Save Money: 27 Toys Kids Will Love for Over a Year

We hope you love our recommendations! Some may have been sent as samples, but all were independently selected by our editors. Just FYI, BuzzFeed and its publishing partners may collect a share of sales and/or other compensation from the links on this page.

The next generation of classic toys.

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Promising review: "I have had these for a few years now and my kids love them. They enjoyed them as babies and continue to learn new ways to play with them as they get into their preschool years. The kids have used this to learn fruits and vegetables, colors, sorting, counting, and now for more imaginative play as they play chef and make soups and meals. I am always impressed at the quality of toys produced by Learning Resources and their products are worth every penny. These are a phenomenal gift that will receive years of play without any show of wear and tear." —kaBuku

Get it from Amazon for $24.84.

Promising review: "This is by far one of the longest-lasting toys in terms of quality and level of engagement for my little one.

First, the number and variety of shapes/pieces included are enough to be creative and complex without buying additional sets to build decent-sized structures. Secondly, the strength of the magnets is good — strong enough to keep the creations from collapsing but not so strong that it would be difficult for toddlers to pull them apart. And the true test…it has been kid-handled for years and still intact!My kiddo has been using these for years since toddlerhood and can be entertained for over an hour! The level of motor skills and problem-solving skills have definitely improved with the use of these tiles. I also have used them to help with speech and vocabulary since it’s such a highly preferred toy. I definitely would recommend." —S.

Get it from Amazon for $39.99.

Promising review: "My grandkids go through a lot of Play-Doh and sometimes they keep the colors separate and sometimes the colors get mixed. I thought I would try this smaller size out as, apparently, we are actively engaged in the ‘mixing’ phase.

I find that Play-Doh lasts for at least a year at our house with two active, crafty grandkids. Since they love it so much, I will keep buying it, and sometimes it will be larger containers, but right now, it is these small little guys. Small price to pay for a great product!" —gail

Get a 10-pack from Amazon for $7.99.

Promising review: "I bought this for my toddler. It uses a small battery to clear any drawing on the screen. I'm not sure how it works, but it's really cool!

The colors are bright and vibrant. And you can use anything to write on it with anything. The cats have walked across it a few times and that's been pretty cool.It is great for traveling and car rides. And it's still used years later." —Jessica Moore

Get it from Amazon for $19.99.

Promising review: "Grandchildren love it. This is a great toy. Been using it for 2 years!! I do wish they would make it in primary colors. I'm sick of all these pastels." —Mary Hill

Get it from Amazon for $9.97.

Promising review: "I bought this for my 1-year-old and she is now almost two and loves this still. She puts the cards in herself and repeats the words and sounds. They learned many new words using this. It also holds her attention for quite some time so I can get other things done." —RJ

Get it from Amazon for $12.98.

Promising review: "I bought this a year ago for my grandson. He is two now but still gets on it almost every single day. Very sturdy. Highly recommend." —Brad Wegner

Get it from Amazon for $34.88.

Promising review: "My four grandkids (3–7) LOVE this puzzle. I bought it several years ago and was surprised by how much fun they had with it. They bring it out each time they visit...sometimes working it as a puzzle and sometimes making everything from mountains, robots, and flowers with it. Great fun to stimulate their imaginations rather than video games or TV." —the girls

Get it on Amazon for $8.99.

GeerWest is a small business! Note: you'll need to purchase balls for the ball pit separately.

Promising review: "This tent is built strong! My 4-year-old and 19-month-old play in this daily for the last year, and it's still in perfect condition!! They are not beat up at all, and they are very rough with it. It does take a lot of balls to fill it up. We used 800 and it's perfect with that many." —Angela Martz

Get it from Amazon for $39.99+ (available in six styles).

Promising review: My 5-year-old plays with these blocks daily. We have had a set since he was three. This is our second set. Well worth the price." —hbn45

Get 100 blocks from Amazon for $17.59.

Promising review: "We have tried several stomp rockets and my kids love this one the most. The rockets are lightweight enough to blast high into the air, and the foam red tips make them fun and less painless to catch on the way down (or they bounce instead of getting ruined). If left out in the sun too much, the yellow shaft part becomes brittle and will crack or break, so I recommend getting plenty of refills. Four rockets lasted us about 2 years, with lots of friends and neighbors having fun with it too. Even kids who are rougher with the stomper never managed to break it." —Jaxon814

Get it from Amazon for $19.99+ (available in four- and six-packs, with or without LED lights, and refill packs).

Promising review: "A year later, this obstacle course I purchased has proven to be remarkably sturdy and easy to clean. It's incredible to see how creative the children are while playing with it, and they absolutely love it. Although it's a bit on the expensive side, the hours of entertainment it provides make it totally worth the investment. Highly recommend." —Misao

Get the six-piece set from Amazon for $69.99.

Promising review: "I really like the cup holder for the adult and the fact that the handle is satisfactory for tall people. The car is a great alternative to a stroller once the child is old enough to sit up. Great for a short walk to the park. My 1-year-old granddaughter loves it, and I enjoy seeing her interact with her environment instead of just sitting there bored as she did in her stroller. My 2-year-old grandson has been using his car since he was 6 months old. He loves it and knows he will go for a walk. Pointing out squirrels, lizards, etc., now that he is older. He is tall for his age. I figure he can still ride in it for another year or so. No, it’s not quiet. But the noise doesn’t bother me. Overall, the car is well worth the money." —Sharon Cooper

Get it on Amazon for $80.99+ (available in two colors).

Promising review: "I bought this for my son when he was 3. Two years later, I’ve returned to write my unbiased review, so you have one to trust. At the time, I bought these on a whim and had no idea what I would unlock. For more than two full years now, these gears have been played with DAILY. Every. Single. Day. They have held up to crashed airplanes, tidal waves hitting sea creatures, and have been catapulted into castles. Very rarely have they been played with, as shown in the product pictures, as my son uses them to build different things every day. Dusty Crophopper (plane), Lightning McQueen (race car), and much more. Our only regret is sometimes we don’t have enough pieces to build an entire fleet. These creations have an entire shelf for display in his bedroom to feature what he builds daily. This toy is durable, open-ended, grows with the child, fits a variety of abilities and ages, and is only limited by imagination. I could not recommend this toy more!" —Traveler

Get it from Amazon for $40.79.

Nugget Comfort is a small biz based in Butner, North Carolina, that specializes in play furniture made out of foam cushions.

Orders are estimated to ship within eight weeks.

Promising review: "This is my second purchase. I bought one for my granddaughter, and she has played with it for the last four years. It still looks like new. I got the bamboo color for my grandson. He loves it, too. The color is a little lighter than shown in the picture."—Carolyn A.

Get it from Nugget Comfort for $249 (available in 19 colors).

Promising review: "Keeps 3- to 6-year-olds busy and happy! I'm so glad I bought them this! It helps them channel their energy; a year later, there are no accidents to date! They love it. You only need one because once one kid gets tired, they are happy to pass it to the next kid." —Gail Joshua

Get it from Amazon for $14.19+ (available in 17 colors).

Promising review: "The kids were very excited playing with this in a lightly lit room. It was an add on the their existing set which was a big hit 2 years ago. They still play with it regularly so we bought this set to expand their fun. It was and still is a big go-to play time toy!" —Missy

Get it on Amazon for $34.99+ (available in three sizes).

Promising review: "When I initially purchased this play tent for my daughter when she was just a year old and starting to crawl, I hoped it would provide some fun moments. Little did I know just how much mileage we would get out of it. Fast forward three years, and it's still a beloved fixture in our home. The fact that it has remained an engaging play space for her and her friends is a testament to its quality and enduring appeal.

I'm delighted it has grown with her, accommodating her changing interests and imaginative adventures. Whether it's serving as a secret hideaway for imaginative play, a cozy reading nook, or a place for her and her friends to gather with their stuffed animals, this play tent has not only provided hours of entertainment but also fostered friendships and cherished childhood memories. It's a purchase I'm truly grateful for, offering both durability and the priceless gift of childhood joy." —Dr. B

Get it on Amazon for $69.99.

Promising review: "I bought this for my preschooler almost three years ago. My kids are now 3 and almost 6 and they still love playing with these! They use them for all sorts of play." —Michele

Get it on Amazon for $24.07.

The wooden ice cream counter comes with eight ice cream scoops, six toppings, two cones, a cup, a scooper, tongs, a wooden spoon, a reusable menu card, and six pretend dollar bills.

Promising review: "Very few toys outlive wear and tear, but this has been a favorite in our house and has lasted through many children! We have had our set for eight years, and I just bought it for my nephew for his second birthday. PS, my 9-year-old still plays with this with his 3-year-old brother!! Quality is 10 out of 10." —Barrett Korber

Get it on Amazon for $36.39.

Promising review: "I bought these and several other bath toys over one year ago. The others got mold and had to be thrown away. My toddler loves these, and they are a required part of our bathtime routine. They are well-made, durable, and easy to clean." —Tanya

Get a four-pack from Amazon for $6.15.

Promising review: "Easy and mess-free coloring great for car and plane trips, dining out, etc. It says for ages 3+, but if your kid is old enough to hold a crayon, they are old enough to enjoy this. Also, have a 6-year-old who still likes the one I bought him several years ago. Seem to hold up fairly well to repeat use." —The Major Family

Get it on Amazon for $5.97+ (available in seven themes).

Promising review: "If you want to win over your grandbaby, this is the gift! My grandchild was not quite a year old and she loved it. Immediately upon opening it, she wanted to get on it. She rocked and rocked on it. She would scoot the thing through the house, climb on it, and set and play. Surprisingly, her older sister and brother also would sit on it and watch television. It has held up for almost two years while getting rained on, but they still sit on it and it still looks like new and has not faded or broken down." —becky harlow

Get it from Amazon for $34.99.

Promising review: "Got two of these for twins boys over two years ago. Still, to this day, it’s the only outside toy that gets played with daily. As for the bubbles — not so much!! They dump the bubble liquid out. But they love it as a toy lawnmower. Last year, when we went for walks, they took the lawnmowers every time. They are about to turn 3 and still play with it daily. Now, they like to take the wheels on and off and 'work on it.' The wheels snap on and off. They love it. It was the best toy purchase ever. From a mom who has wasted so much money on other toys. This one was worth it." —Rachel

Get it from Amazon for $28.99.

Promising review: "I bought one of these about a year and a half ago, and it has proven to be, quite possibly, the single best investment in a kid's toy to date. My child is a vigorous jumper and has done so daily since we bought this thing. It is still in great shape. Was easy to assemble, too." —Bradley Newhall

Get it on Amazon for $74.71.

Promising review: "I bought a pair of these about a year and a half ago for my daughter, who was not quite two then. Now, at almost three and a half, she loves these binoculars! And so does her little brother, who is almost two.

In fact, they fight over them, so I logged on to get another pair for him. They both understand how to use them and love to say what they see when they look through them. We have not been the least bit careful with the binoculars — bringing them onto the beach, leaving them outside on the patio pretty much all the time, dropping them, etc. They're definitely dirty-looking and a little scratched on the plastic, but other than that, they are in great condition. No condensation or cracks on the lenses and no other damage.

I like how there's just a little magnification without any adjustment necessary. It's a great first set of binoculars for teaching the concept to young kids. As some other people have noted, the string might concern some. Even though it has the breakaway design, I wasn't comfortable keeping it on, especially since I bought it when my daughter was younger than the recommended age. But I just untied the string and kept it in a safe place in case we want to use it later when she's older. I don't really think it's necessary for a younger child anyway. Overall, I think these binoculars are great, and I highly recommend them." —amoreviaggi

Get it on Amazon for $9.69+ (available in two colors).

Promising review: "This is another great toy by Learning Resources. I bought this for my daughter when she was 2. Now 3, she still plays with it daily. She loves punching the numbers in, but her favorite part is the open button that ejects the spring-loaded drawer. She loves the paper money and the pretend credit card. I can see her and my son playing with this toy for at least ten more years. It is very durable. She has dropped it many times and it hasn't skipped a beat. The plastic is high-quality. I would definitely buy this product again." —Ecinoderm4u

Get it from Amazon for $28.62.

Reviews have been edited for length and/or clarity.