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Updated: Oct 12, 2022

Mel and I have put together 20 staple toys for your toy room! This list is not age specific because most of these items can be enjoyed by littles all the way up to teens! The toys listed below have been a major hit at both our houses--we own all of these toys! If you are looking for group gifts for the family or larger, higher price point items, this is your list.


Shop All Ages:

Sensory Table Inserts and Accessories



1. Airfort: This toy gives you a fort within seconds and all you need is a box fan! You don’t have to deal with poles or storing a large fort. This toy folds up in a tiny pouch! Kids just lift the side to enter. It comes in different designs and shapes! Our kids love hosting teddy bear picnics inside or just chilling with blankets and pillows. Save 10% with CODE: TOYTESTINGSISTERS


2. Sarah's Silks: Our favorite play silks are from Sarah’s Silks. They offer beautifully crafted 100% silk play scarves and products perfect for imaginative play. They also come in a variety of sizes, colors, and designs. Our kids love to put in the water, play dress-up, build forts, fly in the sky, and create magical paths. If you want to add silks to your playroom, start by purchasing a few of the classic sized silks and either a giant or double silk.


3. Rockwall: If your kids climb the walls, we have the ultimate solution for you! Megalith climbing has made it easy to add a rock wall in your very own home! All you do is buy these individual panels, arrange to your liking, add the holes, and voila! These are self-installed but are super easy. Find the studs in your walls and they will each hold up to 250lbs per panel. This is the perfect toy that keeps your kids active and entertained.


4. Mud kitchen: This is an heirloom toy that will be used for many, many years. It is made of solid wood and the quality is top notch. We highly recommend the WoodNPoppy mud kitchen. Their mud kitchens are made to order and you can select wood type, finish, and accessories. Mud kitchens are excellent for outdoor sensory play. Kids can enjoy making mud pies, planting flowers, cooking with their backyard findings, and so much more.


5. Stairslide: Who doesn’t want to turn their stairs into a massive slide? Stairslide comes in sections so you can pick the length and thrill level you are looking for! They don’t damage your floor and stack for easy storage. This toy can be enjoyed by toddlers and teens! Use our code to save 10%! Mel has 5 slides at her house and Mandy has 4. We use a play couch as a landing pad! CODE: TOYTESTING10


6. Stepping Stones: These colorful stepping stones from National Geographic will get your kid moving and using their imagination. They are soft and easy to balance on. Our kids love to use in ninja stations, obstacle courses, and pretend play. Littles love to stack and jump on and off. These are great to pair with silks and a play couch.


7. Play couch: Mandy has been become addicted to play couches—she owns 4. Play couches are awesome for imaginative play because kids can create forts, castles, obstacle courses, ninja stations, houses, and so much more. There are many play couch companies but we love LeoMat and Nugget. We recommend investing in at least two play couches if you purchase a Nugget. Nuggets won't go on sale and are $229 for a standard color. Because the Leo Mat has tri-fold cushions, start with one before buying two. The Leo Mat is $399. You can purchase from Target or Leo Mat. There are so many unique colors and patterns to pick from. The Leo Mat is featured in the photo. Save 10% with CODE: TOYTESTINGSISTERS


8. Bounce House: PlaySmol has created aesthetically pleasing bounce houses! No more obnoxious colors. They currently have 3 color options: pinks, blues, and neutrals. They offer 6x6 and 8x8. If you have room, we recommend the 8x8. This toy will keep kids busy and bouncing! Add plastic balls for some fun sensory play. Bounces houses are great for indoor and outdoor wiggles! This will save you during the cold winter months. Use CODE: TOYTESTINGSISTERS to save $30.


9. Doorway swing: If you have active kids, the doorway swing is great for getting out all of the energy! It’s awesome because it doesn’t require any hardware for installation. It holds up to 150lbs. Littles can relax in the hammock attachment and big kids can even enjoy too. We recommend purchasing the deluxe kit which includes the swing, trapeze bar, and hammock attachments.


10. Jungle Jumaproo: We know this is a higher price toy that takes up a larger footprint, but we promise it will be used by so many ages. The Jumparoo is a trampoline for inside/outside with bonus features! It includes poles for climbing and hanging and you can even purchase the rope swing! Tons of kids can load onto the Jumparoo and no one is going to get thrown off because of its double bounce feature. This means you can have a toddler jumping the same time as a teen!



11. Dough Kits: These kits from Mac Kids Kit are affordable and will keep your kiddos entertained for hours. The accessories for each themed box turn play time into an imaginative and sensory experience.


12. Ikea Play Kitchen: Every home should have a play kitchen. The Ikea kitchen is a favorite of ours because it is neutral colored, has an interactive top, and is majorly affordable. Just make sure to check for inventory because these often sell out around the holidays.


13. Billibo: The Billibo is an open ended, award winning toy. Our kiddos have nick named it the "turtle shell". It can be used to spin and wobble and can be flipped upside down to create a fun arrangement of stepping stones. The perfect toy to help get out the wiggles.


14. Wooden Rainbow: This toy made our staple toy guide because our kiddos use it in so many ways. It is a toy that will grow with your child. Not to mention, we found the largest, most affordable one on Amazon and we LOVE IT!


15. Yoto Mini: Say hello to the portable story teller. This story telling device uses cards to play hundreds of classic stories. It doesn't require wifi to work and can be used as a bluetooth device. The portability of this makes it perfect for road trips, plane rides, and camping excursions.


16. Spider Swing: A favorite outdoor toy of ours that can be used on a swing set or a tree. Holds up to 700lbs and can fit up to 6 kids! We love to let our kids pile on and swing high together.


17. Kids UTV Ride On: This ride on toy packs a punch. It uses a 24V battery which means more speed, more power, and better battery life. Two kids can ride together and tot around their gear in the trunk. Trust us when we say you want a 24V battery!


18. Nighthawk Rider: This is the most unique battery powered ride on toy we've seen. It looks like a stingray and turns by using a tipping motion. Our kids have hours of fun riding this through the neighborhood.


19. Wooble Board: Another perfect toy to help get all the wiggles out. You can use this toy to rock, wobble, and teeter. You can also use this for an interactive kids yoga session. Open ended toy with lots of playtime possibilities.


20. Zip Line: If you have 2 sturdy trees this is the toy for you! Turn your backyard into an outdoor obstacle course with this zip line from Fofana Ninja. Using slack line technology this toy can be used for even adults under 250lbs.








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Writer's pictureMel

Updated: Oct 9, 2022

School is back in session which means there are lots of littles at home with tear filled eyes as they watch their older siblings leave. We have curated the perfect list of toys to turn those frowns upside down. These toys will keep your kiddos entertained and have been tried and tested.


  1. Leo Mat : We love play couches and the Leo Mat is new to the market! It has a tri-fold technology which means you get 6 cushions and 2 triangles! Play couches are perfect for open-ended play! We love constructing forts, obstacle courses, ninja stations, mazes, and so much more. You can use code TOYTESTINGSISTERS for a discount at checkout.

  2. Yoto player: The yoto mini is a portable story player that kids can operate on their own! It doesn’t require Wi-Fi. Kids love selecting their story cards and inserting them into the yoto. You can use headphones with your yoto for a long car ride. This is a great way to get off the screens and fall in love with audio books. The kids' meditation cards are a fan favorite too.

  3. Squigz: Fat Brain Toys make the funnest, silicone building toys perfect for little hands. These suction powered rubber toys can be stuck to almost any service and make for a creative frenzie. Our kiddos like to take these in the car and use them on the car windows.

  4. Button and Bug Table Inserts: These table inserts can be used with or without the play table. Purchase the plastic container from your local IKEA and go wild. These inserts can be used as open ended/sensory play in a wide range of learning activities. Designed and developed by an occupational therapist and mom, these are perfect to keep your little one busy. Use code TOYTESTINGSISTERS for 10% off at checkout.

  5. Wild Pine Board Sorters: These beautifully crafted, wooden sorting boards are unique and perfect to keep little hands busy. Select a wide range of boards and custom colored gems to create a thrilling fine motor skills activity. Use code TOYTESTINGSISTERS at checkout for 15% off.

  6. Bilibo: This award-winning, open-ended toy is so versatile and keeps littles engaged as they improve motor skills and balance. The Bilibo can be used inside or outside! Kids love to spin, rock, and balance on their turtle shell—the Bilibo.

  7. Doughsie Dough: Dough kits are a great way to keep littles busy enjoying sensory and creative play. Themed kits are awesome because you can select a kit that fits the current interest of your child. The dough accessories are always perfectly curated. Our kids love playing with their dough kits.

  8. Homer App: This is our favorite early learning app. Our kids are going to find themselves in front of screens, so why not control the content. This early learning program can be customized to both age and level and adjusts to your child accordingly. Our link gives you a 45 day window to try the app for FREE! https://glnk.io/04kp/toytestingsisters








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Updated: Oct 6, 2022

Who doesn't love bath time? We have rounded up our favorite bath toys and products so you can elevate bath time for your kids!


You don't need a ton of toys for bath time! Here are a few favorites to keep kids entertained and smelling fresh! There are so many bath toys on the market, always make sure you are selecting items that are BPA-free and can be easily cleaned so mold and mildew don't grow.


If bath time is part of your night time ritual, consider investing in a bath subscription package. Our favorite is included in this list.


  1. Honeysticks Bath Crayons: Keep the art mess in the tub! Honeystick bath crayons are made of beeswax and soy wax. They are made with 100% natural food grade ingredients. The colors are non-toxic and make for easy cleaning. The jumbo size crayons are great for little hands.

  2. Dabble and Dollop Shampoo, Gel, and Conditioner: We have become huge fans of Dabble and Dollop. Their owner created a safe and clean product line for babies and kids. They have gels, whips, and conditioners that smell amazing. The ingredients are natural, vegan, and pure.

  3. Ferry Boat and Mini Cars, Green Toys: This bath toy is awesome because it can also get lots of use as an outdoor water toy. It's easy to clean and dishwasher safe. It comes with a ferry and two mini cars. Green Toys has created high-quality toys that last!

  4. GloPals: If you don't own GloPals, it's time to make a purchase. You buy these little “pals” and insert the cubes in the back of the character. They are water activated, and light up once they are placed in the water. These are super fun bath toys and your collection of characters can grow with your child.

  5. Squigz: These suction cup toys are great for the tub and shower walls. Kids can build squigz creations. Squigz's are also great travel toys. Perfect for airport and car windows.

  6. Boon Jellies: Jellies are also suction toys but their ocean vibe is so fun for littles. Kids can stack the jellies and create different scenes.

  7. Cloud and Droplet, Ubbi: This set is made of silicone and opens for easily cleaning in the dishwasher. Once open, you can submerge and fill with water! These are great for a sensory table too.

  8. Boon Pipes: Bath wall toys are so much fun and this set give your kid the chance to engineer water play. The pipes suction to the walls for easy play set up.

  9. Bath Bombs: These bath droplets are from Dabble and Dollop. All ingredients are safe and clean. This set comes with 12 bath bombs with 4 amazing scents (strawberry, tangerine, vanilla, honeydew).

  10. Bubbles and Joy: We have fallen in love with Bubbles and Joy bath subscription boxes. They curate unique bath toys and bath products. They select BPA-free and mold safe toys. These boxes make great gifts.


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