Eyfs- toys

[Tinkerisdead]

I know the eyfs is based mostly around child led play etc. But I wondered what 'toys' are the most useful in implementing games around the varying capabilities etc?

I know nursery has role play stuff like home corner, small world toys etc? I ask because I saw some sorting jewels on a educational toy website, I then found buttons in the elc which were similar. Dd is 2.9 and really used them in tons of ways but they aren't a 'toy' as such. At Xmas I get inundated with night garden play sets, mr potato heads etc but what toys are right up there for early years play?

A good set of wooden construction blocks like those made by 'community playthings'.

Hand puppets are good as they encourage imaginative play.
Inset jigsaws are good for motor skills, as are tennis balls and footballs.
Pens, pencils, chalks etc are great for early writing and drawing.
Tabards are the easiest way for children to access dressing up play.

Lego. Good from 3 for building simple things then start adding more advanced bits like wheels, then people, cogs/gears, and end up aged 15 with a programmable lego robot. The stuff is just so adaptable.

Thankyou for the ideas. I saw some dressing up tabards in the studio24 book. May look again as the numerous fairy dresses dont get a second glance. Puppets are a great idea, dont have any of those. Stupid question what is an inset jigsaw rather than a normal one?

Inset jigsaws- you take the pieces out and then fit them back in the spaces left on the board.

Ahhh okay. My dd hates them, she can do tjem in seconds so we're on the 8 piece ones from elc. The inset ones are in the box assigned for dc2's arrival, should i be encouraging the inset ones more then?

Any other suggestions? I counted today we have happyland playsets(fab) but then a fisher price little zoo, peppa playsets and train, night garden character set. I mean how much small world stuff does one almost three year old need?

She loves threading buttons and cotton reels and duplo, playschool seem to note popoids a lot. Any other ideas as she has nov birthday then xmas.

Big blankets are great for making dens, cosy spaces and superhero capes.
Wooden track and trains always go down well and people can add to them with presents over the years.
Invest in decent dressing up accessories like a strong fairy wand, tiaras, hats and eg toolbelts as cheap ones break easily and are a false economy.
Decent plastic doctors sets and tool boxes have good play value, but there is still a place for small real tools if supervised.

I agree blankets & pegs for dens

Proper DIY paint brushes for pretend play & painting with water outside

Lots & lots of outside time/play with proper tools & dens

Water play, sand play, messy play, cooking