Toys that have worked for us
Because a bunch of my friends have kids and might be interested in what's been a winner here and what's been a dud. Well... I'll name and shame the duds, but won't post links. What I will post is pics of the winners though - below the cut.
Fisher Price Little People sets. We bought these second hand and we're a generation or two behind the current models, but these have been BIG winners. We've got a spiral tree thing that animals roll down, a farm house (in Perth and a non Little People one in Q but similar), train, car and village sets etc. Safe for all ages, lots of fun, lots of scope from learning animals and stuff through to imaginative play, solid and tough.
Stacking Rings
We were given a bunch of these and all the plastic ones get ignored but the Ikea wooden one is much MUCH loved.
Xylophone dog and other musical instruments. Seriously can never have enough musical instruments.
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Shape sorters - many styles and types - all have had a good going over - over and over and over in our home. Won't bother posting photos - just assume all manner of shapes acting as caltrop beneath feet.
Mega Blocks and later Duplo
Get the sets that actually include something useful like a car or a bunch of animals - don't bother with the block boxes because you wind up with soooo many blocks. Too many cube/four blocks not enough of everything else. Buy second hand on the Duplo if you can - it's expensive and rare to find. Mega blocks lost their ability to stay together after a few solid plays - the plastic is too soft.
Toy Library Borrows that keep being borrowed include the button box, the little house and the outdoor cubby:
Water table: Latches Table suction toy (worth every $ I paid - $1 2nd hand, been LOVED)
Fisher Price Little People sets. We bought these second hand and we're a generation or two behind the current models, but these have been BIG winners. We've got a spiral tree thing that animals roll down, a farm house (in Perth and a non Little People one in Q but similar), train, car and village sets etc. Safe for all ages, lots of fun, lots of scope from learning animals and stuff through to imaginative play, solid and tough.
Stacking Rings
We were given a bunch of these and all the plastic ones get ignored but the Ikea wooden one is much MUCH loved.
Xylophone dog and other musical instruments. Seriously can never have enough musical instruments.
Shape sorters - many styles and types - all have had a good going over - over and over and over in our home. Won't bother posting photos - just assume all manner of shapes acting as caltrop beneath feet.
Mega Blocks and later Duplo
Get the sets that actually include something useful like a car or a bunch of animals - don't bother with the block boxes because you wind up with soooo many blocks. Too many cube/four blocks not enough of everything else. Buy second hand on the Duplo if you can - it's expensive and rare to find. Mega blocks lost their ability to stay together after a few solid plays - the plastic is too soft.
Toy Library Borrows that keep being borrowed include the button box, the little house and the outdoor cubby:
Water table: Latches Table suction toy (worth every $ I paid - $1 2nd hand, been LOVED)