Guest Picks: 20 Quiet and Contained Kids' Toys

If you are a parent, then you know how easy it is for toys to get out of hand. Fancy electronic toys are great … sometimes. At other times you find yourself ripping out the batteries so the dreadful noise will just stop. Or you spend another $20 on batteries to keep it functioning.

Then there are the toys with pieces. Now I love toys with pieces — who doesn't have fond childhood memories of blocks, puzzles and Legos? But I find toy pieces everywhere: in the couch, the pantry, my bed, the laundry. I've even found toy pieces in the toilet. So here are kids' toys that will be fun for everyone (even adults), make close to no noise, don't require batteries and don't have a million losable parts. — Ashley from Domestic Imperfection

PlaSmart Perplexus Maze Game - $18.62 This little spherical ball maze is called Perplexus, and I'm putting this toy first because I think adults would like it just as much as children would. I could totally see myself (and my husband) getting sucked in and playing with this thing for hours. It has three different mazes and 100 challenges, and if you conquer all those, try the three other Perplexus balls available.


Moluk Bilibo, Orange - $30.39 I know, this is a funky toy. What the heck is it? I actually own two of them, and it is whatever you want it to be: a helmet, turtle shell, spinning seat, step stool, car tunnel, sled, pool toy, doll bed, etc. It's indestructible, and my kids love it — and I love to watch their little brains come up with creative ways to use it.


Melissa & Doug Magnetic Number Maze - $16.41 This is a maze and a counting game, and it improves fine motor skills. Yes, it has tiny pieces, but they're all combined into one quiet, tidy little board.


Ultra Stomp Rocket - $16.95 Stomp Rocket. Mothers of boys, need I say more?


Discovery Kids Cardboard Color and Play Playhouse - $27.99 Not only is this playhouse a giant coloring project, but it also won't cost you an arm and a leg. It even comes in any shape you want — seriously. A castle? Check. A pirate ship? Check. A space shuttle, a train or Cinderella's carriage? Check, check and check.


Giant Ant Farm - $19.95 I'm adding this because as soon as I saw it, I thought of the one I had as a kid and how much I loved to watch the ants work. I'm buying one for my kids as soon as they're old enough not to shake it up and let all the ants out.


PlasmaCar, Red - $46.49 This scooter seems like a lot of fun for any age. It is powered by the steering wheel, not pedals; just moving the wheel back and forth makes it go.


Latches Board - $22.95 This latch board keeps little fingers busy. But at the same time, do you really want to teach your toddler how to open every kind of latch? Decisions, decisions.


Plui - $11.95 The second you saw this toy, you thought it looked like a blue udder, didn't you? You're not alone. This udder is actually a bath toy, and you control the flow of water by covering and uncovering the hole at the top. It's physics at its finest.


Chalktrail - $19.95 Make art while you exercise! Just attach this little arm to your kid's bike, and the world (or the driveway) becomes a canvas.


Play-Doh Big Barrel Playset - $13.99 I know I'm not blowing anyone's mind with this selection, but I'm just putting it out there as a reminder to utilize the power of Play-Doh. It's just such a great kids' toy. It's cheap, it lets them be creative and it's silent. When I pull out the Play-Doh, it usually means that I get to wash an entire sinkful of dishes in peace and quiet.


Manhattan Toy Skwish Classic - $12.51 Here is a toy for baby that isn't plastic, doesn't really make noise, isn't a plush germfest and actually looks pretty interesting.


Magnetic Designer - $19.99 Here is a way for kids to create art that requires zero cleanup. I'm all for letting kids get insanely messy during art time, but having art time without bath time would be really nice too.


Haba Balance - $53.19 This seems like a simple toy, but I can see kids getting caught up in trying to make it balance with random items from around the house.


Kinetic Sand, 11 pounds - $42.95 Kinetic sand — interesting, right? I had never heard of this stuff until I watched the video about it on the toy site. It's 98 percent sand, and it sticks together and moves like nothing I've ever seen. I'd really like to play with some myself, actually.


Pop Bottle Science - $15.95 Fun and learning, the perfect combination. Contained in this book and bottle are 79 different experiments you can do with your kids. Heck, you're likely to learn something too.


The Original Spirograph Deluxe Set - $26.95 Most moms probably remember these from back in the day. I had one and pretty much thought it was the best thing ever. That and my ant farm, of course.


Quarter Horse I've bought my kids quite a few of these Schleich toys, and they are great. They are pricier than most, but the detail and quality are fantastic. They go from indoor toy to sandbox toy to bath toy seamlessly. Plus, there are a crazy amount of animals to choose from. My kids have mostly dinosaurs, tigers, crocodiles and other horrible man-eating creatures.


Haba Ball Track Roll 'n Roll 'n Roll - $110.19 This wooden marble run is pricey, but it also has gotten really great reviews. If you can keep track of the large wooden marbles, then it's one of those toys you can pass down to your grandchildren one day.


Stepper - $10.95 This contraption is called the Stepper, and a version of it has been around since I was a kid. I wasn't going to include it, but it was rated the No. 1 toy on quite a few of the toy sites I visited. Also, it costs less than $10 for a set of two, so you can't really go wrong.

Next: The Family Home: Toy Storage That's Child's Play

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