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Choose classic toys to keep kids engaged for years

By Promila Shastri

We’ve all seen plenty of kids’ playrooms, chock-full of big, brightly-colored plastic with the power to light up little faces like magic—until the next big, brightly-colored thing comes along. Keeping kids’ hands and minds actively engaged demands considerable time, effort and thought towards, among other things, sourcing toys and games that bring enduring joy to growing children.

Classic toys and games that have easily withstood the test of time (and trends)—building blocks, train sets, board games—are always a smart investment. Keep children of all ages alert and entertained with durable alternatives to cheap throwaway toys, each designed to challenge developing brains and to let imaginations soar.

Made from high-quality solid wood, these ABC building blocks are both educational and fun, stimulating hand-eye coordination while improving language and math skills. A total of 36 blocks yield a whopping 216 sides of unique letters, numbers, shapes and pictures that translate into hours and hours of inspired playtime. The non-toxic materials comprising these ABC blocks have passed all child safety tests, making them supremely toddler-ready.
$35 from Amazon $35 from Walmart

This 67-piece train track set is made from100% solid, eco-friendly hardwood, and features no glued plastic connectors. Free of cadmium, and phthalates, it contains enough pieces to make 2 figure 8s, and comes with its own train car. Designed to be compatible with Thomas, and all other major brands and wooden toy railroad sets, this sizable train track set is sure to inspire hours of engagement, when set up in kid’s room or den.
$27 from Amazon

This 135-piece building brick set contains enough parts to make 5 or more movable cars at any one time. Compatible with LEGO bricks, this kit is made of high quality, safety-tested materials, and includes a convenient tool for effortlessly separating the connected bricks. The collection includes wheels and tires, windshields, steering wheels and other crucial pieces, all on hand for fashioning a whole collection of vehicles in a variety of sizes.
$17 from Amazon $18 from Walmart

Create the ultimate surface for LEGO and other brick projects with these handy baseplate pieces. Each 10 x 10 sheet gives kids plenty of space to get creative, yet is small enough to tote around with ease. Made from thick, durable material that connects to other sheets seamlessly, this unique baseplate design can be connected to from both above and below, allowing for imaginative multi-level fun in a wide range of color choices.
$12 from Amazon

Yes, bigger is sometimes better! This massive dominoes set features 1,100 tiles in 11 happy colors, each fashioned from non-toxic, BPA-free materials that ensure every child’s safety. Wider, thicker, and heavier than standard dominos, each sturdy piece has ideal dimensions to withstand all kinds of innovative tricks. Included is a drawstring bag that easily holds all 1,100 domino tiles—meaning that this super-fun game set also cleans up nicely.
$31 from Amazon

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We know it’s not always easy to resist fads, and the temptation to buy kids—yours or anyone else’s—the most popular playthings, whether affordable or pricey, is an ever-present reality. But consider also purchasing the kinds of toys and games that have universal appeal to kids of all ages, and—as illustrated in the 5 kids’ toys featured above—have managed to outlast both fashion and trends for very good reasons. The kids who engage with them, we’re quite sure, will only thank you.

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Promila Shastri
Promila is a New York-based writer, editor, and content creator, whose focus is on visual culture—product design…
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