deliberateliterate 11:34 AM 08-14-2014
I have three little ones between almost 2 - 2.5 The oldest is a great little independent player, but the younger two...not so much. Both are first childs, and I think are use to constant attention and activities from parents. One won't play unless I play with her, and the other doesn't play at all. Just wonders, picking up and dropping random toys. These two constantly get in other's faces, trying to take what they are playing with. Free play lasts about 25 minutes before the younger two start getting bored. Their favs:
Wooden blocks
Play kitchen
Wooden train set
Play stroller
What are your go-to, guaranteed crowd pleasers?
My "little kids group" consists of 2-year-olds. They like baby dolls/baby doll bed/baby doll carseat/baby doll blankets, play food, our pretend bus they can sit in, car ramp with hotwheels/matchbox cars, big doll house, books, dress up clothes, toy animals.
Without a doubt, though, they use the baby dolls and doll items and cars the most. Everything else here pretty much gets ignored by them until they're older.
KiddieCahoots 04:39 PM 08-14-2014
My biggest hit toy with this age group is the Parents Animal Hospital.
Discovered it when an EI worker brought it for a child to use with motor skills development.
Is still such a hit, I try to get some every year for some of my kids as Christmas gifts.
Josiegirl 03:03 AM 08-15-2014
Kiddie, can you post a link to the parents animal hospital toys please? It sounds like what my dcks would love but am not sure what they are?
My 2 yo kids love magnadoodles along with everything already mentioned. I think the 2's favorites are babies and strollers and a big bag of tools I got at a yard sale.
DaveA 04:19 AM 08-15-2014
wooden blocks, cars, and a barn with animals are always big hits
lovemykidstoo 06:17 AM 08-15-2014
My kids love all those things pretty much, but the thing that keeps my 3 yr olds occupied for the longest time is my sensory bins. Right now I have ziti noodles and dry beans in them with cups, spoons, funnels etc in there and seriously they will sit there and play with those for an hour straight. They love it! Got everythiing at the dollar store too which is the best part!
Sunshine74 10:19 AM 08-15-2014
The Fisher-Price Little People and animals. We have 2 houses for them we have a house and a barn (with no batteries) but mostly they just like to play with the people.
MrsSteinel'sHouse 10:30 AM 08-15-2014
I second little people
My #1 played with toy- stacking cups, the $4 ones from Dollar General. They stack them, they use them as cups! LOL, they put things in them (esp pom poms!)
Next whatever loose parts I put out. Right now it is sea shells. I have done pom poms, alphabet rocks, gears.. etc
midaycare 10:57 AM 08-15-2014
Little People, Kitchen/Grocery Store, Babies and Strollers, Puppets, Puzzles, Books, books, books (they read or pretend to read for a long time). I have a reading corner set up and put out new books every day. Stuffed animals are huge. Kinetic sand, playdough. They have their own "box" that they have access to. It has crayons it in, and they also have access to paper (closely supervised, of course). But they can grab a box with crayons in it and a piece of paper and draw anytime they want. Of course, they can't open the box without my help ;-) I can't having them drawing on the walls in the other room, now can I?
KiddieCahoots 11:09 AM 08-15-2014
Originally Posted by Josiegirl:
Kiddie, can you post a link to the parents animal hospital toys please? It sounds like what my dcks would love but am not sure what they are?
My 2 yo kids love magnadoodles along with everything already mentioned. I think the 2's favorites are babies and strollers and a big bag of tools I got at a yard sale.
Hi Josie,
I found this on Amazon last Christmas and bought it for the kids, and it's basically the same thing as the one I've got.
http://www.amazon.com/B-Toys-Critter...nimal+hospital
The price they want for that now is crazy though. Think I paid around $30. Mine I got used from craigslist for $15.
Rockgirl 11:15 AM 08-15-2014
Originally Posted by midaycare:
Little People, Kitchen/Grocery Store, Babies and Strollers, Puppets, Puzzles, Books, books, books (they read or pretend to read for a long time). I have a reading corner set up and put out new books every day. Stuffed animals are huge. Kinetic sand, playdough. They have their own "box" that they have access to. It has crayons it in, and they also have access to paper (closely supervised, of course). But they can grab a box with crayons in it and a piece of paper and draw anytime they want. Of course, they can't open the box without my help ;-) I can't having them drawing on the walls in the other room, now can I?
I'm loving the idea of their own boxes. I may put some together for my group this weekend, since school supplies are on sale now!
MrsSteinel'sHouse 11:17 AM 08-15-2014
Baby Beluga 11:57 AM 08-15-2014
Mine are very into playing "restaurant" and "grocery store" now. I just added a cash register, pencil and a notepad, oven mits and some play money (large plastic coins) to our existing play kitchen and table/chair set.