15 Household Items That Will Amaze Your Child

This post (15 Household Items That Will Amaze Your Child) was originally published in 2018 and was completely updated April 2019.

Families with kids do a lot of playing at home, but why keep buying toys when I promise you have at least 15 every day household items that will amaze your child already at your finger tips.

Did you know that you probably already have plenty of household toys for babies and toddlers in you home?

Why do I mention this?

Well, have you  ever bought a toy for your baby/ toddler?

Ha – silly question right?

How about this one – you’ve bought a toy for your baby/toddler and they’ve been more interested in the box or the stuffing than the actual gift?

If you’re a parent you probably know this all too well.

Unfortunately, even though we are fully aware that this happens, possibly almost every time something is bought, it doesn’t stop us from still buying more presents.

Now, I’m not saying you need to stop buying items/presents/etc. for your little one but I’d like to share some thoughts with you.

Since having my little guy and watching what he plays with, it’s safe to say enough of the time he’s playing at home, it’s with stuff that’s just sitting.

And before you think that maybe he just doesn’t have a lot to choose from, it may actually be that he has too much. (We have a large extended family (mostly my mom’s friends who are extremely, let’s say, supportive! 🙂 ))

So here are just a few things you might be able to find around your house that will amaze your child and can be used as toys.

Or ideas for other uses for toys than their original purpose. And they are possibly more played with than those that were bought as toys.

P.s. Yes, some of these items are ‘old’ toys of mine and of course some of these items you may not already have.

Let your child use their imagination, use every day household items as toys.

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Household Items That Will Amaze Your Child:

Skateboard and a stool:

If you have either of these items they can easily be used as a spaceship or any other type of vehicle your child can dream up.

Pillows:

For my little guy, pillows can be a train, a spaceship, a house, a bridge, a tunnel, the list goes on and on. 🙂

Bed:

Of course can be turned into a  trampoline and combined with the pillows above have become my little one’s favorite place to play.

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Slide:

So I know, this isn’t an everyday household item but I had to include it.  It looks like a simple slide right?

But for my little guy, he prefers to use it as a spaceship! 🙂

Box:

Can be used as a drum, coloring area, storage space, tunnel/bridge/garage for things that go vroom, a robot or knights outfit.

Laundry basket:

The all so popular toy in our house: a spaceship, a swing, drum.

Exercise ball:

This has become an alternative to a trampoline and a great way for you as the parent/adult to get some exercise. You hold your child’s hands/arms as they try to sit/stand on it without rolling off. Or, let them roll around on it while you try to keep them still.

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Ottoman:

Table/oven to make ‘breakfast’ for the family.

Parent:

Oh my, so many options here, right? Let’s see: trampoline, car, bouncy ball, floor, horsey.

P.S. I just have to share this. If your child is old enough to walk, let them use your back as a bridge (it’s a free massage :))

Chairs and blanket:

A tent/tepee/house.

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Hat:

We have a hat that is definitely not a cowboy hat but that’s what my little one uses it as 🙂 Any hat can be any hat!

Spatula:

A paddle for a canoe, a paddle for a ball – think ping-pong but on the floor and with a bigger ball.

Pots and Pans:

Kids love to use these as drums, right?

But in our house they are ‘used’ for their purpose.

My son loves ‘making’ us pancakes, pizza, cakes, hot dogs, you name it.

A friend of mine just showed me her awesome Oxo bowls and they are going on my to-get list!

…..and maybe my little guy can use them as drums once again (since they have the nice non-slip bottom!

Rolling office chair:

If you have non-carpeted floors and you can make sure they are safe/stable this can definitely enthrall your child. Let them sit in the chair and roll them around. Bonus: You get a little bit of exercise walking them around.

Ok, so almost anything at this point can be turned into a car or spaceship for my little guy, if you couldn’t tell 🙂

So my point is:

Although it’s fun for us and for our children to buy, give and receive toys, many, many household items can be used to entertain them just as well, if not better than any toy.

Oh, plus you get the added benefit of giving them a chance to use their imaginations!!!!! Not to mention yours 🙂

So, if you’re playing at home, why not find some household items and see what will amaze your child.

What items around your house gets played with more than a toy? Please share with us in the comments below! We’d all love to hear 🙂 Thanks!!!