Back To Basics - Toys for Kids Under Three

Because I work in toys, I have a lot of moms asking me for recommendations. They usually start like "Hey, you work in toys all day, what should I (or grandma, or aunt, and etc.) buy for our kids this holiday?"

Never being the one to keep an opinion to myself, I usually have a few answers.

One of my most frequent recommendations for parents of children under the age of three is to stick with the basics.  Little People, tea sets, blocks, ball poppers, basic cloth dolls and stuffed animals are always hits with the young set.

For this holiday, let me get a little more specific.  My son, who is now 21 months, has been playing with his Little People Garage since he has been able to sit up.  He has always loved cars and last Christmas I found the best rubber flocked cars that are bouncy when you throw them, but are chubby and big enough for small hands. Another "boy toy" that my little guy loves is the Sprig Discover Rig.  It has a great push handle that early walkers will love to use.   (You can read our review of Sprig Toys here)

At about the age of two, my daughter started to try and build little play houses for herself.  She really wanted a place to crawl into, and call her own.  I am pretty sure the Rose Petal Cottage would have been great for this. She was also pretty obsessed with dolls from her first birthday on.  I really like the Corelle dolls with the soft bodies and simple faces. They are cuddly and cute and just the right size for the under threes. Another one of her favorites has been a tea set she got for her second birthday.  My favorite tea set is the Green Toys Tea Set- very durable and guilt free since it is 100% recycled.

As for stuffed animals, the Amazon Mascot Bear is just about the cutest thing I have seen in awhile and is sure to delight all kinds of kids this holiday season.  I also recommend the MiYim collection of organic stuffed animals.  They are 100% organic cotton and super cute.  A few  more suggestions for toys for the little guys and girls, are the Playskool Busy Ball-Tivity Center, and the Mega Block Smart Building Piano which combines a music toy with the classic building block element in one toy.  The Melissa and Doug 60-Piece Standard Block Set is also a classic that will be played with for years to come. 

What other toys are you thinking of buying for your under 3 year old this holiday?  Leave us a comment and us know what you think!
--Laura McMullan