Best Toys Between $25 and $50 - Ideas/suggestions?

Hi S.,
My local County Library has a book-sale room where I find books for my readers of all ages very cheap and in very decent condition. Some are as low as 10 cents and the most expensive is aroud 3 dollars. If it weren't for the county library my budget would have been broken a long time ago.
J. F. Mom of three, Step-mom of two.

Hi S. I cant say enough about the Leapster from Leap Frog it is wonderful. My kids boy and girl have loved it since they were 2 and love it even more now at 3 and 6. It is educational interactive and as tough as nails. It has been dropped on hard ground a million times and it doesnt miss a beat. It is about 50 and the games are I think 15 even cheaper off of ebay for like 7. I had to get 2 of them because they both love them and they are great travel companions. I do not recomend the V Tech toy I had to return one twice because it is not made for little kids in my oppinion. I have 4 kids and the last thing I need is another toy but I love educational ones. I also recomend the recharge system it saves alot on batteries. Good luck hope this helped.

My youngest is almost 2 and her absolute favorite toy is the Fisher Price Learning Puppy. She also loves playing with the Leap Pad toys and this Christmas, one of her presents will be a "Teach and Touch Laptop" I found at walmart.com for only $20!!! The local Dollar General store has lots of cardboard books that my little one can't tear up as quickly as the paper ones and much cheaper than a book store. I'm considering Color-Wonder markers for her artistic side and so maybe I can save my walls and furniture.

are you looking to buy online or in a store? Here's a site that came up when I googled toys for 2 year olds, it has a ton of toys in your price range:

http://www.growingtreetoys.com/age_products/53-2/

If you go to toys r us website they have the new toy book out, which may give you some ideas, and also Target has their toy book online also.

There's a really cute kitchen that my daughter got for her 2nd birthday, I can't think of the brand but it came from Toys R Us and it folds up. It was about $40 or $50, and my daughter is over 3 yrs old and STILL enjoys it. Other favorite toys - a pretend vacuum cleaner, shopping basket, cradle for her baby dolls - lots of pretend play stuff, because they really start to get into that at this age. Play doh is also a wonderful and inexpensive gift. There's all kinds of new playdoh things out nowadays and even a cool lapdesk. My daughter also got a piano with microphone that she really enjoys. If your girls like to sing and dance, I highly recommend the Laurie Berkner Band dvd. The songs are sooo cute and my daughter really really loves it!

Some of my kids favorite toys are anything by Melissa & Doug. They are woodent toys and very quality so they last forever. They have a range of different things for the different ages. ToysRUs sells some but you can look them up at http://www.melissaanddoug.com. When my oldest turned two, we got her one of those inflatable ball tents where she could pile the balls on top, get inside, pull on a "tab" and the soft inflatable balls would fall on her head. It was great fun and she learned cause/effect, coordination and it helped with teaching her how to clean up! (and my husband would say to "throw a ball!")

Any of the Leap Pad things are great. My daughter just turned 4 and she received a "My First Leap Pad" a couple of years ago and still loves it. When she plays one book to the point she's tired of it, we just buy her another book. She has known all her colors, alphabet and counted to 10 by the time she was 2. Now she counts into the 30's and is so much smarter than the other kids around here that are her age. I attribute it to the fact that I stay home with her, and the leap pad. It is truly the best gift she has ever received. They even have a book about Thomas for it. They will love it.

It may be less expensive than you are looking for, but my kids, 19 mo girl, 5 yr old boy, LOVE the wooden blocks, the ones with the letters and numbers. They are very valuable teaching tools for both ages. ex- find the red block, which one is #1, motor skills for the younger, cause and effect (building towers and knocking down) and just all around fun.

Geotrax from Fisher Price are awesome!! All the sets are connectable and their are so many out there. I started getting these for my son when he was 2, and haven't stopped yet (and he's 4 1/2 now)!!!

Have you thought about discovery toys? I have a friend that is an educational consultant for them. The toys are GUARANTEED forever with no questions asked. Even if they lose a piece the company will replace the piece or the toy. Not only do they have fun but they learn while they play which at this age is their job. The other cool thing is that many of the toys grow with them by adding additional sets with the smaller toys. They have toys for all ages. Email me privately and I will give you contact information.

____@____.com

happy holidays,
C.

Dear Shelia, You should be able to do well with your budget because little children like simple toys. Actually, mine always played more with the boxes and the bows after opening their presents! I always joked that I should have just wrapped boxes for them. Don't make the mistake of giving in to the hype to buy the latest new thing because the marketing to children in the age group of your girls is done more so to parents. Your girls will probably be overjoyed to receive a variety of inexpensive dolls, cars, and the like rather than only one or two expensive items. Also remember the neat crafty type stuff. Girls would probaby love a shoe box of pretty snippets of ribbon and material and little trinkets (not too little that they would choke on) just to use their imagination with. Also, don't forget crayons, washable markers, coloring books. All children love these! Good luck and have fun with it! T