Toys That Get Played With

Toy All Stars: 7 Toys Your Kids Will Play With for Years

October 13, 2012 By 6 Comments

As I finished the last of the 2012 Toys that Get Played With lists, I got to thinking: Several of the toys showed up on list after list, demonstrating SUPER staying power. I decided to make a list of them!

Each of the toys on the list below shows up on THREE or more Toys that Get Played With lists this year:

  • GeoTrax Sets: On the lists for kids 1 year old to 5 years old. Manufacturer’s listed age range is 2 to 7.
  • Play Kitchen and Play Food: On the lists for kids 1 year old to 4 years old. Manufacturer’s listed age range is 2 to to 7. Keep an eye on age range for specific kitchens as you shop.
  • Imaginext Play Sets: On the lists for kids 3 years old to 7 years old. Manufacturer’s listed age range is 3 to 5.
  • Plasma Car: On the lists for kids 3 years to 7 years old. Manufacturer’s listed age range is 2 to 5.
  • Lego: On the lists for kids 3 years to 7 years old. Listed age range is 4 and up.
  • Magna Tiles: On the lists for kids 3 years to 7 years old. Manufacturer’s listed age range is 3 and up.
  • Hot Wheels and Matchbox cars: On the lists for kids3 to 7 years. Manufacturer’s listed age range is 3 and up.

Some toy categories stay relevant with kids for a very long time, but the specific toys or accessories within that category may change. Toys that fit this category are:

  • art supplies
  • dolls
  • dollhouses
  • musical instruments
  • dress up clothes
  • cars and trucks
  • LeapPad and other electronic toys
What do you think? Which toys have your kids played with for years and years?

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Filed Under: *Hot Holiday Deals *, Deals & Sales, Toys That Get Played With

Toys That Get Played With 2012: 6 to 7 Years

October 11, 2012 By 3 Comments

Welcome to the 2012 updates of Baby Cheapskate’s “Toys That Get Played With” lists. The toys on this list are here for one reason and one reason alone – because kids love them and continue to play with them long after the holiday decor is boxed up.

There’s no one toy that every kid likes, but the toys on the list have proven track records among Baby Cheapskate readers when it comes to appeal and longevity. Each toy is linked to its listing on Amazon so that you can learn more about it.

Most Loved Toys for Kids 6 to 7 Years Old

You can find this and other holiday-themed lists under the Toys that Get Played With tab at the top of BabyCheapskate’s home page.

Related:

Filed Under: *Hot Holiday Deals *, Deals & Sales, Toys That Get Played With

Toys That Get Played With 2012: 5 to 6 Years

October 10, 2012 By Leave a Comment

Welcome to the 2012 updates of Baby Cheapskate’s “Toys That Get Played With” lists. The toys on this list are here for one reason and one reason alone – because kids love them and continue to play with them long after the holiday decor is boxed up.

There’s no one toy that every kid likes, but the toys on the list have proven track records among Baby Cheapskate readers when it comes to appeal and longevity. Each toy is linked to its listing on Amazon so that you can learn more about it.

Most Loved Toys for Kids 5 to 6 Years Old

You can find this and other holiday-themed lists under the Toys that Get Played With tab at the top of BabyCheapskate’s home page.

Related:

 

Filed Under: *Hot Holiday Deals *, Toys That Get Played With

Toys That Get Played With 2012: 4 to 5 Years

October 9, 2012 By Leave a Comment

Welcome to the 2012 updates of Baby Cheapskate’s “Toys That Get Played With” lists. The toys on this list are here for one reason and one reason alone – because kids love them and continue to play with them long after the holiday decor is boxed up.

There’s no one toy that every kid likes, but the toys on the list have proven track records among Baby Cheapskate readers when it comes to appeal and longevity. Each toy is linked to its listing on Amazon so that you can learn more about it.

Most Loved Toys for Kids 4 to 5 Years Old

You can find this and other holiday-themed lists under the Toys that Get Played With tab at the top of BabyCheapskate’s home page.

Related:

 

Filed Under: *Hot Holiday Deals *, Toys That Get Played With

Toys That Get Played With 2012: 3 to 4 Years

October 8, 2012 By 1 Comment

Welcome to the 2012 updates of Baby Cheapskate’s “Toys That Get Played With” lists. The 18 toys on this list are here for one reason and one reason alone – because kids love them and continue to play with them long after the holiday decor is boxed up.

There’s no one toy that every kid likes, but the toys on the list have proven track records. Hundreds of Baby Cheapskate readers have responded to more than half a dozen polls posted thrice yearly over the course of three years about which holiday toys their kids are still playing with. I’ve pored through the responses to compile this list. Each toy is linked to its listing on Amazon so that you can learn more about it.

Most Loved Toys for Preschoolers 3 to 4 years old

You can find this and other holiday-themed lists under the Toys that Get Played With tab at the top of BabyCheapskate’s home page.

Related:

 

Filed Under: *Hot Holiday Deals *, Toys That Get Played With

Toys That Get Played With 2012: 25 to 36 Months

October 5, 2012 By Leave a Comment

Welcome to the 2012 updates of Baby Cheapskate’s “Toys That Get Played With” lists. The 15 toys on this list are here for one reason and one reason alone – because kids love them and continue to play with them long after the holiday decor is boxed up.

There’s no one toy that every kid likes, but the toys on the list have proven track records. Hundreds of Baby Cheapskate readers have responded to more than half a dozen polls posted thrice yearly over the course of three years about which holiday toys their kids are still playing with. I’ve pored through the responses to compile this list. Each toy is linked to its listing on Amazon so that you can learn more about it.

Most Loved Toys for Toddlers 25 months to 36 months:

Tip: To save, try to find these second-hand via Craigslist, garage sales, thrift stores, etc. Inspect them carefully and check for recalls.

You can find this and other holiday-themed lists under the Toys that Get Played With tab at the top of BabyCheapskate’s home page.

Related:

Filed Under: *Hot Holiday Deals *, Toys That Get Played With

Toys That Get Played With 2012: 13 to 24 months

October 4, 2012 By Leave a Comment

Welcome to the 2012 updates of Baby Cheapskate’s “Toys That Get Played With” lists. The twelve toys on this list are here for one reason and one reason alone – because kids love them and continue to play with them long after the holiday decor is boxed up.

There’s no one toy that every kid likes, but the 12 toys on the list have proven track records. Hundreds of Baby Cheapskate readers have responded to more than half a dozen polls posted thrice yearly over the course of three years about which holiday toys their kids are still playing with. I’ve pored through the responses to compile this list. Each toy is linked to its listing on Amazon so that you can learn more about it.

Most Loved Toys for Babies 13 months to 24 months:

Tip: To save, try to find these second-hand via Craigslist, garage sales, thrift stores, etc. Inspect them carefully and check for recalls.

You can find this and other holiday-themed lists under the Toys that Get Played With tab at the top of BabyCheapskate’s home page.

Related:

 

Filed Under: *Hot Holiday Deals *, Toys That Get Played With

Toys that Get Played With 2012: 6 to 12 months

October 3, 2012 By 3 Comments

Have you ever given your child a toy you thought she’d love only to find it forgotten less than a week later? Ugh.

Welcome to the 2012 updates of Baby Cheapskate’s “Toys That Get Played With” lists. The 13 toys on this list are here for one reason and one reason alone – because kids love them and continue to play with them long after the holiday decor is boxed up.

There’s no one toy that every kid likes, but the 13 toys on the list have proven track records. Hundreds of Baby Cheapskate readers have responded to more than half a dozen polls posted thrice yearly over the course of three years about which holiday toys made it to the top of the toy pile and stayed there. I’ve pored through the responses to compile this list. Each toy is linked to its listing on Amazon so that you can learn more about it.

Most Loved Toys for Babies 6 months to 12 months:

You can find this and other holiday-themed lists under the Toys that Get Played With tab at the top of BabyCheapskate’s home page.

Related: 

Filed Under: *Hot Holiday Deals *, Deals & Sales, Toys That Get Played With

Baby Cheapskate’s Top Toys Week: What Makes a Good Toy?

September 10, 2012 By 3 Comments

There are lots of great toys out there and a whole lot that aren’t worth spending money on.

But what makes a good toy, anyway? It’s a question we’ve pondered many times over the years here at BC. If you stop to think about which toys have the best staying power in your household and what they have in common, I’ll bet you’d come up with the same list of traits we have.

We’re not the only ones trying to list the best toys, though. I’m sure you’ve seen the “Toy of the Year” medallions and other awards on toys in the toy aisle. This week we’re going to take a look at toys that show up on award lists put together by Dr. Toy, the Parents’ Choice Foundation and the Toy Industry Association.

As you’ll see in the Top Toys post this week, most of the lists (but not all) use the same criteria:

Toys with Staying Power

  • Are age appropriate. Toys meant for older kids can not only be dangerous for younger ones, but can be confusing or boring since kids haven’t acquired the skill or understanding they need to use them.
  • Can be used in more than one way as kids grow and learn.
  • Let kids be creative. They allow kids to create imagined worlds and scenarios.
  • Encourage extended attention. Kids play with them for more than a minute.
  • Foster  skill development. The best toys help kids build language, motor, social or problem solving skils while they play.
  • Appeal to the senses. They’re fun to look at, touch, and listen to.

On the flip side, toys destined to be forgotten

  • Aren’t interactive. Kids watch them do what they do rather than participating actively.
  • Are one-trick ponies. There’s only one way to play with them.
  • Make noises so annoying that mom or dad makes them disappear forever (*cough* Zhu Zhu Pet *cough*)
  • Require you to keep buying accessories, refills, etc. in order to maintain your child’s interest.

As you read this week’s Top Toys posts, think about how the toys on the lists fit into the criteria above. Train your brain to spot the deals and the duds!

I’d love to hear what you think about the toys on the lists. Be sure to share your opinions in the comments or on Facebook.

Browse other Toys posts at Baby Cheapskate

Browse BC’s Toys that Get Played With lists

Filed Under: Deals & Sales, Shopping Secrets, Toys, Toys That Get Played With

How to Pick Toys with Staying Power [and Avoid the Duds]

October 25, 2011 By 1 Comment

We’ve all done it, bought toys that looked really fun only to see them languish in the toy bin collecting dust. What’s the difference between a toy that’s forgotten the day after it’s received and one that gets played with week after week?

Look at the time-tested toys on the Toys That Kids Play With lists and you’ll see that most share certain qualities.

Good toys

  • Are age appropriate. Toys meant for older kids can not only be dangerous for younger ones, but can be confusing or boring since kids haven’t acquired the skill or understanding they need to use them.
  • Can be used in more than one way as kids grow and learn.
  • Let kids be creative. They allow kids to create imagined worlds and scenarios.
  • Encourage extended attention. Kids play with them for more than a minute.
  • Foster  skill development. The best toys help kids build language, motor, social or problem solving skils while they play.
  • Appeal to the senses. They’re fun to look at, touch, and listen to.

On the flip side, toys destined to be forgotten

  • Aren’t interactive. Kids watch them do what they do rather than participating actively.
  • Are one-trick ponies. There’s only one way to play with them.
  • Make noises so annoying that mom or dad makes them disappear forever (*cough* Zhu Zhu Pet *cough*)
  • Require you to keep buying accessories, refills, etc. in order to maintain your child’s interest.

What characteristics would YOU add to these lists?

Coming soon: We’ll take a look at some of the toys on the 2011 “hot toys” lists and see how they do or don’t meet the criteria for good toys.

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