Where to buy cheap toys in Singapore – 5 places to try

Nah, you don’t have to go chasing the latest debit card with the most cashback to save money.

Who says cheap means bad?

After all, if your child is young, you know that he will outgrow his toys quickly, based on what he sees around him.

But before you look for more cheap toys, there may be some principles you have to take note of.

Choose open ended over close ended toys

By and large, open-ended toys make a more worthwhile investment than close-ended toys.

Closed ended toys have a clear beginning and a clear end point. Your child finishes playing with the toy, then moves on to another activity. They teach task completion and the patience to see things through to the end.

On the other hand, there are no clearly defined instructions in open-ended toys.

The child is free to imagine, and play as he wishes.

These are the ones that allow for longer, sustained times of fun, compared to close-ended toys, where the child may lose interest quickly.

But we also know that these open ended toys, like Lego, tend to be much pricier.

Toys don’t have to be the only thing they play with

More importantly, it’s also realising that toys are a tool of play, but that play can happen without toys, too.

If you bring your child out for some outdoors sports like football, or a swim, you would immediately realise that too, is a form of play for the child.

That said, here are some ways to get cheaper toys.

Tell your friends that your kids are getting bored!

We don’t always have to buy new toys. Instead, you can go to your friend groups on WhatsApp and gently ask if they have toys they are looking to give away.

It can also make the world more sustainable.

Go to Carousell for free toys

You might also consider going to places like Carousell to pick up free items that people are looking to give away.

The toys might vary in quality, but if you just search “Toys”, you would find a variety that you can pick from.

Find them in charity shops

Whilst Singapore may not have as many charity shops as places like the U.K., there are some occasional ones run by churches in Singapore.

Two good places to go to are:

The Barn, at the Cornerstone Community Church

They have many donated items which they sell. Some of these include toys too.

Red Shield Industries, by the Salvation Army

And who can miss your favourite Salvation Army? It can be the place where you pick up your child’s next favourite toy!

T for Toys, in Tampines

If you’re looking for a bigger place to get toys, you’ve found the right place.

T for Toys, is a huge industrial like area that houses shelves and shelves of toys, at an affordable price.

Hush hush though.

Not many people know about it. It may also mean that this June holidays, rather than finding it packed like everywhere else, you finally find a place of peace and comfort, where your children can knock themselves out with more toys!

Address: 18 Tampines Industrial Crescent, #01-02A Space @ Tampines

Opening hours:

Mon to Fri: 12pm to 6pm

Sat & Sun: 12pm to 7pm

Better Play Singapore (Level 2, Katong Point, 451 Joo Chiat Road)

Another place you might want to consider, if you’re searching for more atas(premium) toys, is to go to Better Play.

Whilst their primary business is in terms of providing a play area for kids, they also do have some toys for sale.

Luna Play

Then there’s always us.

Because we only do pop ups and sell primarily through our online stores, this means that our prices are deliberately kept low for you.

If you’ve looked at our products, they focus on helping children to build an imaginative world around them, rather than using screens.

We believe play is the best way for a child to learn, rather than through more and more assessment books!

Some of our favourite products are the Scrollino, which helps kids to move away from screens, and into interacting again with the real world.

Another item we adore is the Blair Light Up Cubes! Just watch your child have fun when he throws this into the water, and sees them light up!

Finding cheaper toys, is ultimately also being willing to spend time playing with your child

Sometimes, when you lie on the floor with your child, watching her bring make-believe worlds into life, you remember why you love them, despite all the trouble they have caused you.

You continue to remember that it’s not just about the pain they bring, but also the journey they take you on.

That alone will be worth it.