Kids are active. They have lots of energy and benefit from moving throughout the day. But there’s not always time to head to the park, and the weather does not always cooperate. Being cooped up inside can start to make everyone go a little crazy after a while.
It can be helpful to create spaces inside where kids can be active. Getting them an indoor slide and a few soft play equipment pieces can help save your furniture and couch cushions from total destruction. Add in a few items for open-ended play activities, and you’re set for hours of play!
In this post:
- Best Soft Play Equipment With a Tunnel
- Best Rearrangeable Sets
- Best Plush Balls
- Considerations When Buying Soft Play Equipment
- Think you don’t have enough space for soft play equipment?
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Soft play equipment for kids is ideal for indoor use, allowing kids to climb, jump, and balance while providing a soft surface for crash landings. The pieces are also great for lounging around.
They are excellent gross-motor toys that can help babies and toddlers develop skills such as coordination, balance, and strength. Larger movable parts can be used in various ways as kids grow.
- Looking for more great toys for toddlers? Check out all our favorite outdoor toys for one-year-olds!
Best Soft Play Equipment With a Tunnel
1. FDP SoftScape Playtime Grow-n-Learn Tunnel Climber
This is one of those pieces that immediately turns your living room into a mini playground—and kids actually use it.
The tunnel is big enough for real crawling (not the tiny, awkward kind), so babies love going in and out over and over again. As they grow, the stairs become their first “climb,” and that triangle piece turns into a perfect little slide or lounging ramp. It’s one of those setups that evolves with them—first crawling, then climbing, then full-on obstacle course energy.
What I really love is the foam. It’s soft enough that early climbers can take little tumbles without it being a big deal, and those side pads add an extra layer of “I don’t have to hover every second” peace of mind. It invites movement without feeling risky.
It’s also held up way better than I expected. This is not a “looks cute but falls apart” kind of toy—it’s sturdy, keeps its shape, and still looks good after lots of daily use. Definitely one of those pieces that gets used every single day instead of sitting in the corner.
Just know—it does take up some space. This isn’t a tuck-it-away toy. But if you have the room, it earns its footprint.
Size: 60″ L x 18″ W x 18″ H (about 54″ wide with the side pads)
Best Rearrangeable Sets
Rearrangeable sets are a great open-ended toy! The pieces can be moved around and played with in endless ways.
Babies can crawl on them, stack them, and push them down. Older kids can develop their imagination, thinking, and problem-solving skills as they build full-on structures. Kids can also grow their social skills as they play cooperatively with others. These are all skills they will need to be successful learners in a school environment.
The blocks are soft and flexible and won’t hurt kids or the house when they fall.
2. ECR4Kids SoftZone Climb and Crawl Activity Play Set
This is one of those sets that looks simple… and then somehow turns into everything.
The five foam pieces can be rearranged in so many ways—little stairs, a slide, a fort, a tunnel, or just a pile to crash into (which, let’s be honest, is always a favorite). It’s the kind of toy that doesn’t tell kids what to do, so they keep coming back to it and using it in different ways every day.
I love that kids can actually move the pieces themselves. Even younger toddlers can carry, stack, and rebuild, which turns it into more than just a climber—it becomes part of their play ideas. That independence piece is huge.
The nonslip bottoms make a noticeable difference, too. Everything stays put while they’re climbing, but it’s still easy enough for kids to reconfigure when they want to change things up.
It’s also super easy to wipe down (which matters more than you think), and it holds up really well to daily use. This is one of those “always out” toys that actually earns its space because it keeps kids moving, building, and experimenting.
3. 12 Piece Modular Play Couch
This is one of those pieces that ends up doing way more than you expect—it’s not just a couch, it’s basically a full play setup that changes every day.
With 12 pieces to work with, kids can build whatever they’re in the mood for. One minute it’s a cozy little couch, then it’s a fort, then a tunnel, then something you wouldn’t have even thought of. Because nothing is fixed, it doesn’t get boring—kids keep coming back to it and using it in new ways.
What I really like is how naturally it pulls kids into play without you needing to set anything up. They can move the pieces themselves, stack them, knock them down, and rebuild again. It becomes part of their ideas instead of something they’re just using “correctly,” which is exactly what you want.
It’s also genuinely comfortable. The foam is soft enough for climbing and crashing, yet supportive enough to serve as a real couch for reading or winding down. And since the covers are removable, it actually feels realistic to have out all the time.
This is one of those rare toys that works for both big movement play and quiet moments, and it grows with kids in a way most toys don’t. If you have the space, it ends up being used constantly.
4. Soozier Soft Play Climbing for Toddlers
This one is intentionally small—and that’s exactly why it works so well.
Instead of feeling overwhelming, it gives babies just enough height and challenge to practice climbing, crawling, and getting up and down safely. The pieces are low to the ground, so it builds confidence without that constant “I need to catch them” feeling.
I love this stage of play, and this set really supports it. Babies can crawl up, slide down, scoot across, and just explore how their bodies move. As they grow, they start rearranging the pieces, stacking them, and turning it into their own little obstacle course. It keeps evolving right alongside them.
It’s also super lightweight, which means kids can actually move the pieces themselves. That’s a bigger deal than it sounds because it turns this into their play instead of something you set up for them. And the soft foam makes all those early tumbles no big deal.
This is one of those sets that doesn’t take over your whole house but still gets used constantly. Perfect if you want something simple, safe, and actually developmentally appropriate for that baby-to-toddler transition phase.
5. Soft Toddler Builder Block Set
This set feels less like a “climber” and more like a pile of giant building pieces that just happen to be perfect for climbing.
With 11 different shapes to work with, kids can create whatever they’re in the mood for: little pathways to crawl over, ramps to slide down, towers to stack and knock over, or full obstacle courses across the room. It’s constantly changing, which is exactly why it holds their attention.
The mix of shapes makes a big difference here. Those wedges, curves, and blocks give kids more to experiment with, so they naturally start figuring out how pieces fit together, how to balance them, and how to move their bodies across different heights and angles.
It’s soft enough to feel safe for climbing and tumbling, but still sturdy enough that their builds actually hold up. And because everything is lightweight, kids can move and rearrange it on their own, which keeps them way more engaged than something fixed.
This is the kind of set that grows with them, starting simple with crawling and climbing, and slowly turning into more creative builds and imaginative setups as they get older.
6. Costzon Soft Blocks, Toddler Foam Block Playset
These feel less like traditional “blocks” and more like giant, soft building pieces that invite whole-body play.
Because they’re a full 8 inches on each side, kids aren’t just stacking with their hands. They’re carrying, lifting, pushing, and building on a bigger scale. Toddlers especially love being able to manage them on their own. They’re light enough to move, but big enough to feel like they’re building something real.
What makes these stand out is how naturally they turn into functional play. Kids don’t just stack a tower and walk away—they build something they can use. A row becomes a balance path. A stack turns into a seat. A cluster becomes a little “bed” or cozy spot. It’s that mix of building and using that keeps them engaged longer than typical blocks do.
They’re also incredibly forgiving. When everything inevitably gets knocked over (on purpose or not), it’s quiet, soft, and completely safe. No sharp edges, no loud crashes—just part of the play.
This is a great option if you want something simple that still encourages movement, problem-solving, and creativity without taking up as much space as a full climber.
Best Plush Balls
Do you have a kid who loves to throw everything, including less-than-ideal things like wooden blocks or Hot Wheels?
Give them something that kids can throw indoors! Plush balls can be great for kids who are in a throwing phase. They can help minimize how often you have to say “No” or redirect your kids.
7. StoHua Baby Taggie Ball
This brightly colored ball has a rattle and is sized small enough to fit in a baby’s hand, making it ideal for little ones. It is excellent for rolling, throwing, grasping, and chasing.
Size: 5 inches in diameter
8. T Play Plush Basketball Pillow
This ball has been a lifesaver in a classroom of preschoolers who love to throw it around. They love that it looks like a basketball and often come up with new and fun games to play with it. It is easy to throw and is also soft and pleasant for when they want to snuggle.
We recommend it for indoor use only.
Size: 9 x 9 x 9 inches
9. Sports Throw Pillows
This is an excellent set of 4 plush balls for the kiddo who loves sports. The balls can decorate a kid’s room and be thrown throughout the house. They are soft, fluffy, and even washable
Considerations When Buying Soft Play Equipment
First, look at the amount of space available for soft play equipment. This will help you to narrow down your search.
Next, consider your children’s ages and how long you would like them to use the soft play equipment. Are you looking for something for a baby or older kids? To be used now or as they grow?
Consider the size and the number of ways your kids might use the pieces. Can the pieces be rearranged, stacked, or moved? Many open-ended options will provide the most prolonged engagement from your kids and work for the broadest range of ages.
Protips:
- If you have a bit of time, try checking Craigslist and Facebook marketplace. These are both great places to find used kids’ items. Items such as play equipment can easily be checked for wear and cleaned before use. This can be a great way to keep things out of a landfill and save a bit of money in the process.
- Look for foam pieces with covers. This makes them easy to clean and helps them to hold their shape. It also keeps babies from biting chunks out of the foam.
- Looking for a free option? Check out this post about a free alternative to the Nugget Comfort Couch.
Think you don’t have enough space for soft play equipment?
Maybe you think you don’t have space for another kid thing. It might be time for a toy declutter if you have lots of kids’ items and they are slowly taking over your house. Not all toys are created equal, and we bet that you have a few that you could do without.
More is not better. It often overwhelms kids. Things get broken, pieces get lost, and toys go unused. Check out our post on decluttering your toys and creating peaceful spaces for your kids. This will free up space for a few choice items that your kids can use every day.
Final Thoughts
So consider investing in some soft-play equipment and providing your kids with active, creative spaces for indoor fun!
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