No Toys? No Problem. Simple Ways to Spark Creative Play Anywhere

Think your kids need toys to play? Think again. In this episode of The Playroom Chronicles, I share a refreshing reminder from my own childhood—when a stick, a hoop, and a cup were all it took to spark hours of joy. Discover why modern kids struggle to play despite overflowing toy bins, and learn practical, mess-free ways to engage your child with everyday items you already have at home. Whether you're stuck in a waiting room, traveling without toys, or just craving more creative, clutter-free play—this episode is packed with simple swaps and playful parenting wisdom that actually works.

Perfect for busy parents who want less stress, fewer toys, and more real play.

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Transcript

00:00 Charlene DeLoach: What if I told you your child could have just as much fun with a plastic cup and a ping pong ball as they do with the latest $800 robotic toy, and that the best play moments sometimes come from not having any toys at all? Welcome to the Playroom Chronicles podcast, where toys spark imagination, learning, and independent play.

00:23 Charlene DeLoach: I'm Charlene DeLoach, a toy and play expert, but a mom just like you, navigating building blocks, puzzle pieces, and snack crumbs every day. Ever wondered which toy will actually get played with? Or how do I keep my child engaged without a screen? You're in the right place. From ready day rescues to skill building superstars, this is your go-to for honest toy recommendations, real talk, and play ideas that work. Ready to turn chaos into creativity one toy at a time? Then welcome to the Playroom Chronicles podcast.

00:55 Charlene DeLoach: Hey there, welcome back to the Playroom Chronicles podcast. Again, I'm Charlene Deloach, media expert, professional toy reviewer, but most importantly, a mom who's lived through both the magic and the madness of modern playrooms. And today's episode might just be your parenting permission slip to relax a little, declutter a lot, and rediscover the simple power of play.

01:21 Charlene DeLoach: Because we're going to be talking about why kids don't need toys to play and what that really means for your family. So let me take you back for a second. I was maybe eight or nine years old visiting Sturbridge Village in Massachusetts with my family. Now, if you've never been, it's one of those living history museums where everything looks like it's straight out of the 1800s, right? Like you can go back and you could see like how they had to cook in these big.

01:50 Charlene DeLoach: massive fireplaces and all the things, right? But basically, no screens and no plastic bins of toys either, right? Just dirt roads, wooden buildings, a single schoolhouse where they used to reprimand kids with sticks, all the things. And I still remember this big, huge quad, like lawn in the center of this 1800s town. And they would have...

02:19 Charlene DeLoach: experiences where you could play like kids did, you know, centuries ago. And I remember running around with a hoop and a stick, like the hoop was vertical and you had a stick and you're hitting it to keep it moving across the green. And also playing with this wooden stick that had a cup on the end. And then there was a string with like a ping pong ball and you would have to kind of flip it to get the ping pong ball in the little cup.

02:48 Charlene DeLoach: Right. All the things. But I still remember how hard I try to like master the spin, the bounce, the balance, the trying to get in the cup. Right. It was frankly pure fun, which is one of the reasons why I always love to go back there when there was like a school field trip or something like that, because I loved the challenge. And of course, I didn't realize at the time there's no batteries required. There's nothing special about it. But.

03:17 Charlene DeLoach: Even as someone deeply involved in the toy industry today, that memory has stuck with me because it reminds me that play doesn't need to be complicated to be powerful. It just needs some space and maybe a little curiosity. Because here's the reality I hear from parents all the time. My house is full of toys and yet my kid is constantly bored.

03:41 Charlene DeLoach: we travel or we go to grandma's or we're stuck in a restaurant or waiting room and I never know what to bring to keep them busy. Or I feel guilty about not having all these like fancy TikTok worthy stuff for play. And here's what I want you to know, if anything from this episode, and I mean this with all the love and experience I've got, your child doesn't need more toys. They need fewer barriers to play.

04:11 Charlene DeLoach: And sometimes the absence of toys is exactly what opens the door to that kind of imaginative, movement-rich, deeply creative play that actually sticks, creates memories, unlocks creativity, and problem-solving skills. Because we've unintentionally trained our kids to expect the toy to do the entertaining.

04:37 Charlene DeLoach: Flashing lights, sound effects, endless characters. Yes, all that can be fun. I love those. I really, truly do. But too much of it can make kids passive participants in play. But when we hand them something ordinary, like something that doesn't basically come with an instruction manual or a screwdriver, they become inventors, explorers, problem solvers. We shift them from

05:05 Charlene DeLoach: consumer to creator. And that shift is everything to them and to their future. So let me give you a few go-tos that work anywhere with any age and with zero prep, but really so much play possibilities. And number one, yeah, it's that plastic cup and a ping pong ball.

05:29 Charlene DeLoach: Or whatever you have. It could be the pickleball, right? Like whatever it is, is that you could take this plastic cup and a ball and they can play catch. They can create target games. They can stack, knock it down. Someone could try to toss in the air and they have to run with a cup and try to get in the cup. Or you don't need a lacrosse stick or any of these fancy things. A cup and a ball will do. And what else they can come up with to do with those two simple objects. And of course, going back to my Sturbridge Village days.

05:58 Charlene DeLoach: a hula hoop. Roll it like they did in the colonial days. Jump through it like an obstacle course. Toss bead bags into it. Again, it's just a simple toy with a stick from a tree or something, a pine cone that they can use to toss, right? Anything that they can find and create. Number three, frankly, like a dish towel or a bath towel. Those towels can become a cape, a flag.

06:25 Charlene DeLoach: blindfold, a magic trip prop, like anything. It's amazing what a towel can do. And of course, wooden spoon and a pot or even a wooden spoon and a Tupperware container, right? Drumline in your kitchen is basically future drummers being built right then and there. And then a sock ball. So basically you put a ball inside a sock and you can invent your own.

06:52 Charlene DeLoach: trick shot contest, own dodgeball, own ring toss, right? Like all the things with this sock ball. And then one of my favorites, painter's tape on the floor. Yeah, you don't need fancy things. I mean, I love the fancy things, let's face it, but you really don't. Painter's tape is not just things that we need to do for household maintenance. They can build roads, mark a balance beam, make a lava game, all of it. And then of course, a cardboard.

07:22 Charlene DeLoach: box. It could be a spaceship, a race car, a mini grocery store, you name it. A box is so much potential. Basically, they're thinking outside the box when they have a box. And then I also love having a deck of cards. You know, your classic queen of hearts and diamonds and all that, right? Those classic cards. They can make up a new game, build a tower, sort by pattern or color, all the things. There's so much things that they can do with a deck of cards.

07:51 Charlene DeLoach: And then of course, paper, plate, and a pencil. Yes, it become do-it-yourself spinner, a free frisbee, or a face mask. Kids with their imaginations can come up with so much. And of course, I have to say, one of my favorites is pipe cleaners. But one thing you can do with pipe cleaners is also add a like pasta strainer. And basically, you could take these pipe cleaners and you can start.

08:21 Charlene DeLoach: threading through the little holes in the strainer, I guess a colander, you know, one of those things. And it's like fine motor skills. It's threading fun. It can almost build different things using that as a tool. And of course, pillowcases, right? Remember those old sack races? I mean, let's pull the king pillowcases out and have fun with that. Or guess what's inside the mystery bag? I mean, there's so many things you can do with a simple pillowcase.

08:51 Charlene DeLoach: And then even something like a measuring tape. Have kids run around the house and guess what's longer or shorter. They can even take their toy car and see like, oh, who can push the toy car longer and faster and whatever. You know, I got to 10 feet, you got to 11 feet, all the things. They can go outside and jump too and see with this measuring tape how far they got compared to their siblings or friends, right? Everything from this like plastic cup and ping pong ball, hula hoop, dish towel.

09:20 Charlene DeLoach: wooden spoon and pot, sock ball, painter's tape, cardboard box, deck of cards, paper plate and pencil, hide cleaners, pillowcase, and measuring tape. These items aren't just time fillers. They're creativity igniters. So give your kids space to lead and they will. So here's your no fuss, no fancy tools parenting play challenge for this episode. I want you one time today.

09:49 Charlene DeLoach: Skip the toy bin and hand your kid an everyday item, like even if it's a paper towel roll or laundry basket, and ask, how many ways can we use this today? How can we play with this? Or can you come up with a new game just using this ball and the spoon? And then, really important parenting moment here, step back. Don't over-direct. Don't fix it. Let the awkwardness breathe and them going, I don't know what to do, right?

10:17 Charlene DeLoach: But let them work through the I don't know what to do because that's where creativity lies. Now, here's what I know for sure. The best play doesn't come from the fanciest toys. It comes from the freedom of just playing. Freedom to explore, to fail, to try again, to get silly and discover that they are the source of the fun, not the toy.

10:41 Charlene DeLoach: So whether you're on vacation and stuck at the DMV or just trying to get dinner on the table while the kids need entertaining, remember you got this and so do they. Because play doesn't require perfection. It just needs permission. So if this episode gave you a little relief, a new idea, or even just a moment of yes, finally, would you do me a favor and share it with another parent who needs to hear this? Or tag me in a photo of your kid playing with a spoon in the ball.

11:10 Charlene DeLoach: I'm on Instagram at Playroom Chronicles. Or a simple subscribe would mean the world to me too. Because let's normalize the simple and celebrate the resourcefulness of play. And I'll leave you with this. The best toy your child will ever have is their imagination. Everything else is just an accessory. Until next time, keep playing.