Open-Ended Toys That Inspire Creative Play

Spark your kid's big imagination, even if it’s not your thing.

Most schooling systems teach us to value literacy and numerical knowledge in young children, and sure, it’s impressive when a two-year-old recites the alphabet, but research shows it is actually your child’s imaginative and creative play that is more likely to have a greater impact on their future learning. “Imagination supports learning and the acquisition of knowledge,” says Susan Irvine, QUT Associate Professor in the School of Early Childhood and Inclusive Education. This process is two-fold: children draw on their prior experiences to create play, like a train ride into the city, and then play expands their understanding of the experience as they explore more of it, like pretending to be the driver, or imagining the train can fly. “When play taps into the imagination of other children and adults, the possibilities for exploration and learning are endless.”

Now, you don’t have to be Chilli and Bandit to support imaginative play (you’re not the only one that feels inadequate next to the Bluey parents). Just 5-20 minutes of engaged play, a couple times a day, can be impactful. You can encourage creativity by asking questions, “where does this train go to?”, undertaking trial and error with them, “shall we see if it can fly?” This also lets them become comfortable with failure and trying again, and exercises their creative thinking. Another way to encourage imagination is by setting up their play with open-ended toys.

Bigger play pieces and shapes, like that of Possum Play or Stapelstein provide ample material for the imagination, but also physical development and fine motor skill tuning. Occupational Therapist, Anjelee Khosla says toys like this “Offer a foundation of play and invoke a language of collaboration and sharing. watching the children moving around such big pieces allows them to develop negotiation skills. Given they are soft, the children can build and knock off the pieces, providing opportunities for regulation and emotional resilience. The environment dictates the behaviour so when play pieces are soft, the kids can be calm and feel relaxed with the pieces, or they can still throw them around the room but they are soft so they can’t cause harm.”

Multipurpose Toys That Inspire Creative Play

The Possum Play Couch

Made for climbing, adventuring and developing, thes oversized play cushions are densely padded and perfect for riding, rocking, stacking, building and climbing (inside, over and under). It helps stimulate motor and social skills and pushes the bounds of creativity for babies, toddlers and kids.

SHOP NOW

Mosey & Me Playmat

These incredibly versatile play mats can be rolled up or down for use in playroom, bedroom or living spaces and can be kept as a gorgeous addition to grown-up interiors. The padding is cushioned and soft for tummy time and is tough enough to withstand the rolls, tumbles and sticky fingers of toddlers. For play mode, imagine it's a boat, an island or a garden for soft toys.

Shop Now

Janod Doll House

Dolls houses provide a flexible, self-directed environment where children can mimic real-life scenarios or create entirely new worlds, fostering imagination, problem-solving, and social-emotional skills. They allow children to experiment with roles and relationships, develop fine motor skills by manipulating miniature accessories, and build language abilities through storytelling and dialogue. This style of house can be many things: hospital, school, fairy headquarters... And it's big enough for side-by-side playing.

SHOP NOW

Janod Muddy Lab Outdoor Kitchen

A centre of play for kids who are attracted to exploring how things work. Your little practical thinker can use the space as a workshop for investigating, concocting, experimenting and getting messy. With the clever racks designed to encourage them to keep things nice and neat, it will aid with packing away and teaching them to care for their things.

SHOP NOW

Phile Toy Basket with Lemons

Engage your child in a new kind of play, showing them a love for healthy food, and the opportunity for them to take ownership of it when you’re cooking as a family. Play counting games, hide them and go foraging, sell them at your stall or imagine them as a family of lemons living in a forest.

Shop Now

Moover Dolls Pram

From sit-to-stand, roll, push, and walk, this incredibly high quality and practical toy pram-and-walker is a sturdy and dependable companion for toddlers developing balance, coordination and learning to take their first steps. But it also enables imagination plus. It's a transporter to take dolls and teddies out and about in as a bus, plane, spaceship or, you know, a pram.

Olli Ella Dinkum Dolls Quilted Carrier

Studies have found that doll play lights up the parts of the brain that allow children to develop social-emotional skills including empathy. Toys that encourage that play also create a self pride in children and helps them connect. Children are particularly drawn to this kind of play if there is a new baby in the family and they can play parent, which is why this little doll carrier (just like mum's) is so popular.

SHOP NOW

Stapelstein Limited Edition Rainbow Complete

Often announced as the best toy a parent has ever invested in, Stapelstein Steeping Stones spark creativity, hone motor skills and balance, but more astoundingly, prolong kids’ play with how many ways they find to play with them. It's appealing across many ages, and are so durable, they look brand new even years after use.

SHOP NOW