How to Buy Toys That Are Easy for Kids to Share

Looking for toys that are easy for kids to share? These tips will help you find the perfect family present for your kids.

How to Buy Toys that Are Easy for Kids to Share

One of my top priorities as a mother is for my kids to get along. There are many things I do to raise children who get along. The easiest way to find gifts that are easy for kids to share is to look for gifts that encourage siblings to play together. These are the things I look for when shopping for toys to prevent arguments and fights.

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Invest in Construction Toys

Construction toys are wonderful for collaborative play. So long as you have enough pieces, children will build together. Sometimes my kids choose to collaborate on a larger structure like a tall tower, and sometimes – as you see above – they each build their own structure. Can you see how eight-year-old Johnny and seven-year-old Lily clearly influenced one another as they were building above? Here are a few of our favorite construction toys:

• Bulk Dominoes
• Wooden blocks, including plank blocks
• Foam blocks (these are particularly nice to have if you have a child who likes to throw toys. They won’t hurt!)
• Magna-Tiles. These clear ones are a little more expensive than the solid ones, but kids love building something, putting a toy inside, and being able to see the toy through the blocks. The clear ones are also amazing for light table play.
• LEGO DUPLO bricks

Provide Open-ended Pretend Play Props

I love when my my kids get a solid pretend play plot going, because it usually means they can play for hours – without conflict! Here are some of our favorite open-ended pretend play props:

• Play silks
• Cute Math Counters, like these:
  • Bear Counters
  • Family Counters
  • Animal Counters
• Peg dolls – that my children decorate in various ways.
• Play kitchen
• Fort building kit
• Cardboard boxes (they make great space shuttles and doll houses).
• Tree Blocks – also available on Etsy, or make your own nature blocks.
• DUPLO people and animals

Create a Family Maker Space

Making things together is a wonderful way for children to get to know one another – and you – better. My kids and I love to bake our favorite cookies, play with polymer clay, paint, and sew together. We also enjoy a lot of cardboard crafting.

Not sure where to start? Try putting together a simple home makerspace. The kids will do the rest!

Model Play

If your children are not used to playing together, you may need to model this first. Sit down and start with something simple – like my tall tower or bridge building challenge. Or, start role playing with a few math counters. Build your bear family a house, or design a wolf-proof house. Help them put together a menu for their play kitchen. Design a cardboard space shuttle to take them to the moon. Or maybe Mars?

More Holiday Gift Guides

Still searching for the perfect gift? Check out these holiday gift guides from previous years:

• Toys that Teach: Educational Toys that We Adore
• Toys that Encourage Learning and Creativity
• The Best Gifts for Children Aged 0-7 Years Old

What are your top tips for buying toys that are easy for kids to share?

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MaryAnne Kochenderfer

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MaryAnne is a craft loving educator, musician, photographer, and writer who lives in Silicon Valley with her husband Mike and their four children.