Toys!

Alright, I'm about to start another toy purge! My girls really don't have many toys at all (I'm such a bad mom..) but they've definitely outgrown some of what they do have.

What should I get them? They're 2.5. I thought about waiting until they start daycare in Sept to see what they gravitate to in the classroom, but I'd love your advice as well. Blocks? Dress up? What's good for this age that we might get a few years out of?

And don't say anything that makes noise, please. Please.

 

Mega Blocks or Duplo blocks. Do they like driving things? Train and wooden train track, although it seems like a traditional boy toy, my girls love. Dress up clothes.

 

Play kitchen, baby dolls (with stroller, bed etc), duplos, dress up are the biggest hit here (for 2 years).

 

Oooo yeah If you don't have a play kitchen yet, get one!! All 4 of my kids have LOVED the one we got, with tons of dishes and playfood! I have playfood all over the house at least 5 days a week! I'm not saying they use the kitchen and the food together though.....just saying it's all over the house!! :lol:

 

The bigger ones: Wooden train set. Duplos. Blocks.

The little stuff: Puzzles. Peg game (dreadful to keep track of the pegs which tend to be all over the play areas, but very beloved). Unbreakable/plastic dishes, plastic or wooden silverware - mine love to play with real dishes (setting the table, giving parties, cooking etc.) but are not interested in play sets, it has to be the real thing.

We do not have a play kitchen although both of mine (B/G) love it at daycare because we do a lot of real kitchen stuff together at home. I also think it is nice for them to have different things at daycare and at home because it keeps the toys at both places more interesting for them. Dress up is readily available at daycare but mine have shown no interest at all so far.

 

Melissa and Doug puzzles!

Also, the girls got a doll play set for their birthday almost a year ago and they still play with it constantly. It has a stroller (their favorite), a pack n play, and a highchair.

 

I have a trash bag of Mega Blocks if you want them next time you're up here.

At 2, my two played with trains, mega blocks, cars, books, chunky wood puzzles, and stuffed animals.

 

blocks, definitely. My daughter also loves her play kitchen. You should be able to get a 2nd hand one fairly cheap. Baby dolls/accessories (including a stroller or two!).

 

Bex, please!! That would be fabulous!

Okay, good point about different toys than at school..

We have a play kitchen, table and chairs, and an easel. Outside we have a picnic water table and mini house. Oh, and we have a tool bench.

I'm going to get them some aprons, I guess. Blocks. Dolls and strollers? I can see the strollers being a big hit.

I just don't want to spend money on clutter that isn't played with, so thanks for the guidance!

 

Hannah loves (LOVES) her little people doll house--her favorite. Also baby doll, stroller, shopping cart, kitchen, trucks, and my phone

 

Kim- NO PHONES! Gah, I'm sure that will happen very, very soon.

I totally forgot about a dollhouse! This is turning into a Christmas/birthday list. I need to start emailing hints to the grandparents already.

 

Dollhouse works. We got one for mine at 4.

 

definitely legos. Dont buy the sets, buy blocks only. My kids have lot of toys. They got tired of them every easy. But blocks, they can play forever. They have mega, lego duplo, regular legos. They used to love mega blocks before turned 2. Then I got them duplos, and we had some regular legos. They love the duplos, but their fav is the regular legos. I sorted out all tiny pieces. You dont have to buy them brand new. You can buy from ebay. Many people sell lego bulk like (100-1000 pieces) and free shipping.

Personally, I encourage my kids play legos than video games. They never play video game yet. You will be surprised how creative they are with legos. I also get them Animal world, Fun on the farm DVDs. They love animals. They think farm trackers are so cool! Good luck!

And talking about laugh n learn toys. They just play those once for awhile. And I hate hate those toys. Some night when the kids are asleep, I walk in their play room. Some toys just sing or talk!!! very creep me out!!!!

 

We got these this weekend and all 3 of my boys love them. No noise and they are good for all ages.

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000ELQVAI/?tag=mytwins02-20

 

Magna tiles. $$$ up front, but worth every penny. I have 64 for three kids....I'm going to get a 100 piece set sometime this year! 64 is not enough pieces for three kids! Lol!

 

Things which were played with for a very long time were : Dollhouse, play kitchen, stroller shopping cart, cash register and grocery items, Barbie Beatle car which any toy could go for a ride in and be pulled along by a string I attached, real mini musical instruments which are still hanging around and the dress up box, very handy for play dates especially - I continually added to this over the years. Oh and I made our own play doh but had their many kits which were given as presents.

 

Definitely!!!! I got a 48 piece set, opened them last night and they played with them for 3 hours before bedtime.....quietly!!! I'm going to have to ask for sets for boys birthday