Toys I Sell That I’d Happily Pay Full Price For Myself
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A toy shop owner’s genuinely honest recommendations
One of the slightly strange things about owning a toy shop is that I spend a LOT of time looking at toys.
I see the beautiful ones, the expensive ones, the ones everyone is talking about and, occasionally, the ones that look lovely online but perhaps don’t quite live up to expectations in real life.
So I thought I’d share something a little different: the toys and brands I stock at Mucky Wolf that I would genuinely spend my own money on.
In fact, quite a few of these I already have.
These aren’t necessarily the cheapest toys in the shop. Some are definitely an investment. But they’re the ones I think earn their price tag through quality, play value and, yes, looking beautiful in your home too.
Here are my picks…
1. Cleverclixx Race Track
This one isn't cheap, but it gets used ALL. THE. TIME.
If you follow Mucky Wolf on Instagram and watch my stories at the weekend, you’ve probably spotted ours out more than once.
The Cleverclixx Race Track lets children build their own magnetic tracks before sending the little cars racing around them. It means the play doesn't really end once the track is built – they can knock it down, redesign it, make it bigger, add bridges and generally create something completely different next time.
And, selfishly, it’s one I actually really enjoy playing with too!
It’s the sort of toy I’m happy to have spent more on because it doesn't get played with once and forgotten about. Ours comes out again and again.
The 80-piece set includes two cars and is designed for ages 3+.
Shop the Cleverclixx Race Track at Mucky Wolf
2. Honestly? Anything Little Dutch
I adored Little Dutch long before Mucky Wolf existed.
I was already buying their toys for Wolf, so getting to stock a brand I genuinely loved as a mum first still feels a bit like a dream.
The toys are beautiful, the quality is gorgeous and even the packaging feels special.
From their soft toys and dolls to wooden toys, role play and craft sets, it's one of those brands I find myself returning to again and again.
If you're buying a gift and aren't quite sure what to choose, Little Dutch is one of those brands I'd personally feel very confident gifting.
Mucky Wolf currently stocks Little Dutch across its age and toy collections.
Shop Little Dutch and more at Mucky Wolf
3. Cotton Twist Bracelet Kits
We've had a few Cotton Twist kits ourselves and they are SUCH a pleasure to use.
They're beautifully designed, really tactile and you end up with the loveliest little bracelets to keep afterwards.
Can you buy cheaper bracelet-making kits elsewhere? Absolutely.
Are they as lovely? In my experience, not even close.
These are the sort of craft kits where the finished creation doesn't mysteriously make its way into the bin two weeks later. They feel much more like a lovely little activity and a keepsake.
They're also a brilliant idea if you're looking for a smaller birthday present, stocking filler or something to keep tucked away for a rainy afternoon.
Shop children's craft kits at Mucky Wolf
4. Hoppstar Artist Camera
Trust me. I learnt this one the hard way.
A few years ago I bought Wolf a cheap instant-print camera from Amazon and it was a complete waste of money.
The print quality was awful, it was too fiddly for him to use without getting frustrated and then, when the paper ran out, could I find more?
Nope.
We switched to the Hoppstar Artist and it is brilliant.
It's designed for little hands, has a colour display and instantly prints their photos. Crucially, you can actually buy replacement paper too – something I didn't appreciate enough until I'd owned the cheaper alternative! The camera also comes with three paper rolls and a 16GB SD card.
We stock the fun papers too, so they can carry on snapping and printing rather than the camera becoming redundant once the original rolls are finished.
For me, this is a perfect example of something where buying the better version the first time can actually save money in the long run.
Shop the Hoppstar Artist Camera at Mucky Wolf
5. Le Toy Van
Le Toy Van is another brand where I could very happily choose almost anything.
Their toys are incredibly beautiful, properly well made and the kind you can imagine passing down rather than chucking away.
Wolf has the big farm set and I'd happily pay full price for it again – or, frankly, pretty much anything else they make.
This is exactly the type of toy I wanted Mucky Wolf to be about: toys that children genuinely want to play with but which also feel special enough to keep.
Le Toy Van's range is particularly good for imaginative and role play, with everything from dolls houses and kitchens to markets and smaller play sets.
Shop Le Toy Van toys at Mucky Wolf
6. Flippi Play Tents
These are newer arrivals at Mucky Wolf, but they had to make the list.
Wolf doesn't have one himself... yet.
Although he very much has his eye on the castle.
The illustrations are gorgeous, they feel really well made and – importantly – I genuinely wouldn't mind having one sitting in my house all year round.
Because some of the alternative children's play tents I've seen are, erm... slightly harder on the eyes.
And I know aesthetics aren't everything when you're choosing toys for children, but I also think it's perfectly reasonable to want their play things to look lovely in your home.
These create a proper little space for imaginative play without making you want to hide it behind the sofa when somebody comes round.
Definitely one I'd spend a little more on.
Shop Flippi Play Tents at Mucky Wolf
7. Tender Leaf Toys
I've saved one of my favourites until last.
I could very easily just write EVERYTHING FROM TENDER LEAF here.
But if I had to choose one, it would be the Shepherd's Hut.
Tender Leaf makes the kind of wooden toys that remind me exactly why I started Mucky Wolf in the first place: beautifully designed, full of character and made for proper imaginative play.
The quality is gorgeous and there's so much play in them that, for me, they justify the higher price tag.
If you've had your eye on Tender Leaf for a while but have wondered whether it's worth spending a little more, this is one of those brands I'd personally buy again and again.
Mucky Wolf stocks a wide range of Tender Leaf wooden toys, from smaller pretend-play pieces to larger playsets.
Shop Tender Leaf Toys at Mucky Wolf
So, are expensive toys actually worth it?
Not always.
A higher price doesn't automatically mean a better toy.
For me, the question is whether I'm paying for something that will genuinely get played with, is beautifully made, can grow with my child or inspire lots of different kinds of play.
I'd rather buy fewer toys that are pulled out of the toy box week after week than lots that create clutter and are forgotten about after a few days.
And that's really the thinking behind Mucky Wolf too.
Yes, I sell these toys. But I'd genuinely buy every single one with my own money.
And I think that's probably the best recommendation I can give.