Toys Worth Buying

Shannon is hosting a special themed edition of Works for Me Wednesday - the Toys Worth Buying Edition. Since I plan on leaning heavily on these "Kid-tested, Mother approved" ideas in my Christmas shopping, I thought it would be only fair for me to contribute. This is a quick list of those toys that I never need to rotate out, because they are in constant use

Games

• Don't Break the Ice -- a classic for a reason! Probably the best "first" game for an older toddler.
  
• UNO Stacko -- stacking blocks like Jenga, but played by matching color or number like the Uno Card Game
  
• Chairs -- even a toddler can play this stacking game, but it is complex enough for the adults to join in

Dolls and Doll Accessories

• Dolls and Animals -- their collection is probably excessive (at my last count we had 12 dolls and 200 stuffed animals), but a variety of people and animals is a requirement for imaginative fun.
• Clothes -- the dolls have their own dresser (a 3-drawer wooden nightstand shared with the dress-up clothes) and the kids are constantly dressing their babies. Cabbage Patch and other large dolls can wear infant clothing which is very easily purchased at yard sales.
• Strollers -- THE INDISPENSABLE TOY. All four children love to wrap their babies and blankets and walk them through the house. Cousin P has been pushing the blue Graco around since he could barely walk.
  
• Almost-Homemade Crib -- It doesn't need to be anything special (one of my nephews used a shoe box when he was a toddler), but every imaginary baby needs a place to sleep. Our crib is large enough for several babies and the cat loves it for naps.
• High chair, diaper changing table and other "real" things
  

Dress Up Clothes --

• In addition to worn out dress clothes and silly hats, my children have a few wonderful purchased pieces:
• Imaginarium Fire Fighter Dress Up Set(look at our Halloween picture carefully) and Cowboy Dress Up Set give the boys a chance to join in
• princess dresses! We have this one and this one.

Musical Instruments

• electric keyboards
• harmonica
• whistles
• homemade shakers / rainsticks / drums

Wheels and Transportation toys

• We love our ThomasTrains, but at that price we wouldn't have them if we didn't get them as a hand-me-down.
• Shake 'N Go Racers -- annoyingly loud, but even a toddler can shake the car and make it zoom accross the room. We also have the Shake 'n Go Speedway, but I would not consider it indispensable
• Hot Wheels - the brand name is important on this one. The cheap imitations are not as durable. Don't worry, the real ones last -- my children are playing with the ones that my husband asn I played with as children.
• Playmat -- a place to drive all of those cars. We have and love the Discovery mat which has roads and railroad tracks.
• Fisher Price Garage - we have an older version of this toy, big enough for four children to play together. It has ramps, elevators, and adequate parking for a convoy of wheeled vehicles. It is also on its third generation of play, it is a very durable toy.