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Top 10 No-Cost Toys for Infants, Toddlers, and Preschoolers

Karent Nemeth NAEYC

January 1, 2024

HomeResources / Blog / Top 10 No-Cost Toys for Infants, Toddlers, and Preschoolers

KAREN NEMETH

11/29/2017

Here's My Top 10 Toy Ideas for Infants!

  1. Measuring cups and spoons to shake, rattle, and roll
  2. Plastic containers to stack, fill, and empty
  3. Washcloth to hide a surprise, wave in the air, or help with cleanup
  4. Ball of yarn or ball of socks that can go far and do no damage
  5. Clean 2-liter soda bottle with label off, filled with beads, pebbles, jingle bells, etc., and safely sealed
  6. Blankie
  7. Your keys (*to jingle and shake, not to give to baby)
  8. Disposable-diaper box turned into seat, sled, drum, hiding place
  9. Upside down pots and pans (best if used with metal measuring cups for really loud rhythm jam sessions)
  10. Your lap!

And Here's My Top 10 for Toddlers and Preschoolers!

  1. Empty boxes, large and small
  2. Bubble wrap for art projects or jumping games
  3. Rolls of brown packing paper for large art projects
  4. Paper-towel and wrapping-paper tubes
  5. Old gift cards, and membership cards as pretend money for shopping
  6. Cardboard backing from flipchart after paper is used up. Use for puppet theater, store counter, easel, roadmap for toy cars, etc.
  7. Big bowl of water with a few soapsuds on kitchen floor (with towel) with washcloth, kitchen items, dolls or plastic animals that need a bath
  8. Roll of masking or cellophane tape. Watch the magic happen!
  9. Clean, empty plastic food containers (for example, yogurt or margarine tubs) with lids for pretend cooking and bathtime play
  10. Your lap!

source: https://www.naeyc.org/resources/blog/top-10-no-cost-toys-infants-toddlers-and-preschoolers