Did I ever tell you that I’m a mindreader? Let me show you. I happen to know that all of my readers who are parents set high standards for their parenting before baby arrived and bailed on at least two items on the list. Am I right?
Here are a couple of mine:
- Continue on with my daily life (errands, get togethers) with kids in tow, because I can train him to be a good boy and not melt down in public. Ever.
- Only buy toys that fit into the color scheme/decor theme of our home, because company, duh.
I’ll give you a few seconds to laugh it out.
1… 2… 3…
My first rule went out the window immediately. Fox was colicky and we barely left the house. Now that he’s in toddler mode, he’s unpredictable and trips to the store are taken with bated breath.
The second item on my list was pretty easily followed because up until about a month ago, Fox didn’t really like toys. The only things my kiddo wanted was a pad of paper and a pen.
As soon as he hit 19 months old, he flourished and really started picking up on things we taught him. He can point to his nose, mouth, ears, and eyes when we ask which is which, he’ll let us know what noises lions, kitties, and cows make, and we often catch him pretending to pour cereal into a bowl or “shop” with his mini-cart. We completely jumped on this and decided it was time to fill up his play area with a few interactive toys and create a space where his mind can expand even further.
We’ve learned that between toddler wrangling and city center living, it’s easiest to do our shopping online. I had picked up a few things from Diapers.com before our trip to Iceland (a baby carrier, travel toys, clothes — yes, they carry more than just diapers!) and decided to place a second order for some new toys. Here’s what we wound up bringing home, now Fox’s current favorites!
Pacific Play Tents Grocery Store/Puppet Theater Tent Toy
The perfect place for Fox to play pretend. It’s so roomy and tall, and multi-sided so you can switch between puppet theater and grocery store. He loves having his very own quiet space, but also loves when his Da crashes the party! Must click to get the full idea, it’s so cute! Under $50 too.
Little Tikes Activity Garden
This activity center keeps him busy for so long! There’s a shape sorter, doorbell, telescope, and more. Recently, Fox found my lipstick and scrambled to this area for refuge; when he saw me walking up to collect, he slammed the front door so as to tell me I couldn’t come in 😉
Fisher Price Smart Stages Piggy Bank
Fox spent some time with his cousins recently and I noticed he gravitated towards this cute piggy bank. This toy teaches him to count in both English and Spanish, and the proud look on his face when he finishes adding the coins in the slot gets me every time.
VTech Create & Discover Learning Desk
I mentioned earlier that Fox loves drawing, so this item blends creating art (the top lifts to reveal and easel/chalkboard) with different learning components like a talking clock and removable slides that help him learn seasons, numbers, classroom items, etc.
Diapers.com offers 1-2 day shipping, free for orders $49 or more! Save 20% off your first order plus extra $5 off with a case of diapers with code TRYUSLOVEUS or 10% off your second order. Must use before 12/31/2016 🙂
What are your favorite children’s items at the moment?
17 Comments
Thank you. papa’s games
Thank you. Papa’s Games
haha, this is so fun. I like it!
Great list of toddler toys! These are perfect gift ideas for little ones. My kids loved similar open-ended toys at that age.
Really insightful post! The way you’ve broken this down makes it so much easier to understand. At VoicesLab, we’re always looking for creative ways to communicate — our voice cloning technology lets you create content in your own voice effortlessly. Thanks for sharing!
What a sweet peek into little Fox’s toddler playtime! It’s so relatable how those pre-parenting rules just go out the window once your little one arrives, and I love that you’re picking toys that match both his developing interests and your home decor. If you’re looking to add more cozy, kid-approved cute pieces to his play area that fit right in with most home styles, why not add a friendly capybara friend to the collection? Capybaras are such gentle, beloved creatures that kids adore, and a soft capybara plush is perfect for cuddling during story time or joining in on his little pretend grocery store games. We have a whole range of adorable capybara-themed toys, decor, stationery and gifts that make wonderful little treats for toddlers and capybara lovers alike, you’re sure to find something that fits right into your little one’s play space!
Such a wonderful list of toddler toys! These are perfect for little ones at that age. Love the thoughtful picks!
Such a great selection of toddler toys! Perfect for little ones at that developmental stage. Love the thoughtful picks!
This is such a delightful post about toddler toys! It’s so true how our parenting ideals shift once the little ones arrive. I especially loved reading about Fox’s favorite toys and how they’ve helped him explore and learn. The Little Tikes Activity Garden sounds like a fantastic way to encourage imaginative play. Thanks for sharing your insights and these wonderful recommendations!
This is such a wonderful and relatable post! It’s so true how our parenting plans often go out the window once the little ones arrive. I especially loved your insights on choosing interactive toys that foster development. It’s inspiring to see how Fox is flourishing with his new play space. Thanks for sharing these fantastic toy recommendations!
What a fun collection of toddler toys! It’s so sweet how you’ve curated picks that match both Fox’s interests and your home aesthetic. For parents looking to discover amazing AI tools to help with parenting research and planning, check out AI Hubs at https://aihubs.ai/ – a comprehensive directory of the best AI applications available.
This is such a lovely and relatable post! It’s so true how our parenting ideals shift once the little ones arrive. I especially enjoyed reading about Fox’s favorite toys and how they’ve helped him develop. The Pacific Play Tents and Little Tikes Activity Garden sound like fantastic choices for encouraging imaginative play. It’s always great to find toys that keep toddlers engaged and learning. Thanks for sharing your insights!
This is such a lovely and relatable post! It’s so true how our parenting ideals shift once the little ones arrive. I especially enjoyed reading about Fox’s favorite toys and how they’ve helped him develop. The Pacific Play Tents and Little Tikes Activity Garden sound like fantastic choices for encouraging imaginative play. It’s always great to find toys that keep toddlers engaged and learning. Thanks for sharing your insights!
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I’ve been playing the patches game lately and it’s such a fun experience! The gameplay is surprisingly addictive, and the creative aspects keep me coming back for more. If you’re interested, check it out here: patches game!
It’s interesting to see what toys really capture a toddler’s attention. My little one loves building blocks and spends hours stacking them. I also find it helpful when they have a few different types of toys to keep them engaged. Thanks for sharing these insights on favorites from a toddler’s perspective.