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.

[ThisIsMummyPig]

My kids are 4 and 2. We like:

Playdough, but do it for a couple of months, and alternate with colouring
Happyland, especially the bus and farm, but also the train for the 2yo
Doctors set
Play food
Tea set
Till
Books
Magnetic etch a sketch type things
They also like Scaredy cat and 4yo likes Shopping list, both from Orchard
We don't actually play with the blocks much, but when we do, they really seem to get a lot out of it.
scooter
Not one for christmas, but watering cans and garden tools (trowels, rakes forks toy lawnmower etc)

The best buy ever in terms of money spent to play had has to be the sandpit though.

[survivingautumn]

Baby Annabell doll - yay or nay? DD is desperate for one (the all singing all dancing one not the cheapy first one I thought I could get away with )

My DS only ever plays with lego and his nerf guns.

DD only ever plays with dolls/pushchairs/nappies etc.

With my two - everything else has been a total waste of money!

[HerLadyshipsSoap]

Fisher price little people especially the farm, 10 yrs old now and still played with by dc
Lego Lego and more Lego
Doctors kit
Pretend kitchen saucepans and tea set.
Play dough.

[harrietspy]

My dc are v different & play in completely different ways. Their best presents ever:

ds1: Playmobil, soldiers (the dead cheap plastic ones whose arms fall off when you give them a hard stare), big factual books (eg Usborne See Inside books, Usborne History of Britain, etc), Nerf gun.

ds2: wooden train track, blocks, Lego, trampoline, Lego ideas book, Usborne 1000 things to make and do.

Blokus is a brilliant game for slightly older children & adults (7+).
Ticket to Ride also brilliant for older children (8+) & adults.
Slamwich is great fun and easy enough for 4+. (It's a US variation on snap)

[Startail]

Trampoline! even allowing for one broken arm, one cancelled holiday and the excess on the travel insrance.

[FanjolinaJolie]

Vintage board games:
guess who
operation
downfall

Not the crappy modern versions

[ThisIsMummyPig]

survivingautumn - If you have to have a talking doll, the annabel does seem to be better than some of the others. We have had at least two that the batteries have been taken out of by request as my poor DDS just couldn't stop them from crying.

It weighs an absolute ton though, so you need to be a fairly good walker to be able to carry the thing, but not a chucker who will throw it at their baby sibling and cause lasting damage.

[youonlysingwhenyourewinning]

Survivingautumn - my dd's love Annabell. She's sweet.

Toys my children love/have loved are:

Trampoline
Balance bike/bike (balance bike was our best buy ever)
Basket ball and hoop
Little table and chairs (really!)
Lego
Playmobil
iPod touch
Ds
Little china tea set
Any cuddly toy (dd3!)
Blackberry (dd1!)
Cluedo
Monopoly
Zoo am I

[Issy42]

Another recommendation for duplo here and I'm Toy activity centre triangle has been well used too.

Those recommending the Melissa and Doug folding castle, do you mean this medieval one or this 'fold and go' one? I was thinking of getting one for DD (3) for Christmas but can't decide whether to spend the extra on the bigger one in the hope that it will last longer or stick with the cheaper one especially as it comes with furniture and people.

[applecrumbleandcream]

Pop to the Shops game
Peppa Pig snakes and ladders
Twister
Hama beads
ELC kitchen
Build a Bear and clothes
ELC tea set
jigsaws
WH Smith tub of felt tip pens used every day
Guess who game
Sweetshop and till
Happyland funfair set
Squinkies
Jolly Octopus game
Jenga
Connect 4
Bop It

[mathanxiety]

Tomy Megasketcher -- fab toy.
Stickle bricks
Tea sets
Pot and pan sets
Small stovetop/oven
Medical kit
Clay
Huge crate of wooden blocks
Doll buggy for small DCs
Toy supermarket trolley
Toy checkout with cash drawer and pretend credit cards
Beads for stringing, sorting, counting
Lacing shapes
Pegboards
Stencils
Drawing and writing materials, paper, blackboards, chalk, paints
Razor scooter
In line skates
Water pistols for the bath

Blokus -- yes indeed, a great game, and also Connect 4, Mastermind.

[PPPop]

We have the medieval castle, Applecrumble. It is quite big so not portable really but lots of room to play in. My ds2 pulled it off the toy box where we kept it and the hinges broke, which was not really surprising, but my lovely dad got some new hinges from the DIY shop and fixed it again and it's good as new. Think your choice Of castle depends on how much room you are happy to devote to it. It's a good looking toy so I'm happy to have it out on show

[PPPop]

Sorry that should have been to issy42

[PeppermintPasty]

Morning. Does anyone have any views on the Innotab thing? I have a 5 yo and I'm a bit that it's too early to get him one, but he does like playing games on eg his camera thing (sorry tech dummy) when he gets the chance. Plus it's something for him iykwim, that his horrid 2yo dsis can't get hold of and ruin.

Same goes for the LeapPad, which one do people prefer?

[kiking]

My 5 years boy received a CD book called " stick man" which was the best X'mas gift ever.

[CatherineHMumsnet]

If it's useful - we also have a page of all the Top 10 toy lists from various retailers for Christmas 2012 with shopping links and feedback from Mumsnetters.

[KinkyDorito]

Peppermint I have just bought DS a Leappad because he is always playing games on the camera he has. He will be 4 at Christmas and I think he will manage it. The new Leappad is £60 on Amazon at the moment.

[Blipbipbeep]

DS1 (age 12) - Ipod touch, DS, PS3 and anything else with a screen - I hate them, he LOVES them,

DS2 (age 3) - Brio, cars, trains, balance bike (best thing ever as it means that I get to exercise too) scooter, puzzles.

[iseenodust]

An oldie but goodie - Tiddlywinks (John Lewis do nice wooden box one for about £7)
Marbles - DS 8 really into this.
The Lego games too - the Hogwarts moving staircase one is good for older DC.
Agree Jenga.
Callisto is good quite quick board game that you adapt for 2,3 or 4 players.

[HopeForTheBest]

I'd never heard of the imaginext stuff - would it be suitable for 5.5yo ds or is it already too babyish?
He loves playing with Playmobil and any figures - it's all mix and match. Am thinking the Batcave might be good.

Failing that, does anyone have any recommendations for a Scooby Doo fan?

[ABitWoozy]

Dobble is great, each card has one symbol in common with any other card and you have to spot the match.
My 6 year old is obsessed (mainly because he's better than his older brother and sisters and often thrashes the lot of us!)

[PeppermintPasty]

Thanks Kinky, I'll do a bit more research I think.

HopeForTheBest my son is 5.8 yrs and loves most of the imaginext stuff. I think 4-6 is the optimum age for a lot of it so definitely worth a look.

If he likes Scooby Doo, there are loads of things out there. My son has the haunted house and plays and plays with it. He has the mystery machine too plus the figures, and keeps himself amused for hours.

[PeppermintPasty]

Ha Kinky that read as if I was dismissing your input!! I meant that I need to look into it further instead of trying to persuade others to make a decision for me

[Zwitterion]

DD is nearly 3. Last Christmas we gave her a dolls house (Le Toy Van Strawberry Villa).

It's been played with every day pretty much since then.

She's actually playing right now with my old sylvanian families caravan, so I would say sylvanian's too, even though haven't bought any for 20 odd years.

Other hits:

Kitchen and play food
Till
Threading beads
Tea set
Doctors kit and coat

[CinnabarRed]

Any ideas for a 15 month old boy?