Picture it now: you finally get the kids to bed, the dishes cleared, the lunches made, and the toys put away…and then you hear a disruptive noise from the playroom. Something with batteries is going off, and you can’t figure out what it is or how to shut it up—overstimulation much?

That’s just one reason why sometimes, the best types of toys are the ones that don’t make noise at all—I’m talking no screens, no batteries, just little brains and their big imaginations. In fact, these five popular toy brands don’t use screens or really any technology, for that matter, proof that plenty of old-school-esque fun can still be had in 2024:

1. Melissa & Doug: This popular kids’ brand prides itself on offering “screen-free fun” for babies, toddlers, and kids up to age 8, all of which encourage open-ended play. Wooden toys are their specialty, including playsets, puzzles, blocks, and more.
   Toys to try: This cleaning playset is a hit with tons of kids I know, including my own, as is this pretend play ice cream counter set.

2. Lovevery: This subscription box grows with your child, delivering wooden and plush toys to your door every few months based on their stage of development. There’s a box for 0-12 months, and separate ones for two-, three- and four-year-olds. Pro tip: You can also buy each item separately if you don’t want to commit to a subscription.
   Toys to try: Unlike other play mats that are useless once a baby learns to sit, The Play Gym by Lovevery will grow with your little one until they’re about a year old. It’s not a toy, but parents also love the brand’s Montessori-inspired playshelf, a storage unit used to display a select few playthings at once to avoid overwhelming your child (and yourself).

3. Fat Brain Toys: Educational is the name of the game with Fat Brain toys, which runs the gamut from puzzles to games to books made of wood, rubber, and/or plastic with specific categories for babies up to teens (and even adults!).. Some toys are battery-operated, but still are parent-approved.
   Toys to try: These cute little Squigz stick to and then pop off of furniture, bathtubs, windows, and walls, which means preschool-aged kiddos can have some open-ended fun in any room of the house. STEM-loving elementary school kids will love blasting off the Stomp Rocket (outside only, please!) and watching it fly 100 feet into the air.

4. National Geographic Kids: Yes, that National Geographic has a line of toys for STEAM-inclined kiddos between the ages of 7 and 14, including science kits, figurines, and next-level puzzles.
   Toys to try: Your little explorer will unlock hours of fun with the Microscope Explorer Series Kit, complete with a microscope to magnify items to 400x their size. Meanwhile, the geologist in the making can dig up and learn about real gems with the Mega Gemstone Dig Kit.

5. Learning Resources: Through both battery-operated and not battery-operated educational toys, kids will learn fine motor skills and social skills with playsets, plastic animals, interactive games, and more. The age range for these is 18 months to 8 years+.
   Toys to try: My son was obsessed with Spike the Fine Motor Hedgehog in his early toddler years (not sure if the pieces are supposed to double as a teething toy, but they definitely do!). Now, his number one favorite board game is the brand’s Code & Go Mouse Mania Board Game, one of many from Learning Resources that teaches kids to code without a screen.

What’s your favorite kids’ toy brand and why?

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