What are the benefits of open-ended toys?

Open-ended toys let children's curiosity guide their play. There are no instructions, no prescribed pattern, and no standard outcome. Children are given the freedom to follow their own imaginations, and there's no right or wrong. And that's precisely why open-ended toys have so many advantages.

In my blog post, " What are open-ended toys? ", you'll find a detailed explanation of what open-ended toys actually entail.

Open-ended toys stimulate your child's imagination. This sparks their creativity and intelligence. After all, they get to decide how to play, and there are no limits (except those you, as a parent, impose).

I see that open-ended play often leads to pretend play. For example, they might make ice cream with wooden balls and bowls. This requires empathy, cooperation (when your child is playing together or with you), and solution-oriented thinking. Pretending also helps enormously in developing self-regulation.

What is self-regulation?
Self-regulation is the ability to control emotions and behavior and resist impulses. Young children are still learning this. That's why your child might suddenly become very angry or sad (for you), but your child simply hasn't learned how to manage those emotions or impulses yet.

Your child learns self-regulation, for example, through role-playing. For example, a doll is hungry and sad. Your child comforts the doll and prepares a bottle. This is a wonderful way to learn how to manage emotions and what to do when they occur.

Combine open-ended toys with each other
Because this type of toy doesn't have set instructions, you can easily combine them. For example, we always use our sensory bags to build a den with the play sides . And our balance board is a bridge for the cars. We use the play sides to make play gifts with balls and animals. And with the sensory bags, we learn to throw accurately into rings made from our wooden rainbow.

The advantages of open-ended toys at a glance:

• Stimulates the imagination;
• Stimulates creativity and intelligence;
• Improves empathy and collaboration;
• Stimulates solution-oriented thinking;
• Improves self-regulation;
• Toys are easy to combine with each other;
• Toys can be used in 101 different ways.

If you're new to open-ended toys, it's a good idea to start with something simple. Toys you'd enjoy playing with yourself. Like wooden blocks, for example, which you can use to create endless creations. Or cars and a basket filled with various (wooden) animals. Need more tips on playing with open-ended toys? Then read my other blog posts .