Great toys to buy for Christmas

[cloutiedumpling]

I read the other thread and realised that I'd bought most of the toys listed there, so I thought it'd be nice to have ideas from other mnetters about toys that'd be good to buy for the DCs. Ones that'd be played with every day and would last for years so I don't make any more expensive mistakes!

My first suggestion for other people is the duplo Thomas the Tank train set. We've had it for years and it has had a lot of play but is still in great condition. Also, the pieces are chunky enough that even kids aged 3 or so can put the tracks together without needing adult help.

peanutbutterfingers, thanks for the link. I thought about buying it for DS but I'm unsure if it's too complicated for him?

*He's 4 btw.

Dontbugme- my DS is 2.10 so it's been good to help with his imagination, we talk about the different pictures and he chooses his favourite one and tells me which one is my favourite one I'm surprised by how much he likes it as a lot of the things in it aren't as familiar as You Choose, but then I never guess what's going to 'take' with books

Duplo and Lego. We have a mixture of basic sets and themed sets. DS builds the set once then he makes something new with it.

Brio (or the cheaper imitation) wooden train sets. This and the Lego will be kept for grandchildren.

Playdoh, especially ok if you have a laminate floor. Get a couple of squidging sets, cutters and rolling pins and even my dc's will sit down to play in peace.

The Orchard games are good too. Shopping List is easy and simple. I have several of the other Orchard games too and even the slightly crappy ones are worth it.

If you have a garden, bubble mix...and more bubble mix. Get it cheap in Poundland in the summer and they can still play with it in the winter months. Also Glow Sticks as long as they aren't likely to chew them (and we had a near miss). They can tear around a back garden after dark in the winter or make discos in their bedrooms.

Second hand real digital cameras. More robust than you'd expect and better photos.

Wooden swords
My boys (6 and 8) got one from here at Ludlow castle last year and use them almost everyday.
They also play with their light sabres most days too.

Hoberman sphere is our other most played with toy - every child who visits is fascinated by it.

Playmobil pirate ship also great.

DD's have been playing all day today with the ELC medical kit (they were vet's) and the same constuction kit (not sure how that came to help the vet but it did!)

They also love barbies and polly pocket most of the orchard toys games, playdoh.

Games wise jnr Monpoly, guess who and jnr scrabble are popular.

Lego, all 3 are Lego mad, even DD14 wants some Avengers set (she has a crush on Robert Downey Jr). DS7 who is a late reader loves Lego as he can usually manage the instructions as they are pictures not words (also means minimal involvement from us. Makes them models once then they seem to always be making them into tall towers and houses

We also have several sets of Scalextric which are excellent for older children - although the newest is 8 years old, so don't know if they are still as good.

The wooden train sets were good when smaller, although we only had a small amount of Brio, most was Tesco's own brand and just as good.

Sylvanian families still really popular in our house from originals with DD27 to DD9. Even DS7 plays with his sister's stuff.

Can recommend a Wii, especially as they can be bought for less than £50 with loads of games and accessories (try your local selling pages on facebook). Also they each have a DS which have had many hours use.

I have an iphone 3gs, which DD14 will be getting for christmas and DDnearly 10 will be getting her iphone 3g. I will of course be getting a 4 or 4s. Son will have an android tablet. The free apps areexcellent, keeps them occupied for hours and there are lots of educational ones. DS spends ages on a space one looking at different planets and stars. DD9 has some maths apps and also managed to find some english apps in UK english (most are US english). These will all be second hand and be less than £100 each, except mine which will be via Amazon using my Nectar points.

Haven't got much of the playpeople stuff, as went down the Lego route - wanted to have more of one thing rather than lots of different stuff. Also had megablocks when they were small as we were given it as presents - it was always on offer in Woolies. It's ok when new, but goes loose after a while, doesn't last like duplo, but a good cheaper substitute for smaller children.

Other best buy has been the TP 3 swing set with climbing frame on the end. We've had that over 10 years and they play on it every day the weather is good still (which is a shame as we could do with the space, so we've had to convert the underneath of the trampoline into a chicken run). Always a draw for visiting children too.

Another You Choose fan in this house, although the obsession has died down now we read it for months for ages at a time not so long ago. Thanks for the additional nick sharrat tip.
Happyland was also a big hit here, though dd grown out of it now, just sold a load of it and got a decent price do definitely still in demand!
Dd turns 5 in about a week and we've got a playmobil house, bit of a gamble as she's not got a huge amount of playmobil but she's got a great imagination and I can imagine her getting lost in it. Fingers crossed ...

My boys (4&5) are loving the playskool super hero range.

Is marble run toys any good? Thinking about getting one for ds this year because I always wanted one the whole of my childhood.

Every child should have a Brio wooden train set. I got mine for my fiftieth birthday with a Flying Scotsman and a Mallard train. I made sure all my dgc had one and all play with mine when they visit.

Over the years my DD has spent many a happy hour playing with her box of Barbie Dolls, at one stage she had 40 and loved changing thier clothes and putting them in the dream house.She also played with her Polly Pockets alot and had the plane,boat and fashion show.Sylvanian families got alot of playtime.Her all time faviourite game was school with a circle of her teddies and her stood there with a pen and paper.Now she is older I do not get as much pleasure watching her play on her DS but I do enjoy the Wii dance games.Guess Who, Monapoly,Twister,Snakes & Ladders,Cluedo were played with on many occassions.

DS adores his tub of matchbox cars and wooden train track.

was on the other thread ..but over here now for inspiration !!!

Has any one tried/heard of "Waxidooles"....modeling sticks ?

Looking at advert for it in paper now

Despite having every toy ever made, my 4 only ever play with Playmobil, and figures, power rangers, lego figures, polly pockets, moshi monsters/trashie/squinkie individual figures, I find entire sets a bit pointless and after many years of getting them the entire set of various toys I now usually just buy the figures, other brilliant toys are brio, and hot wheel cars ONLY not track...

Lego
Playmobil
Brio train set
Wooden castle
Wooden pirate ship

All of these are in constant play in our house - DS is 5 coming up to 6.

Also Quadrilla marble run - pricey, but you can add expansion packs and extras. It is played with masses and is so robust and beautifully made. We get it from Why Wood Works as they seem to be good prices and quick, reliable delivery. But amazon also stocks it.

Tomica trains here (the blue plastic track ones) Not as expensive as Brio and lighter in weight. Trains run on batteries and we get cheap ones from poundland. It started with a simple loop and my 2yo sat in the middle of the loop to enough track to go from one bedroom to the other with a child in each bedroom sending messages to each other on the trucks so has lasted 10 years.

Another vote for a pop up tent as well. Can be used indoors or in the garden and also as a 'changing room' on the beach.

For older kids, a Flip camera. Mine make their own 'movies' and also do the editing on the computer.

Has anyone bought the Le Van Emerald Castle? Is it any good?

Sylvanian family stuff for girls-well made
Wooden peg solitaire
Draughts
Chess
Scrabble
Mastermind

Any ideas for games, please? Massive hits have included Pig Goes Pop, Bubble Burster and Snakes and Ladders. Delux Guess Who was too complicated. We were thinking of Junior Pictionary this year.

DS had an Argos/Chad Valley pop up tent for his first birthday and still plays with it at nearly 6.

The buzz and woody buddy set.

Pull string Jessie the cowgirl
Elc playground set (only at sale price though :/)
Little people (i think) noahs arc and lights and sounds airoplane
.... Pretty much everything iv baught DCs for Christmas haha.

Brio - played with daily from 1 to nearly 6 years and still going strong. He has Tomica trains and track as well and goes through phases of playing with them endlessly, but he always seems to come back to Brio.
We have Hoberman sphere, which visiting kids are always drawn to.
DS's favourite outdoor toys this year have been a flashing bubble gun, a bubble stomp rocket and a cheap pocket kite. All from Amazon. He's also had hours and hours of fun with his didicar.

Hits so far with DS (2.9yo):

Duplo
Lego
Brio
Wooden blocks
Jigsaw puzzles - ELC ones have been fab
Books, lots of!
Pop-up tunnel
Small toy diggers, mixers and tractors from Hawkins Bazaar
Sandpit with a bucket, spade and dumper truck
Play kitchen with IKEA utensils and food
Plastic shopping basket full of fruit & veg
Playmobil ark
Plastic animal figurines
This wooden bus playset, which was his Christmas present from us last year and has been played with every day.

This year he's getting a mini micro scooter so fingers crossed!

Zolo sculpture pieces. Great fun.