Favorite "toy" that stands the test of time

I want to get the twins something (either 1 bigger gift or 2 smaller gifts) for their first birthday that "will stand the test of time" and be around for more than a few months Anyone have anything that their kids play with that they LOVE and have been playing with it for a while?

Thanks!

 

We got these toys for my twosome on their second birthday, but I wish I had heard of them on their first birthday because I think they would have loved them just as much...My Pal Scout and My Pal Violet

They carry Scout and Violet with them everywhere they go. Plus they've learned songs and how to spell their names as well. Probably the best 40.00 (20.00 each) DH and I have spent!

 

The Fisher Price Laugh N Learn Learning Home was something my girls got for their 1st birthday. They absolutely loved it for a very long time. It was one of the best 1st birthday gifts.

Other favorites were:
Laugh N Learn Fun with Friends Musical Table. Another toy they played with alllll the time.

Step 2 Push Around Buggy. It's not really a "toy" for them. We loved these and the girls loved riding in them.


One other thing was the Laugh N Learn Baby Grand Piano. I can't find it on TRU or WM websites so I'm guessing they don't make it anymore?? So sad because it was a HUGE favorite in this house!

 

Mine love the Step 2 Cozy Coupes! They get in and play with them and even push each other around in them!

 

Mine STILL play with the cozy coupes and they are over 3 now!

 

1.)I second the Laugh-n-Learn ANYTHING. We have the home and kitchen one. My boys are going to be three-still play with them. And they have a farm one now too that looks really cute!

2.) If you don't have a wagon-I suggest one. Sooooo great to have! We use it for the zoo, when the big fair comes to town, or where there is a lot of walking. They enjoyed it much more than the stroller-they could see everything!

3.) Cozy Coupes! We just got this for our daughter's first birthday. She LOVES it! And her big brothers can push her around in it. The best part? There is a bottom to it, instead of it being open and kids getting their feet caught. AND-there is a lock on the door, so no babies will be falling out!

4.) Kitchen set? We got this for our boys second birthday-but it's sure to be a hit for YEARS!

5.) Ride on toys. We got them both power wheel typed cars for their first birthday. Another big hit!

 

my parents got the boys an outdoor playhouse. It's Cedar (from Costco), the girls had the plastic one from TRU and that was great too... the Cedar on just matches our new playset and has a spot for water play etc. It wasn't very expensive either!!

 

I'll throw in a suggestion for the bilibo. I teach Kindermusik and we use them in class, and we actually got one for our guys last week for their birthday (although we'll probably get a second one at some point). It can really be anything they want it to be. It's a rocking chair, a seat, a turtle shell, a drum, a scooter on a slick surface, a water scooper. The list goes on and on. It's great for the imagination, and it's virtually indestructible, so they can play with it for years.

Laura

 

We have the laugh and learn home, it still gets used by my older two kids.

We have ride on toys/scooters....the twins fight over them constantly!

WAGON is a huge huge huge hit! We got one to last a long time, not one with seats. Wagon the twins do so good sitting down, and kaelyn can get in with them too and all three can ride. Big air tires make it easy to pull, we're planning to use this at the beach next year to pull all our "stuff" out there.

Sand and water table was also a recent and well loved purchase. This one is much bigger than the traditional rectangle so all 4 kids can fit around it really well! Comes with a little umbrella.

 

We got the girls PBK Oversize Anywhere chairs for their 1st birthday (which isn't really a toy) but they still use it each and every day! It's also big enough for me to sit in, and I love that I can wash the covers. Worth every single penny!

 

I loved my laugh and learn kitchen for the girls I like that it didn't have any parts to go missing.
For learning -- those water /sand tables will get endless use and are so good for their development too
Music -- like the pp mentioned -- drums, maracas, recorders, we have a small plonk on piano type thing (maybe 8 or 9 keys) with a xylophone at the top of it.
I love the play house idea... they are out of the toys so early and something like that they will use and use. The bigger the better and longer of use.

Heather

 

Music/drum sets, ride on toys, books with flaps/things to touch, play tent and tunnel are my boys faves.

 

I second the chair, mini-couch! We got them two chairs and a little fold-out couch and they still love it. Not really a toy, but all of the random things they still think of as toys get played with while they are sitting on it. Others were the Step 2 Wagon - awesome and must have when they get stroller-resistant. A little wagon that they fill and pull around. Ride-on toys, blocks are still a hit, and Little People toys. For the most part, though, mine still play with simple toys - balls, little figurine animals, puzzles, books, stuffed animals.

 

The ball popper! Seriously it is cheap, but my kids have been playing with it for 2 years now without getting bored of it.

http://www.walmart.com/ip/Playskool-Explore-N-Grow-Busy-Ball-Popper/12346971?sourceid=1500000000000003260420&ci_src=14110944&ci_sku=12346971

 

Oh, I second the Pottery Barn Anywhere Chairs. My girls each got one from their Grandpa for their 1 year birthday. They are just five, and still use them EVERY SINGLE DAY. They use them not only for sitting, but they build forts with them, jump on them, slide with them etc etc. And I love that i can just slip the covers off and wash them. A little expensive? Yes ... but totally worth it as they've withstood four solid years of heavy duty use and play.

 

We got a hand me down Laugh n Learn house and my 3 year old neice had an absolute meltdown over saying goodbye to it (I felt bad, but her mom insisted on passing it on).. and our kids LOVE it. There's so many things to do on it.

I am also going to invest in the anywhere chairs! Those look like good quality

 

I also love the PBK chairs. I found mine on Craigslist & Ebay.

Riding Toys.

Little People. Especially love the farm animals. Heard we will outgrow them by 3 though.

Cars. Trucks. Trains.


cheap things we love: laundry baskets. papertowel cardboard inserts. books with flaps to lift & discover a "hidden" picture. Tennis balls. "sticky" ball eventhough it is for 3+.

 

My kids are five and the "toys" they still play with from their first birthday are:

1) The PBK anywhere chairs

2) Cozy coupes (I did give one away recently, amidst tears, but they still play with the other one)

3) Little people (we have given most of the sets away, but they still love them and still play with them)

We have a play house they got for their first birthday but they don't play in it much. It is outside and gets spider webs and dirty; so if you have a basement or something where you can keep it indoors, then okay. But otherwise, they are over it. Before they didn't notice if it was a little dirty. They also played with their mega-blocks for a long, long time, but in the last year they have traded them in for the real Legos.

 

A bucket or a box! My boys LOVE putting a bucket on their heads and crawling/walking around the house and playing peek-a-boo. It's plastic so it's durable and it's cheap!

 

Those PBK Anywhere Chairs are going to haunt me forever... I've always wanted to get one for the boys(thanks to TS), but could never see spending the $ on them, nor convince dh. But I want them badly! :laughing:

 

I agree with the laugh and learn house.

All 3 of mine have the Pottery Barn chairs...oldest DS has the big one and the twins have the smaller ones...I'm almost to the point where I can take every toy out of the living room and they would play with just the chair(s)....for HOURS!

I also agree with the coupe..just make sure you get the one with the yellow roof..that seems to make a difference. My neighbor (5) and oldest DS (3) still play with it.

 

I second the Bilibo! My two still play with their "turtle shells".

 

I just pulled the ball popper out again thanks to this thread and it is unbelievable how much my two like that thing nowadays. They share well playing with it, and screech and clap and generally just love the thing, but definitely don't want to leave it! Thanks to the poster who mentioned it - I had forgotten about it and now it is like a whole new toy!!