I love talking toys. Love it. And while it can seem frivolous, and on the scale of parenting topics, toys is quite a benign topic, choosing toys wisely is beneficial for all. You will collect a lot of toys over the years, and you will be happy if you choose good quality toys that last and are worthy of keeping in your home through all of your children. You can see the original post here. You can also see a lot of the toys we have loved over the years here. Let’s break this down by age:
6 Months and Younger
Girls
- Activity mat that played music.
- Activity Gym
- Bendy ball
- Books
- Manhattan Toy Winkel Rattle
- Fisher-Price Rainforest Jumperoo
- Johnny Jumper (like this)
Boys
- Activity Gym
- Fabric that can go in mouth
- Books
- Jumperoo
7-9 Months
Girls
- Easy to hold rattles
- Measuring cups
- Things to chew on.
- Books.
- Green Toys Stacking Cups
Boys
- rattles/shakers (many were homemade using medicine bottles filled with rice, salt, beans, etc.)
- Books
- LeapFrog Learn & Groove Musical Table
10-12 Months
Girls
- Stacking rings
- Board books
- Bin of baby wash cloths
- Playskool Busy Poppin’ Pals Toy
- Knobby rubber ball
- Green Sprouts Stacking Cups
Boys
- Plastic water bottle
- Board books
- Cars
- LeapFrog Learn & Groove Musical Table
12-15 Months
Girls
- Play kitchen
- Board books
- Hello Magazine by Highlights
- Container of pom-poms and an ice cube tray
- Doll
- Fisher-Price Little People Fun Sounds Farm
- Tupperware containers
- Shape sorter
Boys
- Books
- Cars and tractors
- Sandbox and Sandbox toys
15-18 Months
Girls
- Baby Stella Peach Doll
- Fisher-Price Light-Up Lion Stacker
- Large rubber ball
- Musical toys like the leap frog musical ball
- Books
- Water table
Boys
- Books
- Cars and tractors
18-24 Months
Girls:
- Chunky puzzles
- Water table
- Play tent
- Sandbox with shovels, buckets, and a sieve
- Purses
- Shoes
- Play kitchen and food
- Trampoline
- Books
- Square foam blocks
Boys
- Books
- Ball popper push toy
- Playskool Poppin Park Elefun Busy Ball Popper Toy
- Loose balls
- Water table
- Fisher-Price Little People Fun Sounds Farm
- Blocks
- Play kitchen
- Train set
2 Year Old
Girls
- Mega Bloks
- Play kitchen
- Play plates and food, etc. for kitchen
- Little people sets
- Small doll house
- Green Sprouts Stacking Cups
- ABC/Number/and Shape puzzles
- Playskool Busy Ball Popper – Pink
- My Little Pony
- Dolls
- Water table
- Plasma Car
Boys
- Plasma Car
- Train set
- Little People sets
- Sandbox and sandbox toys
- Cars and tractors
- Play kitchen
- Tonka Trucks toys
3 Year Old
Girls
- My Little Pony
- Calico Critters
- Dolls and doll accessories
- Princess toys
Boys
- Water table and water play stuff
- Cars
- Bike
- Books with songs
- LEGO Duplos
- Tonka Trucks toys
4 Year Old
Girls
- My Little Pony
- LEGOs
- Dolls and accessories
- Princess toys
- Barbies
- Dress up
Boys
- LEGO
- Action figures
- Dress up
5 Year Old
Girls
- My Little Pony
- Dolls
- Dress up
- Barbies
- Littlest Pet Shops
Boys
- Action figures
- LEGO
- Dress up
6 Year Old
Girls
- LEGOs
- Dress up
- Stuffed animals
Boys
- Action figures
- Board games
- Trampoline
- LEGO
Hi Valerie! I've so enjoyed your posts about toys and have used them as a resource for gift ideas for my children and nieces and nephews over and over again! I would like to get your recommendation on a toy. My little guy will be 3 years old this Christmas and is into cars and racetracks. I was thinking of getting him some kind of starter racetrack set…but there are so many options out there! Was there anything your son Brayden enjoyed at this age or you would recommend? Thank you!!
He wasn't ever way into race tracks. He was more into trains. We did have a hot wheels track he liked–we got it at a garage sale so it was a lot of track for not a lot of money. I would look into hot wheels. You want it to be something he can use now, but also something he will like as he gets older.