Toy Suggestions for my DS (Christmas Gift)?

[luckymamaoftwo]

My DS is 20 months and isn't huge on playing with many of our toys but loves to take things apart (especially "adult" things like pens, computer mouse, etc) and will work intently for the longest time while trying to put straws through lids, etc. So I'm looking for an appropriate toy that would appeal to him (we call him jr. engineer). I was thinking maybe Duplos or Megablocks would be a good Christmas gift, but I hate the idea of so much plastic (and a plastic storage bag is even worse!). Any suggestions? I've browsed a few natural toy shopping sites but nothing has caught my eye.

Also, we have two sets of handmade wooden blocks in wagons but he isn't very interested in them yet. 

Thanks, Mamas!

[wishin'&hopin']

My 18 month old DS LOVES his duplos--yeah, they're plastic, but I couldn't find anything wooden that could compare.  And, truth be told, the lovely set of wooden blocks has been totally pushed aside now that he knows about duplos...

We have the set meant for 18 months and up (71 pieces that come in a plastic tub with lid).  He will probably get another set (one with the zoo animals) for Christmas as he uses ALL of them in his creations.  

[luckymamaoftwo]

Thanks wishin' & hopin'. I know, sometimes it's hard to find a comparable natural toy. I think my DS would love them too.

[mommariffic]

I second Duplos, DS loves them so very much and it's the one thing that he will happily play with 

I plan on getting him some simple puzzles and one of those shape sorter wooden things too for Christmas, I think that'll go over well 

[grethel]

DD just turned 2 yesterday and got some Duplos. She's the engineer type too, and loves her wooden blocks as well. Duplos are fun for her because they stick together.

If you are totally against anything plastic, there are Tegu blocks. They're wooden, with magnets inside that allow them to stick together. Pretty cool, and he might like taking them apart as much as putting them together. tegu.com.

[dejagerw]

Have you seen these?

http://www.automoblox.com/

They're rated for 3+, so I guess it depends on how comfortable you feel with your child playing with this.

[Snapdragon]

http://www.plantoys.com/products.php?Id=5533

what about this? I just got this for my 19 month old ds- he is also really into putting things into things and taking things apart- he is actually still lkind of young for this, but for now I just give him a couple of pieces of it and he is starting to show some interest. If you go to amazon and look up plan toys I think there are some cool wooden toy options there if this one doens't appeal to you. this particular toy says it is for 3+ aged but I think it is kind of cool. My 19 month old also likes things that he can put into other things, lids he can open and close, etcetera.

[pianojazzgirl]

Another vote for Duplos or Megablocks.

Plastic is kinda crappy, but I've come to accept that for some things it just plain works best.  Legos are awesome and I've never come across any wooden anything that comes anywhere close.

Another (wooden!) thought is a Brio or equivalent (Plantoys, IKEA, etc) train set.  At this age he could just start putting the tracks together a bit himself, and/or enjoy driving trains around tracks that you make.  And it will be a toy that will have years of staying power.  My best friend's 9yo son gets on the floor to "play trains" with his 20 month old sister.  :)

[Bokonon]

Duplos are awesome.  My kids both play with Legos on a daily basis - both Duplos and the regular tiny Legos.  We even have hundreds of Legos that were my husband's when he was a kid.  I guess that's the upside to them being plastic - they DO last forever, but they can be played with generation after generation too.

[mommariffic]

I SECOND Tegu blocks! I completely forgot we got them! They are a little pricey but my kids love them and DS especially because they stick together 

[luckymamaoftwo]

Awesome suggestions! Thanks for taking the time to respond. 

I love Plan Toys but hadn't come across the Construction Set and it looks great! Tegu Blocks are pretty pricey but seem like a great alternative to Duplos. 

[mommy212]

lincoln logs maybe?

[leftcoast_trillium]

My 27 month old is sounds totally similiar. He likes his duplos, but he loves the unit blocks most of all, I think because they aren't as limiting as the duplos. It's hands down the best money I spent on a toy and I bought them used off of craigslist. The unit blocks are more interesting them just plain old blocks because you can build so many different things we them (at our house it is streetsweepers, tractor trailer combinations, pickups, dump trucks, etc. that get built). Hundreds of hours logged on them and he shows no sign of quitting. I'm thinking about getting him more for Christmas (we always run out of the "wheels").

He is also nuts for his automoblox, but we waited on that until we could trust that he wouldn't put the wheels in his mouth. He is obsessed with taking it apart and then "fixing" it. I thought as he got older I would look into some of those Montessori activity things, like boards with all different kinds of latches (not sure how I feel about him learning all of those!!) or fastenings or the wood nuts and bolts.

[holliebug]

My 22 month old also loves to put things together, and take them apart.  He loves trains, and he fell in love with the small wooden train set my oldest son had.  He loves to build the tracks, and he seems to enjoy the magnets which hold the trains together.  So for Christmas he is getting a train table from my Dad. 

[hildare]

why not get him a real, actual toolbox with some tools, and get him/ make him a tinker table kind of thing with some appliances and whatnot from a thrift store? 

[Thursday Girl]

he might be a little young for it, but I have a friend who made a stand out of wood then partially nailed in some nails and drilled a pilot hole and started some screws, then her son could hammer and screw. he loves it. 

also some kid tools might be fun for him.

[Snapdragon]

Just wanted to say that I got the toy I suggested recently ( since the post) for my 19 month old- and he shows no interest in it. It is mostly screwing things together- he prefers his legos (duplos) and also I got him some little things w- doors that open and close- he prefers that to the building thing.

[tollfie]

I would recommend these very natural wooden toys www.greatwoodentoys.co.uk. They are a bit pricy but inspirational. I have been collecting  for my kids the stacking toys and they love them. We do not buy toys very often but try to choose something very special and unique.

[JudiAU]

Duplos are really, really awesome. And yes they are plastic EU-made and good quality. They never wear out and can be purchased and sold on ebay. (And really worth the premium over MegaBlocks which aren't nearly as nicely and aren't truly compatible.) And they age well too going from simple animal and building play to older themes. They are the one "non natural" toy we really get into. In my experience, wooden blocks are really for a slightly older child. They require a lot more skill. (And the train sets too, are great because they are very easy to build. Much easier to build than wooden tracks)

If you want more natural easy build toy then http://www.novanatural.com/toys/building/interlocking-blocks these have a good reputation.

My kids also love small animals (plastic like Schliech or wooden) and these four elements http://www.novanatural.com/toys/building

I wouldn't actually recommend Tegu. They are much, much more difficult to play with and even my four year old can't manipulate them well. If you want a magnetic toy Magna Tiles are more easily manipulated.

We also have the Wonderworld tool box which is good pounding fun.

Oh, and for a young child the new style Plan Toys trains which you use a connector rather than magnets are much easier to manipulate. I actually love there whole train line. Safe, natural, attractive, sturdy.