The Indoor Toys That Saved My Sanity This Winter (No Screens Required)
- Reagan O'Connor
- Jan 23
- 3 min read
Updated: Jan 23
If you are trapped inside with kids because it is cold, rainy, gray, or all three at once, welcome. You are among friends.
These are the inside toys we actually use in our house. Not the ones that look cute on Instagram and then collect dust. These are the toys my kids ask for, fight over, and somehow keep them entertained long enough for me to drink my coffee while it is still warm.
All of these are budget friendly, parent approved, and perfect for kids roughly ages three through eight.
Magnetic Building Blocks
(on sale for $10!)
The possibilities are endless with these magnetic building blocks. I actually have to divide them up between my kids because they all love them that much.
There is a creative side with building and designing, but also a sensory aspect with the magnets clicking together. Honestly, even as an adult, I enjoy playing with these.
We keep a big bucket of them and pull them out on cold or rainy days and let the kids go wild. All of my kids from ages three through eight love these equally, which basically makes them a parenting unicorn.
Picasso Tiles
These are a staple in our house.
Castles, car tracks, zoos for toy animals, houses for action figures. The options are endless. This is one of my favorite STEM toys to keep on hand because it actually encourages problem solving without anyone realizing they are learning.
Bonus points for easy cleanup. And if a tile gets left behind, it will not get sucked into my vacuum cleaner and ruin my mood for the rest of the day.
Straw Construction Set
This one is a little more complicated, which makes it perfect for your little engineer.
My six year old son absolutely loves this set. His builds get bigger and more dramatic every time. We are currently one straw tower away from structural engineering school.
My only complaint is that there are small pieces, so it is not ideal for very young kids. And yes, pieces will end up under the couch or mysteriously inside the vacuum.
Still worth it.
Flower Building Garden
We love this toy so much.
If we are heading somewhere and I know I am going to need emergency entertainment, this is one I throw in the car every time.
It is colorful, creative, and keeps kids busy way longer than you would expect. Also very satisfying when they proudly bring you a plastic flower bouquet like they just picked it themselves.
Melissa and Doug Sticker Faces
My three year old is obsessed with these sticker books.
When she is doing stickers, it gets suspiciously quiet. Like too quiet. The kind of quiet that makes you stop what you are doing and go check.
There are not many toys that keep kids entertained enough that I have to go find them instead of hearing Mom shouted 87 million times a day.
In this gross winter weather, these toys are the perfect inexpensive additions to your toy box. No screens, no complicated setup, and no batteries that mysteriously stop working at the worst possible moment.
Just kids playing and parents surviving.
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