One of my biggest pet peeves are toys that are all over the place simply because they were in the way of the toys the kids actually wanted.
Over the years, I’ve realized that while my kids have a dizzying amount of toys, they really play with the same handful of things over and over and over again.
I’ve found that 99% of the time, while they may beg, whine, and cajole for the latest, hottest toy (which for my kids means the one with the biggest display at Target since we don’t have cable and they don’t see commercials)…what they end up playing with are the classics.
As you shop this season, here are a few of my own kids’ favorites. Maybe your kid will hate its guts, but at least you tried right?
By FAR, the things they play with most are things with wheels. We live in a cul-de-sac so they spend a lot of time playing in the street. Bikes, scooters, skateboards.
Henry is asking for a Penny Board 
All things Beyblade
Beyblades are basically just spinning tops that can spin for a reeeeaaallllly long time when you use the little launcher doohickeys. The real selling point for boys though, is that when you put two (or more) in a box thing
At first, I thought these were ridiculous. But as he got the hang of the launcher and how to hold it correctly, I was pretty amazed at how long these little things could spin on our laminate floors. As with anything nowadays, they can be customized and a simple ebay search will result in thousands of entries upwards of hundreds of dollars for “rare” pieces. We’re not that hard core, but Henry has amassed a little collection for himself. (p.s. the metal ones spin far longer and are way cooler than the plastic ones).
Magnetic Dress Up dolls
We have three different sets of these (Prince & Princess
They’re great for Jill who often gets stuck with baby toys because those geared for her age are too difficult, and even Henry can be found playing alongside his sisters. Oftentimes I’ll find that they snuck my phone and took pictures of the different “looks”. You know, for posterity.
Wooden Play Food
Last year, I coordinated the family to build and fill a play kitchen for the girls. They still play with it to some degree every. single. day. (In fact, I can hear them tinkering in their room as I type.) I was bratty and insisted on (the more expensive) wooden food rather than the plastic stuff you can get and I’m SO GLAD I did. A year later, after constant play, and not so gentle hands, it’s all still in great condition and shows little signs of wear. Plus, all of the little velcro parts incorporated into the design make the food more interactive for the kids. Worth every extra penny. Coordinating with family and taking advantage of holiday sales, we have most of the sets Melissa & Doug make, but a good starter is the Cookie Set
Crayola Glow Station 
My kids like to sit on the floor in the windowless bathroom and doodle in the pitch dark. It’s pretty cool. I’ve even found myself pulling out a beach towel and sitting next to them making glowing swirls. Plus they’re quiet. And hidden. So I can eat oreos without sharing. (I don’t have a picture of my kids with this one…because I don’t know how to photograph in the dark…and because I’m stuffing my face whenever they are playing with it.)
Melissa & Doug Latches Board
We discovered it years ago at our local library and I’m so glad we got our own. It’s in great condition and at this rate, it should easily make it through Owen and then hand me down to a friend!
We obviously have more toys than that, and there are more things they like, but these are our top performers around here and the toys I would most highly recommend. While it may seem like it, this post is not sponsored by Melissa & Doug. I’ve just found that their products are great classic toys that are well made and last a long time with their wooden construction.
What are your kids’ favorite toys? What do you find them playing with month after month? What would you add to this list?
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GREAT! I was going to write a post like this and now I will just look like a COPYCAT!! I guess maybe I still will…different toys and all. I LOVE your kids’ favorites though. I’ve always wanted the M&D wooden play food and you just sold me. I’m going to get some this year!
Jenny from Mommin’ It Up´s last blog post ..Jenny’s Life Klass: What NOT to buy your kid for Christmas
I’ve actually meant to write this post the last two years, but time just crept up on me and it never happened. The wooden food is awesome. And a great gift idea when grandparents ask what to get the kids…it’s an easy “collection” to work towards if you want to end up with a full kitchen worth of gear. And because it’s not plastic, you don’t end up with weird squished plastic bananas and “canned” peas.
Great post!
My son (now almost 5) has played with his Pip and Bean superhero cape almost every single day since he got it for his 3rd birthday. We are getting one for my younger son this year and adding to the set with their felt masks. I’m super excited to see two boys running around my house in capes!
Here is their Etsy link: http://www.etsy.com/shop/pipandbean
Highly recommend.
Yes! I made my kids capes using this tutorial ( http://thepleatedpoppy.com/2008/01/cape-tutorial/ ) and they are great. Awesome addition for a gift idea!
hippity hops by far are great toys… all three of ours love to have races around the downstairs of the house. the biggest negative is the size; but they fit in the playroom closet so that’s no huge deal breaker. about eight years ago our son received the big constructions blocks (that look like big bricks and are made out of heavy cardboard) and those are still played with to this day! the 10 year old boy also likes legos, skateboards and bikes. the younger sisters like all items on your list. as a family our two favorite games are qwirkle and rummicube… we still play chutes and ladders and candy land with the youngest, but it is great when the children reach an age where the adults like the strategy of the game also.
So glad to hear that the Melissa and Doug stuff lasts! Just got my daughter the ballerina dress-up doll, the cookie set and sandwich set off ebay. Its used but you can hardly tell. She is having a kitchen made for her by he uncle for Christmas so trying to collect all the stuff to go with it. Can’t wait to get the mini ikea stuff too. Love that its all “real”.
Ohmygosh, hubs and I just filled trash bags with all the ‘stuff’ our kids don’t touch anymore that is unnecessarily hoarding space in our basement! Drives us crazy. My kids still go back to the basics… Legos, train sets, blocks, Lincoln Logs, Littlest Pet Shop gear (not so basic i guess) grandma snagged at a garage sale – dinosaurs, too. And all my kids ended up loving to draw/color/craft, so I have sheets of paper all over my house. Always. :)
Kerry @ Made For Real´s last blog post ..Clean & Scentsible {Day 4}
I just cleaned out my boys’ room and hauled off a bunch of toys they never touch anymore. The sad thing was a lot of them were given to them within this past year. Give my kids a box full of matchbox cars and they are in heaven. Trains, planes, and automobiles (or any kind of transportaion) are always a hit with my boys.
I thought I had finished their Christmas shopping, but my 5 year old wrote a letter to Santa asking for Legos. They have a wagon full of Mega Blocks, but he says they aren’t the same. Who knew?
Stuffed animals – they have tea parties, set up zoos, sleep with them, Baby Stella from Manhattan Toys but we call her Baby Rosie and any arts or crafts toys including the Glow Station.
Beyblades are huge here also! I have twin 5 yr old boys. They also love their hot wheels cars of course and they love their masks. We have Spider-Man, transformers, darth vader and a clone trooper. Those and the light sabers are huge hits for most kids that come over too. My two year old daughter is in her little people stage, although my 5 yr olds will still play with those too. Theraputty is a big hit also for one of my sons. Oh and I can’t forget mega blocks and Legos.
There are more but these seem to be the constants. I like the magnet doll idea for my daughter, thanks!
Becky´s last blog post ..Post Thanksgiving
Oh the other constant is dinosaurs. We got ours from the dollar section at target a few years ago and they are still played with regularly. This year we splurged (not expensive but not a dollar either :))for the big ones by discovery channel.