Help! What to get a 1yo who doesn't like toys

[acebaby]

DS2 is 18mo. If we go to a toy shop, he will go for the fire extinguishers/tills/step ladders. He loves music and is quite a physical child. Things I have thought of...

A ball pit would probably be grounds for divorce based on DH's reaction when I suggested it

A toy vacuum cleaner - okay but I suspect he would prefer a real one!

Ride on toys - already got too many

A real cd player. He'd love this, but it would probably be lucky to last until boxing day

I've suggested a play kitchen as a joint present for both DS's from grandparents.

Any help would be much appreciated! Has anyone any experience of the magical melody maker by tomy for example? Or is this just another toy that he would ignore

You can get CD/cassette players that are made for children and are durable

how about a musical box? or a zither, or a mini guitar or accordian (Tobar do a beautiful little child's accordian that makes a really good authentic sound)

or a glockenspiel?

my boys have a giant wooden xylophone, painted in rainbow colours, which has had lots of use

also ELC do a piano with a microphone which is good

my ds2 also has a little Henry Hoover which actually works but is manageable for him

pop-up play house? you can get shop ones/post office ones, my boys have got one with a till/fake money/stamnps/groceries etc which they like

Mini trampoline?
Swing?
Sand pit?

All a bit outdoorsy for Xmas maybe, but it's nice to have things you can spread over the year, IMO.

Or imaginative things like a pop-up tent and loads of accessories like mini dustpan and brush, cooker, etc to go inside it?

My DD doesn't really like toys either, but does like the ones that are 'just like home' type things - shopping baskets full of plastic food, brooms and dustpans, mini dishwasher, etc. Assuming you're not looking for something gender-specific - presumed not as you mentioned the kitchen idea.

Agree with musical instruments suggestion also. Nice wooden ones that can take a beating would be good.

x-post with greensleeves on the pop-up tent idea!

football goal and football?

great ideas everyone. Thanks so much! I love the idea of the instruments. We have a mini-piano already, which is one of the few things he plays with

We have a pop up tent, and trampoline - both of which get a lot of use. The sand pit is a wonderful idea for his birthday in May (by which time hopefully he will have stopped eating the sand!)

I will certainly look into the mini henry hoover. He loves cleaning

Greensleeves - where did you get your giant xylophone - that sounds ideal

thanks again everyone!

what about a treasure basket? lots of threads on them - but basically household objects that have interesting textures, smells whatever. so whisk, eggcup, pinecones....

can you link the "treasure basket" pandaG? This sounds really cool. My ds (13 months) is the same - loves mops, hoovers, brooms, electrical cords, dvd player...etc. loves to clean.

ours is like this one

but while browsing I have come across this which I think is gorgeous - it says 3yo and up but a musical 1yo who doesn't like toys might love it, mine would have at that age

see here for recent discussion of treasure baskets (known as wnaky baskets on MN!)

2nd page franny explains in more detail

very cool. DS is getting a treasure basket for christmas Made by me, of course, not spending the prices I just saw online! It doesn't look difficult to put together and he will love it. Going to add some sort of cord, though