Granny’s Toybox Advice Please

[Fourmoos]

I have 2 grandsons 4 & 7. They are moving closer to me and I would like to equip a toybox with toys that don’t take up too much space as I live in a flat. I have Lego, Duplo and Brio - what else would you recommend for good play value please? Thanks.

Doll and pushchair?
Paper and crayons?
Cars?

Hot wheels car tracks are good and pack away relatively small.

A box of stickers, card, pens etc are always good, and usborne do brilliant puzzle books (called things like Puzzle Town) that my kids of the same ages love.

Board games work well for us too, Jenga, Connect 4, junior monopoly, and Orchard Toys do lovely ones. Top Trumps is a big favourite here too.

Simple puzzles, sticker books. W H Smith used to do travel sized games, so they don’t take up much space.

Magic the gathering card game for when they are a couple of years older.

Those fold up city mats are good for playing with cars on. Also playmobil. My boys also loved bingo dabbers at that age for some reason! You sound like a lovely granny by the way 😊

Magnetic tiles like Magformers (but you can get cheaper versions) my DC play for hours with them.

Utilise your kitchen equipment and do baking with them, or even just measuring out dry stuff like rice and pasta. Washing up in the kitchen sink can be a great activity, and it's all stuff you already have.

Home bargains for cheap sticker books (always a hit), then hobbycraft for things to make, they often have half price or 2 for 3 on what they call pocket money packs which are always a hit with my friends children. Recent buys include Crayola washable felt tips and colour by number books, mosaic sticker pictures, proper colour in canvases which were only £2 on offer, wooden kits to put together and colour in mobiles, paint your own pots full kit including paint and brushes £2, packs to make bouncing dinosaurs, fairies, finger puppets ect. My principle is lots of cheap things rather than one expensive thing and seems to keep them entertained longer👍😁

Marble run has always been a winner for mine

My dm has vehicles ( lots got in charity shop too) coloring books and pencils.
Stickerbooks. Dolls.
They play for hours!

Yet here they have a whole toy room and say they're bored, probably as too much choice. Sometimes less is more.

Maybe a football and Frisbee to take yo park unless you have a garden

Granddaughter was kept amused for hours moving clothes pegs with kitchen tongs from one mixing bowl to another!

Dinosaurs. Beanos, get a subscription or buy second hand annuals.

A tub of cars (you can pick up loads of old ones at charity shops, and the vintage aspect makes them more fun!)
One fold away Fisher Price/Playmobil type garage or airport etc etc
Another tub of random figures (Playmobil, He-man type, families, animals, dinosaurs)

Hours of fun!

A farm.

Toy cars and a fold out mat with a road on.

Kinetic sand, the one that comes with a tray so it doesn't go everywhere.

Matchbox cars and animal figures.
They used to have hours fun using the Lego and Duplo to make a safari park and farm for the animals.

Bloidy MN, I wish they'd get this new version working properly!!! It keeps 'eating' posts!!

What you have is a brilliant start!!

match box cars

• things that extend play with them such as dinosaurs, play mobile, plane or two, (stuff from charity shops is fine, doesn't need to be new & means you can choose a good variety)

playing cards
dominos
tea set & 'food' boys love playing cafes too!!
Books

coloured pencils/pens (if you're brave) paper

washing up, get all your non breakables ready!!

being allowed to play with anything of yours!

...but mostly just having your attention!!

Their parents might be happy to just bring some of their excess toys!!

Some brilliant ideas here, thanks so much..please keep them coming!

You sound lovely. Mine love Pokémon cards (super easy to store!)
Good old paper and pens
Craft stuff (glue and lollipop sticks etc)

my 7 year old doesn’t really “play” anymore as such.

he likes board games, drawing, but above all when he is with his grandparents he likes baking, gardening, and going out for walks with them.

As they get older, magic the gathering cards are a good game.

that is brilliant !!