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I have four kids, ages 5 years to 4 months, and over the years we’ve tried A LOT of toys. Some were duds, some were fun for a week, and some became absolute favorites so much so that I’d rebuy them in a heartbeat.
Now, let me be clear: these are just toys. You don’t need them, and not everything your kids play with has to tie into liturgical living. But if you’re curious, I thought I’d share some ideas for seeing ordinary playtime in a new light as we head into the new liturgical year!
Below, I’ve highlighted the toys that get used daily in our home, plus a few creative ways to tie them into faith and storytelling inspired by the saints.
1. Foam Play Couch
Endlessly versatile—used as a bed, a stage, or a table. We love our Nugget couch!
Liturgical tie-in: Pretend to be a hermit like St. Benedict, St. Francis of Assisi, or St. Anthony of the Desert. You can also set up a little altar to play Mass, bringing children’s imagination into prayerful play.
2. Magnetic Tiles
Another well-loved, open-ended toy (we use the Picasso brand). It gets used daily.
Liturgical tie-in: You can build towers, “churches” for St. Peter & St. Paul or St. Anthony, or even roads that lead to Rome.
3. Duplo Legos
Great open-ended toy for little hands (and safe around babies!)
Liturgical tie-in: Build a house for Our Lady of Loreto, a Nativity scene, or even the Chair of St. Peter.
4. Little People
Simple, durable, and ideal for storytelling play. You can even get the Nativity-scene version! We only bring ours out during Advent.
Liturgical tie-in: Act out Gospel stories, saint stories, Nativity scenes, or feast day celebrations.
5. Cars
Raced, stacked, and zoomed around daily.
Liturgical tie-in: Create roads that lead to Rome, act out saint stories on the move, or imagine missionaries traveling to share the Gospel.
6. Cardboard Cutting Tools
Constantly used for crafting, cutting, and creating.
Liturgical tie-in: Make angel wings, little houses, halos, or simple church shapes to connect with different saints and feast days.
7. Play Kitchen
Endlessly imaginative and used daily. Perfect for pretend cooking, serving meals, and hosting friends.
Liturgical tie-in: Pretend to serve like St. Martha, or care for others like St. Elizabeth of Hungary, learning that serving is a joyful part of everyday life.
8. Play Scarves
Colorful, open-ended, and used for everything from capes to forts.
Liturgical tie-in: Use as veils, wraps like St. Lazarus, or skirts for saint costumes during feast day play.
Final Thoughts
Not every toy has to be educational, saint-centered, or “faithful play.” Sometimes toys are just toys, and that’s okay. But with a little imagination, everyday play can spark storytelling, creativity, and even gentle liturgical living moments.
Check out our Amazon storefront here. These are the tried-and-true favorites that have survived four kids under six and continue to inspire play (and a little saintly imagination!) every single day.
