As any mother of young children knows, it is often the simplest household item that your little one will find the most entertaining. Christmas always amazes me when expensive new toys are put aside and children spend the rest of the day playing with tissue paper and duct tape. I have 2 small children, which means that I am always looking for a good toy and little by little I am learning that less is more. I’ve compiled a list of the top 10 toddler toys that are not only durable and cost-effective, but have been able to hold your attention longer.
1. A ball – We’ve all heard it said, “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it,” and that’s never truer than when it comes to kids. A ball is probably the simplest and most timeless toy you can get, and I am convinced that it is also the best. Think about it, if a child from today were put in a room with a child from 1911 (use your imagination), what would be the toy that you would both be familiar with? That’s correct, a ball. There is a reason it has been around so long, and I predict it will not go away any time soon.
2. Magna-Doodle – I am a 25 year old mother of 3 and I am still in awe of a Magna-Doodle. Seriously, you can doodle all day and then swipe it, awesome! My kids love it and it’s especially helpful when teaching them simple things like letters and numbers. My 2 year old son learned to spell his name in a matter of days and I attribute it primarily to this toy. They can draw all day and you will never have to worry about how to remove the purple marker from your carpet, nor will you discover digested crayons in your child’s diaper. It is a victory for all.
3. Tag Junior (by Leap Frog) – My kids love to read, which is wonderful and tiring. They have gone through phases in the past where all they wanted to do was sit and read books. I’m glad they enjoy reading, and it’s evidenced by how remarkably smart they are (don’t you like how I slipped it there?). However, Mom needs a break from time to time. The Tag Junior is a wonderful toy and a great substitute for putting them in front of the TV. They can read on their own and you can search online later and see what they have learned. It’s really beautiful. Plus, an added bonus, if you get bored during your nap, you can use it to brush up on your shape and color skills.
4. A box – As I mentioned earlier, it is not the gift that children really enjoy, it is the packaging. Don’t you remember how much fun you had as a kid with simple things? A box can hold many things and is a great way to encourage your child’s creativity and imagination. I have been known to transform into a robot simply by putting an empty diaper box on my head and making beeps. When they are in a bad mood, I can almost always cheer them up by putting them in the box / boat and riding the “waves.” Seriously, you should give it a try sometime.
5. A tent – another simple solution to boredom in young children. You can buy pop-up tents quite cheaply if you prefer to go that route, but if you don’t want to spend money, just grab a sheet and put it over the kitchen chairs. Children love to hide, and if they feel like you can’t see them, they just sit back and entertain themselves. We have a pop-up tent with an attached tunnel, and my kids take their Tag Junior books and sit there and read for hours. They love it, but they rarely invite me to play in the tent with them, so it’s a double-edged sword.
6. Fridge Phonics Magnetic Alphabet set (also from Leap Frog) – This was a gift for my oldest son on his second Christmas. He was about 18 months old and quickly became one of his favorite toys. Once he learned how to put the letters on the base, he was fascinated by the catchy little jingles that sounded. It is entertaining, but also very educational. He found out about all his letters within a few months of receiving them. The downside to this toy is that it has 26 individual letters that can be easily thrown away and lost, so you really need to keep an eye on it.
7. Lots of Dirt – Another timeless toy for kids of all ages. My daughter is only 5 months old, so only time will tell if she will be as entertained with it as her siblings. I learned that you should never take the kids outside to play unless you are willing to take them straight to the tub when we get back inside. They love to play with dirt and they will until I tell them to stop. Sure, it’s complicated, but you’re only young once. I draw the line when they try to eat it!
8. Mega Blocks – There is nothing more satisfying for a parent than watching their child figure things out. When we bought our first set of blocks, my son was only 12 months old. At that point, I could take apart the pieces we put together, but I still couldn’t figure out how to put them back together. As we watched him, he gradually learned to combine the blocks, then to stack them higher, and finally to make recognizable structures. This is one of my personal favorite toys.
9. Daddy’s shoes – I struggled with my son for months to get him to stand in his daddy’s shoes so I could take that classic photo. When it finally gave in and stood still long enough for me to break it, I had to fight to get it out of my shoes. I have observed this same fascination in many other children, so it must be a trend among young children today.
10. Mom’s hair: this is definitely the one I like the least. From birth, children like to pull their hair. I don’t know what it is, but as soon as they see Mom’s hair fall out of that ponytail, it’s like a little finger magnet. They throw it away, chew it, color it, and even paint with it. It is not pretty, but it is very entertaining.
Now that you’ve read my top 10, I encourage you to look around your house the next time your child gets bored with his toys. Instead of diving into Wal-Mart, consider what you already have lying around. There is a lot of fun in a kitchen cabinet. However, if you are looking for some new gadgets, my top product recommendation would be Leap Frog. They are educational as well as entertaining. Remember, your child’s favorite toy is you. Play with them and enjoy them!