If you could pick one toy to buy

Times are a bit tough here, space is tight, and I rarely get out to buy things so I need your help. I would like to buy my babies a new toy. They have outgrown what they have and lost interest in them all. So I would like to get your recommendations on toys. I haven't bought a single toy for them yet and I would like to know what to look for. Thanks in advance.

 

Our girls got some little people toys for Christmas and they are really enjoying them. There a tons of different sets, so they don't require a lot of space. We have a barn and Noah's Ark and we keep all the people/animals in one plastic container. Lol, we have more animals than people so the girls just get the box and say "animals!" when they want to play with them.

 

If you want smaller toys, then I second the little people toys. :good: My loved them until recently... well, they probably would have still played with them but something had to go. :lol:

 

Ride on toys - my boys love them - you can pick some up at consignment stores or craigslist to save some $ although if space is an issue that might not work out so well. I got one of these from a consignment store for $20 and they have really enjoyed it.

 

do you have any toy lending libraries in your area? that might be a good way to introduce some new play things without breaking the bank.

my girls also love the little people toys - their favorite is the farmyard barn.

 

[quote name='Shelly's twins' date='22 January 2010 - 06:38 AM' timestamp='1264135086' post='1561988']
Ride on toys - my boys love them [/quote]

I agree. My LOs got this ride-on toy for Christmas and it has been a HUGE hit: http://www.toysrus.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2930938

They play with it everyday. The drawback is that they can fight over it but I manage to solve that by distracting one of them. The seat lifts up and they spend ages putting things in and taking them out. There is music and lights (Mickey´s head on the front lights up) and when you play the piano the Disney characters dance/move. Apart from the kitchen they also got, this is their favourite! Also, I bought this ride-on in Spain and it was twice the price!

 

Our lo's birthday falls four days after Christmas so we used Christmas and their birthday to "upgrade" all of their toys because they were bored with all of their "baby" toys. Some of their favorites are:

Ride on/push toys - Fisher Price makes an adorable school bus and they both fight to ride or push it at the same time, they love it but it only plays one song. But they really enjoy both of their riding toys.

Leap Frog activity table - very cute, plays lots of songs and has all kinds of things for them to pull, grab, twist, etc.

Corn popper - they love this thing and it was something I had as a kid. $12 at Toys R Us.

Anything with balls, blocks, pieces that can be put in or taken out of something larger. A pain to clean up but fun for them!

I always buy toys (provided there isn't a chocking hazard with the toy) about 6 months - 1 year "ahead" of my babies' age so it challenges them and they can grow into them. Happy toy hunting.

 

Ride on toys were a big hit during the SY here. Another toy that our kids love that I wish I had gotten sooner was My Pal Scout (and Violet for DD)...they are for ages 6-36 months and the stuffed dogs sing and talk to the kids. You can upload their name online, choose their favorite items and songs. My kids have not parted with Scout and Violet since Christmas.
Little People was also a big hit too!

 

As far as toys that my girls have been playing with consistently for the past year and still love playing with are the large Megablocks and any of the Little People sets.

 

I guess my two are odd, because so far they aren't really into the ride on toys that we have (and they got four for their birthday and Christmas!), but that might be because they are short little things and still can't really reach . They do like the Little People, but I find that anything with balls is a big hit and more than anything just those shape sorters, or puzzles, or block sets that they can take in and out of the containers. We got this little ball pit for Christmas with a set of extra balls - well, they could take or leave the ball pit but we did get one of those cheapo baby pools and fill it with some of the extra balls and they LOVE it. That whole "toy" cost next to nothing! They are still fans of the ball popper (even if I am not because balls are literally everywhere in our house), and we got them a little couch/chair thing that folds out and they spend hours sitting on that, folding and unfolding it, etc. They also like to drive around little trucks (just those cheap, plastic Tonka ones), and the piano, xylophone thing, and drum get some use. We also have this little pig that takes coins that they enjoy. We are Broke with a capital B these days so for Christmas we bought simple things like that and I am surprised that they like them better than the "bigger" gifts from other people. I find that if I get creative they have more fun than ever - if I just turn a drawer into one that they can put things in and take things out of, if I give them pots and pans and spoons and blocks to stir and fill, let them play with ABC magnets on the fridge, or build a "fort" with a blanket and put pillows to jump on, etc. they are pretty happy!

 

My kids have ride on toys but prefer to push them around-they are still a bit short to actually ride them. They also have a corn popper and lawnmower they really like to push.
Right now I would say dd's favorites are puzzles, a fisher price piggy bank you put coins in (she honestly plays with it for atleast 30 mins EVERY day), megabloks, and they got a fisher price stack n surprise block set she really likes too.
Ds prefers cars-those little tonka wheel pals ones, puzzles, and honestly he really likes to get out the broom and "help" sweep the floors,lol.
I agree with pp about the cheap ball pit-we just used our little blow up swimming pool and they love it!
Also as someone mentioned you can find some really great toys at consignment shops!

 

agree with pp..
little people
mine LOVE books
kitchen
magnets
push/ride on toys
balls

 

We like anything that grows with the kids and that doesn't "tell" the kids how to play with them. That way they are encouraged to think creatively and the toys get used differently as their brains mature. Among my DS's fav's were the Mega Blocks, puzzles, and letter magnets. I know the letter magnets are probably not a good idea for most as they pose a choking hazard, but DS put NOTHING in his mouth ever (I'm talking..not even cheerios!) AND he was closely supervised when he had them. But that kid knew his alphabet by the time he was one. We didn't really work that hard on them, he just picked it up by playing with letters all. the. time. To this day (he'll be 4 next month) he still plays with his blocks, a stack of puzzles (harder ones of course), and....letters. But now he uses them to spell words! The added benefit of toys like this is that they require no batteries, make no obnoxious noises, and are reasonably portable. :banana Oh, btw, I got a giant garbage bag of mega blocks and the big wagon they go in at a Salvation Army for $5. Score!!

Eve

ETA: If you are looking for something "bigger," I agree with the ride-on toy suggestion. Big hit at our house, too.

 

Mine are loving their "cleaning supplies"--broom, swiffer, mop--got the set from Toys "R" Us as a gift! DD loves purses and carrying them around. The baby stroller is a hit for both to push, put stuff in and push around, books of course too!

 

We pretty much have the same as the rest, except i never heard of little people toys..LOL..so i just googled them..anywho, i just bought them some ABC, 123's building blocks at Toys R Us. they have the ride on toys, but are not interested in riding, just pushing them...balls are a great thing, teaches them to throw...we play throw and catch alot..