All Things for Kids: A Guide to Kids Playthings

All Things for Kids: A Guide to Selecting Children's Playthings

Welcome to our comprehensive guide covering all playthings for kids! At Send A Toy, we understand that finding the right toys for children can be overwhelming. That's why we've created this comprehensive 'All Things for Kids' resource. 

Where to Begin ...

When it comes to kid's toys, the possibilities are endless. Whether you're shopping for a birthday, Christmas, or just because, understanding what makes children tick is essential. The toys you choose should not only be age appropriate and safe, but also inspire creativity, learning, and most importantly, fun!

Educational Toys: Learning Through Play

At Send A Toy, educational toys hold a special place. These essential toys combine entertainment with learning, making them perfect additions to any child's toy collection. From building blocks that develop spatial awareness to puzzles that enhance problem-solving skills, educational toys represent some of the best investments in a child's development. Our carefully selected educational toy range includes STEM toys that introduce scientific concepts through hands-on experimentation, mathematical games that make numbers fun and accessible, and language development toys that expand vocabulary and communication skills. These educational toy box treasures not only keep children engaged for hours but also build critical thinking abilities, boost confidence, and help prepare young minds for future success.

Whether it's a wooden counting toy for toddlers learning their first numbers, a complex construction set for older children exploring engineering principles, or interactive books that bring stories to life, our educational toys grow with your child and adapt to their developing abilities. Knowing that playtime is also learning time, make these type of toys perfect gifts that deliver both immediate fun and long-term benefits.

Discover Our Educational Toys Collection

Creative Arts and Crafts

Art supplies, craft kits, and creative projects allow children to express themselves while developing fine motor skills. When considering playthings for kids, don't overlook the power of a simple set of crayons or a craft kit that can provide hours of imaginative play. Creative expression is fundamental to childhood development, fostering emotional intelligence, problem-solving abilities, and self-confidence that will serve children long after childhood.

Our extensive arts and crafts collection includes everything from basic drawing supplies like colored pencils, markers, and sketch pads to comprehensive craft kits that guide children through specific projects. Watercolor sets introduce young artists to color mixing and brush techniques, while playdough encourages three-dimensional thinking and tactile exploration. Sticker books, coloring books with intricate designs, and activity books combine creativity with learning, often incorporating educational themes like animals, geography, or science.

For older children, we offer more sophisticated craft kits including jewelry making, model building, and textile arts like embroidery or knitting starter sets. These projects teach patience, following instructions, and the satisfaction of completing a complex task. 

The benefits of arts and crafts extend far beyond the finished product. Children develop hand-eye coordination, learn to make decisions about color and composition, and experience the joy of creating something uniquely their own. These activities also provide excellent opportunities for family bonding, as parents and care givers work with children on projects together, sharing ideas and celebrating achievements. 

Discover Our Art & Craft Collection

Outdoor Adventures and Active Play

Physical activity is crucial for kids. Outdoor toys, equipment, and active play items help children develop gross motor skills while having fun in the fresh air. These play-things promote healthy lifestyles and create lasting memories, helping to inspire a love of movement and outdoor exploration.

In today's digital age, encouraging outdoor play is more important than ever. Our carefully selected range of outdoor toys helps children disconnect from screens and reconnect with nature and physical movement. From classic favorites like jump ropes, skittles and high bounce pocket balls to kites, obstacle courses and flying discs, these types of toys all provide endless opportunities for physical development and imaginative play.

Water play toys transform hot Australian summer days into refreshing adventures. While sand and beach toys extend the fun to seaside holidays and sandbox adventures, promoting sensory exploration and creative construction projects.

Ride-on toys, scooters, and balance bikes are excellent playthings for kids that develop balance, coordination, and spatial awareness. These toys progress with children's abilities, starting with push toys for toddlers and advancing to ride-on vehicles that challenge older children's motor skills and confidence.

The benefits of outdoor active play extend far beyond physical fitness. Fresh air and sunshine provide essential vitamin D, while outdoor exploration stimulates curiosity about the natural world. Children who engage in regular outdoor play often show improved concentration, better sleep patterns, and enhanced emotional regulation. These experiences establish healthy habits that can last a lifetime, making outdoor toys some of the most valuable playthings for kids in any toybox collection.

Discover Our Active Play Collection

Plush Companions and Comfort Items

Soft toys and comfort items are timeless favorites in the world of playthings. Our beloved Jellycat collection represents some of the finest quality plush toys available, featuring irresistibly soft textures and charming designs that capture hearts instantly. These cuddly companions provide comfort, security, and endless imaginative play opportunities, often becoming a child's most treasured possession and faithful friend through all of life's adventures. From adorable bunnies and bears to whimsical creatures and character plushies, our comfort items are crafted with exceptional attention to detail and safety, ensuring they can withstand years of love, cuddles, and creative storytelling. Whether serving as a bedtime buddy, a tea party guest, or a confidant for sharing secrets, plush toys can create emotional connections that support healthy development and provide lasting comfort throughout childhood.

Discover Our Plush Toys Collection

Building and Construction Toys

Construction sets and building toys are fundamental playthings that never go out of style. These toys develop engineering thinking, creativity, and patience while providing hours of engaging play. From simple wooden blocks to complex building sets, these types of toys grow with children, adapting to their developing abilities and expanding imaginations.

The journey begins with classic wooden building blocks, perfect for toddlers learning about shapes, sizes, and spatial relationships. Blocks teach cause and effect as towers tumble and structures take shape. As children grow, they graduate to more sophisticated construction systems like interlocking construction blocks, magnetic tiles, and modular building sets that challenge their problem-solving abilities and introduce basic engineering principles.

Advanced construction toys introduce children to real-world building concepts through scaled-down models and working mechanisms. Gear sets teach mechanical principles, while architectural building sets help children understand structural design and stability. These types of toys often include instruction manuals that can develop reading comprehension and following sequential steps, while also encouraging free-play creativity when children venture beyond the suggested designs.

The educational benefits of construction toys extend far beyond play. Children develop spatial reasoning skills essential for mathematics and science, learn to visualise 3D objects, and practice fine motor control through precise placement and manipulation of small pieces. These activities also foster persistence and resilience as children work through challenges, rebuild collapsed structures, and refine their designs through trial and error.

Construction toys are particularly valuable for collaborative play, encouraging children to work together on large projects, share ideas, and negotiate design decisions. This social aspect develops communication skills and teaches compromise while building friendships through shared creative achievements.

From simple stacking rings for babies to complex robotics kits for older children, construction toys represent some of the most versatile and enduring all things for kids. They provide screen-free entertainment that engages multiple senses, stimulates creativity, and builds confidence through tangible accomplishments. Whether constructing a simple tower or an elaborate cityscape, children experience the satisfaction of bringing their imagination to life, making these toys invaluable investments in their cognitive and creative development.

Discover Our Construction Toys Collection

Games and Puzzles for Family Fun

Games and puzzles can bring families together, making them a fabulous activity for kids. These toys develop critical thinking, social skills, and patience while offering an opportunity for family bonding. In our increasingly digital world, games and puzzles offer invaluable screen-free time that encourages face-to-face interaction and conversation.

Our carefully selected collection of games and puzzles caters to every age group. Classic strategy games introduce children to forward thinking and planning, while cooperative games teach teamwork and shared problem-solving.

Puzzles offer some of the most meditative and rewarding playtime things for kids, offering quiet satisfaction as scattered pieces gradually form complete pictures. Jigsaw puzzles develop spatial reasoning, pattern recognition, and persistence, while providing opportunities for family members to contribute. From simple 24-piece puzzles perfect for preschoolers to complex 1000-piece challenges that engage the whole family for weeks, our puzzle collection grows with your children's abilities.

Educational games blend learning with entertainment, making them a particularly valuable play resource for kids. Math games reinforce numerical concepts, while word games expand vocabulary and spelling skills. Geography games spark curiosity about the world, and science-themed games make complex concepts accessible and fun. 

The social benefits of games and puzzles extend far beyond entertainment. Children learn to take turns, follow rules, handle winning and losing gracefully, and communicate effectively with others. These experiences build emotional intelligence and social competence that serve them well in school and future relationships. Family game nights establish traditions that children can carry into their own families, creating bonds through shared activities.

So, whether you're looking for winter's day activities, holiday entertainment, or family bonding opportunities, games and puzzles represent some of the most valuable playthings for kids in any toy collection. 

Discover Our Puzzles Collection

Discover Our Games Collection

Age-Appropriate Selection

When choosing toys for children, age appropriateness is crucial. Our Gift Finder can help you navigate our extensive toy collection by age group, helping to ensure you select products that are both safe and engaging for your specific child. Understanding developmental stages and matching toys to a child's abilities creates the foundation for meaningful play experiences that support growth and learning.

Child development follows predictable patterns, and the most effective toys for kids are designed to meet children exactly where they are in their developmental journey. Toys that are too advanced can frustrate young learners, while items that are too simple may fail to capture their interest or challenge their growing abilities. Our carefully organised toy categories and product filters help to eliminate guesswork by sorting playthings according to developmental skills and not just chronological age.

For infants and toddlers (0-2 years), we focus on toys that stimulate sensory development and support emerging motor skills. Infant safe rattles, textured toys, and simple cause-and-effect items help babies explore their world safely. As toddlers begin walking and talking, our selection includes pull-along toys, shape sorters, and first books that encourage exploration and language development.

Preschoolers (3-5 years) are ready for more complex playthings kids that challenge their growing independence and creativity. Products such as pretend play items, basic puzzles, art supplies, and early learning games all support school readiness while maintaining the fun of discovery. These toys can also help develop social skills, emotional regulation, and cognitive abilities essential for future learning.

School-age children (6-12 years) benefit from playthings that offer increasing complexity and skill-building opportunities. Our selection includes advanced construction sets, strategy games, science kits, and craft projects that challenge growing minds while providing hours of engaging entertainment. These toys often bridge the gap between play and learning, making education both enjoyable and entertaining.

Teenagers (13+ years) require toys that respect their developing independence while still providing appropriate challenges. Our range includes sophisticated building sets, creative kits, and hobby-related items that support their interests and emerging talents.

Quality and Safety First

We regularly review customer feedback and industry developments to continuously improve our standards. When you choose Send A Toy, you're not just selecting kids' toys – you are choosing peace of mind, knowing that safety and quality are built into every purchase. This commitment to quality has earned us the trust of families across Australia for over two decades.

At Send A Toy, we carefully curate all our playthings for kids with quality and safety as a priority. Every toy in our extensive collection meets strict safety standards while providing exceptional play value.