Most worthwhile big toys

[Anonymous]

I am in process of making up a Christmas list for my 18 month old (over eager grandparents!) and I am trying to decide which of the larger toys are most worthwhile. i am considering:

Table and chair set
Play kitchen
Tricycle
Balance bike
Water/sand table
Some sort of indoor play tent
One of those learning towers for the kitchen

I do not want all of these items in my house. Of the above, which will get the most use, both now and in the years to come? Anything I am overlooking that I should also consider?

[Anonymous]

That's a great list, but I would make sure that they knew that it was a "pick ONE" menu!

I would go for the indoor items over the bikes. Nice weather is a long way away.

[Anonymous]

Play kitchen. Bike. Table and chair set.

Those are ones my 3 year old uses the most.

My parents are getting her one of those micro scooters for her birthday this year.

[Anonymous]

I vote for kitchen, little table and chairs (I'm sitting on one of her chairs now, hiding in the kitchen), and balance bike.

[Anonymous]

Play kitchen is one of my 18 month olds #1 toys. Pretty much the majority of what he does if he's playing independently in the playroom. We also use our learning tower a lot but honestly not I think he could just stand on a chair and it would be fine so it was a short half life where we really needed it. So I think you could skip that. I'm looking to get a small table/chairs and also considering balance bike/micro scooter for grandparent presents at christmas so following with interest..

[Anonymous]

I'd say play kitchen and table and chairs at 18m, water table and tricycle for bday (if they gift then as well).

[Anonymous]

my kid was this age last year. I'd go play kitchen, table/chair set, learning tower. A tricycle or balance bike would be better next Christmas (closer to 3) and a water/sand table isn't gonna be immediately usable at Christmas if you live in this area (disregard if you live in a warm winter climate).

[Anonymous]

Play kitchen and a sand box/water table.

I would skip a learning tower, You can get a 2 step step stool from Ikea that takes less space.

[Anonymous]

Play kitchen, and I'd add Magnatiles to the list. They are expensive but the kids get years of use out of them, and can start around that age (with supervision)

[Anonymous]

magnatiles.
mini trampoline.

[Anonymous]

Is your child interested in vehicles? Wooden train sets and big trucks take up a lot of space at my house.

[Anonymous]

Kitchen for sure!

[Anonymous]

Agree with the play kitchen. I’d wait on magnatiles until at least 2 - maybe a birthday gift? Both of those items get near constant play in our house (4 kids).

[Anonymous]

Another vote for kitchen.

[Anonymous]

Whatever you do, skip the indoor tent. 1) a table or chairs with a blanket over it works just as well (didn't you do this when you were little?) and 2) they are flimsy and will end up in the trash pretty quickly

Also, a regular two-wheeler can be converted to a balance bike by taking off the pedals.