Alright, it’s happened. After three kids and four years of chaos, I’ve amassed every single Lovevery play kit.
I know. I’m crazy. But the Lovevery play kits are our favorite toys in the entire house, and while they are expensive, it was the one thing I just never wanted to give up.
I’ve had several years to enjoy these and watch my kids play with the toys, and I thought it would be fun to reflect on all the toys we have and provide some feedback on my 5 favorite toys as well as my kids’ 5 favorite toys.
It was almost physically painful to narrow things down because so many of these toys hold special memories for us. But I did my best based on toys that my kids and I enjoyed over and over again. Here goes!
My Top 5 Favorite Lovevery Play Kit Toys
There are some toys from the play kits that stand out to me, personally. These are toys that have been versatile, were fun for many stages (not just a short window), and have made my life a little easier.
These are also toys I thought were an incredible value given the price of the play kits.
1. Nesting Stacking Dripdrop Cups
From The Inspector Play Kit for Months 7-8
These nesting stacking dripdrop cups are an obvious standout to me. We’ve played with these in so many ways over the years! Here are just a few examples:
- Stack them
- Stack them and knock them over
- Stack them and put the matching felt stars between each cup
- Pouring in the bathtub
- Pouring in the swimming pool
- Scooping dirt in the yard
- Putting same-colored objects in their respective cups (find blue things to put in the blue cup!)
These are the ultimate open-ended toy, and my kids have loved these for years! They may be perfect for introducing at 7-8 months, but my almost 4-year-old continues to play with them.
They’re also very durable. I’ve only had to reach out to Lovevery to replace one cup, and that’s because my German Shepherd got a hold of it.
Want a good alternative for this toy? Check out Lovevery Amazon Alternatives: The Inspector Play Kit for 7-8 Months
2. Wooden Stacking Peg Board
From The Pioneer Play Kit for Months 16, 17, 18
The wooden stacking peg board is the perfect toy for shelf rotation. It looks beautiful, and toddlers love stacking the pegs.
This is another toy that’s the perfect challenge for 16-18 months, but it evolves and grows with your kids. I even use this with my nearly 4-year-old to practice patterns.
And with my 28-month-old son, we often practice making single-colored towers. It’s a great toy for practicing fine motor skills and colors.
Want a good alternative for this toy? Check out Lovevery Amazon Alternatives: The Pioneer Play Kit for Months 16, 17, 18
3. Mosaic Button Board
From The Companion Play Kit for Months 22, 23, 24
The mosaic button board is another one of my all-time favorite toys. Again, it’s the perfect initial challenge for months 22-24, but you can explore new challenges as your child gets older.
For example, I remember at 22 months, just pushing the buttons into the board was a challenge for my daughter. Then, over time, you can start introducing the color sheets so your child can match the button color to the color on the board. And you can start swapping in the more difficult sheets with time.
But we also use these buttons in other ways! For example, we use them with the Every Which Weigh Scale & Pails to explore balance.
It’s an overall really fun toy that both of my kids like playing with together, despite their 18-month age gap.
Want a good alternative for this toy? Check out Lovevery Amazon Alternatives: The Companion Play Kit for Months 22, 23, and 24
4. Super Sustainable Sink With Bio-Based Cups & Plates
From The Helper Play Kit for Months 25, 26, 27
Ahhh, the Lovevery sink. This sink is absolutely mesmerizing to a 25-month-old!
I’m kind of surprised this shook out to be one of my favorite Lovevery toys because it can create a bit of a mess. There have definitely been times when one of my kids filled up a cup and proceeded to dump it onto the floor like a savage.
But at the end of the day, this sink created so many unforgettable memories. Kids are naturally obsessed with running water, and I remember setting them up with this sink (and a towel underneath) and just watching them scoop up water, pour it out, stick their hand under the faucet… the list goes on.
Yes, you can do this with your bathroom or kitchen sink, but this toy brought everything to their level. It’s a perfect size, and it’s definitely a stand-out Lovevery toy.
Note: The battery-powered faucet has stopped working for us twice. Lovevery has replaced it both times, free of charge. I don’t know if others have this issue, but it’s nice to know that if it happens to you, Lovevery will replace it.
Want a good alternative for this toy? Check out Lovevery Amazon Alternatives: The Helper Play Kit for Months 25, 26, 27
5. Wooden Emotion Dolls
From The Observer Play Kit for Months 37, 38, 39
These wooden emotion dolls look simple, but they helped me and my daughter navigate through the tough emotions of age 3.
The whole “threenager” thing has a bit of truth to it. Age 3 comes with a lot of big emotions and the occasional tantrum. But I’m so incredibly proud of how my daughter has been able to identify her emotions and then work through alternate ways of responding to them.
I really credit these emotion dolls for helping us with this. When she was clearly frustrated, I’d ask her to point to which doll matched how she felt. Then, we’d talk about ways to respond or react to that emotion. (Let’s take a deep breath together or get a glass of cold water.)
We also used these dolls to talk about emotions when we weren’t in the heat of the moment. We’d get them out while reading books and grab the doll that matched the emotion of the main character.
Without these dolls, I don’t know if I’d have been so intentional about emotional literacy. I’m getting a little teary-eyed thinking about these tough, yet sweet moments!
Want a good alternative for this toy? Check out Lovevery Amazon Alternatives: The Observer Play Kit for Months 37, 38 and 39
Honorable Mention: Squeeze & Spray Mop
From The Storyteller Play Kit for Months 40, 41, 42
While I want to stick to the Top 5 format, I had to squeeze in the Lovevery mop.
We are so blessed to have gotten literal truckloads of hand-me-downs from my sister-in-law. She has three kids and gifted us all of their clothes, cribs, toys, you name it. One of the toys was this adorable Dyson vacuum cleaner, but get this – it didn’t actually vacuum anything.
Nonetheless, my kids absolutely loved walking around and pretending to vacuum with it, just like they see mommy do. But it would annoy me every time because I’m thinking… OK, my kids could actually be cleaning right now!
That’s why I was stoked to see the kid-sized functional spray mom in the Storyteller Play Kit. My kids were instantly obsessed with spraying and mopping the floor, just like mommy. In fact, when I tried to show them how to do it, they’d throw a bit of a fit until I gave it back.
One of the best moments was when my daughter drew all over our tile floor with crayons. I got this spray mop and asked her to clean up her own mess, and she did! It was a great lesson in cause and effect/consequences, and it has helped her with accountability.
Yes, it’s usually easier to just clean up after your kids, but with the right tools, you can teach them to clean up after themselves (even if you have to go over it again after).
Want a good alternative for this toy? Check out Lovevery Amazon Alternatives: The Storyteller Play Kit for Months 40, 41, and 42
ALMOST FORGOT! The Countdown Color Timer
From The Investigator Play Kit for Months 31, 32, 33
Ohhhh my goodness. I was about to publish this article when I realized I didn’t include the color timer! My Top 5 is basically a Top 7 now because I absolutely cannot leave this one off.
This timer is the single most-used toy from any Lovevery play kit. It may not be flashy or super innovative – it’s a timer, I know – but it’s so practical and has helped us through many a transition. We actually use this every day, multiple times a day.
It’s been critical for potty training, it actually gets my kids to pick up their toys, it has helped with naptime and bedtime… this thing is a lifesaver.
Every time my daughter goes potty, we set the timer for 10 minutes. Every time I need the kids to help me pick up their toys, I set the timer for 5 minutes and ask them to help until it beeps. When I was getting my daughter into a nice bedtime routine, we’d set the timer and say “In 15 minutes, it’s time to start getting ready for bed!”
It took all of the pressure off of me and put it into the timer. It’s not me forcing you to go to bed – it’s the timer! It may sound silly, but it has worked and continues to work with both of my toddlers. Don’t sleep on this timer!
Want a good alternative for this toy? Check out Lovevery Amazon Alternatives: The Investigator Play Kit for Months 31, 32, and 33
My Kids’ Top 5 Favorite Lovevery Play Kit Toys
OK, now for my kids’ favorites! These 5 toys are definitely ones my kids will pull out of the closet if given the chance.
They’re also, unfortunately, toys that my two toddlers will fight over if they see the other one playing with it.
1. Magic Tissue Box
From The Senser Play Kit for Months 5-6
The Magic Tissue Box is a classic Lovevery favorite, and for my kids, it was a massive hit from Day 1.
I didn’t subscribe to the play kids until my first child was past this age, but I vividly remember how she’d play with a real tissue box, pulling out tissues and making a huge tissue pile.
So, when my second child got The Senser play kit, I knew this toy would bring us hours and hours of endless fun. And it sure did.
You do have to practice the tissue-linking process a few times to get it right, but after that, your kids can pull tissues out of this box as many times as they want! You just have to re-link the tissues and stuff it to start over again.
My kids are long past the 5-6-month age range, and they still love playing with this toy when I add it back into the rotation. The magic of pulling a tissue out of the box and seeing another pop up is a blast for little ones.
Want a good alternative for this toy? Check out Lovevery Amazon Alternatives: The Senser Play Kit for 5-6 Months
2. Slide & Seek Ball Run
From The Babbler Play Kit for Months 13, 14, 15
Who would’ve thought this slide & seek ball run toy would be so addicting for kids!
The little balls that come with this toy have tiny beads inside, so they double as shakers. And both of my kids love popping the balls in the top and watching them spin down the track and into the square base.
Deciding which compartment to open up is half the fun, and they promptly start all over again.
I thought they’d get tired of this game, but they’re constantly finding it in our toy closet and bringing it back out again. It’s in our toy rotation more often than not these days!
Want a good alternative for this toy? Check out Lovevery Amazon Alternatives: The Babbler Play Kit for Months 13, 14 and 15
3. Felt Flowers in a Row
From The Helper Play Kit for Months 25, 26, 27
This is another toy that I didn’t think would grab the attention of my kids for long, but it’s one of their all-time favorites.
My almost 4-year-old daughter loves pulling the flowers out of the base and walking around the house with a bouquet. She also loves pulling the pink flower out and adding it to a pile of all pink things she’s found from around the house.
And my son is equally as obsessed, though he prefers pulling the flowers out of the base and putting them back in again. And then doing it again. And again.
These felt flowers never leave our toy rotation because my kids love them so much.
Want a good alternative for this toy? Check out Lovevery Amazon Alternatives: The Helper Play Kit for Months 25, 26, 27
4. Pinkies Up Picnic Set
From The Enthusiast Play Kit for Months 28, 29, 30
The picnic set is equal parts adorable and fun. Both of my kids have always loved pouring, so I had a hunch this picnic set would be a kid favorite.
My daughter loves setting it up like a real tea party, while my son is more in favor of filling up the tiny teacups with water and drinking it (over and over again).
Both of my kids enjoy pouring water from the tiny teapot into the tiny teacups. We’ve taken this outside for a fun outdoor picnic, and I’ve also done hot cocoa in the teapot with my daughter, which was a lot of fun.
I don’t like keeping this one in our rotation all the time because it can get messy (everything tends to get a bit wet), but when we pull it out, my kids are full of smiles and laughter!
Want a good alternative for this toy? Check out Lovevery Amazon Alternatives: The Enthusiast Play Kit for Months 28, 29, and 30
5. Liquid Color Lab
From The Problem Solver Play Kit for Months 43, 44, 45
Last but certainly not least is the liquid color lab, which is SO fun!!
We got this in a recent play kit, and every time I bring it out, my daughter has an absolute blast.
I start by using the red, yellow, and blue color tabs and filling those beakers with water. We watch the tabs sizzle, and when they’re completely dissolved, my daughter gets to work mixing the primary colors to make secondary colors. That’s fun in itself, but this also comes with two bamboo cloths that are extra absorbent.
We draw pictures with our colors on these cloths and wash them when we’re done.
It’s a solid hour of learning and fun, and my daughter is always a big fan of activities. Especially at her current age of almost 4 years old, this is definitely one of her favorite things from Lovevery!
Note: I haven’t yet done a Lovevery Amazon Alternatives post for this play kit! Be sure to subscribe to my Lovevery updates list at the bottom of this page to get notified when I do!
Conclusion
Lovevery has a special place in my heart as it’s created so many bonding moments with my kids. I love having the right toys at the right stages – it feels like I’m setting my kids up for success.
I started getting the Lovevery kits before I ever had the concept of this blog, which I feel is important to say. None of my Lovevery content is sponsored, and I bought all of the play kits with my own money.
If you’re looking for quality, battery-free toys, I’d definitely take a good look at Lovevery! They’re the only toys you’ll ever need.
