Toys

barnaby-bear

freda wrote: »

- music instruments, i.e. drums, shakers, small keyboards, xylophones etc

I buy people who annoy me kids' these as presents :rotfl:it's called karma :rotfl:If you've ever really upset someone they may well come bearing gifts e.g. a drum kit

msb5262

A fantastic wooden toy for your child is called a hammer pegs - it's like a small wooden bench (like capital H but much wider), with 6 round holes. Each hole has a coloured wooden peg fitted into it. You use a wooden hammer to bash each peg through its hole, then turn the whole thing over and bash them back through the other way. I loved this toy with a passion when I was little, and made sure I got one for my own children. It's very satisfying to play with!
I would add that the less plastic toys you have, the better. Research indicates that playing with/using items made from natural materials is best in the long term. On the other hand, there are some great plastic toys so go for it - and get some good storage boxes/baskets early on so you can train your child to store things safely as he/she gets older.

dondo

freda wrote: »

Trying to think what my children (1.5 and 2.5) get most play value out of:

- stacking cups, rings on a pole
- lots and lots of board books
- small toy people and animals, plastic toy cars
- toy tea set - children LOVE imitating what they do in real life. Toy food.
- shape sorters
- music instruments, i.e. drums, shakers, small keyboards, xylophones etc
- toy dolly bed
- nursery rhyme cds (available from library) - they LOVE these
- soft balls for playing with inside
- outside toys like ball pit, water table, toy trowel and watering can.


...and don't forget the (virtually) free things, like:

- muslins for peek a boo, puppets, play picnics, play blankets for teddy
- big carboard boxes
- wooden spoons with faces drawn on each side
- plastic pots
- rice in a sealed plastic bottle to shake
- plastic bottles well sealed and filled with a little coloured water (I still keep these outside just in case!)
- colouring, sticking, painting

Excellent post- some really good stuff listed on there

My daughter and now my son also loved this "keyboard" type thing we gpt from asda that makes lots of funny noises- plays nursery rhymes etc- was only about £10/15 and has had lots of use.

Also if you can get wodden toys- better for the environment and longer lasting

money_maker_3

I def 2nd stacking cups, my DD played with hers for years !! Also a soft ball - doesnt need to be a fancy light up sound one, just a ball that can be rolled across the floor and learn to play catch.
And a cheap and cheerful tea set !! You will be drinking pretend tea for a good couple of years

jackomdj

barnaby-bear wrote: »

I buy people who annoy me kids' these as presents :rotfl:it's called karma :rotfl:If you've ever really upset someone they may well come bearing gifts e.g. a drum kit

It is so funny how different people react to noise. I do not even notice the noises that half my childrens toys make, I have a wonderful ability to just tune out of it. I do this at work too & it is brilliant at enabling me to just get on with things. So feel free to bring the drums to my house.

I have just bought my friends little boy for his 3rd birthday a toy saxaphone & guitar....I hope she does not think she has upset me! Actually he will be able to go to the garage with his Dad as his Dad has his drum kit there to practice (he is in a band). Same friend passed down her elder sons old keyboard to me for my eldest - which I will probably pass back for her younger one!

msb5262

You've been given some great suggestions on this thread - the only thing I would add is that with toys, less is more. When my children were tiny (as in 6 months, nearly three and nearly five) and we went camping, they were honestly completely happy playing in the dust with sticks and stones! I'm not suggesting you give your baby sticks and stones as toys, but don't hesitate to give her plastic/wooden/cardboard boxes, wooden spoons, plastic cups and bottles, bunches of spare keys, saucepans, a few large potatoes etc etc as playthings. Sit her in the room where you are and don't feel you have to "play with" her all the time. I've had friends who never seem to leave their children alone, and the result is that the children find it hard to play spontaneously.
Babies like to play with real things and when they're a bit bigger, they like to "do" real "work" eg. put dolls to bed, roll out dough, make pretend phone calls etc so equip your child with a few basics for role-play.
I wish you a lovely time with your daughter!
MsB

Becles

KatP wrote: »

Brio (or brio type compatible) train set. These are the wooden ones available in early learning centre, they have massive play value from age about three up to about 8 and can be added to and made more complex as the child gets older.

My eldest two are 12 and 10 and they still play with the Brio train set! They ended up with loads from multiple Christmas and birthday presents, so my husband boarded out the loft and they make huge train sets up there.

Socky monster is always a favourite. It's an old sock with two button sewn on for eyes and a scrap material tongue and it goes over your hand. He chases my little one all over the place

Greener_Grass

Katyag wrote: »

As the pics show you can move the handle from each wheels. One of our best toy buys for DS2.

Can you tell me what this is called please or where you bought it, I'm thinking it'd be a great present for my son for christmas! Thanks

Katyag

Greener_Grass wrote: »

Can you tell me what this is called please or where you bought it, I'm thinking it'd be a great present for my son for christmas! Thanks

I got it in Asda a few Christmas's ago, was £15. On Amazon.com they call it the Fisher Price Walker to Wagon, not sure who sells it now, sure you will find it on Ebay possibly.

gairlochgal

Playmobil has been huge with my kids since the older one was about 4 - she's nearly 12 and still plays with it occasionally - probably the best value of all the toys they've had