Toys

[genifer]

This just might sound like a stupid question. However, here goes...

In your opinion what are the best toys out there? My kids have a few good toys, legos, bricks, baby dolls and such, some mismatched plates and cups etc and some recycled things from the kitchen. Saying that it isnt much. We've never had much so buying new hasnt always been an option. They did just fine as babies with the little we gave them. Now that Im homeschooling Im wondering if there are some other things I should get my hands on. They do have dress up clothes too. not much tho. What kinds of things do your kids loove to play with. We even bought some swimming flippers from the charity shop that are way too big but so fun to watch them try to walk around in . They have a few barbies (which I actually hate and asked if I could throw them away and neither of my girls cared, they were gifts btw, not from us: ). We have lots of books too.

I think Im just being silly and really wondering if they need more than what we have for them now. So what are your kids favourite toys and things to play with?

We have art stuff too.

[2GR8KIDS]

My ds is 6.5 years. Although we have many toys in the house (especially for his preschool-age sister who has lots of props for pretend play), the only toys he really plays with are his Legos. He likes his bike and occasionally plays with some of his other sports equipment. He also likes several board games. Beyond that, he likes to read, draw, write stories on the computer, swim, play outside, etc.- not really toy-related activities. If I'm reading your kids' ages right, I think they may be headed into a less toy-oriented age. If they have access to the outdoors, some simple art supplies, books (library books are fine, as at this age kids don't seem to read chapter books over and over like they did with picture books), and maybe some sports equipment, I think that is fine. Maybe you can save the money you might spend on toys to buy them something they need as they develop hobbies over the next few years -- like playing a musical instrument, a sport, sewing, whatever -- or taking them places that interest them. My son used to play a lot more with toys, and he spent almost every minute from ages 3 to 5 dressed up, but he seems to be in a different stage right now.

[dharmamama]

Top five things my kids (4 and 3) like to play with (in no particular order):

1. playsilks (ok, those ARE first)
2. play kitchen (purchased inexpensively from Constructive Playthings)
3. train tracks (don't even need a train; any small vehicle will work)
4. art supplies: glue, glitter, pipe cleaners, markers, paint, construction paper, scissors, etc.)
5. puzzles

And, of course, books, but those probably don't need to be listed to be thought of!

Namaste!

[rmzbm]

Originally Posted by dharmamama

1. playsilks (ok, those ARE first)

5. puzzles

These are tops at our home!!
My DS's LOVE puzzles, especially DS1. My DD1 has a TON of playsilks that she never really payed attention to until recently & now she just adores them, she makes "houses" with them and uses them as capes and I have even seen her making them (trying to at least) into slings. (Though she does have her own sling for her dolls...CD's too!!) Those playsilks are so versitile, you can do anything with them!!

[maya44]

From a more mainstream mama:

In addition to art supplies and blocks (which can be used for a 1000 things)

1. Games including:

*Cranium Games especially Cadoo,

*You Gotta be Kidding" (would you rather have ants crawl over your body or be stung by a bee...and you gotta say why...and others have to predict what you will say)

*Hiss

*Slamwich


*Switch 16

*Great States

2. Card Making Kits


3. Dance,Dance Revolution (if you live in a cold weather climate this video game provides tons of excersise and fun easily indoors)

[Cee4]

My youngest age 5 has TONS of toys as he is the youngest of four and things get passed down...He actually doesnt play with many of them.He doesnt like to color with crayons in fact none of my boys liked to color at all and my 18yo the least and he's the one going to college for an art degree(go figure).
Here are my 5yos favorites
his bike
the dog
the trampoline(this has been a favorite of the kids but I personally hate it)
Balls of all sizes and shapes
his favorite is one of those balls with a handle to bounce around on, that was a favorite of all my boys.
butterfly net for catching bugs and jars to put them in..
puzzles or pattern blocks(all my kids liked these)
computer games,computer games computer games....He would spend all day on these..
cheap little things from the dollar store like a whoopee cushion or squirtguns
and BUBBLES he loves bubbles.
card games like crazy eight or slapjack, he loves to play spongebob Life or yahtzee(though he needs some help)
And you cant forget the faithful Sandbox with lots of cool sand toys.
His fancy expensive Thomas the tank trainset he never touches(hopefully I'll have grandkids who will like this one)

[rmzbm]

Originally Posted by Cee4

and BUBBLES he loves bubbles.

Oh I forgot this one, my kids LOVE bubbles...have been outside for over a week now going crazy with it!! A relative sent them a HUGE bubble kit, tons of different wands and a big pan to pour the liquid in, tons & tons of stuff...bubble heaven!!
And, um... : ...I like playing w/it, too!!

[UnschoolnMa]

My kids have liked a lot of different play materials and toys over the years. It changes as they get older. My oldest is going to be 15 soon, but he still plays some.

In no particular order and no particular age range we have liked:

Building toys like Lego, Duplo, K'Nex etc
Barbies and Bratz dolls
Cabbage Patch kids and other stuffed dollies
Action figures, Transformers, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
Play food, dishes, kitchen. Pretend vacuum, etc
Boxes of all sizes
Containers for water or sand or whatever
Alphabet tiles or magnets
Different odds n ends for dress up
A tape recorder

[simple living mama]

10 top favorite toys around here.

Legos
cake water colors
water table with water toys
clay with clay tools
dollhouse
blocks and little people to play in them
dress up clothes
sand box with sandbox toys
cheap adult tape recorder
Active toys such as bikes, scooters, and skates.

Oh, and I can't forget the best one of all. Cardboard Refrigerator boxes and other various size boxes.

[3momkmb]

My kids are a bit older but I'll give our top five

1. books
2. small manipulative's (polly pocket sized dolls, plastic and small stuffed dinos, matchbox cars, like that )
3. play tool set (we recently replaced this with small, real tools)
4. art supplies (good paper, watercolors, pastels, scissors, crayons etc)
5. board and card games

Also outside tools (hoe, rake and spade), ride on toys (kid powered type, NOT electric) and a good swing-set/playhouse.

[illinoismommy]

I'll agree with board games.... I played a lot of games as a child that helped my logic, my math and my problem solving skills. Games can be very educational.

[genifer]

You guys are fab, thnx! I realized that we do alot of those things anyway. We make homemade play dough, we have those bouncy thingys, we bake all sorts. I was actually talking to them about whether they want to learn a musical instrument as my son has always been quite musical (dont know where he got that from!), he's always just known how to hold them right, someone watched him playing their little piano and said it was unusual for a child to place their hands correctly without being instructed. I asked him what he wanted to learn and he said 'ditar' (guitar). Cheers laides

[Mamax3]

Play silks are loved here as well....we have a set of five and then I have picked up silk scarves at thrift shops in the old ladies section and my kids love them just as much.

Puzzles, letter magnets, letter tiles, blocks, legos, train tracks (we have a huge Thomas set and luckily my two youngest boys, do LOVE it).

My kids love playing Yahtzee, Boggle, and Scrabble (not the little kid versions, the adult versions). Age on the box says 8 and up, but my 8 and 6 year old play well, and help my 5 year old with his playing. It's amazing to watch them learn so much about math and strategy while playing a board game.

My kids also really LOVE marbles.....

[mamacitarisa]

Well thought I'd add my 2 cents ...

My son is only 2, but I have recently taken up dry felting (with a neddle) it's so easy... I have been working on making vegetables & bugs (I've finished a ladybug & bee & butterfly)

He loves the food ...pretends to eat it as fast as i can make them. Not sure how old your kids are, maybe old enough to felt the toys themselves?

My son plays in the pots cubbard allot so I though making veggies was a good idea, I'm going to make other food to like bread slices, try it its so easy!

And fairly cheap too.

Besides that my son is into Motorbikes machines, and trains so the train collection is accumulating...

I bought a book a few weeks ago from (Bear Dance Craft) called Fire, Water, Earth Air (not sure in that order) It has the most amazing toys you can make at home for experimenting with the elements, more ideas more than anything, not much instructions...which kinda makes you think for yourself. Lots of water wheels, parachuttes, candle/hot air turning toys very cool...

Have fun

[LambQueen]

I think the math manipulatives are great: tangrams, shape sorters, unifix cubes. you can get cards that t hey can do different shapes on. lots of fun.

[Cee4]

The one thing my 13yo absolutely loves is motors and batteries and magnets and dont forget tape and wire..Not really a toy but he can make all kinds of fun things with these..You can get these at Edmund scientific and American Science and Surplus...
Or heres a really great site with fun inexpensive science "toys"...
http://scitoys.com/

[Mirzam]

Legos;
Mable runs (we have the ober $$$ Quadrilla but you can buy much cheaper sets);
Games -- board and card (although my 6 year old has a hard time loosing so things can degenerate fast);
My younger two also love little figures, doesn't matter what, from Roman soldiers to lizards, they play imaginative games with them for hours!

[tuck]

I think a good toy is anything that can be used with imagination/a variety of ways. Building blocks, playsilks, puppets/dolls, etc.
My son is 3 1/2 and he LOVES cars/trucks/trains. He loves any musical instrument. He loves books, crayons, markers, and other artsy stuff. Playdoh.
I sell Discovery Toys, and one of the criteria for our toys are that they be versatile.
If you are looking to get more things free or inexpensively, you could check out some trading sites online, like MamaBarter or Natural MamaBarter. I've traded with other parents: our outgrown cloth diapers for playsilks, etc. Also, and I'm NOT plugging for discovery toys, but if you host a toy party you get free things based on the amount of sale. My neighbor, for example, got a playhouse, microscope, and cloth books...
I am happiest when he plays in the mud, outdoors, with his wagon...

[Teensy]

My boys love to build, so our top toys would be building toys

1. Wooden train set (Thomas/Brio)
2. Wooden blocks
3. Kid K'Nex (3-4) and K'Nex (4+) - The K'Nex are the current favorite toy!
4. Legos
5. Lincoln logs

Other toys that get a lot of play:
6. Pretend food, plates, & silverware
7. Matchbox sized cars and the carwash toy
8. Dress-up clothes (I found some great deals the first week of November!)

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I have in the past, traded toys with a friend. This is a great way to try out toys and see if your DC would play with them much. Just make sure that everyone is clear on the conditions.

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Some of our most played with things are trash - literally - the boys have an arts & crafts box that I put empty boxes, cans, string, etc. and they build with.


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Another hit in our house - Family Fun's Boredom Busters Book. I got a copy from the library and we had such fun with it, I ended up buying a copy. We also get a lot of children's books on CD from the library (Just returned Greek Myths told by Jim Weiss - DS #1 really liked that one).

[onlyzombiecat]

sand & water
bubbles
hop ball
rollerskates/bike/scooter
art supplies, easel, chalkboard
legos or other toys with smaller parts to manipulate
play dough
balls/basketball hoop
toy animals or dolls

My dd doesn't do much with dress up clothes right now. We are working on getting some more games or puzzles. My dd likes toy animals more than dolls but she cares for them like babies. She wants to play vet so we got her a doctor kit. We do have play food/dishes and sometimes she plays with it. We do not have a toy kitchen anymore because dd didn't want it and it took up a lot of room.