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.

[fuzzpig]

Favourite toys in our house:

Happyland - they have absolutely loads of it, it lasts brilliantly and is very versatile.

Wooden train set - not brio as we can't afford it. I'd recommend getting starter sets from a few different brands as then you get a nice range of accessories and bridges.

Wooden bricks - obviously! Mine have loads including mine from childhood.

Duplo - excellent quality and hopefully a high resale value :o as mine are moving on to proper Lego this Xmas

Disney figures - we have loads, some new, some from eBay, all very much loved and good quality.

Toy dinosaurs, animals, cars, food etc - no particular brand, it's just great to have them.

[GoldenHandshake]

Toys DD has had over the last few years that are played with consistently:

Disney store figure sets, she has the tinkerbell fairies, nightmare before christmas, toy story 3 and disney princess sets and they are always played with, they often move into the ELC rosebud house she has.

Sylvanian families house and dalmatian family.

Moshi monsters, she has about 30 of the moshlings and adores them, we have the treehouse put away for Christmas.

Mini lalaloopsy dolls are played with very often.

Basically for DD anything that involves small character figures, and an assortment of houses she can fashion into a village.

[shaztwins1]

my boys love
lego
nerf
remote helicopters
scalextric
wii
jigsaws

dd loves
lego
sylvanians
polly pocket
mini lala loopsy
ds
anything crafty such as aquabeads, make own bracelet sets

nothing else gets a look in, not cheap to buy in but many many hours of peace for me of enjoyable playing by all

[jepa]

Thumbwitch
I have the Van toys castle from GLTC.
DS aged 7 plays with it for hours def recommend www.gltc.co.uk/wooden-play-castle/gifts-for-a-boy/gltc/fcp-product/10002268
Hope that helps

[Thumbwitch]

Thanks jepa! :)

[mathanxiety]

OMG -- we have this, but again, bought it years ago, and it wasn't a fraction of the Ebay price.

This was a lovely set. It had a secret key and secret teaspoon, towers that came apart and became teacups and saucers, the castle itself was a teapot, and there were tiny figures. It came with a tray. Constant vigilance required however, in order to keep it all from getting lost. It was one of those toys we hid when having friends over.

Can't believe that price..

[DTisMYdoctor]

In our house:

Lego, basic bricks and themed sets like Star Wars and City
Duplo sets - fire, police etc and Thomas the tank engine
Thomas take n play much more popular than the lovingly collected brio & Thomas stuff
Bag of wooden blocks (different shapes)
Happyland (older stuff - the current sets are lacking compared to what we have)
Playmobil

[Stevie77]

Has anyone seen Lalaloopsy house furniture sets? Annoyingly, they seem to sell the house, empty of contents but a Goigle search has mainly found stuff on EBay for ££££

[Luggage16]

Haba marble run - expensive but gets used daily and has done for nearly 4 years now (hubby likes to play with it too so recon it will still come out when they are teens)

Brio train track

Duplo

Playmobil

connecting straws (these are only about £1 in the range too and have been played with so so much)

wooden play frame

octonauts toys - yes they are over priced plastic tat - but again they are played with daily so worth the money

wild science perfume kit

anything made by schleich

anything made by pintoy

almost anything made by Melissa and Doug

[Luggage16]

spookysal - go for a play frame instead of a theatre. We started with a theatre and beautiful as it was it kept falling apart and was awkward for them to use. The playframe sets up as a theatre and is much sturdier, plus you can also use it to build dens, a shop etc so much more versatile and packs up small too. We have this one: www.myriadonline.co.uk/products.php?id=3862&name=Folding Play Frame
but this one is excellent too: my-kea.co.uk/children.html

[Beccawoo]

Kellestar, my DD must be almost same bday as yours - 2 on dec 15. I've got her a (second hand) wooden dolls house for her bday. And a scooter for Christmas, plus Melissa and Doug wooden sandwich kit for her kitchen :0)