10 Unique Toys (and Household Items) That Keep My Five Kids Occupied for Hours, From $5

When my daughter was 3, she picked an onion from our garden, and it instantly became her best friend. For weeks on end, my daughter carried this onion—its long green stem still firmly attached—everywhere. She cradled it tenderly, played elaborate make-believe games with it, pushed it in her doll stroller, and insisted on tucking it in bed next to her. This story always makes me laugh because it proves a very real fact of parenting: Kids can have the trendiest toys on the market, but sometimes, they will still choose to play with a random onion. 

So in honor of kids being kids, here are some of the strangest toys my five kids have actually played with—and some actual toy toys that could take their place, if that sort of thing is important to you. Starting at $5, these 10 odd picks will spare your toy budget while encouraging your kids’ imaginations through pretend play. It’s a win-win.

Keys + Remotes

Everyone knows that babies love keys and remotes almost as much as they love reaching for phones. But you can’t trick your baby with any set of cute pastel toy keys—the more realistic they are, the more likely you can keep your own car zapper safe. Recommended for babies 10 months old and up, this set comes complete with working buttons, flashing lights, and even car sounds (batteries are required and included).

And, don’t forget to pick up a pretend remote while you’re at it.

Melissa & Doug Pots and Pans

Pots and pans are a kid-approved toy in my house. They can function as pots for potions, homes for their stuffed animals, mountains for dolls to climb, or a drum set. If you’d like to keep your own pots and pans safe and scratch-free in the kitchen, Melissa & Doug offers a realistic stainless steel set of toy pots and pans, which is currently on sale. 

This set comes with pans, a pot with a lid, a colander, a spatula, and even a dish rack, so kids can cook up all sorts of imaginative games.

A Cardboard Box

I’ve gotten more done by setting my kids up in a cardboard box with a few crayons and markers than with any complicated parenting strategy I’ve tried. If you want to be more creative about it (and distract your kiddos for even longer), you could pick up a cardboard house that kids can color, like this restaurant-themed one.

It has a functioning window and door, which kids can open to take orders from the inside. Keep the box the house is shipped in for double the fun.

Swiffer Dusters

In our house, every child gets one after-meal chore. Now that my 4-year-old is old enough to pitch in, I assigned her the task of dusting, which she finds as engaging as just about any board game we own. She takes her role of dusting everything—fridge, cabinets, my feet—very seriously, and my house gets cleaner as she entertains herself.

If you don't want to give your kid a real duster—but want essentially the same results—there's also this popular Melissa & Doug set, which does work.

NutriChef Wooden Utensils for Kids

My mother-in-law regularly gives her grandchildren wooden utensils to chew on and play with when we visit, and they’re always a hit with my kids. Wooden utensils can entertain teething infants, musical, toddlers, and even older kids who are starting to gain an interest in cooking.

These spoons have food-grade silicone heads, making them safe for teething little ones, and they’ll serve the dual purpose of being useful in the kitchen and entertaining your kid.

Little Tikes Big Waffle Blocks

Since my younger kids received these blocks as a gift almost six years ago, they’ve played with them almost every day. They build houses out of them, make forts, construct villages, play hopscotch, erect obstacle courses, and use them as stages. I’ve enjoyed many a trip to the "doctor’s office" while lying on an exam table made of these waffle blocks. (I’m fine, thanks for asking.) These may not be aesthetic in any way, shape, or form, but I guarantee your kids will play with them. 

As a bonus, the blocks can be used indoors or outdoors, and my kids have tested them in both environments with much success.

Electric Toothbrushes

Kids love to mimic their parents, so why not encourage dental health while they’re at it? Not only have I found electric toothbrushes to be more enticing for kids to want to brush their teeth with, but they’ve helped soothe my kids’ irritated gums during teething too. Plus, the noise and motion distract kids while you get your skin care routine done. 

This two-pack from Amazon comes pre-loaded with batteries and includes a spare when the one your kid plays with inevitably gets too disgusting for you to look the other way anymore.

Balloons

Any time we have balloons in our house after a party or event, it takes me weeks to get rid of them since my kids insist on playing with them nonstop. Their favorite thing to do is play “keep the balloon in the air,” and I’ll even join in on the fun sometimes. This 120-pack comes with extra-thick balloons 

(Note: As a registered nurse, I do not recommend balloons for any household that has babies or toddlers due to the choking hazards they can pose.)

Dental Floss

Want to see how creative your kids can get? Challenge them to create their very own boobie trap out of dental floss, à la Spy Kids. As a bonus, they can see who can get through their maze without hitting the floss, James Bond style.

Spray Bottles

A simple spray bottle is an incredibly useful tool for kids. My youngest has used her very own spray bottle to water plants for me, “paint” the sidewalk outside, and play hair stylist while she combs and styles my hair. When your kid has gotten tired of playing with them, they’re incredibly practical to keep around the house for chores. Each spray bottle in this set of three holds up to 12 ounces of liquid.

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