Why Fewer Toys Can Lead to Better Play
Yes, toys are magic. We all have memories of that one toy that just stuck. But in today’s world, it's easy to feel like more is better: more colours, more shelves, more options. With Mimitoys, I have always wanted to offer a different view: less really can mean more. More play, more fun, more independence.
This doesn’t mean banning toys or jumping on a minimalist trend. It’s about stepping back and letting children do what they’re naturally wired to do: play creatively, invent games, and explore boredom without being flooded by options. The empty cardboard box is always a favourite to play with.
Less Toys = More Play, Not Less Fun
Children don’t need a pile of flashing lights and sounds to be engaged. In fact, too many toys can overwhelm, distract, or just end up forgotten in the bottom of the toy box.
By offering fewer, well-chosen toys, you give your child:
- Space to explore deeply rather than skip from one thing to the next.
- Freedom to create their own rules and stories.
- Time to work out what they like to play with and what they don't.
- Time to get bored — which is always a bit painful to hear and deal with as a parent, but often is the start of the best games of all.
My “Less Is More” Toy Picks
Some of the best toys we stock are:
- Non-branded
- Durable
- Open-ended (you decide how to play, not the toy)
- Battery-free
- Timeless (not built for a trend or character phase)
These are the toys that children come back to again and again. They grow with your child, and when the time comes, they’re ready to be passed on, or kept as a keepsake!
Check out my "less is more" Top Picks and see how they bring joy in simplicity and fun, how they are engage for both child and parent (for those precious moments of play and connection together), and of course, how they nurture children's skills and natural curiosity.
We Support Toy Libraries, Pre-Loved, and Swaps
I love toys. But I also love the idea that toys can be passed on, shared, and reused. Pre-loved toys, swaps between friends, and local toy libraries are great ways to keep play sustainable, varied, and affordable.
In Summary
I feel like an "old mum" saying this, or maybe experience leads the way...
- Kids don’t need more to play better.
- Boredom isn’t a problem, it’s the beginning of something great.
- One well-chosen toy can give hours of enjoyable and meaningful play.
Let’s buy wisely and let children lead the way.