PART 1– ALL STAR Toys for Kids
Christmas shopping can be exhausting, but I want to help take some of the guess work out of it! I will be compiling a few of these lists to help shop for your loved ones. These first few are our all time favorite toys for kids.
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OH! And I didn’t mention, but this is a series! I have lots of ideas! The following are crowd pleasers. The tried and true gifts we love that have lasted YEARS!
These tool sets turn trash into treasure in a safe, easy way! I first saw these from Sharon.a.life on Instagram and grabbed them for the boys on their 5th Christmas. Even newly 5, they were able to use the tools with little assistance and built playsets for action figures, play forts, and even wearable art. These have stayed a hit all year, and the builds have gotten more and more awesome. Bonus: if they like it, there are more accessories and expansion packs.
We chose to splurge and get a Nugget Brand modular couch for the boys a few years back. And it has been worth every penny! But if that isn’t in your budget, the affiliate link above on Amazon is a more affordable version. Sure, it’s furniture, but it is also a reading nook, a fort, a pirate ship; the sky is the limit. We love it. I have a second on my radar because it has become such a loved item in our house, and the more you have, the more options to create.
This classic drawing toy has stood the test of time and is a loved item at our house. If you have a kiddo who goes through drawing paper like it is their full-time job, this is the answer. We taught our son on the spectrum how to write on a Magna Doodle, and ever since, we have re-purchased it every time it met an untimely end under a foot or the eraser had erased its last tic-tac-toe game. Affordable, simple, and timeless.
Melissa & Doug Sunny Patch Giddy Buggy Crawl-Through Tunnel
This is truly a toy that works from infancy until they simply don’t fit anymore! Melissa & Doug could really make this list hundreds of times, but this is my top pick from their extensive catalog. It’s simple, folds flat for storage, and entertains time and time again. Even MORE fun paired with a pop-up tent!
Little Tikes Story Dream Machine
Another expandable toy that brings books to life in a simple, classic way. This has been a great addition to storytime, bedtime, and screen-free time. Easy to use and very sturdy construction. I can also vouch for the battery life as ours lasted a whole year, almost to the day, before the batteries needed to be replaced.
Disney Store Bath Toys
I have Moana pictured here, but these durable Disney bath toys come in all the favorite classic characters. They do not take on water, making them leaps and bounds better than other bath toys that harbor all kinds of yucky mold, and they come in this awesome, drainable bucket. We have one set now, but plan on adding to the collection this Christmas. These get played with daily in the tub, taken outside to the water table, and have even made a trip to the beach. Love them!
So there is part one of our fave toys- I’m working on gifts for your sensory seeker next! Comment below if you have anything you would add to the list!