Best Toys for Early School Years: 2026 Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Platinum Awards
We are delighted to announce the Best Toys in the Early School Years Category for 2026. These toys have been awarded our top honor, the Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Platinum Award!
Early School Years children like more complex building toys, puzzles, and games. They're also ready to use fine motor skills for crafts. they need toys for social and active play as well as quiet solo time. To read our full review of each toy click through the titles below. You'll find our entire evaluation and shopping information and be sure to read the reviews of our OTP Gold Award Winners, as well.
A note about age labels -- there's usually a big range for ages on toy boxes. We try to give our take on the sweet spot for the toys we recommend. There's also a huge difference between what's right for a 5 and what's right for 8. You know your child best. Many of the toys here will be enjoyed even more as parent-child projects. You'll see as work through a game, puzzle and construction set -- where your child is most comfortable and where they may need assistance. The goal is to build your child's sense of confidence through these playful experiences.
Vehicles and Garage
Hot Wheels Ultimate Garage (Mattel)
Games and Puzzles
Mindware Plunger Pop Game (Mindware)
Vango Smack n Cheese (Vango)
Rubik's Rush (Spinmaster)
eeBoo Christmas House Puzzle (eeBoo)
Construction Toys
Fat Brain Toys Air Toobz Evo (Fat Brain Toys)
Connetix Magnetic Tiles Ball Run Brights (Connetix)
Playmobil Knights Castle (Playmobil)
Activities and Crafts
Creativity for Kids Glamour Pets (Creativity for Kids)
Creativity for Kids Prism Light Unicorn and Dragon (Creativity for Kids)
Creativity for Kids Chic Boutique Headbands (Creativity for Kids)
Educational Insights Graphic Novel Kit (Educational Insights)
Educational Insights Boxineers Cardboard Vehicles (Educational Insights)
Play with Matisse (Thames & Hudson)
Spin Animator Studio (Tree Town Toys)
Stickerbox Printer (Stickerbox)
Basic Fun Lite Brite Glowboard (Basic Fun)
weesprout Little Chef's Cooking (weesprout)
Dolls
American Girl Daisy Davenport (American Girl)
Barbie in the Nutcracker (Mattel)
