Best toys for a one year old and a three year old?

[ifeeldone]

Obviously separate lists I imagine.

3 year old just getting into toys but was thinking of getting things like elefun and puzzles etc as they have lots of figures and p playsets but not much in the way of other toys (and they keep loosing puzzle pieces, need to be more vigilant on that). Anything other games or toys that's 'good' for them to have? We did have an orchard shopping list game but we lost it when we had it in a cafe so I think I'll get that again and a few others? Looking for more developmental things I guess. We have bricks etc which are great.

1 year old- I've been told to get them a car garage playset but I think they'd be too young? I have no idea what to get them (I know they won't remember but I mean for their development). Any suggestions would be great. We have the hide and squeak eggs which are great.

Both April birthdays- budget £50 each but could go to £70. Also, any summer toys would be good that they could both potentially do (not sand!) for when the summer comes. Thanks!

I have a one year old - by far the best value toy she has is a little wooden shape shorter box from ELC. We've had it since she was about 9 months old and she still loves it. Other favourites are musical instruments (have a look at the Baby Einstein Magic Touch Piano - another big hit in our house), a play tunnel and a ball pit. Other than that, her favourite games are emptying cupboards, going through the recycling and taking books off the shelves - bargain 🤷‍♀️

Magnatiles
Play kitchen
Playdoh
Dolls house
Lacing beads
Doll with high chair, bed etc
Cars
Balance bikes/scooter

Plastic Building bricks - toddlers love building towers then knocking them down

Push along anything

Things my 3 year old DS loves

Kinetic sand - it's not messy and keeps him entertained for ages
Play dough
Building blocks
Small cars and tracks
Big cars/lorries
Figures - animals, dinosaurs, superheroes etc
Pop up pirate
Jigsaws
Role play kits such as his doctors set or the toy washing up set
Hungry Hippos
Drawing and colouring kits

Design and Drill
Wooden train set
Foam bath letters and numbers
Kid knex
Duplo
Melissa and Doug reusable sticker pads
Snakes and Ladders
Magnetic fishing game
Plastic shopping basket and play food
Stackimals
Tool box

Both DCs got lots of play out of their ELC garage, an older version of this

Indoor kids trampoline was another good toy.

Pop up paddling pool. You can also fill it with ball pit balls rather than water too!

Happyland was another favourite and Duplo.

Toy kitchen
We got DD2 the same car garage linked by purplecrazyhorse above for her first birthday. She and DD1, who was 4, both enjoyed playing with it, not necessarily as a garage but they moved several other plastic figures into it and it was their house or nursery or whatever.
Happyland is good for both ages. Mine are still playing with it now at 5 and 8 years old! They also still play with the Duplo even though they have proper Lego now.
They liked Hungry Hippos when they were 3, and loved play doh and any kinds of craft set (cutting, sticking, painting) if you can deal with the mess.

My one year old adores his play garage. It’s taller than him and makes a bit of noice. Best thing we’ve spent money on. Or the activity garden.