As parents of three year old twin boys and one-year-old twins, we know firsthand the joy (and chaos!) that comes with raising multiples. All our kids are extremely active and full of energy so we attempt to get outside as much as possible. In Iowa, that is not always possible during the winter months. In December and January the sun sets as early as 4:30 and is often dark by the time we get home after daycare pick up. Even when it is light out, it is so cold out that if we do make it outside, we're back inside within fifteen minutes. It can be difficult to avoid cabin fever. For all of our sanity, we have found that is extremely important to have engaging and interactive toys for the days when we can't get outside. After countless hours of playtime and lots of laughter, I've compiled a list of our favorite toys that have been a hit with our highly energetic children. From imaginative play to educational fun, these toys have been loved by our toddlers and kept them engaged for hours on end. Whether you're a parent of twins or simply looking for some new toy ideas, we hope this list inspires you and brings as much entertainment in your home as it has to ours!
Magnetic building tiles have single handedly saved our sanity! Our boys have gotten so many hours of entertainment building and constructing with this toy. The set I have linked is our favorite in terms the number and variety of tiles. We have purchased this particular set twice, on top of a couple other magnetic building tile sets. Magnatiles is the most well known brand and has a higher price point. For this reason, we have the Picasso Tile brand. The main difference between the two is that the Magnatiles are riveted together and the Picasso tiles are snapped and glued together. Some moms prefer the riveted for peace of mind that they are more secure and the magnets won't come out. However, we have never had any issues with the Picasso tiles splitting apart. We have had some pretty tall towers fall and they have never broken. I have only noticed the plastic on a couple tiles being slightly chipped. I immediately threw those away in an abundance of caution since we also have twin one-year olds walking around.
Our boys love to build, construct and play pretend. Duplos have been the perfect toy for all of those purposes. I played with Duplos when I was little and my mom still has them at her house for when the grandkids come over. They are over twenty five years old and still the most played with toy amongst all eight of her grand babies. We have quite a few different sets that build things like an amusement park or space shuttle. However, I love how they can all be combined to make whatever your kids think up. We also have a couple Duplo mats that they can build off on. Our boys have fun constructing and building but then are also able to play the scenario they have created. The set I have linked on the collage is not a set we currently have but know our boys would love!
We got our convertible play couch for the boys for their second birthday. At first they were not sure what to make of it and didn't understand why we bought them "cushions" for their birthday. It took them a little time to understand how they could play with the play couch but it has been used constantly since. It has become a barn, a ramp for hot wheel cars, an obstacle course and a cozy nest for movie nights. It can also be used as beds for sleep overs. We also have friends who have two or three of these couches and say that the more you have, the cooler things your kids will create. The original brand of these couches is called Nugget but there are many dupes and look a likes that are more reasonably priced. The one linked is the brand that we have. I was able to get ours during a Black Friday sale from Kohl's and has held up extremely well. The cover of the material is very durable and can be taken off and thrown in the wash if needed.
Our set of superhero capes, masks and snap bracelets were a gift for their third birthday party. Our boys have been in a big superhero phase lately. They love running around the house and playing superhero, especially Spidey. Elliott uses the snap bracelets as his "web shooters" and the source of his super powers. The one year old babies also get in on the fun and love to walk around in the capes and masks as well. These have been a fun way for the boys to dress up and engage in imaginative play while running around the house burning some energy.
We LOVE our play kitchen. It is a toy that has grown with all our children and has allowed for different levels of developmental play. The boys make us pretend treats and pop all the time. The babies enjoy standing up and putting things on the grill to "cook."
We have the Little Tikes Cook 'n Play Outdoor BBQ. It is smaller in size so a great option if you have limited space. Ours sits by the window where they can see Daddy grilling on the deck and love to grill when Daddy is grilling. It comes with a couple plates, cups and pretend food but we did need to purchase more play food. There are plenty of play kitchens on the market in a variety of price ranges. Ours is not one I would recommend to everyone. Find one that fits your space and budget and I guarantee your kids will love it!
Just like our play kitchen, all of our children love the shopping cart. We have the Melissa and Doug shopping cart and I'm pretty sure this thing will outlive me. This thing is built to last! It looks and operates like just a regular sized shopping cart, has a place to put a baby doll. and glides easily on any flooring. Our oldest boys love to put toys in it to move them from room to room. Emma and Isaac use it as a walker and do laps around our house.
I know this toy recommendation is a little out there. Stick with me on this one. We were at a friend's house for dinner and noticed they had one of these mini-trampolines in their toy room. Did it take up a large part of their room? Absolutely! But all the kids were completely obsessed with it. They were playing and jumping nonstop. We had space to put one up in the corner of our basement and we have loved it. It's a great way to get the extra wiggles out on days when it is impossible to get outside. It has a seven foot diameter and about six and a half feet tall. I also put ball pit balls in the trampoline for a little extra fun. If you have the space, I highly recommend this if you have extra busy, high energy kids.
I fell victim to an Instagram targeted ad and bought two Tonieboxes for the boys on Amazon Prime Day. You purchase the Toniebox and then buy Tonies that you put on top to play music and stories. I originally purchased the Tonieboxes with the intent that they be a quiet activity for the boys but they always manage to make everything a little extra chaotic. They currently love to play a song on the Toniebox and run around it as frantically as possible while giggling. This toy has been a saving grace during potty training and is easy to pack and take on trips. Our youngest set of twins is obsessed with the Tonieboxes and carry them all over the house. New Tonies make great little gifts for Easter baskets and stocking stuffers. It is something I tell family members when they ask about possible gift ideas.
I know you probably think I'm nuts for this one. Let me explain. We had purchased a Cozy Coupe in the early spring for the boys when they were just a little over one. We let them play with it in the house until it got warm enough to take outside. Our foyer, front living room and kitchen are connected and create a loop around the stairwell that the boys took the Cozy Coupes around. By the time it got warm out, they loved having them in the house and actually liked them inside more than when we took the cars outside to play. Riding the cars around the loop has been a great way to burn some energy during the super cold months. Our second set of twins are obsessed with them as well. They love to push and be pushed around in these cars. This is one of the first things they used to stand up and use as a walker. Our new favorite thing to do with them is play "car wash." Yes, my baseboards are shot, but my sanity is not. To me, that's worth the cost of a can of paint and box of Magic Erasers.
We were given a wooden triangle climber as a hand-me-down from a friend. All of our kids are playing in it or on it regularly. The boys love to climb the rock wall while the babies love to crawl inside and play peek-a-boo. It is not uncommon to have all four kids playing with it at the same time. It has been a house, a barn, Spidey Headquarters, and a great hide-and-seek spot. It allows them to be active while encouraging imaginative play. This toy is extremely sturdy and has a relatively small footprint of just over nine square feet in comparison to the utility of the structure.
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