Best Tech-Free Toys for Babies and Toddlers

Give a child a toy that beeps, moves, whirrs, sings or has a (gasp) screen, and you’ll have a child who is mesmerized long enough for you to pour yourself another cup of coffee. But those electronic or tech-forward toys can only hold a child’s attention for so long.
Tech-free toys encourage exploration, creativity, imagination and open-ended play, which can engage children through a wide range of ages and interests. Because tech-free toys often don’t have one set way to play, they can be used and combined in all sorts of ways that challenge children and help them build strategies for focus and resiliance.
Rest assured, parents will feel #blessed that tech-free toys will help boost baby’s skills while avoiding screen time. They will also feel eternally grateful to you for saving them the headache of frantically searching the house for AAA batteries. Here are some of our favorites:
Rosie Colosi writes books for curious kids and articles for parents who are counting the minutes until bedtime. Once upon a lifetime ago, she played Mrs. Claus in The Christmas Spectacular Starring The Radio City Rockettes, but now she mostly focuses on singing songs from Annie to her two little girls.