Favourite Toys for the First Year

Now that The Bean is nearly 14 months old, we're able to look back and do a little review of his favourite toys from his first year.  We choose three toys for 0-6 months, and three for 6-12 months.  Just so it's clear, the opinions expressed are our own and we have received no compensation for any of these recommendations. 

0-6 MONTHS
Lamaze My First Mirror
Pretty much from the time he could focus his eyes, The Bean enjoyed looking in the mirror.  As he got older he would smile and make faces at himself.  He still likes looking in the mirror, but now uses the full-length one in his bedroom, rather than this little one. 


Manhattan Toys Skwish Classic
This was one of the first toys The Bean was able to grab and manipulate.  He had lots of fun holding it and turning it in his hands.  There are beads that slide and make a gentle clacking noise.  He also liked chewing on the knobby ends.  I like wooden toys, so it got a thumbs-up from me just for that.


Bright Starts Rattle and Shake Barbell Rattle
We got two of these at our shower.  They were great because, again, The Bean could hold and manipulate them from a very young age.  They make a gentle rattle sound.  He seemed to like that he could make noise.  



6-12 MONTHS
Vtech Learn and Discover Driver
I think a little bit just to give The Bean a toy that was noisy and would drive us a little crazy, Jen's brother and sister-in-law gave us this car toy for The Bean.  He loved it.  Even before he could really sit up he was able to manipulate the gear shift and turn the steering wheel.  It has different settings for music, animal noises and numbers. He still really likes to play with this one. 

John Deere Animal Sounds Hayride
We got this as a hand-me-down from one of the parents of a student I teach.  This isn't the exact model we have, but it's similar enough.  Each of the animals makes a noise when you push it down and when you push the farmer it plays "Old MacDonald".  On ours you can push something and it will move forward and when you push the steering wheel it beeps and the headlights light up.  The Bean loves the noises.  We attribute the time he's spent playing with this toy to his ability to say "moo".   He dances when the song plays.  It's pretty cute.  The animals on ours are a bit more realistic and The Bean uses them in the Fisher Price barn he has too.



Fisher Price Bright Beginnings Activity Walker
We picked up an older model of this toy at a garage sale for $5.  It may well have been the best $5 we've spent at a garage sale in the past few years!  As soon as The Bean was able to pull up he would push this toy around.  Before he was interested in pulling up or walking he liked to play with the various spinny things on the front of it.  It collapses down flat, which is great for storage and traveling.

BONUS TOY
Baby Einstein Take Along Tunes
This is another toy that we received as a shower gift.  We've always kept it in the car and it has come to be known as his "magic toy" as when he has been fussy on long car trips, he has quieted down INSTANTLY when I've held and pushed the button on it.  It plays long excerpts from various classical songs and the lights go off in time to the music.  It is actually pretty cool.  



What were your kids' favourite toys at these ages?  If they're older, what are their favourite toys now?  The Bean still loves things that make noise and light up, but is also starting to take more interest in things like his shape sorter and pretend pots and pans, so we'll have to wait and see what makes it into his next group of favourites. 

{this moment} Kisses

A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember. If you're inspired to do the same, leave a link to your 'moment' in the comments for all to find and see.

 

Inspired by SouleMama.

Family Day

Yesterday was Family Day in Ontario.  It's a relatively new civic holiday which was introduced to give workers time off between New Year's and Easter.  This year the three of us enjoyed spending the day together.   

After waking up, The Bean came in to our bedroom, looked out the window and played on the big bed.  

 

We also spent a lot of time in the living room playing.  Looking at the concentration on his face in some of these photos makes me think a lot about how Maria Montessori called children's play their work.  With his new found ability to walk, The Bean has been very intent on moving things from one place to another.  He is extremely focused when he does this.  It's obvious that he considers it to be serious business.  He has also been very interested in "working" his toys.  Opening and closing things.  Pushing buttons.  Turning wheels.

 

We took him to the nearby school to play on the playground.  The big slide was a huge hit.  Walking in a snowsuit still proves difficult though.  (Doesn't he look like a giant blue marshmallow? BTW, Mountain Equipment Co-op makes fantastic winter gear for little ones!)

Back home for a much-needed nap and then some more focused play.  

It was a lovely way to spend a Monday.  No chores.  Nowhere we needed to be.  No rushing around.  Just lots of time with the people I love the most.