As new parents, it’s common to accumulate various essentials, such as a bouncy seat or a co-sleeper. However, many of us also find ourselves irresistibly drawn to cute toys—like a plush bunny or colorful stacking blocks—despite knowing our little ones won’t engage with them for quite some time. Friends and family often contribute an assortment of toys, including wooden puzzles and matchbox cars, adding to the collection.
Now, after five years and two children, I’ve gained insight into what toys have truly been beneficial, and the answer is: none. If I could advise my expectant self, it would be this: refrain from spending any money on toys. Instead, consider stocking up on these 25 indispensable items that will keep your kids entertained for days, if not weeks or even years.
- A pad of post-it notes, each note peeled off and affixed to random spots around the house, like your mascara wand.
- An empty tampon wrapper, which serves as a piece of “pirate treasure.”
- A collection of twigs “smuggled” indoors, contributing to an imaginative installation called “Blair Witch Project.”
- Everything in the junk drawer—every single item is captivating, from sticky pennies to straw wrappers.
- A whimsical coin purse, selected by my 3-year-old during a visit to the dentist.
- Seventy-five earplugs stuffed into that coin purse.
- A torn page from an expensive pop-up book.
- My shoe.
- Dad’s shoe, complicating our attempts to leave for a date night.
- A soup ladle, reimagined as a wand.
- My toothbrush, also transformed into a wand.
- All the spatulas, bananas, and even more tampons—wands.
- Every colander, for an inventive game of “car wash.”
- A spring from a broken toy truck, awaiting repair.
- Anything phone-related, including my phone itself, its box, and the previous phone’s rubber case.
- Numerous scraps of paper, also known as confetti, which the vacuum cleaner struggles to collect.
- Items in the fridge—my toddler sees the fridge as a treasure trove. Mustard bottles, eggs, or cherry tomatoes could offer him endless entertainment if only I would let him explore.
- Shoes I had saved for a potential new baby, which have instead been pulled out repeatedly. This chaos has convinced me to stop at two children.
- The bathroom faucet, a coveted play area for my toddler, who insists he would never ask for anything again if allowed to play there for hours.
- The toilet, where he is always on the lookout for one quick thing.
- Rocks, bugs, and perhaps a desiccated squirrel carcass until someone notices.
- A turkey baster.
- A screen door.
- A turkey baster creating perfectly symmetrical holes in the screen door.
- An empty binocular case, which has become his preferred bedtime companion over the stuffed bunny.
To summarize, it’s best to skip the toy aisle altogether. Instead, observe what’s already available in your home—kitchen utensils that may vanish forever or items you’re tempted to discard but could instead transform into a makeshift city in your hallway. The stuffed bunny? Forgotten. The blocks? Unused. But a simple post-it note? That’s a treasure worth keeping forever.
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Keyphrase: Avoid Buying Toys for New Parents
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