Plan Toys Twisted and Hollow Blocks

One set of hollow blocks and two sets of twisted blocks from Plan Toys fit in a medium LL Bean tote, my easy toy clean up solution. There blocks have been a favorite of the 3-5 year old age range both girl and boys.  Here my son who just turned 4 is building cities.
He is also a big fan Tegu Blocks to build cities.  He often plays with both types of blocks on the floor.

Here is some of what he made today.

Plus-Plus midi building toys

Sketch pad made in USA from Blicks

We stock up on sketch pads from the blicks art store. We take them everywhere. 

Magnatiles and preschool

Magnatiles are definitely a favorite and lasting play power.  The large box was all we needed.  

Zoob robot

Zoob continued to be fun. Yes a few pieces broke in assembly as stated by some reviews but the play power of making an octopus or a robot makes up for that issue.  

Haba Sticki blocks

These blocks are tons of fun well made and colorful. We have three sets : two small and one big which is enough and fits in a medium LL bean tote.  

Plan Toys Noah's Ark

This was my birthday present to my girl, now 6 year old, when she was 3.  She plays with it and now her brother is enjoying it. It is well made.  We keep the little aninals in a little container from Ikea.

I have not tried any of the new Plan Toys made of the composite.  This one is made of wood and is tons of fun.

Noel 2013, some winner gifts

Here are two well played Noel gifts for my 6 and 3 year old. No battery, lots of fun and a good way to do less screen more play.

Let's go Fishing - Janod
This is the real winner for the 3 year old and his older sister.

The game Croque-Carotte which is called Funny Bunny is a close second.  I am not sure why it costs a little fortune in France, it is quite reasonable in the US under $20.  My six year old girl loves it. We managed to help the 3 year old through a game by getting him to "click" the carrot. 

Tegu blocks continue to be the best toys we own

These blocks are absolutely the kids favorite and such an amazing company.  The are play more often than the Magnatiles which are kept next to them.
We take two sets of Tegu a la carte when we go out on adventures.  Buy less this holiday season and buy better!

Holidays gifts

my list is short and sweet

- Tegu Blocks, small or big sets
- Playmobil 123 for the little ones
- Green toys rocket or trucks for under 5 year old
- Blabla Kids anything

Uncle Goose - Invisible Creature

Uncle Goose blocks are great.  We have the French Alphabet sets

Made in USA - must have for noel 2013

Little playsets on the go

Little playsets that are fun and well made: These are wooden from Janod (France)
 



These Toobs sets are fund for travel and the little ones like them a lot. The container needs to be thrown out right away because it can crack and be sharp.
 

 

Schylling busy bugs

This is a cheap toy made in china but it is a lot of fun for my toddler.  It is a wooden wind up music box that plays the letter to  Elise. It features to dancing lady bugs. It is a lot of fun.  I keep this toy away and pull it out on some long rainy Sundays. 

Plus-Plus made in Denmark

Deserves the Eddy Award for educational tool.  So fun and once again better than Duplo. These are the midi size.  A box of 100 is plenty for 4-5 year old kids

5 year old puzzle games

My 5 year loved

Rush Hour Jr

Kanoodle

and
 
Chess of course ! 5 is the age to do chess

Free form arranging is really fun for my 5 year old
Haba makes a couple like this 3-D version 
  

Panorama by Joelle Jolivet & Fani Marceau

This gorgeous book was on sale and just as beautiful as any book illustrated by Joelle Jolivet. A huge hit with my toddler.

Plan Toys Mini-trucks

Simple. Nice size for a toddler. Sturdy. Trucks rock.

Investment toddler toys worth the money

From birth to pre K:

• Haba anything by Haba is good!
• Green toys (recycled milk jug and made in USA) everything
• Tegu blocks are just amazing
• Corolle dolls
• Pull toys by Plan toys made of wood (stock up before they go)
• Plan Toys Play food
• Playmobil 123

My little Layla and her babicorolle doll when she was 3 year old.

Corolle baby doll

This Corolle doll arrived with my boy at the hospital. It is well made and a good partner for pretend parenting.

Tegu blocks continue to be a huge hit

This is a follow-up note about Tegu blocks.
Both kids reach out more often for Tegu blocks than any other building toys. I can confirm that these are just more fun than Lego Duplos.  The two year old has discovered that they "write" on the travel doodle board.  The Tegu natural blocks are incredibly solid and will last a long time.  I suggest combining two to three medium sets or start with the original set to get enough blocks to make houses, garages, and shapes.

Amazing cubebot

Sustainable Cherry Wood
No batteries
Robots
Timeless
New best friend
This is the small size and it is perfect for a tot. The mini is better for travel.

The toy storage solution for our living room

• Approved by the 5 girl year old because of the handles
• Made in Maine!
• Can be re-purposed as shopping bag, book bags, beach bags etc

Two medium LL Bean totes with the living room wooden blocks

I ended with a mix of Medium and mini LL Bean boat and tote bags. The small size did not seem to make sense.  The mini is not sold online right now but was at the store.  The most useful size is the medium. I can see one Large also come in handy for bigger toys like balls and stuffed animals. LLBean Boat and Tote Bags

A medium tote and three mini totes - one used as a diaper bag