Toys That Last: Our Family’s Well-Loved and Most-Played-With Favorites

Every year around the holidays, my feed fills up with endless gift guides — lists of trendy toys that promise hours of fun but usually end up forgotten, broken, or trashed by February. This year, I wanted to share something different. Instead of adding more “stuff” to the world, I wanted to highlight the toys that have truly lasted in our home — the ones our kids have loved for years, that have grown with them, and that continue to bring joy, creativity, and connection. For reference, my kids are 9, 7, and 6 — a boy, a girl, and a boy — with my two oldest sharing January birthdays and most of our toys we’ve had since my eldest was a toddler!

These are the toys that have stood the test of time — typically well made and durable, inspiring open-ended play, and growing with our kids throughout the years. Some were handed down from my own childhood (thank you, Mom!), and some are newer favorites that have already earned a permanent spot in our home.

Whether you’re shopping intentionally this season (don’t forget to check the thrift stores!), looking to simplify, or just want inspiration for gifts that will actually get played with, here are our tried-and-true favorites.

1st Post: Toys That Last: Our Family’s Well-Loved and Most-Played-With Favorites
2nd Post: The Building Toys My Kids Still Play With (Years Later!)
3rd Post: The Pretend Play Toys My Kids Still Love
4th Post: Comfort Toys My Kids Reach For Again and Again
5th Post: Creative & Hands-on Toys and Learning Gifts for Kids
6th Post: Our Favorite Family Games: From Board Games to Nerf Battles

_{*This post contains affiliate links. I may earn a commission if you purchase through these links, at no extra cost to you. I only share products I genuinely love or would recommend.} _{Affiliate income helps me keep creating free content—thank you for your support!}

legos, lincoln logs, magnatiles, and marble runs being played with on a carpeted floor

Open-Ended & Building Toys

LEGOs
Our most loved and most played-with toy — hands down. My mom saved all my old LEGO bricks from when I was a kid and I gave them to our oldest for Christmas years ago. It’s been one of the best gifts ever. These tiny bricks have built everything and it’s so fun to build the sets! They’ve grown with our kids, and they get used all day everyday.

Magna-Tiles
Another huge hit that’s worth every penny. Our kids build towers, trucks, and even pretend robots with these. They’re colorful, durable, and can be added to easily with new sets.

Wooden Blocks & Lincoln Logs
These classic toys never go out of style. The simplicity sparks creativity — our kids build castles and barns, usually combining these toys with figurines.

Wooden Trains
These have been around since Carter was just a couple of years old, and they’re still going strong. It’s the perfect quiet morning or rainy day activity, and it never gets old connecting the tracks and creating new layouts and cities.

Marble Run
A newer addition but a fast favorite. It’s a great combination of creativity and problem-solving, and all three of our kids love building their own designs and watching the marbles race.

K’NEX
There’s something so satisfying about watching my kids build with K’NEX. It’s one of those toys that sparks creativity, patience, and imagination all at once.

two boys sitting on the floor surrounded by hot wheels cars and building with hot wheels tracks

Imaginative Play

Hot Wheels & Monster Trucks
Hot Wheels tracks have taken over our living room (and our stairs) more times than I can count. I love that they’re constantly coming up with new ways to connect the tracks and make jumps.

Dress-Up Clothes & Accessories
From superheroes to doctors to princesses, dress-up is still one of our kids’ favorite activities. We keep everything in bins and it gets used weekly for all kinds of imaginative adventures.

Play Kitchen & Accessories
We’ve had our wooden play kitchen for years, and it still gets so much use. I’ve slowly added wooden and felt accessories over time — little pots, felt food, even a mini wooden coffee maker. The kids love playing restaurant, making menus, and “serving” each other meals.

Barbies, Dolls, & Superhero Figures
Once again — Grandma to the rescue! My mom saved a bunch of my old Barbies, and let me tell you, they just don’t make them like they used to. The kids love mixing them in with action figures and coming up with their own imaginative storylines.

Musical Instruments
Musical instruments are always a hit in our house. From toy pianos and ukuleles to drums and shakers, they bring out so much joy and creativity (and a little noise, too!). They’ve lasted years in our home!

a toddler sitting on a cozy bed surrounded by stuffed animals with picture books strewn about

Comfort & Favorites

Stuffed Animals (and Warmies!)
Our youngest is especially attached to his “stuffies,” but honestly, all three kids love them. The Warmies (the heatable stuffed animals) are an extra favorite — especially during cold Michigan winters or when someone’s not feeling well.

Yoto Player & Cards
This has been one of the best additions in the past couple of years. The kids use their Yoto Players every single day — to listen to stories, music, podcasts, and even for quiet time or bedtime. It’s screen-free, encourages independence, and never seems to get old.

kids playing with a tub of kinetic sand using a variety of tools and molds

Creative & Hands-On Play

Play-Doh & Sets
A classic for a reason! The Play-Doh sets change over the years, but the creativity never stops. This is a go-to for rainy days or homeschool art time.

Kinetic Sand
Soft, moldable, and surprisingly calming. It’s a great sensory activity and has lasted years — we keep it in a bin with cars and small molds and just refresh it every so often.

Craft & Art Kits
These are a favorite for creative afternoons. Whenever a family member asks what to get the kids, lately i’ve been saying arts and craft kits! There are so many different ones out there! It’s also one of my favorite “use-up” gifts — something fun that doesn’t just sit on a shelf.

young children doing some science experiments including a model volcano

Homeschool & Learning Gifts

Restocking Art Supplies
Simple but always appreciated — new sketchbooks, fresh markers, colored pencils, paper. These are the gifts that get used daily in our homeschool.

Science Kits
We love adding new science kits to our homeschool rotation. Whether it’s a small experiment or something more in-depth, it’s always exciting for them and fun for me to watch their curiosity come alive.

Books
The gift that keeps on giving. We’re always adding to our home library — and I never know which story will become a new family favorite.

children playing uno at a table with snacks

Family Fun

Board Games & Card Games
We love games that everyone can enjoy together — from simple card games to our go-to family board games. They make for the coziest evenings at home.

Nerf Guns
Yes, I said it — Nerf battles are a family tradition around here! We have an ongoing collection, and every time a new blaster joins the lineup, it makes game nights even more fun.

Nintendo Switch
We love our Switch for family gaming time. It’s something all three kids can play together (and Dion and I sometimes join in). Games like Super Mario, Sports, Donkey Kong, and Dance Dance Revolution are favorites that always bring laughter.

Toys That Can Be “Added On”

One of my favorite things about many of these toys is that they can grow with your kids.
You can always add:

More LEGO or Magna-Tile sets
Extra Hot Wheels tracks or train accessories
Wooden kitchen add-ons like a mixer or coffee maker
New Yoto Player cards
Books to your home library
Nintendo Switch games or controllers for family play

And for “use-up” gifts — art supplies, Play-Doh, craft kits, and science experiments are always a hit. They encourage creativity and get used up (a win-win).

At the end of the day, the toys that have lasted the longest in our home are the ones that inspire imagination, creativity, and connection. They’re durable, simple, and open-ended — and they’ve grown with our kids through every season.

If you’re trying to be more intentional this holiday season, know that you don’t need a mountain of toys to make it magical. A few well-loved, thoughtfully chosen items can bring years of joy — and that’s the kind of gift that keeps giving.

This list is the first in a little series I’ll be sharing all about our tried-and-true toys — the ones that have stood the test of time. In the coming weeks, I’ll dive deeper into each category — from creative toys to family favorites — and share how they’ve grown with our kids over the years. And I’ll also be sharing what I’m getting my kids for this year’s Christmas (and birthdays).

So if you’re looking for simple, meaningful gift inspiration or want to create a home filled with toys that truly last, stay tuned — and make sure to check back for the next post in this cozy series. (You can always check out my affiliate links that contain all our well loved toys – Amazon and LTK. I’ll be adding and updating it regulary. It helps to support my family while I create free content like this!)