Showing posts with label toys. Show all posts

Babywise Mom Recommendations

Being a seasoned mom with four children and many years of experience, I have a list of kid toys and items I would buy again and again. I have compiled it all for you into this handy Amazon list. The list is in approximate age order, with the top items being for older children and the bottom items being for babies. At the very bottom, I have my favorite parenting books.

This is an affiliate link. Click here to visit the visual list and get my top picks!

Great Toys to Encourage Independent Playtime

Independent playtime has such value to your child. Your child will learn to focus, build a longer attention span, gain creativity, become adept at self-play, and be more orderly. It is so very worth the effort it can take to get started with independent play. You might be wondering which toys are best for your child to play independently. Are some better than others? Here is a list of my favorite toys for independent play to get the most out of the time spent. This post contains affiliate links.

Great Toys for Independent Playtime to help your child play happily | independent play | toy list | #toylist

Toys that Require Imagination

I want my children to gain that benefit of gaining creativity, so I like toys that require some imagination. These can be building toys, like LEGOs. They can also be figurines, stuffed animals, or baby dolls. For figurines, I ideally prefer toys that are not based on a movie or television show. My children have some of those, but what I want is imagination happening. If the toys are based on something the child is familiar with, the characters and personalities are already created. Here are some good options. Click on the image to learn more about each toy:

Toys that Mimic Real Life
Another great category of toys to go for with independent playtime are toys that help the child mimic real life. This is a huge benefit of playing in general, and will really help your child gain orderly skills (as will requiring your child help clean up at the end). Dress up clothes. Toy kitchen and accessories. Doctor set. Vet set. Note on the dress up. If you hit the Halloween stores and sections at stores the day after Halloween, you can find some good deals on some dress up clothes.

Toys that are Hard
Some toys are difficult for the child to play with. What happens when the child plays with that toy with you around? He/she asks you to do it or to help. When the child is in independent play, he/she has to do it herself. This helps with attention span and being able to play alone. Do not overwhelm your child with difficult toys. Do not leave your child alone with toys that are too hard and not developmentally appropriate. You don't wan to to completely frustrate your child. Puzzles, magnet dolls, geomags, train sets, and nesting cups are all good examples of hard toys.

Musical Toys
I also love some musical toys going on. I am very musical and love to foster that in my children. I think it helps them with their creativity and attention span.

Books
Books are a fantastic item to have with your child during independnet play. I have a lot of posts on best books by age. Here are some. One I always loved for independent play with my little ones are the VTech books. They read to the child. I also like soft books.

Toys for Baby
When baby is doing independent play, you want toys that won't frustrate but will be entertaining. Some toys have been mentioned, such as books, nesting cups, and the music table. Be sure toy you leave with baby are safe for baby to have unsupervised. With babies who can't sit up independently, an activity gym is perfect. For babies who can sit up, they love to either empty items or fill them back up (depending on the age). A bucket of some sort full of toys that can be emptied then refilled will b be a big hit. Here are more ideas:

Conclusion
My children play independently, without me, daily. For help on getting this started with your children, see Roomtime--Your Invitation and Starting Independent Playtime Late.

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Great Bicycles You Can Buy From Amazon {Friday Finds}

I am a major online shopper. Big time. I don't just go to the internet, randomly pick something, and purchase it. No. I get an idea of what I want. I do some research. I read reviews. I put my top 3-5 contenders in a wish list.

Then I wait. I wait for a while.

I think about it.

Then after I feel like I have thought long enough, I decide and buy.

Sometimes I think about it for well over a year.

That's why I like to shop online. It allows me to over-analyze the purchase. Plus it helps that the things get delivered right to my door!!!

And these bicycles were no different. We spent our years heading to Walmart and grabbing a bike and crossing our fingers. Didn't usually end well (did it ever end well???...). I changed and went to online shopping. The whole over-analyzing thing. These are bikes that have stood the test of time. These are bikes that can be passed down among the children because they will last that long. This post contains affiliate links.

Razor Bike

We have owned this bike two times; we owned it once for Brayden in boy version and we now have one for McKenna in girl version. We have never had any issues between the two bicycles and I would totally buy this again. This is a great style for a child who likes to ride hard. This bike retails for 125-ish. Don't pay more! I have seen it listed for far more than that. Right now, it is on sale for $99.99.

Huffy Good Vibrations Cruiser Bicycle

This is Kaitlyn's current bike and she completely loves it. She finds it comfortable and of course being stylish matters to her. Since it is a cruiser, it is of course great for the child who likes to be relaxed in riding. Again, no issues with this bike and we would totally get it again. This is currently on sale for $93.49.

Roadmaster Granite Peak Mountain Bike

This is Brayden's current bike. It has been a great bike and we haven't had any problems with it. I would get it again and the price is great!

There you have our current bikes. We have had them all for over a year. They have lasted through the weather and the treatment of children. One of them (the first) is one we have had for many years (we still have Brayden's version) and it is in fantastic shape. The seats are all still in one piece and the bikes look good (one bike we got from Walmart had its seat in pieces by the end of the summer...). So I am all around happy with these!

How To Organize Toys

When Brayden was young, I had a good friend with a boy just a few months younger than he was. I was sure we owned every toy worthy of owning at the time (which is funny to look back on because we didn't have many). When we would visit her, it would amaze me that we had basically completely different toys, and they toys they had were all great and fun, also. How could that many toy options exist in the world!

As kids get older, the toy collection grows and grows. You don't want to just get rid of the toys when your oldest is too old for them because there will be younger siblings to play with those perfectly good toys. But we only have so much storage and so much space. Decisions must be made and organization must take place. Here are some tips for organizing toys, complete with tips from fellow blog readers.

Only Keep What You Have Space For

This seems so simple and obvious, but it is very easy for us to get to a point where we just have more stuff than we have space for. Once you are out of space for toys, it is time to make some decisions.

I have a very hard time getting rid of perfectly good toys. I was raised by parents who didn't have much. Their parents lived through the depression and were savers. You save, save, save.

But they didn't also live in a time like ours where there was major consumerism. They didn't have the volume of stuff that we have. You just need to have a logical talk with yourself and say, "When we are out of space, it is time to donate or sell our excess."

Emily said: "We don't have a perfect system, but the one thing I love is an old dresser (that I refinished) that we use as our TV stand. Each of the large drawers holds a category of toys (trains/tracks, blocks, cars, etc.) If a drawer can't fit everything it's time to donate! I love that it's an easy storage system that doesn't scream "toy storage.""

Ask For Experiences for Gifts Rather Than Toys

You won't have a relationship with everyone where you can make such requests, but for those you do, ask for experiences rather than toys. I am one who finds it tacky to tell people what gifts to get unless they ask for ideas. If "the thought" is what counts, when you take the thought away from the gift-giver, you are making it the "thing" that counts.

What you can say, though, is "We are out of space for toys in our house! If you would like to give a gift, an experience would be fantastic!"

You can alternatively ask for no gifts or ask for smaller items or items that can be added to collections so there is not more space needed.

Emily Ann said: "we don't have a ton of toys in our house and ask that ppl not give our son toys as gifts (we would rather have experiences like going to the zoo and what not). we have a small wooden box in our living room and a wire basket thing from target in our sons room to hold toys. in our basement there is a play area with a toddler slide, swing, small ball pit, a discovery kids tent and some toys. we live in the country and its really muddy so we needed an indoor play area. i watch while hes playing with toys and if its something he doesn't have interest in after a few times i usually give it away"

Get Creative With Toy Storage

There are so many ways and places you can store toys. Under bed, in dressers, in drawers in your family room...an obvious great source for good ideas on toy storage ideas is Pinterest. I have some ideas on my Play Room board and some in my Organizing board. You can do a simple search on "Toy organization" and find a lot of great ideas and find ones that make sense for your space.

Use Totes or Bins for Storing Toys

This post contains affiliate links. A good old reliable form of toy storage is to put the toys by groups into plastic rubbermaid-type totes or to use baskets in the IKEA type bookcases or something similar. We use both of those methods for books and toys frequently.

The tricky thing with the totes and bins method is you either need to commit to being present when all toys are cleaned up or you need to commit to remaining calm when the items are put back in the wrong bin. You can label and that can help, but things will get put away wrong and you will need to go through them every so often to re-organize. That isn't necessarily a bad thing; re-organizing is a good chance to get rid of things. It does take time and it does add to your to-do list.

Erin said: "My son has hundreds of little trucks. To stay sane, they are all sorted into separate plastic bins (tractors, hot wheels, diggers, monster trucks, etc). He's allowed to have 2 bins out at a time. If he wants a different type of truck, he has to clean up and trade one in. Keeps me from having to see hundreds on the floor at the same time, and him from spending 2 hours cleaning them all up. "

Donate (or Store) What Isn't Played With

Like I said, it is easiest to keep things clean when you have less stuff than you have space for. That means you need to get rid of things when you run out of space. If you run out of toy space in the house, but you have storage space, doing toy rotation is fantastic (see below for more).

If you don't have space for storage, donate your toys. You could also sell them on classifieds. Get them out of the house and into someone else's house.

There just isn't much point in keeping out something that rarely gets touched. Getting it out of the way will keep things cleaner and will likely keep your child more engaged in what IS there since there won't be too many options.

Rotate Toys

The concept for rotating toys is simple. You have some toys out that can be accessed. You have some toys stored away somewhere that is out of sight and out of reach. Every so often, you take the toys out of storage, add them to what can be accessed, then put away other toys. This keeps toys interesting and fresh. It is like Christmas every so often. You can decide how often to rotate. I usually like 2-4 weeks.

Elizabeth said: "For my little girl, her obsession is books! We have three 'loads' that I separated carefully balancing it out (fiction, non fiction, a kipper book in each pile etc) and I rotate them every 3 weeks or so. That way, her book shelf isn't a constant mess and she can actually see almost all her books at a glance.

I'm about to redo our craft cupboard. But I did recently buy new drinking glasses and the box it came in made a perfect 'craft caddy' for my three year old. She got a stash of crayola for Christmas but I didn't feel good about her using everything at once. So I chose a selection of things and now she has a jar of 8 markers, 12 crayons, glue stick, scissors etc all in one caddy. I don't have to hunt for lids or missing things because there are only a few things to keep track of!"

Tips For Keeping Things Clean

1-Limit how much is out--this is when toy rotation comes in handy.

2-Have clean-up rules--have a rule that toys have to be cleaned up before they move on to a new toy. You should also have your child help. Children are more likely to be careful about what they get out if they have to help clean up.

3-Don't buy too many--When it comes time for Christmas or birthdays, be aware of your available space when buying new toys. There are a lot of fun toys out there! You probably don't have space for all of the ones your child would love, and that is perfectly okay!

2-Toy time out--If your child won't keep things clean or help clean, have a consequence. Take toys away if your child won't help clean up.

Christina said: "I use a ton of 31 bags to organize toys. I also have a TOY TIME OUT BAG that gets filled with the toys left on the floor for my daughter to earn back. I do frequently purge toys as well by donating them or saving them and rotating them out, but since I don't have much time to rotate toys, they are either organized and put away, in time out, or gone. LOL"

Diedre said: "All our toys are sorted by type into plastic boxes with lids. These are placed on a small shelf in their playroom. Depending on the size of the toys (some things are in slightly bigger boxes) the shelf will fit 6-8 boxes/items. They also get to have 4 larger items (think dress-up box, doll house, etc) that just stay on the floor around the room. Anything that doesn't fit on the shelf goes into a closet. This gives the kids a variety of things to choose from without having too much to clean up.

Any time they clean-up without whining, or do an extra big job around the house, or anything else I decide is worth it, they get to trade one item from the shelf/floor of the toy room for one out of the closet. This way I get willing helpers, the toys get rotated, and everyone is happy."

Conclusion:
Toys definitely have the potential and power to take over your home, but it doesn't have to be that way! You can utilize these ideas to keep control over the toys and not let the toys control you.

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Favorite Toys: Great Christmas Gift Ideas

Favorite Toys: Great Christmas Gift Ideas. Great gift ideas to get for your children for Christmas.

Christmas is coming!!! I love Christmas. I am a major non-procrastinator when it comes to getting gifts for others, and for that reason, I like to give you ideas well in advance as well.

Each fall, I like to compile any new toys my children have gotten over the last year and just love. This post contains affiliate links.

Gift Ideas For Children

Here are some gift ideas for your children

Brayden--10 Year Old Boy

Brayden has long been a huge fan of LEGOs, and this year has been no exception. This year, Brayden has tried LEGO Technic sets and has really enjoyed those. They are a bit more challenging that sets he has used in the past. He also has tried and loved the LEGO Architecture sets.

Pokemon cards are a huge hit for him as well.

Outside Toys Worth the Investment (All-Star Toys)

Outside weather is coming! It is! I know some of you will find that very hard to believe, while some of you are in it...and some of you are actually approaching winter. Despite your weather situation, let's talk outside toys. This post contains affiliate links.

Outside Toys Worth the Investment | oudoor toys | outside play | toy list | #toys #toylist

Top Five All-Star Toys

Sidewalk Chalk

Sidewalk Chalk is very enjoyable for all children. It is also very handy for creating fun outdoor learning games. While some chalk is better quality than others, I really just go for whatever is inexpensive. Sometimes the better quality chalk is less expensive than lesser-quality. Chalk gets abused. Some kids basically sit and rub one stick over and over until it is in just a nub. Sometimes chalk gets left out and rain water or sprinkler water soaks it (and then kids decide to soak it intentionally once they realize how cool it is to write with wet chalk). The chalk gets spilled and shatters no matter what brand it is...

This doesn't mean I allow my children free-for-all or offer a never-ending supply of chalk. I plan on buying one container of chalk each spring and let them know that is what they get until the next spring. They can decide how to treat it from there.

Bubbles

Bubbles are loved by pretty much every child out there. Bubbles are great because they work as an outside toy whether you have your own yard or not. You might not be able to go draw sidewalk chalk at the park or all over the sidewalks at your apartment complex, but bubbles will work. You can even blow them inside if you want to. I buy these Bubbles and pour them into smaller bubble containers when they run out. We often buy bubble blowers (or the kids get them as birthday gifts from friends). They have all been lots of fun and a great way to save your breath, but they always break within the same season we got the blower. Just don't expect a bubble blower to last very long.

Some Sort of Bicycle

There are a lot of versions of bikes. You have the Tricycle, the Bicycle, the Balance Bike, the Scooter, the PlasmaCar... There are so many possibilities. They all have their merits and all have their time that your child will favor that particular item. Think about what your storage space capabilities are and what you think your child would like best. I keep trying to think of what is the BEST and I just can't do it. My kids really love the plasma car, and it is easy to ride on from a young age. A bicycle is a must at a certain age--probably by 3. Scooters are a big hit in our neighborhood. My neighbor lives for his balance bike (but Brinley is scared of hers).

Water Table

I did not buy a water table until Brinley's first birthday. Anyone with a water table is likely thinking "What?!?!?" I know! Once we got it, I realized what a huge hit it is with kids. It is such a fun toy. It is a great toy to have outside, especially when it is hot outside. Now, if you don't have space or means for a water table, you can easily make your own version by filling up a large bowl or tote with water and putting it outside to play in. Add some measuring cups from the dollar store and you have a party.

Sandbox

I have a love/hate relationship with our sandbox. I love it because it is an absolute favorite toy in the yard. I hate it because sand gets everywhere. There is always a trail of sand in the house. The hours of fun they have with it make the hate worth it in my life. We made our sandbox, but you can buy them for a reasonable price.

Large All-Star Toys

Swing Set

A swing set is a very fun object to have in the yard. It is a worthy investment. We purchased ours from Swing Kingdom. We have had it for almost six years and we have loved it! We have never regretted it. A fun thing is that they are sturdy enough that adults can use them. There are a lot of nice swing sets out there. Before we got our nice one, we had a basic swing set left behind at the house we bought and that worked great for our kids while they were smaller.

Trampoline

I know a lot of people worry about having a trampoline. My husband was one and I went along with it for many years. When I was pregnant with Brinley, however, I put my foot down and declared we would be purchasing a trampoline. I was about to have a new baby and McKenna was going to be home without siblings and I wanted something I knew would keep her busy and get exercise at the same time. We have loved having it. We got one similar to this.

Our Current All-Star Toys

Basketball Hoop

Last year, we put a basketball hoop in our backyard. This is currently Brayden's favorite thing to play with outside (age 9). This is where he spends most of his time. It is my favorite, also.

Jump Rope

A few years ago, we found several of these jump ropes at a garage sale for less than a dollar a piece. These are awesome jump ropes. Jump rope is what Kaitlyn does most outside right now (age 7). A good jump rope makes all the difference in whether or not the child will be interested in using it. Cheap dollar store jump ropes won't cut it.

Rollerblades

Hands down, McKenna's favorite thing to do outside is rollerblading (age 5). She is in love with it. She wants to do it at every opportunity. Decent roller blades help in the child's enjoyment. McKenna got these rollerblades for Christmas and they have been awesome. I didn't think she would be able to wear them for months since we live in Norther Utah, but I knew they would be her favorite gift, so I got them. We have had a very mild winter so she has been able to use them quite a bit!

Cozy Coupe

Wondering about Brinley (age 2)? She really has a very varied "favorite." She loves to draw with chalk. She loves bubbles. She enjoys plasma cars. The water table would be loved if it wasn't winter (she does ask for it, though). The sandbox is covered for winter, but it is a favorite when it is out. She loves to swing and jump on the trampoline. The thing in addition to what I have talked about that she loves to do is drive in her Cozy Coupe.

What are your all-star outdoor toys? Anything I missed? Anything I need to try out? Today is the BFBN Pinterest day, so check out our Pinterest page. Check out the other ladies for their fun ideas today, too!

Favorite Toys 2014

I have compiled many lists of favorite toys we have over the years. Each Fall, I like to add to those lists with new toys we love.

Brayden--9 Year Old Boy

Snap Circuits Jr.. Brayden has LOVED this. It is a toy that allows your child to explore how electronics work. I think most kids have a fascination with how things work. Brayden is especially inquisitive about things like this. It is a lot of fun. This kit is labeled for 8-15 years. Brayden is smart and I worried a "jr." kit would be too juvenile too soon, but he has had it for about six months and still enjoys experimenting with it.

Kindle. Last Christmas, we got a Kindle for Brayden. We both love reading on our own Kindles and find we read a lot more on a Kindle than a book. I am shocked--my husband had to talk me into getting one because I was adamant that I wouldn't like reading it unless it was a book. My husband has the Fire and I got the Paperwhite because it needed to be like a book. I love it! Brayden has also loved his. If you have a reader, this is a great gift.

Kaitlyn--7 Year Old Girl

Klutz books. If you haven't heard of Klutz, you really should check them out. They have all sorts of books of instructions on how to do things, from making clay charms, elaborate paper airplanes, pipe cleaner, face paint...lots of fun things. She got the Friendship Bracelets book.

Rainbow Loom. You have probably heard of the Rainbow Loom by now. This is a huge passion of Kaitlyn's these days. She loves making these bracelets for just about everyone she can think of.

McKenna--5 Year Old Girl

VTech - Brilliant Creations Advanced Notebook. I did a lot of research before settling on this for McKenna for Christmas last year. She still loves it to this day. VTech is a great brand and this computer is no different. It is realistic looking and it is full of educational games. I like that it is something she can do with an "electronic" without it being something super expensive (like an iPad or Kindle) and also without it being something connected to the Internet or my files that can be accidentally deleted (like my computer).

Frozen Anything. Anything Frozen related is a big hit with McKenna right now. Books, dolls, and dress up are at the top of her list. The Disney Frozen Complete Story Playset is a fun one for playing with the whole cast. The Frozen Read-Along Storybook and CD is very well done. The Butterfly Craze Girls Snow Queen Costume is a great hit (though after I read the reviews, I made sure to be positive you are buying from Butterfly Craze when it is in your cart). The Frozen: The Essential Guide (Dk Essential Guides) is another great book. The DK books are always fun if you child has a passion for the subject.

Brinley--2 Year Old Girl

VTech - Learning Tunes Karaoke. Brinley loves to sing. For her birthday, I was trying to think of what I could get her that would be in line with her love of singing and I thought "Karaoke!" After some looking around, I found this machine. She loves it. I love that it is kid-safe. It has lots of fun settings and lots of fun kid-tunes.

VTech Touch and Teach Word Book. This book is great for independent playtime. You touch a picture and it tells you what the word is. You can also go into quiz mode where the book says a word and you touch the correct picture.

Balance Bike. The balance bike is actually not something Brinley has any real interest in at this point, but we have a neighbor boy two weeks older than she is who is crazy for his balance bike, and he is amazing on it. He moves so well. So I think it is something to be considered for this age group. I have heard good things from people with a balance bike so far as being good to do instead of a bike with training wheels.

Babywise Mom Recommendations

Great Toys to Encourage Independent Playtime

How To Child-Proof Your Space for Independent Playtime

Independent Playtime is Not...

Independent Playtime Lengths

Roomtime--Your Invitation

Starting Independent Playtime Late

Room Time Setup

Best Toys for Baby: Ages 0-3 Months

Best Toys for Baby: Ages 4-6 Months

Best Toys for Baby: Ages 7-9 Months

Best Toys for Baby: Ages 10-12 Months

Best Toys for Baby: 0-12 Month Update

Best Toys for Baby: 12-18 Months

Best Toys for PreToddler: 12-18 Months Update

Best Toys for Toddler: 18-24 Months

Best Toys for Toddler: 2 and Up

Best Toys for Toddler...2.5 and Up

Best Toys for Preschooler: 3 and Up

Great Bicycles You Can Buy From Amazon {Friday Finds}

How To Organize Toys

Favorite Toys: Great Christmas Gift Ideas

Gift Ideas For Children

Outside Toys Worth the Investment (All-Star Toys)

Favorite Toys 2014

Favorite Toys 2013

Poll Results: Best Toys for Babies-Children

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