Which toys did your toddlers really love

[nuggetsmom]

My family would like suggestions of what to get DD for christmas, and I wonder which toys your kids played with over and over again. I know which ones she plays with now, but she already has those...
So, besides books and crayons,
what are the best toys?

[3boysmom]

When my guys were toddlers, they all LOVED their toy vacuum. It was an upright and when you pushed it, it made a low whirring sound, it's headlight came on and tiny colored balls blew around inside. No batteries, just kid powered. I believe it was made by Fisher-Price. I got it at a yard sale and it made it through all three of my kids and has since been passed on to a cousin and still going strong. They also loved their own tape player - made for small kids with large buttons that they could easily operate (big green button for play/go, big red button for stop/eject and large arrows for rewind and fast forward.) Again, heavily used and loved by all three! It even went down the stairs a few times. Good luck!

[Teensy]

Wooden Blocks
Mega Blocks (the larger Legos)
Magna Doodle (the big one with six magnets) - especially good in the car.

All have entertained DS #1 and #2 for hours and hours.

I think a nice wooden dollhouse would also be a great toy - Santa might bring one to our house this year.

[Mommiska]

My girls love both their wooden doll house and their wood playhouse (out in the garden). The playhouse is great...it allows us to get outside and play, even in rainy Scotland.

My girls also both love dress-up stuff. They have a fairy outfit and a few other things, but not much...so we are planning to expand their dress-up collection this Christmas as their main present.

Any and all arts and crafts supplies go down well...beads to string into necklaces, collage supplies, different kinds of paints, etc.

Both of my girls also love little figurines/dolls/etc. that they can use to play in their doll house (or alternatively, that can be 'guests' in their playhouse for their tea parties).

And we have a small (plastic - sorry!) kitchen with lots of different pretend foods, plates, cups, utensils, etc. And they LOVE that...they play with that stuff all the time....

Just be careful not to buy too much! I went through all the Christmas stuff I have for the girls yesterday, and I've already gone overboard, and I thought I was being much more careful this year. So easily done, I'm afraid...

[DiaperDiva]

These are what Kailey enjoys:

books
paints
crayons

baby dolls
her train set


refridgerator magnets
pots and pans
pouring and scooping toys*


* her most favorite as of late.

[darlindeliasmom]

I made DD a Waldorf-style doll (Magic Cabin kit) when she was 3, I think. Betty is now Velveteen Rabbit real, and was just out front making snow angels with my DD!

Her train set; building materials of all sorts, and dress-up trunk.

Silk cloth squares: these are portable and versatile for dress up, for running with, for decorating her world.

Riding toys (we had an old wooden rocking horse someone gave us. Hector waits in the attic now)

Household toys (cooking equipment, etc.)
I think little ones appreciate the classic toys.

[DiaperDiva]

Kailey is fascinated with clothes. A month or so ago I needed to go through her clothes and pack up the ones that were to small. The only way to be sure was for her to trty them on, and she did so happily. In fact after each outfit, would run into the living room to show daddy, and then come running back to try on another.

So...we are seriously considering getting her clothing for Christmas. Since we are tight on budget now, it would be like killing to birds with one stone.

Oh and we are definitely getting her music. She loves to sing and dance!

[Mollie]

When DS was a toddler, he LOVED his cozy coupe car. he used it every single day. would even drive it into his bedroom, haha.ag

we are getting it all cleaned up, and giving it to Macie for Christmas! hah. nothing like recycling!

[carminex]

DD has a baby stroller and a baby doll that she plays with every day. She also loves wooden puzzles.

[ladylee]

Isabel's favorite toy of the moment is a play tent. It lends itself to all kinds of imaginative play.

[ebethmom]

We just got a box of hand me down dinosaurs from a cousin, and they are a HUGE hit! They got us through the Community Thanksgiving Service like a dream! My son RARELY sits still, and usually participates in my husband's sermons. We ALL like the dinosaurs!

He also likes to play in the box that the dinosaurs came in.

He also likes the cat carrier right now. Especially if a cat will cooperate and play in it with him!

[Graceoc]

I know this is not all 'natural parenting' my my ds LOVES LOVES LOVES his "Little People" (Fisher Price) and will literly play with them for HOURS. He has them interact with each other and lines them up in all kinds of weird formations (it is a bit creepy) But he LOVES them. They don't actually have to be the Little People brand - we have some from other playsets that he uses just as much - but he ADORES them.

Santa is brining a large wooden dollhouse with a wooden doll family and all the accessories for Christmas - I KNOW that Ds will go nuts over it!!!!!! I can't wait to see his face when he opens it!

He also loves: trainset, kitchen set, playdough, stickers (this is a HUGE hit and fun 'art' for him), cars and trucks, and those soft little beanie baby type animals (he as a bunch of them and wants me to nurse them ALL THE TIME LOL!)

[tarablesue]

I have to agree with the Magna Doodle and the Fisher Price Little People. My 26 MO dd LOVES LOVES these...so much that we bought her a new Magna Doodle( the one she has now the screen is almost black from it being used so much) and the additions to her Little People Farm playset, for Xmas. Also a big one for her are the alphabet magnets (and numbers) for the fridge.... SHe learned her primary colors from them and she enjoys puzzles too!
HTH!

[DiaperDiva]

Grace~ Kailey LOVES LOVES LOVES doing "sticker" collages. Stickers are one of her favorite thigns to.

And I think the Little People are a good idea. Putting that on her list now.

[Britishmum]

Farm animals (we add one or two to the set every so often); Duplo; train set (cheap version of Brio, from Target); books; puzzles; her own cassette player and selection of music cassettes.

[sozobe]

Any recommendations on cassette player brands?

[grumo]

Does anyone know why most child sized adult tools (broom, mop, garden tools....) are aged for 3+? Do 1 yos really not get any use out of such toys? I want to get a broom set for her, but not if she won't use it for some time.

[oceanbaby]

I have a broom set for ds who is 18months. He used the broom a little bit, but then started using it more to try to smack at things above his head - on the table, on the counter, etc., so we finally had to put it away. I would give him his broom when I tried to sweep, but then he just wanted my broom. He never used the little dustpan. So, I think he needs to be a bit older before he will get much use out of these. It probably depends on the kid though.

[Clarity]

I *need* a kid broom...she;s using a small adult broom that came with a standup dustpan but I need something lighter. Sources?

[Trishy]

I saw a cleaning set at wal-Mart that came with a little broom, I think a mop and some other stuff. Sorry, I really didn't take a good look at it because my mother has already purchased a little broom for my ds for Christmas. I will ask her where she got it next time she calls.

Trish