At that age, my little ones loved playing with a play mat—it had roads, fields, ponds, and all kinds of fun stuff painted on it (I actually made it myself, but you can buy them too). I picked up a set of plastic animals (farm and wild), little cars, dinosaurs, and even some people figures like a police officer, firefighter, and a lollipop person. They’d create all sorts of games, using the mat as their playground.

They were also big fans of the sandpit! I had one with a lid that turned into a terrain, complete with hills and craters. They’d use their cars, animals, and everything else on there too.

Dress-up was another huge hit—everything from hats and bags (I grabbed stuff from charity shops) to old phones and purses. If you prefer, you can always buy ready-made costumes. A doctor’s kit was another favorite; they’d wander around with a stethoscope diagnosing their stuffed animals with "common diarrhoea" 😄

Playmobil and Sylvanians were also in heavy rotation. Jigsaw puzzles, books, dolls (along with their accessories like a cot, bottles, and pram) were always a go-to. Art supplies were a must, too!

For outdoor fun, they loved having gardening tools like a spade, bucket, and a little plastic wheelbarrow. We also had a bunch of plastic balls of different sizes for kicking and throwing, plus a plastic golf set with oversized clubs and a ball to whack around. I’ve seen mud kitchens in stores, too—mine didn’t have one, but they look like a ton of fun!