in little “Easter eggs” that make each product feel extra special and enable them to incorporate a tiny bit of themselves into the design. For example, a dollhouse wallpaper might feature their pets, or a tiny framed picture could echo a loved one. For Riley, toy design is more than creating something beautiful or fun. It’s about blending storytelling, imagination and a personal touch that turns play into something magical. And when kids pick up a KidKraft toy, they’re not just playing with wood, paint and accessories; they’re stepping into worlds crafted with care by designers like Riley, who see storytelling everywhere. That same spirit of listening and storytelling doesn’t just come from our design team. It also comes from the families who play with our toys every day. Listening to Customers Of course, inspiration also comes directly from the families who play with our products. KidKraft’s design team studies thousands of product reviews across Amazon, Target, Costco, and other retailers to see what parents and kids love, as well as what could be better. For example, our “easy craft line” was developed to reduce assembly time after hearing from parents who wanted a quicker setup. The team also considers both the child’s perspective (fun, imaginative, colorful) and the parent’s perspective (durability, value, aesthetics). It’s this balance that makes toys both entertaining and practical for everyday family life. Spotting Trends Before They Happen Designing toys isn’t just about responding to what’s popular now. A big part of toy design involves predicting what kids (and parents) will want one or two years down the road, when a toy finally hits the shelves. Our design team looks to high fashion, interior design, fine art, and even kids’ animation for inspiration. Trends trickle down across industries, so a color palette from a runway show might eventually influence the look of a play kitchen or dollhouse. Keeping a finger on the pulse of these creative worlds allows our team to design toys that feel fresh, modern and relevant. Aesthetic Meets Function While toys should always inspire play, they also need to work for the families who buy them. That’s why we blend age-appropriate design (like higher contrast colors for toddlers) with aesthetics parents appreciate, from brass accents to wood textures that echo modern interiors. The goal is to create toys kids love to play with and parents love to see in their living spaces. For instance, a dollhouse or activity table might have a pop of bright color for imaginative play while also featuring textures and finishes that make it blend beautifully into a family room. Visualizing the Blueprint Before a toy becomes real, it lives in sketches, computer-aided design (CAD) drawings, and illustrated “moments” that capture its look and feel. Mood boards, color swatches, and concept art help communicate the vision during concept approval meetings with company leaders. This is where big ideas start to feel tangible, offering an exciting sneak peek of how creativity will soon become reality. From Blueprint to Build: Explore the Designs in Action Every KidKraft product begins with this mix of inspiration, research and artistry. From sketches to mood boards, each step brings us closer to creating toys that spark imagination and fit seamlessly into family life. Don’t miss Part 2 of this series, where we’ll explore what happens next: prototyping, product development, and the meticulous process of bringing these ideas to life with our global manufacturing partners. Explore KidKraft’s full collection of playsets, dollhouses, play kitchens, kids’ furniture, and more to discover where inspiration becomes play.

Backyard Recess: The Benefits of After School Activities

Backyard Recess: The Benefits of After-School Activities After a long day in the classroom, kids need a chance to move, stretch and recharge. While structured after-school programs are great, sometimes the best post-school activities for kids are the ones that happen right at home in your own backyard! That’s the inspiration behind our Backyard Recess campaign, where families show how they use their playsets and playhouses to transform ordinary afternoons into memorable adventures. Discover the benefits of after-school activities and see how creators like Elizabeth Homen and Courtney Williams are bringing fresh after-school activity ideas to life. How After-School Activities Benefit Your Child After-school activities go beyond just keeping kids occupied; they play an important role in healthy development. Whether climbing, swinging or diving into imaginative play, children build physical strength, sharpen cognitive skills and strengthen social connections when they engage in fun, structured activities that challenge and inspire them. Here are some of the key benefits kids gain from after-school activities. Provides physical activity. Movement burns energy, improves coordination and supports growth. Relieves stress. Gives kids an opportunity to unwind and reset after the structure of the school day. Fosters creativity and imagination. Open-ended play sparks storytelling, problem-solving and self-expression. Develops social skills. Siblings, friends, and neighbors learn teamwork, sharing and cooperation. Backyard recess blends these benefits with the convenience of at-home play, so kids can jump right into fun the moment school ends. Elizabeth Homen’s After-School Routine with the Kids For Elizabeth Homen, afternoons are about giving her daughter space to explore and recharge. And the Lantana Lane Playhouse provides the perfect spot for imaginative play, whether her daughter is pretending to cook, plant flowers, or serve a hot beverage. The cozy design of the Lantana Lane Playhouse invites creativity, while the hands-on elements keep little ones engaged, bringing both parents and kids joy once the school day is over. How to Keep Recess Going After the Bell Rings View this post on Instagram A post shared by Elizabeth Homen (@elizabethhomen) Courtney Williams’ Creative Take on After-School Play Courtney Williams takes after-school play outdoors with the Laurel Retreat Swing Set. From climbing and zooming down the slide to relaxing on the swings, her kids of various ages enjoy the mix of movement and freedom they need to shake off the school day. The Laurel Retreat gives her children screen-free structure and a place to unwind and laugh together. It’s also the perfect spot for much-needed downtime while juggling a busy schedule. Easy Back-to-School Routine with KidKraft's Durable Swing Set View this post on Instagram A post shared by Courtney N. Williams (@courtnwilliams) What Families Are Loving About These After-School Setups Across both Elizabeth’s and Courtney’s routines, a few themes stand out: Balance: Kids need both active play and imaginative downtime. Imagination: Whether it’s a playhouse “restaurant” or a pretend castle on the swing set, creativity is at the center of fun. Connection: These spaces create chances for siblings to bond and families to spend time together. After-school play gives kids a space to recharge, grow, and connect. With the right setup, families can create fun and meaningful routines, setting the tone for the rest of the evening. It’s these little daily moments that become the memories kids carry with them. More After-School Activity Ideas to Try Looking for more things to do after school beyond playhouses and swing sets? Here are a few simple, screen-free favorites to spark your child’s imagination: Nature scavenger hunt in the yard or neighborhood Obstacle course using outdoor toys, chalk and household items Backyard picnic or snack time under the trees Creative crafts with leaves, sticks or stones Mini sports games, like soccer, basketball or relay races Sand play with a sandbox or sand table These activities pair perfectly with your existing playset setup, adding variety to your child’s routine. Find the Perfect Playset for At-Home After-School Activities Ready to make your backyard the go-to spot for after-school fun? Our collection of swing sets and playhouses makes it easy to create a space your kids will love coming home to. Explore our swing sets, outdoor playhouses and other outdoor products to find the perfect fit for your family’s after-school routine. Give your children the gift of a backyard recess they’ll always remember.

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Mother's Day Crafts & Activities for Kids

Mother's Day Crafts & Activities for Kids: Fun & Easy Ideas to Celebrate Mom Mother’s Day is the perfect time for children to shower Mom with love—and what better way to do that than with some easy crafts and fun activities that create lasting memories? If you need inspiration, we’ve got creative ideas that will make Mom feel extra special. And don’t worry, no fancy supplies or stress required! Easy Mother’s Day Crafts for Kids Moms love to receive handmade gifts from their little ones! These simple Mother’s Day art projects are a fun way for kids to make something special that Mom will cherish forever. Handmade Mother’s Day Cards A store-bought card is nice, but one made with tiny hands is even better! Let kids go all out with markers, stickers, and whatever crafty supplies you have on hand. They can add a heartfelt message, a drawing of Mom, or even a fun pop-up surprise inside. “Reasons I Love You” Jar This simple but meaningful craft is a gift Mom will treasure. Have kids write (or dictate) reasons they love their mom on small slips of paper, then fold them up and place them in a decorated jar. From lighthearted (“You make the best pancakes!”) to sentimental (“Your hugs always make me feel better”), these little notes will make her smile every time she pulls one out. Thumbprint Family Tree Canvas This keepsake-worthy craft turns little fingerprints into a beautiful family tree. Start with a blank canvas and paint a simple tree trunk and branches. Then, have each family member add their thumbprint as a “leaf” using different paint colors. Add names next to each print for a personal touch. It’s a one-of-a-kind masterpiece Mom will love. Fun Mother’s Day Activities for Kids Beyond giving Mom gifts she’ll cherish, Mother’s Day is also about making her feel special by spending quality time together. These fun and simple activities let kids take the lead in planning a day Mom’s sure to love. Playhouse Garden Surprise @the.rosie.home Creating unforgettable moments with the @KidKraft Riverscape Playhouse! 🌸🌿 It’s the perfect way for our family to bond and get outdoors, encouraging classic, screen-free play that kids can enjoy all year round. From planting flowers in the garden boxes to pretending they’re in their very own world inside, this playhouse brings fun and imagination to life! ✨ Made to last for generations, KidKraft products are crafted with care and quality, so you can count on them for outdoor adventures year after year. 🏡 Tap the link in my bio to shop the Lantana Lane Playhouse at KidKraft.com and use code RACHEL10 for 10% off all playhouses! #KidKraft #RiverscapePlayhouse #BackyardFun #KidKraftPartner #Ad ♬ Happy Fun - Korandrino What’s better than a bouquet of flowers from your local florist? A playhouse that can be used as a flower shop for Mom and the kids to enjoy together! If your little one’s playhouse has built-in garden boxes, turn it into a sweet and simple Mother’s Day activity by picking flowers from the yard or garden together and creating a special flower bundle. Then, plant the blooms side by side in the playhouse planters to brighten up the space—and set up a pretend flower shop while you’re at it. It’s a fun, hands-on way to bond and make lasting memories while getting a little messy. Mother’s Day Breakfast in Bed Let Mom start her special day with a little extra relaxation and a delicious homemade breakfast. Kids can take charge (with a little help, depending on their age) by preparing a simple tray of fruit, toast and juice or setting up a pretend feast with their play kitchen. Outdoor Picnic & Storytime Turn Mother’s Day into a mini outdoor adventure with a cozy picnic in the backyard or at a local park. Pack some favorite snacks, grab a comfy blanket, and bring along a few of Mom’s favorite children’s books. An outdoor picnic with some reading baked in is the perfect way to unwind, cuddle up, and enjoy some quality time together. Final Thoughts The best Mother’s Day gifts are the ones made with love and shared with joy. Whether it’s a heartfelt craft, a special meal, or a fun outdoor activity, these simple ideas help kids show Mom just how much she means to them. And if you’re looking for the perfect playhouse, pretend kitchen, or outdoor setup to make these moments even more magical, you’ll find KidKraft products are designed for creativity and fun!

5 Activities That Help Communication Skills for Kids

Communication milestones are some of the most fun – first words, first sentences, and all the adorably silly ways toddlers describe things. Fortunately, we don’t have to get fancy to encourage communication skills in our kids – one of the best things we can do is to talk with them as much as possible, using correct language and rich vocabulary. But adding in a few communication-building activities can be a fun way to challenge kids’ language skills and expose them to a wider range of vocabulary. Here’s a few simple activities to help your kids become confident, well-spoken communicators. Reading We know – this one is probably so obvious we could just skip it, but reading with your kids truly is one of the best things you can do to help them develop language and communication skills. Books not only help them develop a large vocabulary – kids will also intuitively pick up on sentence structure and grammatical rules, especially as you read some of the same books over and over. Even story books without words can be amazing for kids’ language development. (Think books with evocative pictures like Jerry Pinkney’s The Lion and the Mouse.) These books empower kids to decipher what’s happening in the pictures, make inferences about characters’ emotions, and narrate their own version of the story. Simon Says This classic kids’ game is great for developing skills in listening closely and following instructions, both of which are critical in the school years. And it can still be fun even if it’s just you and the kids. Take turns being Simon each time someone messes up – they’ll love the chance to give instructions too! Emotion Charades Non-verbal communication is important too – especially since recognizing non-verbal cues in others is tough for many kids. To practice, you can play a game of “Emotion Charades” where you take turns acting out different emotions (excited, bored, annoyed, angry, etc.). You can add an extra layer to the game by asking kids when they’ve seen someone display that emotion in real life, why they felt that way, and how your child reacted. Mystery Bag Have kids reach into an opaque bag filled with random objects and try to describe and guess what they feel without looking. Model it yourself a few times, making sure to get really precise as you describe the shape and feel of each object and what you think it is. Kids not only get a chance to flex their inductive reasoning muscles, they’ll also feel encouraged to use rich, descriptive language. Family Show and Tell No, you don’t need to have your kid do a presentation in front of all their friends, but casual mini-versions of show-and-tell in your own home can help your kids gain confidence as a speaker. Anytime they seem extra interested in a toy, activity, or show, simply ask them to tell you about it. You can ask them a mix of real and imagination-based questions like describing how a toy looks, where they got it, what it likes to do, where it sleeps, what it eats, etc. They’ll grow their imaginations and their speaking skills as they come up with answers. And if they seem to get shy in response to your questions instead of enjoying answering them? No worries. You can simply move on to something else – the last thing you want to do is make them feel pressure to perform. Instead, just look for natural opportunities to talk with your kids about things they enjoy.Remember, it’s not about racing to get to the first word or having the kindergartner with the most impressive vocabulary. Just try to help your child know that you truly enjoy communicating with them, whether that’s in a game like the ones above or in your day-to-day life. Kids who feel heard and respected (at any stage of communication) are more likely to feel confident and prepared as they communicate with peers, teachers, and other adults throughout their life.

two kids eating snacks on KidKraft outdoor table

Fourth of July Activities for Toddlers

The Fourth of July comes with a ton of built-in entertainment for kids… I mean what’s cooler than fireworks and parades? Unfortunately, a lot of those activities aren’t so toddler-friendly. (Two-year-olds + late bedtimes + sparklers = recipe for disaster.) But no worries – to make sure the littlest members of the family get in on the July 4th fun, we’ve put together this list of Fourth of July activities for toddlers! Fizzy Chalk Fireworks Real fireworks and sparklers are probably still a little (okay, a lot) too dangerous for your toddler to handle, but they can draw and “pop” their own kid-friendly firework paintings with this fizzy sidewalk chalk paint. This super simple chalk paint is a combo of baking soda, water, cornstarch, and food dye. Once they’ve drawn their fireworks on the sidewalk, hand over a bottle of vinegar so they can spray their artwork and watch it fizz! Red, White, & Blue Fruit Skewers Your toddler will love that they can actually help make these healthy fruit kabobs. Depending on their skill level, they can chop the banana with a butter knife, place fruit on the skewers, and ( if they’re a bit older) work on their pattern recognition skills! DIY Sparkler Wands These sparkler wand crafts are a fun, safe alternative to actual sparklers. They may not be quite as enticing as an actual sparkler, but your little one will still have fun waving and shaking them – not to mention all the fun they’ll have making them with you! Temporary Tattoos & Face Painting Even if you’re not an artist, stars, stripes, and fireworks are pretty easy to paint. No matter how they turn out, your toddler is sure to love them! They’ll probably want a turn too, so be prepared to get a few red, white, and blue scribbles on your own face! Be sure to pick up a few bottles of face paint as even the non-toxic craft paints might irritate sensitive skin. Or make it even simpler and just pick up a few packs of 4th of July temporary tattoos. “Fireworks” in a Jar These fireworks in a jar are a July 4th-themed take on one of our favorite water activities for toddlers. Just add some water, oil, and a few drops of food coloring to a jar and let them shake away. The oil will create a lava lamp effect as the colors mix around. Add in some glitter or star-shaped confetti for a little extra sparkle. Red & Blue Dyed Flowers Dying flowers with colored water is a popular science experiment to teach kids about the vascular system of plants. In this Fourth of July version, White daisies and red and blue food coloring give this classic science experiment a patriotic twist. While your toddler might not understand all the science-y details yet, they’ll still be delighted as they watch the white daisy petals take on red and blue hues throughout the day. They also make a great sparkler alternative for your little one to wave around! Paper Tube Firework Stamps Say hello to the easiest, cheapest Fourth of July activity ever. Just repurpose some old paper towel or toilet paper tubes into firework stamps and use whatever paint and paper you have on hand.Now finish off the planning by adding a few of these Kid-friendly Summer BBQ Ideas to your July 4th menu, and the whole family is set for some Fourth of July food and fun!

8 Activities Using Play Food for Kids

We all know that play kitchens and the play food that comes with them are great for dramatic play. I mean, who doesn't love being served pizza-watermelon-cookie soup by their toddling chef? But your kids’ pretend food makes a great addition to other activities too! Here are 8 new ways you can put that pretend food set to use in these food play activities for kids of all ages. Sorting Sorting is naturally fun for kids! They have a natural desire to find patterns, opposites, and categories. Play food sets offer all kinds of sorting activities for toddlers and preschoolers. Toddlers can sort by color, and older children can use more abstract concepts to sort the food items. (Which foods are for breakfast/lunch/ dinner? Which foods are sweet/ sour/ savory? Which foods are served hot or cold?) Mystery Bags Stereognostics, aka mystery bags, are a classic Montessori-inspired activity. To make one, put a few different objects in an opaque bag. Have your child reach in and feel the objects, describe them, and try to identify them, all without taking a peek. This activity helps your child develop their tactile senses, vocabulary, and reasoning skills. Play food presents a great challenge for this activity! Because most pieces of play food have a similar texture and weight, kids will have to use their fingers to explore the shapes to identify them correctly. This added challenge is perfect for older preschoolers who have already mastered mystery bags with easier-to-identify objects.. Learning Fractions Toy foods like this apple pie or cake set are perfect manipulatives for introducing fractions. Abstract number concepts can be tough for kids, but make that concept tangible and dessert-related? Now that’s something they’ll get on board with! Shopping & Math If your school-age kiddo loves to play restaurant or shopkeeper, have them create their own price list for each of the food items. When it’s time to pay the bill, you can add up the total together. This activity is especially great for introducing the concept of multiplication to school-age kids. (If I want to buy three pizza slices, and you charge $2 per slice, how much should I give you?) Raid your Monopoly box for pretend money or make your own for even more fun! Clay Models Add a little challenge and inspiration to play dough time by asking your child to make their best playdough or clay version of their play foods. Play food items are the perfect level of difficulty for this kind of activity: simple and easy to make yet interesting and intricate enough that your kids will enjoy trying to copy them. Stencils and Stamps Bring your play food set into the craft area for fun food-inspired art! Use them as stencils, letting kids trace the outline and then color and draw inside. Or pour a small amount of washable paint onto paper plates, and use them as stamps! Sensory Bins Sensory bins are all the rage on Pinterest, Instagram, and pretty much every mom blog around. And yes, they live up to the hype! While there are all types of sensory bins, a classic version includes a base like dyed rice, beans, or kinetic sand along with smaller objects and toys. Kids love pouring, digging, and sifting through the base to find the toys, and play foods make a perfect addition. Since sensory bins are often themed around holidays, seasons, and other categories, toss in a few play foods that fit your theme!Looking to shop for the perfect play kitchen or pretend play toy by age? Explore our selection for 2-to-4 year olds and 3-to-5 year olds now.

6 Ideas to Break Up Kids' Tech Time

If your child’s screen time is starting to feel out of hand, you are so not alone. Managing screen time is always a challenge, but these days, it’s extra tough. Virtual learning is adding hours of screen time to kids’ days and cutting out extracurriculars and playtime with peers, leaving kids even more prone to turning to tech for entertainment. So what’s a busy parent to do? First, let go of any parental guilt – this season is tough. Second, try to work a few of these back-to-basics ideas into your kids’ daily routine to get them moving, creating, and using their imaginations! Cook Something Even if “cook” just means “spread-peanut-butter-on-toast” for your kid, giving them something to do in the kitchen is a great sensory and fine motor activity. Scooping and measuring build math skills, and kids are more likely to try food they helped create. For a few ideas, check out these kid-friendly recipes you can make together! Craft Something Craft areas and maker spaces don’t have to be fancy or expensive to be effective. And you don’t have to plan out Pinterest-worthy crafts. In fact, there are real benefits to open-ended art projects that let kids take the lead. With a few basics, kids are great at coming up with their own ideas. Stock your craft station with a few age appropriate supplies like safety scissors, glue sticks, pipe cleaners, popsicle sticks, paper towel rolls, craft pom poms, metal brads, and construction paper. (Of course, adjust according to the age of your kids!) Build Something Constructive play with things like blocks, building bricks, magnetic tiles, train sets, or play dough is engaging and brain-boosting. If your kids lose interest in building quickly, play with them to model how you can create and come up with your own ideas. Before long, they’ll be constructing their own masterpieces. Get Outside Making outdoor time a priority might be the single most important thing we can do to reduce our kids’ screen time and help them stay healthy and active. Investing in outdoor toys like playhouses, sandboxes, and swing sets is a great way to make the backyard more enticing. Walks, nature scavenger hunts, bike rides, trips to the park, and a backyard garden are other ideas that can become an easy, fun part of your regular routine. Make Reading Fun We all know how great reading is for kids. But if we force them to shut off their favorite app and pick up a book, reading can start to feel like a punishment instead of something fun – and what a shame that would be! To raise lifelong readers, try keep reading time fun, kid-led, and low pressure. Keep their bookshelf fresh with weekly visits to your local library (or weekly pickup if your library is closed). Read together with your best voices. Let them see you reading books that you really enjoy. Set up a cozy reading nook and let them decorate it with their own art and favorite pillows, blankets, and plushies. Offer special treats like herbal teas or frothed milk to make reading time even cozier and happier. Use Tech to Inspire Play If your kiddos are still clinging tightly to their TV time, use that interest to your advantage with pretend play inspired by their favorite characters. If they’ve been playing Netflix’s Over the Moon on repeat, “bake” some of those famous mooncakes together in their play kitchen. If they’re all about the princess category on Disney+, princess-themed dolls and dollhouses are sure to be a hit. Whatever they’re into, use it to re-spark interest in roleplay, pretend play, and open-ended toys. Hang in there, parents! You’re doing great.

Valentine's Day Ideas for Kids the Whole Family Will Love

Need some kid-friendly Valentine’s Day ideas that don’t involve tons of sugar, money, or prep time? We’ve got you covered. Share the love with the whole family this year with these cheap and easy Valentine's Day ideas for kids! Valentine’s Sensory Bins Dyed rice and heart-shaped knick-knacks make for adorable toddler-friendly sensory bins. Add some different spoons, tongs, and tools for scooping and pouring, and preschoolers of all ages will engage with this fun sensory experience! If you want even more ideas, check out this round-up of Valentine’s Day sensory bins from Kindergarten Connection. Older kids will love the added challenge of the math and reading-themed bins. Valentine Cards Is it really even Valentine’s Day without some delightfully messy homemade cards? While the packs of pre-made Valentines are great for class parties, your kids will love making their own grandparents, siblings, and other loved ones. If your kiddos can’t write yet, prompt them with a few questions and write down their answers. “What’s your favorite thing about Grandma?” “If you had a million dollars, what would you buy Daddy for Valentine’s Day?” They’re sure to have some cute answers that make for great keepsakes. Decorate with stickers, finger paint, and (if you dare) glitter. Heart Envelopes Once those little love notes are complete, wrap them up in these DIY heart-shaped envelopes. The envelopes can double as the Valentine itself if your kids write their messages in the center! Valentine’s Reading Hour There are plenty of Valentine’s-themed kid books out there, and your local library probably has plenty to spare! If you can’t browse in person due to social distancing rules, search the online catalog and place some reservations for pickup. Cookie Cutter Everything Those heart-shaped cookie cutters are good for a lot more than just baking sugar cookies (though we suggest you do that too!). We love that they’re a cheap, effortless way to add a little Valentine’s theme to the activities you already have. They can double as stencils and paint “stamps,” and they’re great for playdough. Or add a few to your little one’s play kitchen for some Valentine’s themed pretend baking (just be sure that the edges aren’t too sharp!) Family Date Night Who says candle-lit dinners are just for the grown-ups? Break out that tablecloth, set the table with flowers and candles, and play the cheesiest playlist you can find on Spotify. Serve up the kids’ favorites (even if that means decidedly non-fancy things like grilled cheese and pizza bagels), and celebrate the love you share as a family! For dessert? You can’t go wrong with anything covered in chocolate. However you end up celebrating, as long as your little Valentines know they’re loved, that’s a successful V Day in our book!

Best Developmental Toys for Kids

When it comes to toys, simple is usually best. Classic, open-ended toys that encourage building, movement, and pretend play are the time-tested winners when it comes to developing motor skills, growing imaginations, and – most importantly – having fun! Our list of developmental toys covers everyone from babies to big kids and is filled with kid-tested playtime favorites. Best Developmental Toys for Infants & Toddlers Shape Sorters The best developmental toys for babies turn those adorable chubby hands into fine-motor machines! Babies are also all about toys that display cause and effect and help them explore spatial reasoning skills (i.e. how things fit inside of other things). Shape sorters check all of the boxes! The shapes are perfect for the littlest littles who are just learning how to grasp objects of various sizes and shapes. As they get a bit older, they’ll love dumping the shapes out of the box and putting them back in through the large opening. And as they reach toddlerhood, they’ll actually play with it for its main purpose – sorting shapes into the matching holes. Themed shaped sorters like the Noah’s Ark Shape Sorter also work well for pretend play, meaning they’ll stay a playtime favorite into the preschool years. Push Toys Push toys like the Push Along Play Cart help those early walkers get their sea legs! Unlike baby walkers, which have actually been associated with delayed walking and dangerous accidents, push toys like wagons and carts let toddlers develop strength, balance, and coordination. Best Developmental Toys for 3 & 4 Year Olds Play Kitchens Pretend play helps your kiddo develop problem-solving skills, social skills, emotional regulation, and creativity. A play kitchen – and all of those adorable pretend dishes and foods – are a fantastic way to encourage dramatic role-play, an important type of pretend play. Kids develop independence and real-life skills as they pretend to do what adults do. Even tasks that seem mundane to us, like frying eggs for breakfast, are exciting to our littles when they get a chance to do (or pretend to do) them on their own. Play kitchens are also fun props for imaginative play and world-building, and your mini-chef will use theirs for everything from playing house to cooking up magic potions. Toy Train Sets Truthfully, a toy train set can be successfully introduced a bit earlier or even years later, but four-year-olds are right in the sweet spot. They’ve developed the fine motor skills necessary to build tracks on their own, but they’ll still be challenged by planning and assembling complex tracks. This type of constructive play –a fancy term for “building stuff”– is associated with better math skills even much later in life. Our Top Train Set Picks for Kids guide can help you find a train set that lines up with your child’s skill level and interests. Wooden Blocks Good ol’ fashion blocks are one of the most highly praised toys for developmental benefits. In fact, how many blocks a child can stack is used as one measure of their developmental milestones. Stacking blocks challenges their fine motor skills, and making more complex structures helps develop their spatial reasoning and creativity. Best Developmental Toys for 5 & 6 Year Olds Dollhouses All those benefits of pretend play we talked about? Dollhouses provide them too, and they’re particularly awesome in the areas of emotional and social development. If you’ve ever really listened to a five-year-old play with a dollhouse, you know what we mean. Those dolls have some pretty dramatic adventures and conflicts, all powered by the kids’ amazing imaginations. As they play the parts of multiple dolls, they’re learning how to see from others’ perspectives and slowly but surely gaining empathy. Inventing and acting out social conflicts preps them for the real thing and helps them learn to regulate their own big feelings. Building Bricks Your five year old can still benefit from constructive play, but they probably no longer find wooden blocks challenging enough. Plastic building bricks on the other hand? The perfect toy to create all those cool things they’re dreaming up. They’re ideal for creating more complex structures and objects they can pretend with like a garage for their toy trucks or a pretend cell phone. At their age, the possibilities are really endless – we don’t call them “clever creators” for nothing! Outdoor Play Sets Swing sets build gross motor skills, strength, endurance, and perhaps most importantly, encourage kids to get outside and be active! This is especially important for school-age kids who may sit a lot throughout the school day and are more prone to sedentary behavior than ever-wiggly toddlers. Want more ideas for brain-boosting play for your little ones? Be sure to check out our complete toy guides for three, four, five, and six-year-olds!