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.

Best Developmental Toys for Toddlers That Encourage Learning Through Play

Toddlers are little explorers. They’re experimenting with words, testing boundaries, making messes, and expressing big emotions (sometimes all before lunchtime). It’s exciting, exhausting, and endlessly rewarding to watch them grow more independent each day.  That’s where the benefits of play come in. Because the right toys can turn all that energy and curiosity into meaningful learning. For children ages 1–3, toddler toys that focus on development add joy to playtime while offering safe ways to practice motor skills, expand language, and strengthen social connections. Learning in Disguise: The Importance of Developmental Toys Developmental toys invite exploration and creativity, giving your toddler stepping stones for lifelong learning. They help little ones: Strengthen fine and gross motor skills Explore language and early math concepts Practice problem-solving Build social-emotional awareness through pretend play and sharing Best Developmental Toys for Toddlers by Age and Skill So which toys are best for toddlers? To make play both fun and purposeful, opt for toys that match your child’s age and stage.   Early Learning and Development Toys Perfect for 1-Year-Olds At this stage, discovery is all about textures, sounds, and movement. Some ideal toys for 1-year-olds include:  Activity cubes: With colorful bead mazes, gears, and shape sorters, these cubes keep the tiniest hands busy while building fine motor skills and problem-solving fun. Soft stacking rings and cups: These classic sets are perfect for practicing hand-eye coordination and learning about size and order. Slide: Bring the playground home with a toddler-sized indoor or outdoor slide. Climbing up and sliding down nurtures gross motor development, balance, and confidence. Simple musical instruments: Equip your future rock stars with shakers, tambourines, and mini drums. You may want to cover your ears, but they’ll love exploring rhythm and sound. The Best Educational Toys for 2-Year-Olds Life with a 2-year-old means lots of “I do it myself!” moments. At this stage, toddlers want to solve problems, copy everything you do, and test their independence through play. The following are some great toy choices for 2-year-olds: Activity tables: Give toddlers a space to build, draw, and explore. Activity tables encourage creativity, fine motor skills, and cooperative play. Pretend-play kitchens: Little chefs can cook up big imaginations in their own toddler café, building language skills and creativity with every “meal” they make. Chunky puzzles: Support cognitive skills and patience while improving dexterity with puzzles that have just-the-right-size pieces for holding. Sandbox: Toddlers love the mess and magic of sand. Digging, pouring, and shaping sand help them develop fine motor skills, creativity, and sensory awareness. Encourage Skills With Play Sets and Imaginative Toys As toddlers grow, creativity takes center stage, and social skills begin to bloom. Two- and three-year-olds especially enjoy toys that let them tell stories, explore feelings, and play side by side with friends or family. Dollhouses, farm sets, and animal figurines: These toys encourage toddlers to create their own scenarios and characters, sparking imagination, emotional awareness, and opportunities for cooperative play. Easels and art supplies: Support your budding artists with easels, paints, crayons, and modeling dough—just don’t forget the smock! They let toddlers doodle, dab, and shape their ideas while nurturing fine motor skills and learning about colors.  Climbers and tunnels: Turn your space into a play zone with climbers and tunnels. These indoor and outdoor structures give little ones safe ways to crawl, climb, and explore while building strength, balance, and confidence. Simple board games: Memory or matching games teach turn-taking, attention, and following directions—plus, they’re fun for the whole family. Tips for Choosing the Best Developmental Toys for Your Toddler With so many toddler toy options, it can be hard to know where to start. But a few simple guidelines can help you choose toys that are safe, engaging, and made to last. Safety first: Select sturdy, non-toxic toys designed for your child’s age, so playtime is safe and worry-free. Go open-ended: Blocks, play sets, and dolls can be played with in endless ways, keeping play fresh day after day. Think long-term: Pick toys that grow with your child, offering new challenges and uses as they reach each stage. Encourage togetherness: Toys that bring siblings, parents, or friends into the fun help build social skills and family memories. Inspire Learning Through Play With the right toys, play becomes a joyful way to explore, learn, and grow. From painting to hosting pretend tea parties, each moment builds essential skills. They give all that toddler energy a purpose… at least until naptime hits.

The Benefits of Playing With a Dollhouse: Inspiring Imagination and Building Confidence

If you’ve ever seen a child lost in arranging tiny furniture or inventing whole worlds for their dolls, you know the quiet magic a dollhouse holds. Maybe you even had one of your own as a child. There’s something timeless about those miniature doors and little chairs.  Dollhouses open up endless role-playing and storytelling possibilities, and it’s through that kind of play that children build skills they’ll carry far beyond childhood. Let’s explore how a dollhouse becomes a stage where a child’s imagination thrives and their confidence grows. How Playing With a Dollhouse Supports Child Development Children can reap some big benefits from those mini homes and mansions. Beyond the fun, dollhouse play helps kids develop important skills in a natural, hands-on way: Fine motor skills: Moving small furniture, opening doors, and arranging figures strengthen coordination. Empathy and cooperation: Role-playing encourages kids to see different perspectives and practice getting along with others. Language and communication: Storytelling builds new vocabulary and helps children express ideas clearly. Emotional growth: The dollhouse becomes a safe place for exploring feelings and working through emotions. Social skills: Playtime with siblings or friends teaches sharing, problem-solving, and collaboration. The Best Age for Dollhouse Play Most dollhouses are designed for children three and up, once small pieces are safe to handle. Preschoolers and early elementary ages are especially ready for this type of play, as their imaginations are expanding rapidly and they’re eager to create social scenarios. Always check the suggested age range on the dollhouse to make sure it’s age-appropriate.  How Dollhouses Encourage Imaginative Play Because dollhouse play is open-ended, kids decide what happens next, giving them continual opportunities to experiment with routines and relationships. Observe a child playing with a dollhouse, and you might notice the dolls preparing dinner, putting a baby to sleep, or getting ready for work and school. Minutes later, the scene could shift completely. Suddenly, the dolls are at a dance session, hosting a tea party, or facing a dinosaur stomping through the kitchen. In a dollhouse, everyday life and make-believe live side by side. How to Enrich Dollhouse Play Parents and caregivers can enrich dollhouse play with gentle prompts: “What’s for dinner tonight in your dollhouse?” or “Where will your dolls go on vacation?” Questions like these empower children to take the lead in storytelling, nurturing both creativity and confidence. Choosing the Right Dollhouse and Accessories When choosing a dollhouse, start with your child’s age and personality. Do they dream up stories with pets and families, or are they aspiring interior designers who love rearranging the dollhouse furniture again and again? Sturdy materials and thoughtful touches mean the house will keep up with big adventures, while details like working elevators and moveable staircases make playtime extra exciting. Play evolves with age, and a well-designed dollhouse with interactive features can keep kids engaged, spark new stories, and feel fresh for years. Style counts, too. You might prefer a soft, neutral look that blends with your living room, while your child might be drawn to a cheerful pink mansion or a breezy beach house with vacation vibes. The best dollhouse choice is one that makes a child’s eyes light up, keeps parents happy, and is built for safe, long-lasting play. Inspire Imagination With Dollhouses Encourage imaginative play, growth, and self-expression. Explore our dollhouse collections and choose the perfect one to inspire your child’s creativity today.

How Kitchen Toys Support Cognitive Development in Young Kids

When it comes to supporting early learning, the right toys can help kids build real-life skills while having fun. Among the most beloved and beneficial are kitchen playsets. These imaginative mini-kitchens spark curiosity, encourage exploration, and support key developmental milestones in young children, from toddlers to preschoolers to school-aged kids. Discover how toys, especially play kitchens, support cognitive development and why they’re a staple in so many homes and classrooms. Do Toys Help Child Development? Toys do help child development. While a source of entertainment, they're also tools that help little ones understand the world around them. Through play, kids experiment, problem-solve, and develop social and cognitive skills naturally. And toys that invite open-ended play, like kitchen sets, promote creativity, independence, and confidence. When children engage in play that mimics real-life activities, such as playing kitchen, they build essential brain connections that support memory, decision-making, and language development. What Are the Cognitive Benefits of Playing Kitchen Games? Playing with kitchen playsets provides a wide range of benefits that go far beyond “cooking.” Pretend play like this encourages thinking, planning, and storytelling, which are all crucial pieces of cognitive development in the early years. Play kitchens are toys that help with cognitive development in the following ways: Imagination and Role-Playing Skills Kitchen playsets for kids transform into whatever your child dreams up, from a busy bakery to a five-star restaurant. This type of pretend play helps kids explore roles, emotions, and social situations in a safe, low-pressure environment. They practice empathy and problem-solving just by “cooking” dinner for a teddy bear or serving pancakes to a sibling. Language and Communication Growth Kitchen playsets are excellent developmental toys for toddlers, particularly in building language and communication skills. From naming foods to describing cooking steps, they encourage rich vocabulary and conversation. Whether your child is narrating their actions or pretending to take an order, they’re building these skills in a way that feels completely natural. Memory, Sequencing, and Task Planning Making “meals” in a toy kitchen encourages children to remember steps and follow sequences, such as putting toast in the toaster before serving it. These activities help cognitive development in areas like working memory, task completion, and organizational thinking, all of which are building blocks for academic success down the road. Which Kitchen Toys Help with Early Childhood Development? Look for kitchen playsets that are designed with realistic details and interactive features. Functional doors, light-up stovetops, turning knobs, and built-in sounds all support cause-and-effect learning. Accessories like play food, utensils, and cookware let kids personalize their play and expand their stories. Modern kitchen sets that mimic real appliances give kids a relatable, immersive experience that naturally encourages learning through exploration. The more lifelike the toy, the more likely kids are to get deeply involved in pretend play and have more opportunities to grow their cognitive muscles. Can Toys Increase Intelligence Through Play? While toys themselves don’t increase IQ, the right kinds of play can absolutely support brain development. Engaging, imaginative toys like kitchen playsets stimulate areas of the brain tied to decision-making, memory, language, and problem-solving. They help kids develop executive functioning skills like planning, self-control, and flexible thinking. Overall, one of the benefits of playing with toys that encourage creativity and critical thinking is that they can lay the groundwork for emotional intelligence and academic readiness. See How KidKraft’s Kitchen Playsets Got a Modern Makeover At KidKraft, we believe that when pretend play feels real, the learning comes naturally. That’s why we’ve reimagined our kitchen playsets with updated designs, modern finishes, and thoughtful details that both kids and parents will love. Our latest kitchens combine fun and function to create an engaging experience from toddlerhood and beyond. Before: A Classic Favorite Our original kitchen playsets had all the charm of a timeless classic—soft colors, sturdy construction, and all the essentials for endless make-believe cooking fun. They’ve been a beloved part of countless childhoods, sparking creativity for years. After: A Fresh Take for Today’s Kids (and Interiors) Our updated design keeps the timeless charm and sturdy construction of the original, while introducing a lighter, brighter feel. This beloved play kitchen now comes in white and natural wood, offering versatile options to complement any space. It features upgraded materials, a warmer color palette with soft brass accents, and realistic finishes that bring extra charm to playtime. Thoughtfully placed interactive features invite imaginative play, while its clean, modern style blends easily into your home. Explore the Full Collection From compact corner kitchens for small spaces to deluxe sets for imaginative chefs-in-training, there’s something for every little learner in our redesigned lineup. Each set is built to inspire storytelling, skill-building, and—of course—big-time fun. Bring home a kitchen where learning is always on the menu when you shop KidKraft. Here, pretend play meets real learning. Discover our updated kitchens today.

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8 Thanksgiving Activities for Kids

8 Thanksgiving Activities for Kids

    If we’re being honest, Thanksgiving is definitely an adult’s idea of a holiday: watching football and parades, eating until we’re stuffed, reflecting on gratitude, and sneaking in an afternoon nap. Heaven, right? But with no presents, fireworks, or snowball fights, Thanksgiving for kids can be a little underwhelming. Thankfully, all it takes to change that is a little imagination, and we’ve got ideas to make this Thanksgiving memorable and fun for your kids. Here are eight easy activities to get kids in the Thanksgiving spirit and keep them busy and engaged on the big day. Gratitude Box A little box and a few index cards are all you’ll need for this simple yet meaningful activity. Each day leading up to Thanksgiving, have kids name or write one thing they’re thankful for, and then read them together over Thanksgiving dinner. You’re bound to end up with a few silly answers that make for great keepsakes! Add to the fun by letting kids decorate the box. Leaf Rubbing Garlands Leaf rubbing is a classic kid activity that’s educational (hello, vascular system) and nearly free. Place a leaf under a blank piece of paper and have the kids rub over it with a fall-colored crayon until they can see the entire outline of the leaf on the paper. The only downside? It doesn’t last very long. Stretch out the fun by letting kids collect their own leaves in the yard. After they’ve completed their leaf rubbings, they can carefully cut around each one and tape it to a streamer or ribbon. They’ll love hanging up their DIY fall decorations in their room. Thanksgiving Sensory Bins When it comes to simple, engaging play for toddlers, sensory bins are where it’s at. Fill the bins with whatever Thanksgiving-related items you think your child will find interesting to touch, shake, or smell. Small pumpkins are cheap and fun to splash in bins of water; spice jars or freezer bags filled with popcorn kernels are great for shaking; and crunchy autumn leaves are always a hit. Sensory bins can get messy, so take this activity outside or keep it tidy in the bins of a kid-sized crafting table. Fine Motor Turkey Feathers With a few tweaks, this one works well for toddlers as well as the older kids in your family. You’ll need some large crafting feathers and styrofoam crafting balls. The fine motor challenge of pushing the feather into the styrofoam will keep younger kiddos engaged while you work on the real turkey. For older kids, throw in a few extra crafting supplies so that they can create a centerpiece-worthy turkey (paint, googly eyes, construction paper for beaks and waddles, and pipe cleaners for feet). If your tiny toddler doesn’t have the strength or dexterity to push feathers into styrofoam yet, swap out the balls for a toilet paper roll. Use a pencil or hole puncher to add holes for the feathers on one end and create your turkey face on the other. Pretend Thanksgiving Cooking Your kitchen will be going full steam Thanksgiving morning, so it’s only natural that the play kitchen will be too. Kids will love mimicking your special Thanksgiving meals, so in addition to their usual pretend cookware and pretend food, set them up with a few extra goodies to make their own pretend Thanksgiving meals. If you have any turkey crafts lying around, repurpose them by putting them in the play oven. Provide a small baking sheet or bowl and some clean veggie scraps for them to add to the “pan.” Throw in the right playdough colors to make pumpkin pie, rolls, and some cranberry sauce, and they can “cook” up their own Thanksgiving spread.  Real Thanksgiving Cooking No, we’re not crazy. We know the littles probably aren’t up to basting a turkey, but there are plenty of small tasks they can help with. From rinsing cranberries to measuring French onion straws to stirring green beans, let them get involved however they can – they just might be extra thankful for the dish they helped create. DIY Turkey Placemats The kids’ table will be looking fly this year (pun intended) with this spin on the classic paper plate turkeys. Help kids trace the outline of the plates they’ll use onto a placemat-sized piece of construction paper or poster board. Provide some crafting feathers and a glue stick to let them create a turkey tail around the outline of the plate. Come dinner time, their plate full of turkey will look like a turkey too. Thanksgiving Pictionary When you’re too stuffed to move, a nice game of Pictionary is the perfect post-dinner activity for the family to do together. Write a list of Thanksgiving-themed words (or pictures for pre-readers) and throw them in a hat, tailoring the level of difficulty to your kids’ ages. Set up the kids’ art easel in the living room and have fun.

Play Kitchens Roundup: Our Best Play Kitchens for 2023

Play Kitchens Roundup: Our Best Play Kitchens for 2023

Play kitchens are always a fan favorite with little chefs. Between the adorable and durable designs and fun play features, these play kitchens are some of our favorites and are sure to be a hit with parents and kids alike. Modern Metallics Farmhouse Play Kitchen The Modern Metallics Farmhouse Play Kitchen is a favorite with parents thanks to its ability to blend with almost any decorating style. If you love modern clean lines, you’ll love the minimalist design. If you prefer a more rustic, cottage core aesthetic, you’ll love the natural wood finishes and charming vegetable planters.More importantly, kids love this play kitchen too – but more for the fun features than the great design. The choppable veggie toys and planters let them grow, harvest, slice, and cook from their own little garden, and they love writing or drawing the daily specials on the included chalkboard. Metallic cookware and the light and sound effects on the faucet and stove make play time feel even more realistic and “grown up.” Create & Cook Kitchen Set If you want a play kitchen that comes with everything your kiddo needs to get cooking right away, the Create & Cook Kitchen Set is for you. In addition to the adorable, vintage-inspired play kitchen, you get 56 accessories, including cookware, ice cream scoops and cones, and choppable fruits and veggies. Best of all, this set includes three of our most popular and creative food sets: avocado toast, apple pie, and peach popsicles. Let’s Cook Wooden Play Kitchen + 21 Accessories The Let’s Cook Wooden Play Kitchen and Accessories is another combo that comes with fun accessories to let kids get creative and start playing as soon as they open it. With realistic features like a light-up stove and sound effects as well as 21 interactive accessories, it’s a great bang for your buck. Slicing and dicing carrots in the cutting board is always a kid favorite. Then, they can add it to a pot for soup or sizzle up some eggs for breakfast. The Let’s Cook Kitchen is also a favorite for parents who need a smaller play kitchen to fit in their space but don’t want to skip out on the fun features that come with deluxe play kitchens. Pizzeria & Delivery Food Stand For a fun twist on your usual play kitchen, the Pizzeria & Delivery Food Stand takes your little one out of the home kitchen and into the bustling restaurant life! Your little pizza chef can take orders, craft the perfect pizza, ring up your total, and serve the final product to their happy customers. The working conveyor belt lets your little one run their own pizza assembly line, so they can add toppings in record time. When it’s time to bake, they’ll finish the pie off in the magic broiler oven that changes the color of the pizza and beeps when done. Want your pizza to go? We’re sure they won’t mind packing it up in the to-go boxes and tote bag and delivering orders. Minnie Mouse Bakery & Café The Minnie Mouse Bakery & Café is another fun spin on typical play kitchen and is perfect for the Minnie Mouse-lover in your life (or any kid with a sweet tooth!) This little kitchen is all about the sweet treats and comes with interactive cookie cutters, baking mixes, cupcakes, and rolling pin. Best of all, they get to bake with Minnie herself as she holds up the recipe cards for them to follow. With its small dimensions, this kitchen is also a great option for anyone who needs their play kitchen to fit in a tight space. Want to see more options before you decide? You can browse KidKraft’s entire line of wooden play kitchens.

Gifts to Update Your Toddler's Playtime

Gifts to Update Your Toddler's Playtime

As your toddler grows and develops new abilities, incorporating a few new, high-quality toys that match the skills they’re working on is a great way to support their development and keep playtime exciting. (Plus, opting for developmentally appropriate toys means your toddler will actually play with their holiday gifts for months or years to come!) And the holidays are the perfect chance to do just that – especially if you’re shopping our Holiday BOGO Bundles! Here are a few of the time-tested, toddler-approved toys sure to update playtime.   Realistic Play Kitchens for Dramatic Play Unwrap a realistic-looking play kitchen on Christmas morning, and we guarantee your toddler will be whipping up pretend Christmas treats all day long. Play kitchens are great for encouraging practical life skills as well as imaginative and dramatic play. This year you can take advantage of the Holiday bundle with the cute and colorful Morning Sunshine Play Kitchen, the sweet and simple Uptown Elite, the super chic Modern Metallics Farmhouse, or the spacious Ultimate Corner Play Kitchen. With a variety of sizes, styles, features, and price points, we chose these play kitchens so that everyone could choose one that works for their budget, space, and toddler’s interests.   Outdoor Playset for Active Play A new swingset is the ultimate “Wow” present, and it’s a gift that comes with years of benefits like tons of motor skill practice and more time spent getting active outdoors. Want to score your playset as part of the Holiday Bundle? You can choose from one of nine options, from the budget-friendly McKinley to the sprawling Bear Cave Lodge Swing Set/ Play Set.   Kid-Sized Tables for Creative Play Around age 2, toddlers are starting to move beyond the “eating-the-crayons” stage and are getting more interested in actually scribbling and creating. Around age 3, they’ll actually attempt to start drawing shapes and pictures. And at any age, toddlers love playing with sensory activities and other craft materials. Providing them with an ergonomically correct table can help them focus on and feel ownership over types of activities even more as they’re better able to reach their materials and sit comfortably. Plus, they make great setting for tea parties! Our Holiday Bundle has three options for you: The Farmhouse Table & Chairs and the Arches Expandable Table & Bench Set both seat four. The Arches Floating Wall Desk is a great space saver and makes the perfect homework spot when they start school.   Dollhouses & Play Sets for Imaginative Play Isn’t there something so classic about an unwrapped dollhouse or train set waiting under the tree on Christmas morning? And even when the holiday decorations are packed away, and the novelty has worn off, dollhouses still get played with as they encourage your toddler to engage in child-led, imaginative play. For a few classic “girly” dollhouses, check out the Celeste Mansion Dollhouse, the uptown Dollhouse, or the Grand Horse Stable & Dollhouse.For a more gender-neutral option that blends well with chic, minimalist decor, try the So Stylish Mansion Dollhouse in Boho Naturals. Or for boys or girls who don’t want a dollhouse at all, you can offer similar types of fun imaginative play with the Everyday Heroes Wooden Playset or the Waterfall Mountain Train Set & Table.   To take advantage of our seasonal 50% off discount, simply add any two eligible Holiday Bundle items to your shopping cart, and don’t forget to enter code BOGO50 at checkout!  

7 Halloween Ideas for Toddlers

7 Halloween Ideas for Toddlers

  No need to get spooked by Halloween activities that cost an arm and a leg or take hours to prep. These Halloween ideas for toddlers are easy, cheap, and most importantly super fun for your favorite little monsters! Easy Witch’s Brew From Toddler ApprovedIf you’ve ever made “Nature Soup” in your backyard, you know how oddly entertained toddlers are by adding random objects to buckets of water and stirring away. All you need to turn that “soup” into a spooky witch’s brew is a few inexpensive Halloween-themed objects. This version uses eyeball “ice cubes,” plastic spiders, and fake cockroaches, but anything you have on hand works! If you have any witches’ hats and cauldrons around, be sure to use them to add to the fun! Pumpkin Bath From Busy ToddlerDo pumpkins need a bath? Nope. Will that stop your toddler from absolutely loving the responsibility of bathing the pumpkins? Nope. They’ll love it. Just fill up your sink with some water and suds, toss in a few small pumpkins and hand the kiddos a few scrub brushes or rags. Jack-o-Lantern Sensory Squish Bags From Fantastic Fun and LearningSensory activities are great for toddler engagement. The only major downside is they tend to be… messy. Like sometimes really, really messy. But not these easy jack-o-latern sensory bags. All you’ll need is some yellow or orange food coloring, corn syrup or cheap hair gel, and black felt for the jack-o-lantern face. We like the approach of taping it to a window, so the light can shine through as they squish the orange “pumpkin” gel and rearrange the jack-o-lantern’s face. And the best part? All the mess is contained in the bag, so you can get a few things done while they play! Spider Stamping From Crafty MorningIs there anything better than activities that are free and ridiculously easy? As long as you have some paint and paper somewhere (and what toddler parent doesn’t?), you can make these easy spider stamps with almost no prep or extra cost. Just cut a few slits into an old toilet paper roll, dip it into the paint, and let your little ones stamp away as they create their spiders. Googly eyes add an extra layer of fun...especially if they want to add 8 eyes to each spider! Pumpkin Hammering From Montessori Dad’s WayThis activity has been popping up all over Insta for good reason. It’s endlessly entertaining and helps develop strength and fine motor coordination. Poke some golf tees into a pumpkin (you can use a real one or a foam one), provide some wooden hammers, and let your toddler hammer them into the pumpkin. You can adjust it to their level depending on how deep you make the holes for them. Little ones may need you to push the tees all the way in and then pull them back out. Pour Painted Pumpkins From Homegrown FriendsKids already love pouring and painting, so just add a pumpkin, and you’ve got a Halloween toddler activity that yields surprisingly pretty results. Use white pumpkins and colors that blend well together, and you just may end up with something front-porch worthy. The Switch Witch Part activity, part brilliant way to prevent your toddler from eating 5 lbs of candy on Halloween. Just like Santa and the Easter Bunny, the Switch Witch brings kids special surprises on her favorite holiday. The only catch? She’ll want to “switch” that surprise out for a big bucket of candy! Kids are pumped about their new toy (maybe go for something they’ve had their eye on for a while), and the Switch Witch always leaves a few pieces of candy for the littles to enjoy. You can give the kiddos some control by letting them decide what candy they really want to keep and how much they’ll leave out for the Switch Witch. Turn it into an all-October activity by building up the Switch Witch, drawing your own Switch Witch pictures, or reading a Switch Witch book together.

Best Toys for Four Year Olds

Best Toys for Four Year Olds

  Pretend play is in full swing at four years old! These kiddos are constantly mimicking adults’ daily behaviors and routines and imagining their own make-believe scenarios. All this pretend is more than just play – it’s helping them make sense of the world around them and develop the social skills they’ll need as they grow up. Our picks for best toys for four year olds are open-ended and perfect for all the pretending, building, and creating your little one loves to do!   Best Toy for Constructive Play: 2-in-1 Activity Table with Board $109.99 What’s constructive play, you ask? Also known as construction play, it’s any type of play that involves building, assembling, and crafting something new, and it has documented cognitive benefits. Everything from blanket forts to sand castles to play dough can be categorized into constructive play, but the most famous example is classic building blocks. The 2-in-1 Activity Table enables multiple types of constructive play. On the building brick side, your child can use the 200 included building bricks to make anything their imaginations come up with. On the train tableside, they can construct tracks for a locomotive adventure. The table comes with a 30-piece train starter set and is big enough to accommodate larger sets as well.   Best Educational Toy for Four Year Olds: Uptown Elite Play Kitchen Of course, that chef’s hat calls for another timeless toy for dramatic play: the classic play kitchen! Realistic play kitchens can foster hours of dramatic play and provide an ideal space for brain-boosting constructive play as well when kids create their own playdough foods. The Uptown Elite is one of our most popular play kitchens thanks to its sleek wood construction, gender-neutral design, and realistic details like a working ice machine and sound effects. It’s the perfect size for your four year old’s dramatic play as they play house and cook away. Or take a look at our full line of wooden play kitchens to find the perfect pick for the four year old in your life. Best Toy for Jam Sessions: Lil’ Symphony Electric Guitar Do you have a little rockstar on your hands? The Lil’ Symphony Electric Guitar will let them jam out with prerecorded beats and riffs. When they want to get creative and try out making their own song, they can switch modes to play individual notes. Since most four year olds love music but don’t have the patience or dexterity for real guitars yet, the Lil’ Symphony Electric Guitar offers a perfect middle ground – they get all the fun of pre-recorded music and the chance to experiment with playing an “instrument” on their own. Best Toy for Four Year Old Girls: Designed by Me: Magnetic Makeover Dollhouse If you’ve ever found your little girl “redecorating” her own walls with markers, crayons, or stickers, you’re both sure to love the Designed by Me Dollhouse line. She’ll love the creative freedom to customize their dollhouse, and you’ll love that she’s focused on designing the dollhouse instead of your house. The Magnetic Makeover Dollhouse offers endless chances to design and redesign with eight magnetic wallpapers and magnetic accessories. If markers and stickers are your girl’s design tools of choice, be sure to check out the Designed by Me: Color Decor Dollhouse and Designed by Me: Sticker Fun Dollhouse as well. Best Toy for Four Year Old Boys: Deluxe Workbench with Tools The Deluxe Workbench presents another fantastic opportunity for dramatic and constructive play that aligns with your little guy’s interest in building and tools. The working vise, wrench, nuts, and bolts mean he can do more than just pretend – he can really use his tools to customize his workbench and build with colorful wooden planks. All the while, he’ll be perfecting his fine motor skills! Want more gift inspiration for the three year old in your life? Shop all of our bestsellers for kid-tested toys they’re sure to love! *Prices are correct as of the publication of this article.

The Ultimate Kids Holiday Gift Ideas

The Ultimate Kids Holiday Gift Guide for 2022

  We love the holiday season for that buzz of excitement, the fun holiday activities, and all the cozy cuddles with our kids. But there’s one thing we can do without: the overwhelming push to buy flashy, noisy toys that only get played with for a week.If you’re tired of the toy box being filled with long-forgotten ghosts of Christmases past, get some gift ideas and inspiration for kids of any age from our 2022 kids holiday gift guide. We’ve filled it with some of KidKraft’s very best for our five pillars of play: active play, cognitive play, creative play, imaginative play, and social play. No fads and gimmicks here: just time-tested gift ideas for kids who love to play. For young toddlers: 18 - 23 months These wiggly, wonderful toddlers are learning new words and concepts by the day. Whereas they loved knocking things down and taking things apart in the months prior, now they’ll revel in the challenge of building, fitting, and putting things back together. Wooden blocks If they don’t have some already, add a set of wooden blocks high on your list! They’re a truly open-ended toy, so they’ll encourage creative play and stick around for years. At 18 months, toddlers attempt simple towers (and love knocking them down). In just a few more months, you’ll see them try to make more complex structures. From there, the sky is truly the limit, and you’ll love seeing how your child incorporates blocks into their worlds of pretend play. Shape Sorter There’s a reason shape sorter is a classic toy. Young toddlers are engaged by the fine motor challenge, while older toddlers love learning and matching shapes and colors. Climbers That whole “climbed before they could walk” thing isn’t just a saying – young toddlers are driven to test their climbing skills on anything in sight. Fortunately, a fun, safe climbing toy can help them explore that urge to climb and keep them from attempting to scale your furniture (or your Christmas tree). A-frame Hideaway & ClimberOne part rock wall, one part tee-pee, this sturdy climber doubles as a pint-sized playhouse, making it the perfect blend of active and imaginative play. Camp & Slide ClimberHave a little one who adores all things nature? They’ll love having daily camping adventures with the Camp & Slide Climber. When they’re done climbing and sliding, they can cozy up in their very own camping tent! Under the rounded arch, tent flaps with camping-inspired designs create a cozy hideout for your little one to snuggle up in and pretend they’re roughing it in the great outdoors. 5-in-1 Sports ClimberWe love presents that get toddlers moving – they have a blast, and you might actually get a little downtime once they’re tired out! And movement is this climber’s speciality. With five different ways to play, your little one is sure to expend all that extra holiday energy as they climb, slide, score soccer goals, shoot baskets, and swing at the baseball targets!   For older toddlers: 2 Years Toddlers are constantly learning about the world and their own bodies and limitations! They love activities that challenge their fine motor skills, present them with problems to solve (How do those train tracks fit together?), and help them through developmental stages like schemas (more on that below!). Train Set Have you ever noticed your little one run to the window to watch the garbage truck? Or seem absolutely mesmerized by passing trains? If so, then you know that toddlers and preschoolers are fascinated by “things that go.” Train sets are a great way to feed that interest and encourage creative, explorative play as they build tracks and engage in pretend play. Train sets are versatile enough that high-quality wooden sets like the Figure 8 Train Set will stay in the toy rotation well into the school-age years. Turtle Totter Balance Beam Now that your little one has been a walking pro for months or years, they’re likely looking for other ways to challenge their balance and gross motor skills. The Turtle Totter Balance Beam is just the thing! A Foody Friends Kitchen & Activity Center Many play kitchens are still a little too big for toddlers at this age – the frustration of not being able to reach that top shelf is real. That’s why the Foody Friends Activity Centers are designed with toddlers in mind. A low-profile design keeps everything within your toddler’s reach, and the fun animal designs are just an added bonus. Now all you have to do is choose the animal pal your little one will love best: Cooking Fun Elephant Activity Center,Baking Fun Unicorn Activity Center. For preschoolers: 3 - 4 years Kids at this age are moving into the years of imaginative and pretend play (hooray!). Toys that let them role play, build, and create will always be winners! Adventure Tracks: Safari Run Remember how we said train sets were versatile? Preschoolers (especially preschoolers who love animals and the zoo) will love the added element of imaginative play in the Adventure Tracks: Safari Run play table. In this set, the train cars are animals of the African savanna like fierce lions, zebras, gazelles, wildebeest, and leopards. They can connect them with magnets to form a train or play with them individually. A safari through the tracks will take them face-to-face with more animals as they roll past elephants, giraffes, and more. Art Easel Your mini-Picasso already loved crayons and paints as a toddler, but now, you’ll see them move beyond scribbles and shapes and attempt real pictures. Their attention span for creative play like art projects increases around this age, so it’s a great age to invest in a dedicated art station or easel.The Create N Play Art Easel is a great choice if you’re looking for an all-in-one easel that will grow with them well into elementary school. With a built-in chalkboard, dry erase board, storage bin, and drip-free paint cups, it has everything they’ll need to make their next masterpiece and keep messes to a minimum. For even more mess-free projects, the Ultimate Creation Station has room for two plus built-in storage and project trays that make great sensory bins. Dress Up Clothes & Costumes From superheroes to princesses and everything in between, preschoolers love to dress up. A ballgown, a firefighter uniform, or a costume from their favorite character are guaranteed to be a hit. And to keep it all organized, the Pretend N Play Dress Up Unit will let them easily access all their favorite dress-up clothes year-round. Bring on the wardrobe changes! Create and Cook Create and Cook pretend foods are an engaging, budget-friendly idea for pretend play. They work as a stand-alone present or as a fun addition to a play kitchen. This year, kid favorites are the Create and Cook Apple Pie and Create and Cook Avocado Toast! If you’re looking for a play kitchen as well, you can bundle all those pretend play accessories and get a vintage-inspired kitchen with the Create & Cook Kitchen Set, exclusively on KidKraft.com. Let’s Pretend Pop-Ups Speaking of pretend play… Let’s Pretend Pop-Ups are 10/10 going to be a hit with preschoolers and up (and their younger siblings will love getting in on the fun too). These space-saving setups let your kiddo turn the playroom into a full grocery store, restaurant, or vet’s office for immersive pretend play with realistic props and setups. Each pop-up folds down for easy storage and opens up to six sides, so your little one has multiple “rooms” in their little business. For school-age kids: 5 years and up Ahh those dreamy years of endless pretend play. This is when watching kids open presents gets really fun!Pre-schoolers love play kitchens and the chance to mimic practical life skills too, but young school-age kids are especially imaginative with their play kitchens. In the hands of your five or six-year-old, play kitchens become much-loved props for playing everything from shopkeeper to Cinderella. And no, they don’t have to be a big plastic eyesore. KidKraft’s wide selection of quality wooden play kitchens are designed to last and look as chic as your decor. These are some of our favorites this year: Play Kitchens For a modern farmhouse aesthetic: Modern Metallics Farmhouse Play Kitchen: Wood-look storage baskets, a chalkboard for the menu-of-the-day, and veggie harvest fresh from the farm. This kitchen looks great and normalizes healthy eating. For a deluxe kitchen surprise: Ultimate Corner Play Kitchen with Lights and Sounds: Little chefs get the full kitchen experience with this play kitchen! Appliances include a fridge with ice maker, light up stove, spacious sink, microwave, and washing machine. The corner design gives it room for all the can include more space and features without taking up a ton of room in your home. For a cheerful, colorful look: Large Pastel Play Kitchen: Finally – bright, cheerful colors that aren’t overwhelming. This happy little kitchen is built to last through years of pretend play. Playhouse Going big this holiday season? Put that “wow” look on their faces with one of our newest and most popular playhouses: the Cozy Escape. This playhouse is a full-out clubhouse dream with two stories, a ladder, a slide, a balcony, and a play kitchen. Find it in the super-stylish navy-and-white combo exclusively on KidKraft.com. For a smaller playhouse in an equally stylish color combo, check out the White & Raven Modern Outdoor Playhouse. Swing Sets Swing sets are another outdoors toy that's sure to wow them! Our Wrangler Way Swing Set or McKinley Swing Set are big enough to grow with them throughout elementary school, and they’re a parent favorite for swoon-worthy paint jobs. If backyard space is limited, check out the Ranger Retreat for a compact, budget-friendly swing set they’ll love. Dollhouses Is anything more timeless than a dollhouse under the tree on Christmas morning? (Except maybe a puppy? Thanks but no thanks!) Dollhouses are another long-time kid favorite that works for multiple age ranges. Preschoolers are drawn to them too, but kids in the kindergarten-and-up range really engage in the type of immersive pretend play that makes dolls and dollhouses so fun. Large, open-concept dollhouses like the So Stylish Mansion Dollhouse allow for 360° play, making it easy for multiple siblings and friends to play together. The KidKraft Disney Princess Dance & Dream brings a little extra magic and fantasy to the realm. And if you have a little horse lover, the Grand Horse Stable & Dollhouse is the perfect way to give her dolls and her toy horses their perfect dream home. Play Sets For the boys or girls who like a little more of a rough-and-tumble vibe for their pretend play, playsets like the Rocket Ship Play Set or Pirate’s Cove Pretend Play Set are perfect dollhouse alternatives. For animal lovers and adventure lovers alike, the Safari 2-in-1 Ride and Play is an innovative combination of a Safari playset and a rideable safari truck!Hopefully, your head is now dancing with visions of sugar plum fairies and fun, engaging kids gift ideas for the kiddos in your life. Prefer to shop by price? Our Holiday Gift Guide has great gift ideas for every budget! Or, if you want to shop by type of play (creative, social, imaginative, cognitive, or active), check out our Shop by Skill page to find toys that align with the developmental milestones your little one is working hard to master!  

Kids Holiday Pretend Play Ideas

15 Holiday Pretend Play Ideas for Toddlers

  Call us sentimental, but we love all things holiday themed. Peppermint lattes? Cheesy holiday movies? We’re here for it.    So naturally, we want to share that holiday fun with the little ones in our lives too – preferably without constant screen time. Cue holiday-themed playtime. These toddler-friendly pretend play ideas are a very merry way to embrace the magic of the holidays with your kiddos all season long!   Dollhouse Decorating   The dolls deserve a little holiday cheer too, right? Supply your little one with materials to “deck the halls” of their dollhouse, and watch what they come up with. Artificial snow from your tree looks oh-so-winter-wonderland (if you’re up for a little mess, of course). Green pipe cleaners work great as tiny Christmas trees, wreaths, and garlands, though toddler hands may need some help with the cutting and twisting. Finish it all off with some craft pom-pom ornaments!   Pretend Polar Express   That’s not just a toy train. This time of year, it’s the Polar Express itself, and your child is the engineer. White felt or cotton balls can help you create a snowy North Pole around the tracks.   Play Kitchen Cookies   Baking holiday cookies is probably one of the highlights of the season for your sous-chef. Let them re-enact it by equipping their play kitchen with a rolling pin, modeling clay, and some holiday cookie cutters — all the joy of holiday baking without the sugar rush.    North Pole Campout   If you have a child’s tent, turn it into an igloo for a North Pole campout. You can even transform your outdoor playhouse into a snowy holiday scene. If you’re feeling crafty, you can help your little explorer decorate with white construction paper “ice blocks” for a real chilly igloo feel. No tent? A good old-fashioned blanket fort does the trick too.    The Elves’ Toy Shop   A good tool set is a busy elf’s best friend. Your little one’s toy tool set or workbench is the perfect setup for playing an elf in Santa’s workshop.    Reindeer Vet   Rudolph and the gang need to be in tiptop shape for Christmas Eve. Who better to make sure they’re up to the task than your little veterinarian? (After all, toys are at stake here!) Stuffed animals or even a (very patient) family pet make great pretend reindeer. No plushies or pup to play the part? We love the Schleich reindeer figurines. They’re realistic, less expensive than a stuffed animal, and they make great additions to your little one’s toy stable.   Holiday Toy Shopping   Real holiday shopping? Maybe a bit stressful. Pretend holiday shopping with your favorite little shopkeeper? Now, that’s some holiday cheer. Let them line up some stuffed animals and toys for their shop while you or a sibling play a happy customer with pretend money. Older kids will love the addition of a toy cash register or shopkeeper stand for more role-play.    Light the Menorah   There’s something enchanting about a menorah in the window. It’s just too bad you only get to light it once a night, right? A play menorah set with removable candles lets the kids recreate that magic anytime they want.   Play-Doh Snowmen   We’ll have lots of fun with Mr. Snowman … unless, of course, you live in a warmer climate or your kids aren’t fans of the cold. Never fear though. Play-Doh snowmen are a great way to get excited about the holiday season — no mittens required!   Santa’s Sleigh   You already have the perfect pretend sleigh — your child’s bed! Make some reins by tying or taping both ends of a jump rope to the footboard or headboard. Let them fill up a large bag with toys to deliver, and dig out that old Santa hat (you know you have one somewhere). They’ll jump at the chance to play Santa. Just be sure to remove the jump rope before bedtime.   Holiday Sensory Bins   For the youngest toddlers, Santa and imaginative play may be out of their reach this year, but holiday-themed sensory bins are just their speed. Fill a few shallow bins with some of the best scents, textures, colors, and sounds of the season. Think things like Christmas tree clippings, (non-chokable) jingle bells, wrapping paper, and red and green dyed rice. Set the bins on a toddler-sized table and watch them explore.   Dreidel Painting   Up the fun factor of dreidels by using them for spin art and stamps. Lightly dip plastic dreidels in washable paint, and set them spinning on a few pieces of paper. (Of course, you’ll want to be outside for this one!) Then, use a stamping pad or a light coat of paint to stamp the dreidel’s letters and designs onto the paper.    Felt Christmas Trees   Toddlers are to Christmas trees as moths are to flames (but in the best way). While you can’t make the glowing lights less magical and enticing (and would you really want to anyway?), you can redirect them with a felt Christmas tree. Hang one on the wall, and whenever your toddler is tempted to un-trim the real tree, encourage them to take the felt ornaments on and off the felt tree instead.   Holiday Reading Corner   Transform your kiddo’s normal reading spot into a cozy, winter-themed nook ready for a visit from Santa. Use poster board or construction paper to make a paper fireplace for the wall. Add in some construction paper flames and logs plus a few cozy blankets, and you just may want to curl up there yourself.   Stocking Stuffing   Have a stocking to spare? Make it a part of your little one’s toy collection this season. Ask them to fill it with presents for a family member or one of their favorite characters. They’ll love the chance to hunt for goodies around the house, and you’ll love seeing the funny things they pick out as gifts.   Now, go make those memories!