Building a toy box full of toys your child will love doesn't have to mean filling every shelf or buying the latest must-have. Sometimes, it's the simplest toys that offer the most opportunities for learning, creativity and fun. But with so much choice out there, knowing which toys are really worth investing in can be tricky.
Every toy box needs a few classics. The tried-and-tested favourites that never go out of style, from wooden building blocks to puzzles and imaginative play sets. These are the must-haves that encourage little ones to explore, experiment and get creative, while offering endless opportunities for play as they grow. They're the toys children return to time and time again, making them true toy box essentials.
At Tollers Toys, we believe in choosing toys with purpose. We're drawn to thoughtfully designed, well-made toys that encourage screen-free play, spark curiosity and can be enjoyed time and time again. Whether you're building your little one's first toy collection or looking to add a few timeless favourites, here's our guide to the ten toy box essentials every childhood deserves.
Wooden Building Blocks
A classic for a reason, blocks offer endless opportunities for little ones to build, balance and create while developing coordination, problem-solving skills and imagination. Best of all, there’s no right or wrong way to play!
At Tollers Toys, there are plenty of options to suit different interests and stages of development. Our ABC Learning Blocks bring an educational element to playtime, helping little ones become familiar with letters, patterns and early learning concepts as they build. For something a little different, Elou Cork Blocks offer a lightweight, tactile alternative to traditional wooden blocks, making them a lovely option for hands-on exploration and creative construction.
For children who enjoy bringing their creations to life, Cubika Construction-Themed Blocks add another layer of fun with playful designs and characterful details that encourage imaginative building and storytelling. Whether your little one is stacking their very first tower or creating an entire construction site, building blocks are a versatile essential that can grow with them and inspire new adventures time and time again.
Shape Sorters and Stacking Toys
Perfect for little hands and curious minds, these toys help little ones explore shapes, colours and sizes while developing coordination, problem-solving skills and confidence through hands-on play.
For younger children starting to explore numbers, the Le Toy Van Numbers Shape Sorter combines hands-on play with early counting, making learning feel like a natural part of their day. The Bird House Shape Sorter is another lovely option, with its bright colours and simple shapes encouraging little ones to match pieces, practise hand-eye coordination and discover how things fit together.
For something a little different, the Stacking Coral Reef brings a splash of colour and playful design to stacking and balancing. Children can experiment with arranging the pieces, finding their balance and creating different combinations, all while developing their concentration and fine motor skills.
Toy vehicles
A classic for little adventurers, these toys encourage children to create their own journeys and stories while developing coordination, creativity and imagination through play.
The Le Toy Van Figure of 8 Train Set is a classic choice, letting children set up their own tracks and use decorative blocks to create scenes for their railway journeys. It's a lovely way to encourage problem-solving and storytelling as little ones decide where their train is heading next.
For something a little different, the Oli & Carol Beetroot Car offers a playful alternative to traditional wooden vehicles. Made from natural rubber and shaped like a vegetable, it can help familiarise little ones with everyday foods through play. The Just Bee Kids Ferry Play Set brings two types of play together, with a wooden ferry boat and smaller wooden cars that fit inside, ready for all sorts of imaginary journeys.
Pretend Play Sets
Role play brings everyday experiences to life, from running a shop to caring for animals. It sparks creativity, encourages storytelling and gives children the chance to explore the world around them through imaginative adventures.
The Le Toy Van Cash Register is perfect for little shopkeepers in the making. Complete with pretend money, it gives children the chance to play shop, practise counting and become familiar with using money through imaginative role play.
For budding baristas, the Babyccino Maker lets little ones recreate a familiar coffee shop experience, serving up imaginary drinks and inventing their own everyday scenarios. Meanwhile, the Le Toy Van Animal Vet Set comes with a vet bag and wooden tools, encouraging children to care for their favourite toy animals and other cuddly toys or characters.
Puzzles and games
Puzzles and games help little ones develop concentration, problem-solving skills and hand-eye coordination, while encouraging turn-taking, learning and fun with family and friends.
The Cubika Fishing Game is a great example, encouraging children to practise their hand-eye coordination as they try to catch the fish. It can also be played with family and friends, turning it into a fun challenge to see who can catch the most.
For a timeless classic, Elou Dominos introduces children to a familiar game in a playful way, helping them learn how to match pieces, recognise patterns and take turns. It's a simple activity that encourages concentration while creating opportunities to play together.
Play Food and Market Stalls
From setting up a pretend café to serving up a picnic, play food opens up a world of make-believe. It encourages creativity, introduces everyday routines and makes playing shop or restaurant a fun way to learn through role play.
The Artisan Bread and Knife Set is perfect for little bakers, featuring wooden bread loaves, a board and a knife. The bread pieces can be pulled apart using Velcro, letting children pretend to slice and serve their own creations.
For something sweet, the Wooden Ice Lollies come in a selection of colourful designs with their own stand, making them a fun addition to a pretend market stall, restaurant or picnic. The Shop & Café Market Stand brings everything together, giving little ones a place to display their play food and take turns being the shopkeeper or customer.
Toys That Encourage Movement
Keeping active can be just as much fun as building or creating. From hands-on activities to ride-on adventures, these toys encourage movement, coordination and growing independence through play.
The Just Bee Kids Wooden Hammer Bench encourages children to hammer shapes through the holes before starting all over again. It's a satisfying, repetitive activity that helps develop hand-eye coordination and fine motor skills.
For a different take on this type of play, the Elou Hedgehog offers a similar hands-on experience in natural cork, with a friendly hedgehog design that adds plenty of character. Meanwhile, the Wooden Rainbow Ride On Trike encourages little ones to get moving independently, using their feet to push themselves along. Its compact design makes it a lovely option for both indoor and outdoor adventures as children build balance, coordination and confidence.
Animals and characters
Whether creating a miniature world or dreaming up their next big adventure, animal figures and playful characters inspire storytelling, spark curiosity and bring endless imaginative possibilities to playtime.
The Shape Sorting Animal Ark combines a wooden boat with a collection of animal characters, letting little ones enjoy imaginative play while transporting the animals to wherever their imagination takes them. It's also a lovely way to introduce shape sorting as children discover where each piece fits.
For something a little more playful, the Tender Leaf Monster Stacker features fun, brightly coloured monster characters that can be stacked, arranged and brought into all sorts of imaginative stories. Meanwhile, the Cosmic Rocket Set takes play beyond our own world, with a rocket structure and little astronaut characters ready to climb aboard and embark on their next space adventure.
Plush cuddly toys
Sometimes, the simplest toys become the most treasured. A soft cuddly companion can offer comfort at bedtime, reassurance on new adventures and a familiar friend to take everywhere.
Meet Curt the Sheep, currently the only cuddly toy at Tollers. Made from 100% wool, including 70% British wool, he's wonderfully soft and has a friendly face that's hard not to love. Whether he's there for a comforting cuddle or joining in with imaginative stories and make-believe journeys, Curt is a lovely companion for all sorts of childhood adventures.
Open-ended toys
We’ve shared our love for open-ended play in our blog, The Best Open-Ended Toys for Children Under 5. With no set rules or single way to play, these toys let little ones use their imagination in endless ways. Here are a couple of favourites from Tollers.
The Elou Cork Rocket is a great example of a toy that can become anything a child imagines. It might blast off on an adventure, become transport for little characters or turn into an obstacle to navigate around. There’s no right or wrong way to play, just plenty of room for new ideas.
The Le Toy Van Rainbow Tunnel offers just as much versatility. Made up of five colourful rainbow arches, it can be brought together to create a beautiful rainbow or separated for all sorts of imaginative play. Little cars can roll underneath, characters can explore through the arches or children can use them as obstacles to jump over.
FAQ
How many toys does a child need?
There’s no magic number when it comes to toys. A thoughtfully chosen collection that offers different ways to play can be more useful than a toy box full of toys that all do the same thing. Look for toys that suit your child’s interests, encourage creativity and can be enjoyed in different ways as they grow.
What toys are best for encouraging imaginative play?
Pretend-play sets, toy vehicles, animal figures, dolls’ houses and open-ended toys are all brilliant for imaginative play. They give children the freedom to create characters, invent stories and act out everyday experiences in their own way.
How can I choose toys that will last as my child grows?
Look for versatile toys that can be used in different ways as your child’s skills and interests develop. Building blocks, open-ended toys and pretend-play accessories can offer new challenges and possibilities over time. Choosing well-made toys that can be enjoyed again and again is also a great way to make the most of your toy box.
The Tollers view
When it comes to building a toy box full of childhood favourites, we love toys that stand the test of time while supporting little ones as they learn and grow. From developing coordination and problem-solving skills to encouraging creativity and imagination, these essentials offer plenty of benefits alongside hours of play. Here’s what we think makes a toy box essential:
- Open-ended play: Toys that encourage children to use their imagination and discover new ways to play, without set rules or a single purpose.
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Quality that lasts: Well-made toys that can stand up to everyday adventures and be enjoyed for years to come.
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Thoughtful materials: Toys made with care, using materials such as wood and cork, with sustainability in mind.
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Screen-free fun: Toys that let children take the lead, explore at their own pace and learn through hands-on play.
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Room to grow: Toys that continue to offer new possibilities as children’s skills, interests and imaginations develop.
You don’t need an overflowing toy box to encourage a world of play. A few thoughtfully chosen favourites can offer endless opportunities to create, explore and learn — and that’s what we look for in every toy at Tollers.
