Do you remember the magical feeling you had when you stepped into grandma’s house as a child?
I remember it being golden and slow. Yellow sunbeams came in the windows, and we spent hours laughing and giggling inside and in the backyard.
It seemed like a place untouched by time.
And I grew up when I left too long.
But now I watch my own children go to their Nana’s or Grandma’s house and catch that same magic.
It’s sweet, and also a little bit sad. I miss the wonder of it all.
But as an adult, I now get the chance to help shape that wonder. And you as grandma do too.
Toys are a piece of it. Though, of course, the most important ingredient is your love.
(My sets of grandparents were NOT rich and I felt amazing in their homes!)
But, I’ve already written a post about things to say to your grandkids to help them feel loved, so this post is more about the “stuff” aspect.
Because toys are fun, and you want good ones. These are some of my favorites and other’s favorites—puzzles, toys, crafts, games, and more.
They’re the sort of fun items that will keep your grandkids coming back for more.
Let’s get started!
Snap circuits
I had never heard of these until I wrote this post.
But now I MUST get a set for my daughter.
Basically, each set is a ton of different electrical parts in simple, snappable form. They can be assembled on a snapping board to make hundreds of projects (some examples are a motion sensor, a radio, a water detector, etc.).
They’re very cool, and very educational.
And if any of us need more convincing, check out their almost 30k reviews and 4.8 stars on Amazon!
Their own cash register
My sister-in-law offhandedly bought my child a mini cash register a few years back.
Little did we know that it was a pure gold.
Since then, it’s provided many, many hours of entertainment. And, I can’t tell you the number of random things around our house that have been bought and sold on our piano bench.
Full disclosure: haven’t tried this register specifically (I don’t remember the brand for ours, and I can’t check because it’s in storage right now due to a move).
However, the reviews for this one say that it’s very well made, and I personally know and like the company Battat.
Scribble Scrubbie pets
I found out about this Crayola toy in a random reddit thread about the best toys people have ever bought their kids.
It’s basically a set of customizable, colorable pets that your kids can then wash off and color again.
I’m drawn to the reusability factor.
Grandkids could theoretically just color and wash them in an endless cycle, providing themselves with unlimited entertainment. (Well, not unlimited. We all know how kids are, lol. But it could last a while.)
Jumbo blocks
Jumbo blocks are just fun in general, but little especially like them. They seem to fit well in their hands.
And, lots of buyers say that the adults enjoy them too, lol.
I chose to link to this specific set because it’s made by National Geographic, not just some random Amazon “brand.” That’s important to think about when buying things that kids will put in their mouths, because knock-off sellers on Amazon sometimes use toxins in their toys and get away with it.
Origami supplies
I ADORED origami as a kid. There was just something awesome about turning a piece of paper into a rose, a cube, a dinosaur, or a talking face.
I got my start with a basic origami book similar to this one that came with 30 sheets of paper.
(We had to buy more paper pretty quickly, so this set should keep you stocked a little longer than mine did.)
Also, fun fact, origami is shown to increase spatial cognition, which is part of how scientists measure intelligence in people.
So, in getting an origami kit, you’re not just providing your grandkids with entertainment—you’re giving them a good brain boost!
Magnetic tiles (for building their dream city)
Magnetic tiles have gotten wildly popular in recent years. And while I hate to do stuff because it’s trendy, I have to admit that here, the trendiness comes for a reason.
Magnetic tiles are a versatile way to build hundreds of different objects, and the snappiness is extra satisfying.
My 5-year-old and 2-year-old love these, and I know plenty of older kids who like them too.
I actually just got us this mini travel set so we can play away from home!
Water pens and pads
These are one of the best coloring inventions ever. They are sooooo nice for littles!
You throw water in a pen, kids paint over the special pictures, and the water reveals what’s underneath.
It’s like coloring, but less messy. And, you only have one pen to keep track of.
12/10 something I’d buy again (we’ve already gotten several sets).
Any games from Peaceable Kingdom
Peaceable kingdom is an amazing company that makes engaging cooperative games for children.
I shared several of our favorites on my games list for grandchildren.
We consistently play these games with grandma and have a blast. Any grandparent’s home would get a lot of use out of them!
Giant puzzles (perfect for little and not-so-little hands)
I used to think big puzzles were overrated, but then I was gifted one for my kids, and I realized they’re not.
My 3-year-old at the time adored ours (it was a search and find puzzle like the one I linked to above), and we got hours and hours of entertainment out of it.
Two years later, she still gets it out sometimes! And now my middle child enjoys it.
I wouldn’t buy more than a few jumbo puzzles (they take up a lot of space). But having a couple is worth it!
A Lite Brite for making memorable pictures
Did you ever own a Lite Brite?
Did your kids ever own one?
I put it on here partly for the nostalgia factor. But also because they’re still fun (or they wouldn’t still be around).
They’ve changed a lot since I was little. They’re far less bulky and shaped more like a tablet than a desktop computer.
But, they remain a great way to get creative and entertain young hands.
And if you want more of the design cards, Amazon carries tons of additional packs you can purchase (for example, this is an animal one).
Supplies to make cards (for mom and dad, of course)
My grandma used to make all kinds of cards and crafts with me. So, maybe that’s why I feel like card supplies have to be on this list.
I just remember feeling so excited when I had a little card of my own creation to hand to my mom or dad or some other special someone!
And even if you’re not super creative, pre-made kits (like the one up above) make it easy.
Wooden trains for hours of fun
This list wouldn’t be complete without wooden trains. I spent entire days making intricate tracks as a child. And, I still have fun getting down and making my own designs! (Though now they’re for my kids, lol.)
I think any grandchild would be thrilled to find these at grandma’s house.
This specific kit is from Melissa and Doug (which means it should be non-toxic) and has amazing reviews on Amazon. (The magnetic crane is a big hit too!)
Any kind of geometric shapes
I grew up using this set (or close to it). We got ours from Saxon math, and we used it for homeschooling. But in my own time, I spent countless hours arranging and rearranging the shapes into various patterns.
And I’m not the only one who enjoys it: it has almost 5k reviews on Amazon and 4.8 stars—a sure sign that it’s a quality investment for any grandma!
Plastic animals
One of my favorite games as a kid was to dump out our animal bin and divide them into “good” and “bad” armies for an epic battle.
The conflict was fraught with betrayal, repentance, and occasional true love.
(Pretty good for a 7-year-old, right?)
And, these are pretty good toys for grandkids.
I personally recommend going with the Schleich brand because their quality and variety are unmatched.
A Nugget Couch (A.K.A. fort pads)
When I was a kid, a friend of ours had giant foam cushions that their mom had sewn for fort making. I thought they were the coolest thing.
Now, people have Nugget Couches. They’re big foam blocks that sit together and can form a kid-size couch (or a different structure).
Admittedly, nugget couches are really pricey. There are a lot of knock-off alternatives on Amazon (which I, too, find alluring because of their lower price point).
But, customers say you can’t beat the quality and the safety of the materials in Nugget.
I felt best linking to them in this post because I didn’t find a cheaper alternative with reviews that are as good.
A pop-up tent or tunnel
I always wanted a tent like this, and for my daughter’s 3rd birthday, we got her a pink tent (it was a little different than this one).
It led to hours and hours of play, though we had to finally retire it when it started ripping on the side (we’d gotten our money’s worth out of it, though).
Since then, I’ve wondered about getting another tent or buying a collapsible tunnel. I think I’ll probably opt for the tunnel, though, just because the tunnel sounds a little more novel.
Both are fun, though, and viable options for grandma’s-house entertainment.
The best bingo game (Zingo)
This is the game that my grandma invested in years ago for my younger siblings.
It was a hit, and now my mom plays it with my kids.
It’s basically bingo with fun little plastic picture tiles (they’re very friendly for little hands). They come out of a cute little dispenser which gives it an extra wow factor.
And if you have some early readers, there’s also a cool sight words version!
Duplo and Lego blocks
What grandma’s house would be complete without Duplo or Lego blocks?
Duplos were probably my most-played with toy as a child.
I spent hours and hours building playgrounds for our plastic dinosaurs (they had a complex society, lol) and designing architectural wonders for the modern age.
In all seriousness, though, Duplos and Legos are an excellent example of good open-ended toys.
(Open-ended toys are toys that don’t have to be used a certain way. They allow for kids to use their imagination and are better for teaching kids resilience and how to act intentionally.)
A kid-sized kitchen
Speaking of open-ended toys, a toy kitchen provides LOTS of flexibility for play (though it’s not quite as open-ended as duplos).
But most any parent of kids under 5 will tell you that kitchens are magical.
If you get a durable plastic one (this brand is Step 2), you can use it outside for a mud kitchen and then hose it off when you’re done!
Also, though, if you don’t have room for a kitchen, you can always just opt for a set of dishes.
This set has great reviews and is Melis and Doug, so it should be non-toxic and safe for littles.
Their own shopping cart
Hang on a moment; I know this sounds ridiculous.
But have you ever seen a kids-sized shopping cart?
They are so cute! And people rave about them!
I recommend the Melissa and Doug one because it’s supposed to be the sturdiest. We’ve used it in grocery stores that have them, and they feel like an actual, miniature shopping cart.
If you want to be the coolest grandma ever you could get one of these and then have your grandkid shop alongside you at the store.
A marble run (for hours and hours of fun)
This exact brand of marble set from Mindware is what my younger sister had growing up. A few of the pieces were a little different, but the overall feel and design have remained largely unchanged.
It’s sturdy, and the rolling of marbles provide hours of fun.
My kids love to play with it when we visit grandma!
There’s something soothing about watching marbles plink their way down a track (and the creativity involved in building it likely good for them).
Remember: The best thing at Grandma’s house is Grandma
We made it through all the toys!
But, like my conclusion header says; remember that YOU and your love are the most important things for your grandkids to find at your house.
Have fun with them and make memories, even if you can’t afford lots of stuff.
You’ll figure out something to do. (You might get some ideas from my games list!)
Now, go enjoy reliving the magic, and tell us about it down below!
