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 Final 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 design 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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KidKraft Dollhouse Assembly Tips

When you bring a new KidKraft dollhouse box through your door, one thing’s for sure: your kiddos will be non-stop balls of excitement and anticipation until it’s ready. The only thing standing between them and hours of dollhouse fun? Assembly.But no worries – all KidKraft dollhouses come with easy-to-follow instructions, and we’ve got a few extra dollhouse assembly tips to make the process even easier and faster! Read All the Instructions You’re way less likely to make frustrating mistakes if you give all the dollhouse assembly instructions a quick read before you get started. And don’t worry, it won’t take that long. Most of our instructions are pictures only, so just glancing through will give you a strong idea of what pieces will go where and the order in which you’ll complete each step. If you lose your paper copy, you can find full instructions for all of our current products online! Just find the product page for your dollhouse and download the PDF. Clear a Wide Space If you can create a wide, open space for your assembly process, it’ll be easier to organize all your pieces before you start building. We recommend moving all other toys and objects out of the space (and maybe even temporarily moving small pieces of furniture like your coffee table if needed). With all other clutter out of the way, you’ll be less likely to lose pieces as you work. Inventory and Organize Use all that clear space to take inventory of all your pieces and organize them before you get started. Your instructions will have a detailed list of everything that’s included. Make sure you have everything you should before you start and organize them all into designated spots in your open area. On the off chance that you are missing a piece or something is damaged, get in touch with us right away, and we’ll send you a replacement part ASAP. Have a Friend With your instructions read, your space clear, and your pieces organized, you’re ready to get started! KidKraft dollhouses can be assembled by a single person, but if possible, we recommend having a friend or family member around to help. It’ll be easier to line up large pieces… and make the whole process more fun! Have a Plan for the Kids Depending on the age of your kids, you may want to plan assembly for a time when they’re out of the house or in bed. Younger kiddos are likely to move pieces around (or at the very least ask you every five minutes if it’s ready yet!) If you know they’ll have very little patience as they wait for their dollhouse to be ready, you may want to keep everything top secret until it’s completely assembled and ready to go. On the other hand, older kids may actually be great helpers and enjoy telling everyone “I built it myself!” Reach Out Again, if you have any missing or damaged pieces, let us know ASAP so we can make it right! The easiest method is to fill out the form at parts.kidkraft.com. If you have any other questions, email us at customerservice@kidkraft.com or call us at 1-800-933-0771. We’re always here to help!Still shopping for your perfect dollhouse? Check out our tips for How to Choose the Best Dollhouse for Toddlers!

Modern Kids Toys

Modern Kids Toys (That Actually Look Good in Your Home) The design for kids toys has definitely changed since we were kids. While fluorescent plastic used to be the norm, modern kids toys often feature natural materials and more neutral color palettes… you know, the kind that might actually match the other things in your home. A few minutes on Insta is enough to notice the trend of wooden toys and modern designs overtaking the primary-colored plastics – at least when it comes to large toys like play kitchens and play houses. But it’s not just for the ‘gram. Sturdy, wooden toys are more durable than their plastic counterparts and are more likely to be open-ended toys that promote imaginative play. These are some of our favorite modern toys that are on-trend and great for child-led play! Playhouses Modern Outdoor Playhouse The name says it all. The Modern Outdoor Playhouse features a contemporary, minimalist design. Find it in white-and-gray or in a natural wood finish that’s perfect for customizing. Cozy Escape Playhouse The trend of navy home exteriors with white trim inspired our Cozy Escape Playhouse in Navy. You get the look of a fully customized, painted playhouse… without actually having to paint it yourself. Play Kitchens Uptown Natural Play Kitchen “Chrome” and natural wood finishes give the Uptown Natural Play Kitchen a sleek, modern feel that’ll go perfectly with your real stainless steel appliances. Mosaic Magnetic Play Kitchen The Mosaic Magnetic Play Kitchen features a trendy tile mosaic backsplash that you’d probably love to have in your own kitchen. To be honest, a ton of our play kitchens have a trendy, modern vibe, so be sure to browse them all to find the one that fits your style best! Dollhouses Don’t get us wrong, if there’s any toy we love in a brightly-colored princess theme, it’s a dollhouse… but we love the look of a chic, modern dollhouse just as much. Here’s a few of of of modern favs: So Stylish Mansion Dollhouse The natural wood and open-frame design of the So Stylish Mansion Dollhouse make it great for multiple kids and great choice for blending well with your decor. Follow us on Instagram for tons of inspiration for modern play kitchens, play houses, and other toys!

Toys for Twins

Toys for Twin Toddlers Having twins means double car seats, double clothes, double beds… but it doesn’t have to mean double toys. Some of the best toys for twins are ones that promote cooperative play (playing together) but work just as well for parallel play too (playing independently but near each other). Here are some of our favorite toys for helping twins and siblings play together…and apart! Activity Cubes Even babies get jealous…which you know first hand if you’ve ever seen your babe suddenly crawl towards their twin as soon as they pick up a new toy. Activity cubes are one of the best toys for twin babies, because while most baby toys aren’t easily shared, a good-sized activity cube leaves plenty of room for both babies to play. Let’s Pretend Pop Up Collection If your twins love playing together but still need a little space to themselves, the Let’s Pretend Pop Ups will rock their world! These pop up playsets create an instant vet’s office, restaurant, or grocery store right in your playroom and open up into different “rooms.” So while one twin is settling the dog into the dog house “outside,” the other can check out patients at the receptionist’s desk. It’s the perfect way for twins to play together and still get a little personal space when they need it. Best of all? They’re made from wood, so they can stand up to double trouble for years, and they fold up for easy storage! Grand Horse Stable & Dollhouse with EZ Kraft Assembly™ One of the best features of the Grand Horse Stable & Dollhouse with EZ Kraft Assembly™ is the open design that lets kids play from any of the sides. So your twins can play with the dollhouse at the same time without bumping into each other. If you’re looking for a more gender-neutral dollhouse for your boy or boys, the So Stylish Mansion Dollhouse offers the same open design with a gender-neutral color palette! Plenty of our other dollhouses are big enough for two, so be sure to check out our entire collection before you make your decision. Train Sets A good-sized train set has plenty for both twins to do! They can each work on building their own tracks and adding their own accessories (look into an expansion pack if your train set doesn’t have quite enough tracks for both). As the twins get older, train sets are also a great toy for fostering cooperative play and sharing as they learn to envision and build together. At any stage though, it’s a good idea to have a train for each kiddo to push since the train itself is tough to share. If your twins are super into trains, a full train table might be a great investment to keep the trains organized and the kids entertained! Play Kitchens Play kitchens are a classic toy for twin toddlers because they’re perfect for both cooperative and parallel play. Any kitchen with room for two kiddos to stand is great, but our personal favorite for twins are large corner kitchens like the Ultimate Corner Play Kitchen or the Grand Gourmet Corner Play Kitchen. If you need a smaller kitchen to fit your space, the Retro Play Kitchen & Refrigerator is a great alternative – it’s perfect for small spaces, but the separate refrigerator means you can still spread things out to give each twin some elbow room.Of course, squabbles between twins or any siblings are bound to happen sometimes, but having a few ideal toys for twins in your playroom can help minimize the jealousy and help your twins enjoy playing with and near each other… at least most days!

Gender Neutral Dollhouses

Our Top 6 Gender Neutral Dollhouses We’ve raved about the developmental benefits of dollhouses before. Dollhouses and doll play can help kids gain social skills and empathy and grow their imaginations. Unfortunately, dollhouses are all too often seen as a “girl toy”... even though boys enjoy and benefit from dollhouses too. Gender neutral dollhouses can be the key to making sure boys still feel free to explore this type of play without social pressure to choose “boy toys” instead. They’re also perfect for girls who’d rather skip the pink and “girly” dollhouses.Here are a few of our favorite gender neutral dollhouses, so you can make sure every kid in your house feels free to play away! So Stylish Mansion Dollhouse If you need a large gender neutral dollhouse that lets multiple kids play at once, the So Stylish Mansion Dollhouse is our top pick. An open natural wood frame gives the dollhouse a clean, minimalist look and lets kids play on every side of the dollhouse. The interior is stylish but simple with gender neutral colors like blue, green, and orange. Designed by Me: Sticker Fun House The Designed by Me collection lets kids add their own personal touches to their dollhouses, so they’re highly customizable to kids’ individual tastes. The Sticker Fun House starts with a very neutral base. The exterior is natural wood, while the interior walls feature simple patterns in gender neutral color schemes. From there, kids can decorate them with stickers to create their own dream dollhouse. That means adding anything from basketball goals, barbecue pits, and bikes to flowers and rainbows. The included furniture and accessories come in colors like orange, yellow, and blue. The Hometown Heroes Playset While some of the dollhouses above lean toward the girlier side, the Hometown Heroes Playset definitely has a traditionally boyish feel (though we know little girls love fire trucks and helicopters just as much as the boys do!) This dollhouse-in-disguise features multiple rooms for the included police officer and fireman to work and relax before it’s time to rush off to the next emergency. Playsets like Hometown Heroes are perfect for boys or girls who turn up their noses at “real” dollhouses but still enjoy this type of pretend play. The Everyday Heroes Wooden Playset Similar to Hometown Heroes, the Everyday Heroes Playset offers all of the benefits of a dollhouse but is disguised as a more traditional “boy” toy. Overall, It’s a great toy for any boy or girl who loves flashing lights and fire trucks! We think dollhouses truly can be one of the best gender neutral toys out there. They align with all kids’ natural desire to pretend and role play and help foster their growing imaginations. So, if your child steers clear of all things pink, simply opt for one of our more gender neutral choices instead to give them all the benefits of playing with dolls and dollhouses! Looking to shop for dollhouses by age? Discover our dollhouses for 2-to-4-year olds, 3-to-5 year olds, and 5 years and up now.

2022 Kids Toy Trends

What trending kids toys can you expect to see all over your social media feeds in the new year? Here are five toy trends to watch in 2022! “Kidult” or Whole Family Toys “Kidult” is a fairly new term to describe the trend of toys that are meant for adults just as much as they’re meant for older kids. Think things like collectibles and complex building toys. In most cases, this isn’t the trend to follow if you’re buying toys for younger kids who don’t care about expensive collectibles and can’t handle a 3,000 piece Lego set.So if you’re looking for something that lets the entire family play together, opt for a “Whole Family” toy instead – something that hits that sweet spot of actually being fun for adults but not too challenging for kids. The new Nerf outdoor battle forts offer a perfect blend of physical activity, strategy, and competition, so both adults and kids can genuinely enjoy them together. "Unboxing" Toys Unboxing videos have led to a surprising trend in toys where the unwrapping of the toy is almost more important than the toy itself. Our only advice? If you do select a toy for its unboxing experience, just make sure the end product is something your child will actually play with for a while! Techy Toys Techy toys aren’t going anywhere in 2022, especially as virtual reality gains more popularity. But even outside of VR, traditional toys are getting the high-tech treatment. The Alexa 2-in-1 Kitchen & Market, for example, is a play kitchen equipped with a kid-friendly version of Alexa. Kids’ dramatic and pretend play naturally mimics the everyday behaviors they see from adults, so as “smart” items and the internet of things are becoming a bigger part of our own daily lives, we’ll see more and more toys follow the same trend. Outdoor Toys Of course, the abundance of technology in our lives also inspires another trend: a desire to get kids outside and active! Outdoor toys saw a huge surge during COVID lockdowns as kids were missing out on their usual outdoor play and social activities. This year, the demand may not be quite as high, but you can bet that swing sets, outdoor playhouses, and other outdoor toys will continue to be popular as parents attempt to balance screen time with physical play. Montessori-inspired Toys Montessori education and parenting isn’t new, but it has gained a ton of popularity in recent years thanks to social media. Montessori-inspired toys are usually simple, made from natural materials and help kids perform practical life activities, develop fine motor skills, and create child-led art and music. While the exact toys and materials vary according to the abilities and interests of the child, some popular standbys in Montessori homes are child-sized cleaning and kitchen tools, wooden puzzles, craft tables that let kids access supplies by themselves, and wooden play kitchens that are put to practical use (i.e. letting kids prep real food on the counter or using the shelves to store their real dishes).

Snow Day Activities for Toddlers

When snow unexpectedly closes the doors of your daycare or preschool, keeping your toddler entertained through the entire day can be tough.You’re stuck inside, and since the roads are probably not safe enough to go grab supplies for new activities, that leaves you with what you already have in the house! To keep you all warm, cozy, and sane, here are some simple snow day toddler activities that add new fun to old toys and supplies! Snow Sensory Bins Your typical sensory bin… but snowy! Use all your usual fillers and tools but add a few scoops of snow from outside. It’s a great way to let kids have fun playing with the snow without actually having to be out in the cold. If you plan to use rice or beans in your sensory bin, just keep in mind that you’ll probably have to throw that batch out after it gets wet from the snow. Animal Rescue Find some of your toddler’s small plastic animal toys (or any small plastic toy) and some masking or painter’s tape. Tape them to a craft table, the floor, or the wall. Then, give your toddler a mission: rescue all the animals! You can criss-cross several pieces to make it tougher for older kids, or leave it simple for younger toddlers. Tape “Obstacle” Courses Tape to the rescue once again. Place lines of painter’s tape on the floor throughout the house and have the kids run along the lines. Leave gaps for them to jump over, swirlys for them to spin around in, and – if they can recognize shapes and follow instructions – place a few extra “shape challenges” on your course like jumping up and down in triangles and crawling over any squares. Older toddlers will probably love creating their own courses too, so hand over that roll of tape if you’re brave enough and see what they come up with. Kitchen DIYs Whether it’s whipping up some chickpea play foam, making baking soda “volcanoes” in jars, or mixing your own finger paint, your kitchen is a treasure trove of new activities (with a little supervision of course.) Our favorites are ones that give the kids something new to play with even after the activity is done like homemade play dough. Once the dough is ready to go, they can take it to their play kitchen and “bake” the day away with cookie cutters and a rolling pin. Crafting This does not have to be fancy. Use whatever you have on hand. You can make cards for family and friends with construction paper, do some finger painting, or make necklaces with yarn and cereal or macaroni. One idea they’re likely to love is “snow day” themed crafts they can decorate their room or the playroom with. Just cut out some snowflakes, string them together, and hang them up! Bath Time Fun Who says you can’t take three baths in one day? Seriously though, water play is often a magical “reset” button for a grumpy toddler, so fill up the bathtub and add a few new elements to make it extra fun. This can be as simple as letting them wear their swimsuits for indoor “swimming” or running a bubble bath. To add some novelty, add plastic toys that are safe for the tub but aren't usually bath toys or any bathtub paint or crayons you have on hand. We love the ideas of using the large, toddler size plastic building blocks in the tub to build floating structures! Fort Building Blanket and couch cushion forts are an old standby! Make them even more fun by incorporating some toys. You can create tunnels and caves to drive their train sets through or secret hideouts for their dolls and stuffies. For more ideas, check out our Rainy Day Activities the Whole Family Will Enjoy!

Nerf Kids Toys

If you constantly find Nerf darts in the most random places in your house, we have some outdoor toys that just might help you reclaim your home… and amp up the Nerf competition even more! The Nerf Scout Defense Post, Nerf Geo Strike Headquarters, and Nerf Command Base Battle Fort let you turn your backyard into the ultimate Nerf battle zone. Here’s what you should know to pick the Nerf outpost that’s right for your yard and family!Nerf Scout Defense PostThe Nerf Scout Defense Post measures around 50" wide, 54", long, and 96" tall, making it a great choice for even small yards. The defense post features multiple places for kids to hide, shield themselves, and get a great vantage point to aim their Nerf blasters. They can bide their time inside the tee-pee like area or duck for cover and crawl to safety in the tunnel.Then they can climb the rock wall or rappelling wall to take the high ground on the upper deck where they can hide behind plastic defense shields. Multiple targets and storage spaces for blasters and darts complete the Nerf fun! Nerf Geo Strike HeadquartersWith a geodesic dome complete with a satellite dish and working periscope, the Nerf Geo Strike Headquarters has a spy-headquarters vibe that adds an instant cool factor to any yard. At 73” x 67” x 60,” it’s a great fit for most yards. Kids can aim from multiple windows or get super sneaky and plan an ambush from the tunnel. Spinning targets make practice challenging and fun, and with multiple places to store blasters and darts, they’ll never run out of ammo!Nerf Command Base Battle FortThe Nerf Command Base Battle Fort was Nominated as an Outdoor Toy of the Year for the 2022 Toy of the Year (TOTY) Awards, and it’s easy to see why. It combines the fun of an outdoor playset with the rush of an all-out Nerf battle! If the adults in your house love to get in on the Nerf wars too, the Command Base Battle Fort is the one for you! This set measures 175" x 66” x 98", so it’s big enough for the whole family to get in on the fun. Sharpen skills on the multiple targets and then get to the battle! Bridges, ladders, gangplanks, and rock walls offer multiple ways to climb to the second story where plastic defense shields offer a great tactical advantage. Take cover on the lower level and bust through the trap door for a surprise attack! When the Nerf battles are over, keep all your blasters and darts organized in the built-in storage spaces. Need a few more details before you make your final decision? Check the specs and reviews on all the KidKraft Nerf outdoor playsets here!

KidKraft's Foody Friends

Foody Friends Collection Highlight What’s one part activity center, one part toddler kitchen, all disguised as a cute animal pal? The KidKraft Foody Friends collection! These space-saving toddler play kitchens sets are just right for your tiniest sous-chef! Why Kids Love It We’ll start with the obvious: cute animals and bright colors! Each Foody Friends Activity Center is designed to look like a fun, cuddly animal. With a choice between a unicorn, a puppy, or an elephant, there’s a Foody Friend for every toddler out there. Next, the activities. Depending on the Foody Friend you select, toddlers can guide figurines through tracing mazes or spin and slide pretend cookie dough shapes along “wire” arches. Even opening and closing oven doors and turning knobs is a fun “busy” activity for young toddlers.And of course, there’s the play kitchen aspect. Unlike larger kids’ kitchen playset, Foody Friends keep everything within young toddlers’ reach, and the counter/ sink/ stovetop area is at just the right height. They’ll love feeling independent and “big” in a play kitchen that’s just their size! Plenty of cooking tools and food accessories will keep them engaged and cook up a storm. Here’s the fun that comes with each Foody Friend:Baking Fun UnicornThe Baking Fun Unicorn is all about making sweet treats including cupcakes, cookies, and a three-tiered cake with a hidden shape sorter inside. To make all that baking magic happen, they’ll get tools like a baking sheet, rolling pin, spoon, “unicorn ear” oven mitts, and a star-shaped cookie cutter. They’ll also get some raw ingredients to work with like pretend cookie dough, milk, chocolate, and sprinkles, so they can act out every step of the baking process.Cooking Fun ElephantYour little one can make a full breakfast of eggs, toast, and orange juice with the Cooking Fun Elephant. Then for snack time, they can really “pop” some stovetop popcorn or nibble on some cheese. For dinner, it’s chicken drumsticks, carrots, and corn. A plate, cup, utensils, spatula, and oven mitts (which double as elephant ears!) let them serve everything up! Why Parents Love It Pretend play for young toddlers usually means role-playing tasks they see in everyday life, so a play kitchen is a perfect toy to encourage dramatic and pretend play. The brain-boosting activities on the Foody Friends centers also help develop fine motor skills as toddlers work their way through slide mazes. Sturdy wood construction means these play kitchens can stand up to even the roughest toddler treatment, but no need to worry about hard wooden corners. Foody Friends are made with wobbly toddlers in mind and feature rounded corners, so they’re safe for little ones who are just starting to pull up, stand, and walk on their own. With ample easy-to-reach storage, it’s easy to keep all of those accessories contained, and your little one can even pitch in during clean-up time!But don’t just take it from us! You can explore even more Foody Friends features and reviews and order straight from KidKraft.com!