Mom Approved Gifts: Sami Krasny's Top Toy Recommendations
Open-ended toys spark creativity and imaginative play all year long making these sweet treasures a perfect addition to any holiday wishlist. And the best part? They’re all on sale right now during Guidecraft’s annual Cyber Week Sale!
Here are a list of my favorite gifts for kids:
Unit Blocks
Unit Blocks are always at the top of my list - there’s truly nothing more open-ended or supportive of learning through play. An 84-piece set is perfect if you’re just starting out, or you can go big with the 218-piece set for even more building possibilities.
Click here to shop.
Arches and Tunnel
Arches and Tunnels are a fantastic addition to block play. They’re unit-aligned, so they fit seamlessly into your child’s building play and encourage even more creative structures and small worlds.
Click here to shop.
Double-Sided Roadway System
If you have a little one who loves transportation play, grab the Double-Sided Roadway System. It’s the only road set my kids have ever truly loved building independently, even when they were toddlers, and now at 6 and 8 they still adore it!
Click here to shop.
Mirror Blocks
If you’re looking to introduce light play into your playroom, Mirror Blocks are a beautiful option. They pair well with Unit Blocks but also stand alone as an engaging, sensory-rich toy.
Click here to shop.
Toddler Branch Blocks
Encouraging block play from an early age is one of my favorite things, and toddlers adore big, sturdy blocks. Guidecraft’s new Toddler Branch Blocks are an ideal first block set - heavy, intriguing, and perfect for little hands that want to do heavy work.
Click here to shop.
Little Pavers
Kids who enjoy small world play will fall in love with Little Pavers. These loose parts are soft and smooth on the outside and weighted on the inside, making them incredibly satisfying to stack, carry, dump, and build with. Perfect for construction play! They also pair perfectly with Little Bricks!
Click here to shop.
LED Activity Tablet
An LED tablet might not seem like an obvious open-ended toy, but it opens up endless opportunities for experimentation with light and color. Pair it with Interlox or Rainbow Blocks for a magical blend of building and light play.
Click here to shop for sensory play products.
If you’re shopping for a big-ticket gift that multiple kids can enjoy together, go for large-scale blocks!
Notch Blocks
Notch Blocks are fantastic indoors or outside, offering limitless possibilities for big, creative, sturdy construction. We’ve had our set for years, and my kids are still discovering new ways to play with them.
Click here to shop.
Outdoor Hollow Blocks
Outdoor Hollow Blocks are like unit blocks on a giant scale. They inspire large, immersive builds that kids can physically climb into, and interact with in a whole new way. If you have the space indoors, they’re unit-aligned so kids can mix and match them seamlessly with standard Unit Blocks, or take them outside for even bigger adventures.
Click here to shop.
All of these toys invite kids into open-ended, imaginative play that grows with them over time. Whether your child loves building, small world play, or sensory play explorations, these toys support creativity and meaningful play that will last well beyond the holiday season.
