Mama Loves Toys That Stand the Test of Time

Mama Loves is a linky party where mamas can share anything that has made your life easier as a mama.

Maybe you've found:

• a toy or book that captivates your child(ren)
• gear you just can't live without
• a recipe your choosy toddler gobbles down
• a parenting book that you've found perspective changing
• an activity that wears your kid(s) out (these lead to good naps, which we all love)
• an outfit that flatters your post-baby body and makes you feel fabulous
• or anything else you're loving--creativity welcome!

To link your own Mama Loves post up, head on over to Julia's blog, Pontifications of a Twin Mom

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I'm usually the type of person that likes to celebrate one holiday at a time, and usually only in the month the holiday occurs. I used to wait until December first to give in to the holiday hustle and bustle but I've found in the past two years post-kids that my holiday spirit keeps arriving sooner and sooner. Now here it is not even the middle of November (!) and I've already started working on our Christmas card and writing out Sam and Anna's wish list for family members. Maybe it's because it feels so good to have everything to look forward to during the holidays, instead of wishing for our family to be complete. Maybe it's because seeing the magic of the season through the eyes of a child is phenomenal. Or maybe it feels a little like being a kid again yourself because of the possibility of new toys to play with. :)

Either way, I'm sharing some of the top toys Sam and Anna have enjoyed in the past year- toys that even almost a year later they still like to drag out and play with. Just a sampling of toys perfect for the almost 1 year old to 1 1/2 year old on your Christmas shopping list. I'd love any suggestions of toys for my almost 2 year olds, too!

* Playskool Busy Bopping Pals
At first Sam and Anna were watchers and enjoyed seeing us "pop" the toys up. Later on they learned how to manipulate the knobs on their own. We also love to practice colors, numbers, animal names and sounds using this toy. This is one rare toy that we have 2 of... one for each of them to use at the same time.

* Playskool Ball Popper
Annoyingly loud music, but this is definitely a toy that adjusts in fun as kids grow. At first, Sam and Anna watched in wonder as the balls popped up and kept going around and around. Later, this mama was thrilled when they learned how to get the balls and put them back in on their own when they sometimes bounced out. Now, Sam and Anna like to tip it so the air can blow in their faces... or put other toys of similar size in the holes (little people, anyone?). Not my favorite toy, but like with books, if your kids love it, then you learn to like it just a little bit more, too.

Winter 2010

* wooden blocks
Every child should have these. I was just remarking to my husband tonight how much Sam and Anna still enjoy playing with our wooden blocks. Early on, Sam and Anna would use them as teething toys while we stacked towers, and they'd then knock them down. I remember being so proud of their first attempts to stack blocks on their own. Now they stack towers 10+ blocks tall. We use the images on the sides to practice naming objects, colors and letters too.

Early block play Fall 2010

*Melissa and Doug large knob puzzles
I even added more puzzles to our current toy wish list.  'nough said.

*a tunnel to crawl through
A Christmas gift last year, still requested whenever Sam and Anna see it.

January 2011

* Playskool Step Start Walk N Ride
I can't said whether this is the best walking toy out there, but Sam and Anna loved this version.  They still ride on the cars around our house often.

 

April 2011

* small cars that little hands can hold
Great for diaper bag toys.  Or church toys!  Or car toys!

*Fisher Price Vacuum and Fisher Price Mower
Before they could stand unassisted, Sam and Anna would push these around while sitting before they were really mobile or army crawling.  Having these helped Anna make the transition from needing a lot of assistance with walking from the Walk N Ride to taking unassisted steps all on her own at the beginning of summer.

Look how wittle they look! December 2010

*shape sorter toys
This is one toy Sam and Anna sometimes fight over.  If you don't want to share it, it must be good, right?

Feel free to pass along any suggestions of toys for my almost 2 year olds, too!