A few of my favorite Things

 Here's an extensive list of things my kids love and have loved through multiple stages.

I am incredibly picky when it comes to things I bring into our house. It needs to last for multiple kids, they're going to be left outside. They're going to be licked and chewed on. They're probably going to be puked on. So how easily is something cleaned? 

Another big consideration is price. Since we have 7 kids I try to buy things that wont break the bank, although some things on here are pricey, this list is from the last 14 years of life. I don't have a lot of baby things on there but I can put together a list of 4 and under stuff if you want, i just feel like those lists are way more readily available. 

If you have any ideas to add let me know!

A few of my favorite things:

Squigs (Fun anywhere, but especially fun in the tub or the car)

Legos (Always, forever!)

Plus Plus blocks (they’re small but fun)

Rainbow Blocks (Blocks with colored windows – great for little kids who are into building)

Hape Building Blocks (Good size, solid wood, nice for building)

Magnatiles (specifically, this brand has very strong magnets)

Magformers (Great for all ages. Babies can grasp these very easily and they hold together well for complicated building projects)

Guide Craft Light Table for Magnet Play (Fun to light up under your magnets)

Hape Marble Run (wooden blocks can be used in multiple ways. They’re VERY sturdy)

Schleich Animals (Yes they’re plastic but they are both realistic and very sturdy. We have had some of the same animals for 10+ years)

Play Silks (Sarah’s silks are my favorite, they can be used for dressing up, landscape, baby dolls, literally to no end!)

Calico Critters

Toobz Animals

Hape Wooden Dominoes (Wooden Blocks can be used in tons of different ways)

Boogie Board (We’ve had ours for 5 years and it still works as if new!)

Grapat pieces (They are so fun for add ons to any play!)

Flower Press (Pressed flowers can be used in a multitude of ways!)

Melissa and Doug Shopping cart (Easy to push, helps with cleaning up the house, but it’s loud on wood floors and kills if your driver runs into your shins or ankles)

Toy Wagon kids can pull themselves

Melissa and Doug Baby Doll & Accessories

Star Projector Night Light

Walkie talkies, buy rechargeable ones!

Green Toys Vehicles (Extremely sturdy does not sun fade)

Welly Bandaids (Cute designs and cute tin)

 

Bath Toys

              Uubi Toy Holder (Best toy container I’ve had)

              Toobz

              Honest Company Bubble Bath

 

Electronics

              Fire 7 (These are the tablets my kids have. They can use Minecraft, watch movies, etc. decent storage space for the price and they’re very easy to put parental instructions on, and they’re not huge.)

              Minecraft (All ages 4 and up can play Minecraft. It’s the best!)

 

Big Kids (8+)

              Karaoke Microphone

              Origami paper and books

              Cartoon note books (Empty so kids can make their own comics)

              Lego Stop Motion (You’ll need some sort of camera,phone, tablet, etc.)

              Drone

              Lazer Tag Guns & Vests

              Booooooooooook series (I always try to buy a series the kids will like)

              Bath Bombs

              Looms and yarn

              Things for their room (Pillow, oil diffuser,

              I always buy my big kids things like deodorant, perfume, Makeup, nail polish, etc. in their stockings

              Personalized towels (This is a win-win for everyone)

              Gift cards (theaters, fast food, book stores, roblox (Big eye roll), Steam, bowling)

             

Gross Motor/Outside

              Scooter

              Balance Bike

              Helmet

              Roller Skates/

              Chalk

              Melissa and Doug Sand Toys

 

Games

              Mindware Pattern Play

              Mancala

              Camelot Jr/ Castle Logic

              Rummy

              Spot It

              Eboo I never forget a face memory

              Risk

              Checkers

              Guess Who

              Uno

              Otrio

              Sequence

 

Crafts –

1.       Faber Castelle or Crayola are my favorite because they last a long time. Beeswax crayons are very easy to use because they’re a tad softer.

2.       Don’t buy crappy Art Supplies! It’s very discouraging to try to use them! Roseart is on my no-no list!

I do not buy “kits”. Kids automatically think they are measuring up to what the kit is supposed to look like and it is really frustrating. If you see a kit you like, I’d suggest recreating the kit with no directions!
              Eboo sketch pads
              Copy Paper
              Markers
              Crayons
              Color Wonder Mess Free
              Water Wow
              Smencils
              Good Drawing Pencils
              PaperMate Ink Joy Gel
              Melissa and Doug Sketch Pad Mini
              Kurt Invisible Pens (keep one for yourself just in case! :))

Hope you got some good ideas!