Family Food on the Table

Recipes and resources for making it happen

  • Home
  • Recipes
        • By Course
          • Main Dishes
          • Side Dishes
          • Appetizers & Snacks
          • Sweets & Desserts
          • Breakfast & Brunch
          • Salads
          • Soups
          • DrinksEasy drinks, cocktails and smoothies for all kinds of fun occasions!
          • Sauces, Dressings and Condiments
          • Kid Food
            • Baby Food
            • Toddler and Kid Food
        • By Method
          • Slow Cooker
          • Instant Pot
          • Air Fryer
          • Microwave
        • By Ingredient
          • Chicken
          • Turkey
          • Pork
          • Seafood
          • Vegetarian
        • By Season
          • Winter
          • Spring
          • Summer
          • Fall
          • Valentine's Day
          • Easter
          • July 4th
          • Back to School
          • Halloween
          • Thanksgiving
          • Christmas
          • New Years
  • Collections
    • E-cookbooks
    • Cooking Resources
    • Easy Chicken Dinner Recipes -->This collection of easy chicken dinner recipes features some of our favorite family dishes, perfect for making a healthy, delicious home cooked meal on a busy night! Getting a healthy, home cooked meal on the table every night can be challenging. Particularly with the demands of work, school, activities and social obligations, well, it can be the last thing we want to do at the end of the day. So I’ve got tons of easy chicken recipes at my disposal that I turn to when I need to whip something up for us on one of those busy weeknights. (Or even busy weekends – dinners can be tough then, too!) And this collection of easy chicken dinner recipes has some that we make over and over again. It includes everything from skillet chicken dinners to slow cooker chicken recipes, one-pot chicken pastas, soups and salads with chicken, chicken burgers and meatballs, sheet pan chicken dinners and easy chicken casseroles. Are you looking for fast as well as easy? Me too. I’ve got collections of chicken recipes in under 30 minutes and, faster still, chicken recipes in under 15 minutes. Or if you want to browse them all, my quick chicken recipes…
      • Easy Chicken Recipes with Few IngredientsThese easy chicken recipes with few ingredients include some great healthy lunch and dinner options, all made with 5 or fewer ingredients! I am all about the EASY when it comes to cooking. I don’t like to fuss much over my food and I certainly don’t like to spend a ton of time in the kitchen at the end of a long day. Easy chicken dinner recipes and healthy lunch recipes with chicken are much more my style. (As are chicken recipes in under 30 minutes and, faster yet, chicken recipes in under 15 minutes. Cause life.) Speaking of life, a million trips to the grocery store also aren’t fun during a busy week. (Especially with little ones in tow!) So I’ve got these go-to easy chicken recipes with few ingredients that help me keep dinnertime simple. And my sanity intact. In fact, one of the first cookbooks I bought on my own, at a used bookstore in Washington, D.C., where I lived for a few years after college, was titled 3-ingredient recipes. I was pretty new to cooking and thought, I think I can handle that. My cooking skills have improved, but I still go for the simple chicken recipes…
      • Quick Chicken RecipesThis collection of quick chicken recipes features some of our favorite family dinners and go-to lunches, all ready in 30 minutes or less! From chicken skillet dinners to one-pot pastas, salads to burgers, you’re sure to find some new favorites! If you know me, you know I am ALL about the quick and easy recipes. I love making all of our homemade meals and home cooked dinners, but like you, I’ve also got a hundred other things to juggle and so keeping things simple in the kitchen is a must. And these quick chicken recipes include all of my chicken recipes in under 30 minutes and, even faster, chicken recipes in under 15 minutes. Sanity savers for sure. Busy weeknights have nothing on us! A few of our favorites from these quick chicken recipes: Healthy chicken Alfredo with broccoli Creamy chipotle chicken 20-minute chicken and tortellini soup with kale Skillet salsa chicken Easy creamy chicken This collection also has some healthy lunch recipes with chicken for mixing up your lunch routine. (It doesn’t include my slow cooker chicken recipes though, since those aren’t ready in 30 minutes. But they can be super quick to prep in the morning and then…
        • Chicken Recipes in Under 15 MinutesThese easy chicken recipes in under 15 minutes are perfect for dinner on a busy weeknight! From one-pot wonders to salads, chicken skillets to tacos, you’re sure to find some new fast favorites! You know those nights when you walk in the door and need dinner pronto?! Like, 5 minutes ago? That’s when I turn to these quick and easy chicken recipes in under 15 minutes. I can make a healthy, home cooked meal for my family and be sitting down to enjoy it in no time. Cause plenty of evenings, 15 minutes is often all the time I have – or want to spend – on dinner. I’m not alone on that, right?! You can browse below but I thought I’d highlight a couple that I make over and over again. A few of our favorite easy chicken recipes in under 15 minutes: 15-minute honey garlic chicken (gets rave reviews!) Southwest chicken skillet dinner (pile on your favorite toppings!) Quick chicken curry (perfect with rice and peas) One-pot low-carb leftover chicken recipe with spinach (my dad’s go-to recipe) This collection also includes some healthy lunch options that are quick to put together — like the Asian chicken mason jar…
        • Chicken Recipes in Under 30 MinutesThese easy chicken recipes in under 30 minutes are perfect for dinner on a busy weeknight! From one-pan meals to burgers, one-pot pastas to healthy salads, you’re sure to find some new favorites! Quick, easy and mostly healthy is pretty much the name of the game for dinner at my house. I love a home cooked meal and we eat a ton of chicken, which means I’ve come up with and found a lot of easy chicken recipes over the years. And this collection highlights some of my easy chicken recipes in under 30 minutes, when you want something delicious but need it on the table pretty quickly. Is that every single night for you too? We’ve got everything from skillet chicken dishes to chicken pasta and from soups and salads with chicken to chicken meatballs and burgers. All the chicken love! Many of these recipes use boneless, skinless chicken breasts (though you could substitute chicken thighs if you prefer) while others use ground chicken and some rely on pre-cooked chicken, such as a rotisserie chicken you pick up at the store or some leftover grilled or baked chicken. Lots of these 30 minute chicken dinners are complete meals but…
      • Healthy One-Pot Chicken DinnersHealthy one-pot chicken dinners are such a help on busy days! This collection includes everything from one-pot pastas and skillets to easy slow cooker and sheet pan recipes to help you get an easy, healthy and delicious dinner on the table any night! I am ALL about quick and easy meals. I cook our dinner 99% of the time, including on days when work has blown up in my face, or the kids have decided to coordinate their melt-downs, or we’re all just wiped out and hungry. And even though I love to cook, I definitely have those days when I’m just not feeling it. Enter some quick and easy one-pot chicken dinners for the win! These are great to have in your back pocket for busy days, busy weeks or in case of a “kids-are-making-me-crazy” kinda moment. (My husband also loves these meals because he’s on clean-up duty and it’s nice not to have a huge pile of dishes staring you down after dinner!) Many of these dishes are complete meals on their own. Others are low-carb as written, but can easily be paired with some rice, pasta, bread or potatoes to bulk them up a bit. Here are…
      • Slow Cooker Chicken RecipesThese hands-off slow cooker chicken recipes will put your slow cooker to work and have you coming home to a delicious, healthy dinner that’s ready to go! Some days, you just need someone else to make you dinner. I’m not talking takeout or delivery or a restaurant dinner. I’m talking about your crock pot or slow cooker. I find it supremely satisfying to go about my day, knowing that a delicious home cooked dinner is cooking up at home for me. I can play with the kids, take them to practices, run errands or just relax with a book and breathe easy. These slow cooker chicken recipes mean there is just one less thing to do in the evening and that’s a great thing on a busy day! This collection includes slow cooker recipes for boneless, skinless chicken breasts as well as chicken thighs (though you can usually sub either one). And many of these take just minutes to prep in the morning! 👍 Here’s a few of our favorite slow cooker chicken recipes: Slow cooker balsamic chicken Slow cooker bistro chicken thighs Slow cooker apricot chicken Crock pot Mediterranean chicken Slow cooker teriyaki chicken And be sure to check…
    • Easy Vegetarian RecipesEasy vegetarian recipes include main-dish meals that are hearty and satisfying and can stand alone for lunch or dinner (with a few savory breakfast options as well). Everything from one-pot veggie pastas to stuffed squash to chili to veggie burgers and hearty grain bowls and salads, there are meatless options here for everyone! I am a veggie lover through and through. 💚💚💚 I adore getting in as many vegetables as I can, throughout the day really, and I often make easy vegetarian dinners a couple of times a week. (Hello meatless Monday, I’m looking at you!) So over the years, I’ve created tons of great veggie-based meals that can stand on their own for lunch or dinner and be hearty and satisfying. And that are also mostly quick and easy, because I work as a health and nutrition editor and we’ve got a busy family so cooking on a weeknight needs to be low-key. My one-pot vegetarian spaghetti has been a hugely popular recipe here on the blog and you guys can’t seem to get enough of my grain bowls and salads. I know the feeling. 😉 I wanted to round up some of these in an easy-to-browse category that features…
    • Healthy Oatmeal RecipesA collection of healthy oatmeal recipes, including sweet and savory breakfast and brunch options as well as delicious, wholesome snacks and desserts. We are pretty much oatmeal fanatics in my house. ALL of us adore oatmeal and it’s a rare day that we’re not making or eating something with oats or oatmeal in it at some point during the day. And I mean all four of us – my husband, myself and our kids (currently ages 6 and 4). Our go-to 3-minute microwave oatmeal is a morning staple for my husband and a weekly staple for the kids and me. My kids eat overnight oatmeal jars at least twice a week for breakfast and we often have baked oatmeal another morning of the week. For school lunches or afternoon snack, we can be found munching on some no-bake cookie or energy balls with oats, oatmeal cookies of some variety or if they’ve asked nicely, I’ll make a batch of granola and we all just shovel handful after handful until it’s gone. Want to know some of our very favorites of the group below? OK, I’ll share! Our family’s favorite healthy oatmeal recipes: Healthy chocolate chip muffins Overnight oatmeal jars, 3…
    • Healthy Muffin RecipesA collection of easy, kid-friendly healthy muffin recipes for all times of day: breakfast, school lunch, snacking, dinner and dessert! We are BIG muffin lovers in this house, at all times of day! My kiddos love them for breakfast, brunch, school lunch, afternoon snack and sometimes even savory muffins at dinner. Muffins all the time! I’ve made thousands of healthy muffin recipes over the years and I love sharing them with you! There are plenty to browse below and plenty more I plan to add! (You can sign up for my newsletter so you never miss a recipe. You’ll also get my FREE e-book of easy weeknight dinners.) Wondering where to start? Spinach banana mini muffins and whole wheat pumpkin muffins are some of our constant favorites. Healthy peanut butter and jelly muffins are fun for lunch and easy cheesy cornbread muffins are great for a quick + easy dinner side, especially with soup or chili! And if you’re in the mood for a little chocolate (I know I always am!) you can’t go wrong with my healthy chocolate chip muffins. Hope you find some new favorite healthy muffin recipes! XO, Kathryn
    • Healthy DessertsThis collection of healthy desserts features everything from lightened up cookie bars and brownies to cakes, muffins and breads to no-bake energy bites. It’s the perfect way to satisfy your sweet tooth while staying on track with healthy choices! Healthy desserts are kind-of my jam. I like a dessert that gives back. One that has redeeming qualities. A sweet treat that’s going to treat me right. But of course, it also needs to be delicious so I actually satisfy those sweet cravings! The healthier dessert recipes you’ll find below are some of our go-to treats that are perfect for a healthier late-night option and many of which are great for offering kids a wholesome, but fun, treat for an after-school snack or tucked in their lunch box. Most of these recipes are whole grain and naturally sweetened, others are recipe makeovers that are lower in sugar and/or butter. A majority of them contain chocolate. 🍫❤️ And ALL are easy to make. (You can also check out my healthy muffin recipes and my entire category of sweets & desserts if you want more.) Here’s a few of our favorite healthy desserts: Healthy chocolate chip muffins Healthier no bake cookie bars No…
    • Healthy Fall BakingThese healthy fall baking favorites include everything from muffins and baked oatmeal to snacks to cookies and cakes. These fall recipes are whole grain and most are naturally sweetened for a wholesome, delicious treat at breakfast, snack, school lunch or dessert! Does anyone else get the baking bug when the cooler weather starts to roll in during autumn? I know I do! I get excited for all the apple baking projects, pumpkin baking projects and even getting ready for all the holiday baking to come! 🍎🎃 The spices, the warmth, the aroma of having something in the oven is just part of the season for me. Plus the love that comes from a homemade baked good – it just can’t be beat! ❤️ And y’all know my style is definitely a healthier version of baking. I use whole grains and most of my recipes are naturally sweetened. I try to lighten things up where possible and keep to mostly wholesome treats, maybe with a little indulgence here and there! 😉 Wondering where to start? Here are some of our healthy fall baking favorites: Chocolate chip apple cake Pumpkin baked oatmeal with chocolate chips Whole wheat pumpkin applesauce bread Easy healthy…
  • Baby Food
    • Baby Food Cookbook
    • Beginner Baby FoodsGet started with these easy beginner baby foods, including batch cooking ideas and detailed instructions.
    • Baby Food Combinations + RecipesA collection of favorite baby food combinations and lots of recipes for baby and toddler foods.
    • Baby Food ResourcesA collection of resources, information and ideas about making homemade baby food.
  • About
    • Newsletter
    • Work With Me
    • Privacy Policy
    • Copyright
    • Accessibility Statement

Classic toys for kids 2-5

Published on November 6, 2017 Last Modified: September 20, 2021 By Kathryn Doherty

This post may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Please read my disclosure policy

Pin
Share
Tweet

Classic toys for kids 2-5 is a gift guide round-up of some of our tried-and-true favorites that stand the test of time and are perfect for encouraging learning, imagination and playful fun!Classic toys for kids 2-5 is a gift guide round-up of some of our tried-and-true favorites that stand the test of time and are perfect for encouraging learning, imagination and playful fun!

We are already into November and I have to say, I started planning for Christmas a couple of weeks ago. 😂

Yes, I’m type A. And yes, I’m probably a little over-organized and a bit crazy, but it helps me so much to start mapping out our activities and gift ideas on the early side.

And that inspired this round-up of some of the best classic toys for kids ages 2-5.

These are mostly old-school toys (or modern updates of the classics), non-electronic and ones that we personally have used and loved. ❤️

My kids are ages 4 and 6 now, so this is a snapshot of the toys we’ve had in the house for years, many of which are still favorites and will be here for years to come.

Those are the best, right? Those traditional, timeless toys and games that you just don’t want to get rid of because they can continue to be used at new ages and stages.

So without further ado, here are some of our very favorites toys and games for kids ages 2-5!

Note: This post contains affiliate links, which means I get a very small percentage of any purchase you make. Your cost is the same and I appreciate the support in helping to run this blog!

Note #2: All of these links are to Amazon and I tried to include only Amazon-affiliated products and almost all are Amazon Prime eligible. Because I like making life easy and want to do the same for you!

Classic toys for kids 2-5

Art Easel

This Melissa & Doug easel is a toy we’ve had for years and gotten SO much enjoyment out of! This board has a chalkboard, a dry erase board and a roll of paper that you can pull out as you need it. (It lasts a long time but we always have extra on hand cause we do LOTS of art!)

Need some supplies to go with it?

This starter set has all the basics you need to use with the easel and these one-size art smocks are great for messy painting projects. I love this starter crafts kit with pom poms, buttons, craft sticks and more and Crayola has this fun art case that’s great for budding artists!

Art easel

Play kitchen

As a food blogger, a play kitchen should be my #1, right?

Well, I have to admit, I built the one my kids used with cardboard boxes. They always had play kitchens at their preschool and at friend’s houses and well, our last house just didn’t have room for one.

But this Little Tykes Super Chef Kitchen is one that we’ve seen before and that I love for how compact it is – and it’s slightly less expensive – than some of the bigger play kitchens.Little Tykes Super Chef KitchenWhat we have always had is plenty of play kitchen accessories. We have a whole lower kitchen cabinet in our house that’s devoted to their supplies.

This play food toy set is great for learning the food groups, we like these cutting fruits (which are also great later for talking about fractions and math) and colorful place settings and dishes are a must.

(One tip: dried beans, pasta and rice are great sensory items to have for measuring, scooping, sorting, etc. 👍)

Red wagon

We love having this wagon in the house! It’s been used to cart around dolls and stuffed animals, it’s helpful for cleaning up little toys and items around the house and it’s great to store books in against the wall.

This one is perfect for indoors, too, because the wheels are soft and won’t scratch the floors.

Little Tykes Lil' red wagon

 

And if you’re looking for an outdoor version, you can’t go wrong with the classic Radio Flyer red wagon, which is listed for ages 3-7.

Fold n go barn

I had a version of one of these when I was little that my mom still has. She keeps it at her house and the kids play with it there.

We bought the newer version, this Melissa & Doug Fold-n-Go Wooden Barn, which stores so neatly.

My son was obsessed with this for so long. He always would call me over to play farm and we’d stretch out on our bellies (tummy time isn’t just for infants!) and name all the animals and talk about their sounds and make up silly stories.

He still plays with it today, as does my daughter when she spies it sitting out.Fold-n-Go Wooden Barn

Other great animal sets include these zoo animals and dinosaurs, which are my son’s current favorite.

Building blocks

These handy blocks are easy for little hands to manipulate and are the perfect precursor to smaller Lego sets. The bonus is that these don’t get lost nearly as easily and can be used for patterns, building, learning colors and more.

Gift guide: Building blocks for kids ages 2-5

Mondo blocks

My kids have loved playing with these huge blocks! They build castles and walls and forts, houses and stages and all kinds of creative structures. We simply stack them up against the wall when we’re not using them and they are out of the way. They would also stack well onto a bookshelf.

Oh, and I highly recommend you buy an extra set of just the jumbo blocks so you have enough to actually make the BIG stuff your kids will be excited about.

Jumbo building blocks

Cash register

Kids love to play at being grown-ups and a cash register is the perfect way to practice the errands and exchanges they see us doing all the time.

(It can be really fun to listen in and hear how your little ones play with these!)

They’re also great if you want to set up a little grocery store with your play food from above and of course, it’s a great introduction to the concept of money. Lots of good math learning here, too!

This cash register is the one my daughter got when she was younger and we still use it all the time. I do need to replace some of the paper money though!

Cash register

Nesting sets

Infants often have stacking cups but older kids love moving on to nesting blocks. They can build and stack and rotate and put things in and take things out.

And I love that they nestle back into each other for easy clean-up and storage! 🙌

We have two sets. The animal-based ones aren’t sold on Amazon or else the company has updated it because this set is very similar. We love it so much we’ve bought it as a gift for other kids before!

We also have this garage nesting and sorting set for my son and he loves racing them and putting them all in their little garages (he usually tells them it’s night-night time 💙)

Melissa & Doug garage nesting and sorting set

Baby doll crib

My daughter got this crib as a gift several years ago and it has been beside her bed ever since. The doll or stuffed animal and blanket that goes in may change from time to time, but she has never tired of it.

It’s a decent size – enough to hold a regular size doll – but doesn’t take up a ton of space in her room or get in the way, which is nice.

I highly recommend this baby doll crib if you have a little girl! (Or hey, a boy can play with dolls too!)White baby doll crib

So those are some of our very favorite classic toys for kids 2-5!

Below I’ve got a few more of the “big ticket” items we have loved – these are especially great for Santa to bring as a surprise!

EXTRA IDEAS for BIG GIFTS

Water Table

These are awesome for outdoor fun when the weather is warm! Lots of splashing, pouring and scooping. We have this pretty basic water table but there’s also slightly cooler and way cooler ones out there.

Sand Box

What kid doesn’t love a sand box?! We have this red crab sand box (not currently sold directly by Amazon) but the green turtle is cute too and they also make sand tables if you like that better.

Dollhouse

My parents bought this dollhouse for my niece and again for my daughter. They both love it and although it’s large, it’s perfect for a younger child who might not be gentle enough with a real (and more fragile) dollhouse. The “elevator” part is a big hit in our house!

Play Tent + Sleeping Bags

Santa brought this awesome tent for our kids last year and we’ve used it indoors and out! I love that it collapses and expands so easily and they have so much fun playing in it.

We also bought some sleeping bags (for her and for him) and I love that they have pillows to go with them. (Hers is not currently sold directly by Amazon, FYI.) I suggest flashlights to complete the fun!

(You could also get a smaller pop-up play house – it’s just nice to set up an area that the kids can call their own.)

I hope this list of favorite classic toys for little kids has given you some new ideas and inspiration!

I would love to hear if you have other favorite classic toys that you adore – leave me a comment below!

XO,

Kathryn

Classic toys for kids 2-5 is a gift guide round-up of some of our tried-and-true favorites that stand the test of time and are perfect for encouraging learning, imagination and playful fun!

Related Posts

  • Classic Corn PuddingClassic Corn Pudding
  • Classic Sausage and Egg CasseroleClassic Sausage and Egg Casserole
  • Crock pot mac and cheeseCrock pot mac and cheese
  • Easy homemade dinner rollsEasy homemade dinner rolls
  • Overnight French Toast Casserole (+ video)Overnight French Toast Casserole (+ video)
  • Rice Krispies Christmas Trees (+ video)Rice Krispies Christmas Trees (+ video)
Pin
Share
Tweet

Filed Under: Christmas, Extras, Resources

« Easy healthy one-pot lasagna
Sweet and spicy pecans with maple syrup »

Comments

  1. Cheyanne @ No Spoon Necessary says

    November 6, 2017 at 7:59 AM

    The past few years I have really procrastinated when it came to the holidays, because they are a personally tough time for me. But this year, I’m trying to really embrace them! And I even ordered our Christmas tree a week ago. Yay me! Lol. You know we don’t have children, but this toy guide is so cute! And practical! Cheers, dear!

    Reply
    • Kathryn says

      November 8, 2017 at 8:13 PM

      I’m trying to stay ahead a little… we shall see if that really pays off. But I hope you do find some small ways at least to enjoy the season! I know it can be a hard time for so many. Love you my friend! XO

      Reply
    • Alex says

      November 18, 2020 at 7:07 AM

      Good Remarks This guide is so helpful to provide a great list of classic toys for girls and boys fun time playing

      Reply
      • Kathryn Doherty says

        November 18, 2020 at 4:39 PM

        Glad it’s been useful!

        Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Hi there! I’m Kathryn Doherty, a cookbook author, mom of two kids, and devoted food and home cooking nut. I’ve got lots of easy recipes and resources to help you get delicious food on the table for your family! More about me

Search this site

Let’s be friends!

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • RSS
  • Tumblr
  • Twitter

Sign up and get my FREE e-cookbook, Easy Weeknight Dinners!

Popular Recipes

Creamy chicken skillet with mushrooms and mozzarella
Curry ground turkey with rice and peas is full of warm, rich flavors but is super quick and easy to make! This 20-minute recipe is great for a weeknight dinner! #curry #turkeycurry #groundturkey #easydinners #quickdinners
Crock pot honey garlic chicken served in a bowl with green onions sprinkled on top
This quick and easy Southwest chicken skillet dinner uses rotisserie chicken, fresh veggies, canned beans and simple spices for a delicious meal that’s ready in just 15 minutes! #easychickendinner #onepotrecipe | www.familyfoodonthetable.com
A skillet with a saucy chicken curry and bowls of rice and peas behind it
A 5-ingredient, 15-minute honey garlic chicken with an addictively delicious sauce - a perfect weeknight dinner recipe!

See my Google Web Stories.

Food & Recipes

  • Main Dishes
  • Side Dishes
  • Breakfast
  • Apps & Snacks
  • All Recipes

Search this site

Follow me!

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter

Baby Food Cookbook

Sign up and get my FREE e-cookbook, Easy Weeknight Dinners!

Copyright © 2023 · Family Food on the Table

Sign up for new recipes and get my FREE e-cookbook!
Sign up for new recipes and you'll get my FREE e-cookbook, Easy Weeknight Dinners!
Introduce yourself and your program
Your information will *never* be shared or sold to a 3rd party.