Ready to put the Simplicity Parenting book into action? When I first started, I was excited but overwhelmed. What I couldn’t find—despite hours of research—was a clear simplicity parenting toy list to guide me.

I didn’t just need to declutter; I needed to organize. I needed a simple, practical list of what to keep and what to buy to support this new lifestyle.

My family began the Simplicity Parenting journey when my daughter was a toddler, and from the moment I read Dr. Kim John Payne’s book, I knew it was the healthiest path forward.

And if you’re here, you probably feel the same.

What You Need To Know About The Simplicity Parenting Toy List 

The Simplicity Parenting Toy List, inspired by Waldorf education, focuses on open-ended toys that spark imagination and creativity. It’s not about having more toys—it’s about having the right ones, and following through with family rhythms and boundaries.

When we first committed to the list, the purge felt daunting. But it wasn’t nearly as hard as I feared. Once I started, it actually got easier—and the results were dramatic.

At the time, my daughter was 4½. Even though I had decluttered before, the toys kept piling up with every birthday, holiday, and impulse buy. Most were thoughtful gifts, which made me feel guilty for packing them away. But if she couldn’t even find those toys in the clutter, what good were they?

So we got serious. In one weekend, we reduced her toys and books by about 90%.

I've listed them in the general order I would buy them. Keep in mind that a key philosophy of the Simplicity Parenting model is to offer items that feel good to the touch. Good materials and textures are often a bit more money upfront, but they last so much longer and see more use. It's worth it.

Play Silks

Playsilks are a must-have for both girls and boys. They’re the ultimate open-ended toy—an ocean on the floor, a magician’s cape, a fort door, or a cozy blanket.

Start with one large silk (around nine feet) for fort-building and pretend play, then add smaller sizes in a few colors. Quality matters here—Sarah’s Silks are soft, washable, and long-lasting, which is why they’re recommended by Waldorf educators.

Keep a basket of silks out for easy access, and pair them with clips and a rope for endless fort-building fun.

Books

Too many books overwhelm. Keep one small shelf of true favorites and rotate them often. Visit the library for variety. Look for timeless picks like Children of the Forest or The Reluctant Dragon. If you don’t enjoy reading a book, pass it on—kids sense your enthusiasm.

Books we enjoy:

• Classic Fairy Tales
• James Herriott's animal stories
• Wynken, Blynken, and Nod
• Children of the Forest
• The Reluctant Dragon
• A.A. Milne’s poetry (he wrote Winnie the Pooh and has wonderful children's’ poems!)
• The Snail and the Whale
• books by Jack Ezra Keats

Baskets and Bins

Simple, low-sided baskets make both great storage and play props (a cradle, grocery cart, or doctor’s bag). Natural textures like woven baskets look beautiful and last. Skip plastic bins when you can.

Low-sided baskets are a must.

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Dress-Up Clothes

Less is more. Choose unbranded, open-ended pieces like a cloak, cape, or fabric wings. Playsilks also double as costumes. Start small and let imagination do the rest.

• Heavy Cloak (for the knight or Little Red Riding Hood)
• Play silks (see how useful these are!)
• Cape
• Hat
• Wings (play silks work, too)

Note: Start with the play silks and a cloak and go from there. Most costumes can be made by tying play silks together. You can always add more costumes later.

Building Blocks or Planks

Open-ended construction toys never go out of style. For toddlers, start with wooden blocks; for older kids, try KEVA planks or Grimm’s blocks. These encourage creativity and problem-solving more than stylized Lego kits.

Outdoor Toys

Keep it simple: a jump rope, soccer ball, bubbles, and chalk. Focus on movement and fun outside, not piles of gear.

Nature Journal

I had no idea this was a thing until a few months ago. It meshes so perfectly with the Simplicity Parenting philosophy of getting out into nature daily, which is why I’m adding it in.

Encourage awareness outdoors with a simple sketchbook and colored pencils. Kids can draw or jot notes about what they see—no rules, just reflection. Add a field guide for inspiration.

Art Supplies

Fewer, better supplies get used more often. Stock real watercolors, colored pencils, pastels, and quality paper. Store them in plain sight (a rolling cart works well) so art is always an option.

Simplicity Parenting Toy List for Art

• Watercolors
• Tempera paints
• Small selection of paintbrushes (3-4)
• Sketch pencils
• Colored Pencils
• Felt Drawing Pens
• Pastels
• Medium to heavyweight drawing paper (for watercolors and pastels)
• Drawing notebook (with removable pages to display works of art!)
• Tracing Paper
• Glue
• Scissors
• Tape
• Popsicle Sticks
• Assorted craft paper

Kitchen Play

If your child enjoys pretend cooking, a small collection of felt food and cookware is plenty. Even a red playsilk in a cupboard becomes an “oven.”

Puzzles & Games

A few thoughtful choices go a long way. Cooperative games, Memory, and Jenga are family favorites. For puzzles, start with 1–3, like Pomegranate Kids’ floor puzzles or a favorite geography map.

How To Start

Are you ready for your kids to be kids again? It takes some initial work, but cleaning out the toys will be the best move you ever make for your family.

We are calmer, happier, and have found deeper focus and enjoyment.  

My child is more creative and less whiny. She's happier.

Steps To Get Started

1. Make a list of what you know you want or need to keep.
2. Explain to your child (if appropriate) about:
   1. Why you’re removing some toys
   2. How you’re deciding what stays (must be open-ended, high quality, multi-use)
   3. Where you’re storing excess toys
   4. That the toys will be available if they ask for them repeatedly over a period of time (I said two months)
3. Discuss with your child (if appropriate):
   1. First, get away from all the toys to talk.
   2. Ask them to list their favorite toys and write it down.
   3. Prompt them to list some things you know you want to keep.
   4. Suggest some things you would like to add (play silks, cloak, etc.)

The Process

1. With or without your child, gather up every single toy from the house, car, and outdoors. Pile everything in one place… and prepare to be overwhelmed!
2. Grab some black trash bags.
3. Working quickly, with your list close at hand (see itemized list below), immediately remove anything that is broken or worn out. Put them in the trash, or in your car to go to the dump immediately after you finish.
4. Keep up the pace! Move on to sorting items into stay, go, or unsure piles. Your ‘Go’ pile will be HUGE. Don’t worry. Bag it all into black trash bags and keep going.
5. Take a look at the ‘Unsure’ pile and, if there’s nothing that jumps out as an obvious ‘Stay’ item, bag it, label it, and store it for a couple of months. If no one asks for it, no one needed it.
6. Review your ‘Stay’ pile, cross-referencing with your Simplicity Parenting Toy List (below, and the one you created with your child). If it’s not on a list, remove it, and treat it like an ‘Unsure’ item.
7. Place the items on your list back in your child’s room, aiming for cleanliness and ease of use.
8. Enjoy all your hard work!!
9. Finally, supplement your child’s remaining toy collection with items from the Simplicity Parenting Toy List that inspire open-ended, creative play! (See the recap list below for quick links to recommended items.)

Suggestions

1. Drape baskets with play silks or blankets to make the room look as simple as possible.
2. Make sure the room can be cleaned up in five minutes or less if every item was taken out. If you can't, there's still too much stuff!
3. Remember to take out things you are unsure about; you can always add them back in later.

Congratulations on creating your own Simplicity Parenting Toy List! You started with the recommendations in the book and this post, taking what works for your family and discarding what doesn’t.

Here’s a recap of what’s recommended for your Simplicity Parenting Toy List:

Basic Simplicity Parenting Toy List:

1. Favorite stuffed animals and/or blankies and other lovables
2. 1 Doll
3. Low-sided baskets
4. Play silks
5. Clips and rope for play silks
6. Hooded Cloak for pretend play
7. Building Materials (planks or blocks)
8. Basic Art Supplies
9. Books (ideally less than 12)
10. 1-3 games
11. 1-3 puzzles
12. Bubbles
13. Jump Rope or Soccer Ball

Extra items you might want to include:

1. Felt food for kitchen play
2. Nature Items (rocks, shells, gems)
3. Nature Journal
4. Extra dress-up items (cape, hat, wings, wand)

Whatever you do, don’t forget the play silks!

Did I miss something on this list? How is your list going? Questions?

Let me know in the comments!