12 Timeless Toys That Work for Kids of All Ages

Legos are the universal building blocks of childhood, and a big brick kit like this gives kids the raw materials they need to build anything their imaginations set in motion — from esteemed monuments to crazy creatures of their own conception. There are few classic toys that enjoy the kind of world dominion Legos have for generations — both classically collectible and continuously refreshed, Legos are forever. This set comes with 484 pieces in 35 different colors, including windows, eyes, tires, wheel rims.

There’s probably no toy with a deeper history than the building block — surely kids have been stacking and toppling wood and stone since the dawn of time. Timber Planks are simple, well-crafted wooden blocks that let aspiring engineers push the envelope, stacking, arranging, and counter-balancing 300 planks to construct cloud-sweeping towers, sprawling cityscapes, or abstract masterpieces. The only rule with Timber Planks is to follow no rules — boosting creativity, imaginative play, bold thinking, and experimentation. Comes with 270 natural-finish planks, made from New Zealand pine, and 30 orange planks for an added pop. Built to last forever and easily stowed away in the handy canvas bag that's included.

Families have been baking dough sculptures together forever. Sculpey comes in an incredible array of colors from Red Hot Red to Leaf Green and Sweet Potato. It stays soft as it’s manipulated and tooled, making incredible detail — and alterations — possible until you pop it in the oven. Beads and sculptures emerge looking pretty close to kiln-fired. Blend colors to create your own spot on the rainbow or paint out of the oven for a different finish.

Soccer is the most popular and widely played sport in the world. Millions of kids play soccer all over the planet, in jungle and desert, from the Amazon to the Arctic. In short, every family should have a soccer ball in the house. This size 4 soccer ball from Franklin Sports is regulation size and ready for competition — but also great for kids interested in kicking it around casually in the yard. It's slightly cushioned to protect young feet, and stays fully inflated longer than most.

Lincoln Logs just celebrated its 100th birthday — any toy that survives a century, basically unchanged, is a clear classic. This commemorative set comes in a retro-inspired tin, has 111 pieces made from maple wood, and instructions for building a tower, two little houses, and a roomy cabin — but kids are also encouraged to go way off-script and construct whatever they can imagine. Includes everything needed for the roof, roof facade, wall logs, chimney, porch, fences, bonfire, and bonfire seats.

Still going strong after two decades on the American market, Magna-Tiles were inspired by a ’90s-era Japanese toy. The modern and wildly ubiquitous Magna-Tile is made of food-grade BPA-free plastics, with ceramic magnets thoroughly encased — so they're safe for kids 3 and up. Colorful and translucent, Magna-Tiles are like stained-glass for the toddler master-builder set. The tiles click together easily and are super-durable. This set includes 32 squares and triangles in a range of sizes.

A truly timeless toy, Colorforms were invented in New Jersey, in 1951. And while new licensed characters and scenarios have come and gone, the basic concept is unchanged: Using colorful geometric shapes that cling to surfaces without any glue or other adhesive, kids can make designs and endlessly rearrange them. Colorforms are sort of like two-dimensional building blocks, offering infinite possibilities to imaginative kids. Perfect for toddlers (age 3 and up), and really ever after. They're fun precisely because they're so simple. This pet-centric set comes with 145 pieces, two scenes to build upon, an idea guide, and storage box.

This wood-and-magnet human anatomy puzzle from Melissa & Doug includes scientifically accurate body parts, for boys and girls, including, the skeleton, circulatory system, internal organs, muscles, and more, and comes with a sturdy wooden stand and wooden storage box. Kids can piece together the complexity of the human body in an approachable way, helping them to visualize and understand how everything in the body works together.

An ant farm is the ultimate screen time. While kids will happily watch ants emerge from cracks in the driveway for hours, an ant farm offers a controlled environment in which to watch ants build a colony from scratch, working cooperatively to dig tunnels, clean their homes, take care of the young, and solve engineering problems as they arise. This kit from Fat Brain Toys comes with detailed instructions for creating a happy ant home, with the right kind of soil, food, and moisture level, along with guidance on how to find and collect the right ants with which to build your farm. Then sit back and watch a tiny civilization take shape.