Wooden Marble Run

My 6 & 2 year old have a plastic marble run that they play with almost daily. I think the original set came from ToysRus and a second one came from Toys et Cetera in Evanston. They just love building it as high as they can and even incorporate other toys into it. Another love of theirs is Legos, which get really expensive. I bought most of mine on eBay, but you can search for deals all over the net.

Good luck!

My kids got a wooden set and honestly it was terrible. It never held together, they couldn't make it really work and even I had issues making a good marble run. I'd stick with plastic for that toy.

I found some neat toys on vacation - http://www.bluerivermill.com/history.html#anchor_119 the blocks on here, my 10 yr old built a few neat things with them
http://www.popularplaythings.com/ has a build a boat (magnetic toys and games) , kayak cove (3D brainteaser), magnetic match rings (puzzles for kids) and Mr. Mutt the Magnetic Wonderdog (retro toys)

All of those looked neat enough in the store for me to write them down.

We have had both the plastic ones that fit together in different patterns and a wooden block marble run. I would highly suggest the wooden one. We had two different plastic ones and they just never stood up strong and my son got frustrated very easily. The wooden one we have is great. It does not fit together. The blocks lay on each other and you build it however you want it each time. It also falls over but once you have a sturdy build it stays up. We got it years ago at LTD Commodities. I just checked their website and they don't carry it anymore but I bet you can find one similar somewhere else.

We got a very nice one from www.hearthsong.com for about $30, Item 724460. They also have the Quadrilla, which you can buy in separate components, that is more costly.

Discovery toys. I know you said wooden, but that makes the price JUMP so high that we couldn't do it. They have a marble run and lots of open play and even books. We have two books I love to read because you can make them different every time. Good luck!

Magnatiles!!! My son had these at his preschool and we loved them so much we got a set and have also bought them for my nephew and nieces. They are flat acrylic tiles with magnetic strips inside so you can connect them. They teach geometry while kids play and best of all, they can be used by kids of different age groups. We got my son's when he was about 4- he is almost 10 and still uses them.

Sometimes he just builds buildings with them, they have made Matchbox car garages, they have been forts for action figures and Transformers to break apart, they are never-endingly creative. There are several different packs- some even come with wheels, etc. but the basic shapes are just fine.

They are expensive, but ALL three kids can use them together or separately and you will get YEARS of play out them. When my son is too old to use them, they are one of the toys going into the 'grandchildren' box (along with the Brio trains) for when he has kids of his own.

If you are in the Chicago area- go to Geppetto's Toy Box in Oak Park on Lake Street. They have them there, and also specialize in the kind of long-lasting, battery free toys it sounds like you want. The staff is super nice and helpful and they have a lot of really great toys you won't be able to find at a Toys R Us. Also, they are a small, family-run toy store! I think they do online orders as well. Their website is: www.geppettostoybox.com

different types of blocks are really great for open-ended play. the haba blocks, which are long and thin are really fantastic for older kids who may want to build more complex structures as well as younger ones. they can be pricey, though, so they're a bit of a splurge.

I think Legos are the best toy for all age groups. I have kids 6, 10, and 12 and they all love them and have for years. I have the wooden marble run and they never play with it. They like the plasic one better. The wooden one has to be a certain way for the marbles to go down it. Hope this helps.

Check out the wonderful games at Mindware. They are also fun for adults to play. Educational and always new. I give them to all the kids on my list and haven't had an unhappy recipient yet. Most of the parents thank me as much as the children. Sometimes they have specials so keep checking. Good Luck!

PS I understand the early budgeting. I have 9 birthdays in December including my son and grandson. We do two carts. One for birthdays and the other for Christmas. LOL