If you were putting together a generic toybox...

[FurrySlipperBoots]

for children staying in your holiday house, what would be good to go in it? Stuff that appeals to all ages, no major choking hazards, nothing with 5000 pieces that'll end up up the hoover all over the house. High quality toys that will keep the little darlings amused for a while and out from under mum and dad's feet...? Any good suggestions?

Aquadraw. Then they can be creative with no risk of damage.

some bed time story books - just whatever the charity shop has.

Thanks for all the ideas everyone!!

I love that you’re doing this! The best one we had in a holiday house was a huge box of Lego - but I appreciate this does not fill the criteria at all!!

Mine would have liked train set, tractors, dumper trucks, dinosaurs. Agree with other people about stocking up when you see bits in charity shops.

I’d get a 12 piece grimms (or cheaper wish version) rainbow as the legit ones are pricey. Can be used for all sorts of open ended play. Get some wooden balls to go with it to use it as a ball run and I’d print off some play ideas to be stored with it.

Bin of assorted hot wheels cars (indestructible), blocks.

Stacking blocks/stacking cups
Couple of books
A plastic tea set
A pull along toy

Hot wheels cars and a brio train set would fit most kids from 1-10.

Hey FurrySlipperBoots, what a lovely idea!

I'd stick to the classics, there are some toys that just never go out of style. Cards, blocks, shape sorters, balls, books. There's a good guide worth checking out here:

newbabytoys.com/the-definitive-guide-to-the-best-toys-for-babies

Kiddy tents can also be super fun! Check out this one, though if you're worried about the balls getting all around the house maybe you'd need to hide those away!

newbabytoys.com/utex-pop-up-play-tent/

Good luck!

Definitely a pop up play tent, ours got so much use - but do make sure the instructions for folding it are laminated and obvious, otherwise it’ll get snapped immediately. Train set is great, too. Soft ball, cars (maybe in a higher up basket for Hot Wheels or anything not baby safe), maybe a water pistol or two if you have a garden? Scarves / bits of material with things like hats and other accessories are also great, and then sizes don’t matter in the same way as a specific dressing up outfit.

Wooden train set. Car mat with cars. Dinosaurs. Duplo. Wooden play food- Melissa and Doug ice cream stand or sandwich set is fab for this. Oh and some books. Hairy McLairy set or Mog the forgetful cat.

Not Lego or marbles please. Choking/ getting lost/ standing on/ hoovering up……things I don’t want to worry about on holiday 😊

FB or charity shop, doesnt matter if things are a bit tatty. I got a vast box of Duplo for a tenner.

Jenga and Taboo for a few quid each from charity shopa

Bricks or a wooden train track wood be ideal.

Snakes and ladders/Ludo/Chinese chequers. Maybe junior scrabble.

Some board books

Etch A Sketch

Card games

We have a holiday home with toys. We have:

Magformers - quiet, no small pieces
Schleich animals
Mega sketcher - clean drawing
Wooden building blocks

We then have a basket with games with kore pieces in ie those compendium chess/ ludo/ snakes and ladders. Monopoly. Labyrinth. This is higher up so small toddlers can’t reach

I also have small basket of baby toys for 0-18 ish months that doesn’t stay in all the time, I just bring in if small baby staying (not often). Has teethers/ soft toys/ soft ball. Everything in here gets put in washing machine or dishwasher after use due to small age likely chewing.