Holiday toys/ideas

[Anonymous]

I have so much work that I should be doing right now, but I just had to jump in. Kaelyn LOVES the shape sorter. As someone else said, she was really frustrated by it at first but now she loves it. Dh laughs at me because I’m already trying to teach her the names of all the shapes (I’m an elementary school math specialist – I can’t help myself!) She also loves all toys involving music and I’m sure that she’d love something computer related, but I’m trying to hold off on that aspect for as long as possible. She already likes to sit and watch the slide show that is our screen saver. She’d play with it all the time if we let her. She loves all wooden puzzles – especially the one from Lillian Vernon that spells out her name. She likes to pick up each letter, say what it is, and put it back.

[Anonymous]

We also got the parents music set- we just got it for Hailey at costco a few months ago. But Sarah LOVES it and so does Hailey- we have lots of fighting over who gets to lead the parade with the drum… but sadly for Hailey, Sarah is stronger and wins out all the time. I’m a huge fan of musical instruments for kids… I just think that it teaches them so much, it’s so interactive, and they love it. Probably the best thing we bought last year for the holidays was a somewhat cheap keyboard for the kids. Sarah was 2 at the time, and it is probably the most played with toy in our house. We keep it on the coffee table and everyone who comes over loves it. It was pretty inexpesive too- regular 70 dollars or so, but on sale for less than half price. Hailey now loves it and goes to the preprogrammed tunes and starts dancing. I also love shape sorters, my favourite being the tupperware of the playskool. I like discovery toys as well. BOOKS, books and more books, are something that I can’t resist!!! We’re probably saturated here but I can’t stop buying! Puzzles are another favourite of mine. And don’t hate me, but playdough (messy but lots of fun!) and anything arts and crafts. Oh yeah, I also love our easle… s&h’s mum2006-9-27 22:17:55

[Anonymous]

Love gymboree music classes! Whatever I buy, she looses interest in…. so I just decided to stop buying for a while (like that is going to last!). Funny how they won’t play with a toy at your house but they will play with the same toy at another child’s house or school!

What has kept her attention lately is filling a small pool with various materials, rice, popcorn, beans, balls, items we find outside like dead leaves. She dumps and pours for an hour. I can’t find any of my kitchen utensils or measuring cups anymore but it keeps her busy. I guess you have to deal with the mess issue though.

Thanks for the numerous toy websites, it will help with christmas shopping!

[Anonymous]

Sarah,

Have you tried rotating her toys? That’s what I do here. I keep the majority of the toys on top shelves out of reach in their closets. Every other week or so, more often if boredom sets in, I rotate. I put everything away and take out “new” toys. They play with things like they’ve never seen them before.

[Anonymous]

I still have lots of educational and musical toys that I saved from when my other two boys were little. I’ve given most of them to Noah already, and wouldnt you know, he looses interest in them very quickly. What I’ve discovered is that he doesnt like toys. He much more prefers to play in “my” things. He can spent hours playing in the kitchen cupboards with my tupperware and pots and pans. As soon as he hears me unlatch the child proof lock on the cupboard, he comes running as fast as he can. Another favorite is a laundry basket full of clothes or my shoes. He plays with EVERYTHING except his toys! I guess Santa is going to save a little money this year!

[Anonymous]

Hailey’s favourite is my husband’s belt shelf. As soon as I open the closet door, she makes a beeline for it. She’ll throw all the belts on the floor, and then pick one that she carries around in her mouth all around the house like a dog…

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