JUMBONETICS (by International Playthings)

When someone asks for a gift for a toddler, I love to tell them about Jumbonetics. It's great for both genders, but I particularly like it for girls. (I think girls get ripped-off when it comes to science and building toys.)

We would watch our boys spend 20 min. building with blocks and then have a meltdown when their little uncoordinated bodies would accidentally knock them down. This is a great gift to give along with a plastic tote with their name on it. The tote can be used long after they've outgrown the toy.

Jumbonetics is my first recommendation for toddlers because:

1) It's a great "first taste" of science -- when they feel the magnetic pull, it's like magic to them.
2) It's not frustrating the way blocks can sometimes be.
3) VERY easy to clean.

(Ages 18 mo.+, $28)

http://www.intplay.com/productdetails.aspx?pid=485

HIDE & SEEK SAFARI (by R&R Games)

"Mommy, Daddy, will you play with me?"

You're writing an e-mail or doing dishes.

"Okay, go get your monkey and your stick,"

Have your child count to ten, toss the monkey behind the chair. Go back to what you were doing.

It's like an electronic "hot and cold" game. The stick has a sensor and lights to indicate when your child is close to the target.

This toy will save your sanity because:

1) It's a 10 second investment on your part and a 10 MINUTE investment on theirs.
2) This is the PERFECT toy for an only child or child that is significantly older/younger than their siblings.
3) It's a great toy for Grandma's house.
4) ONLY TWO PIECES -- No small parts to step on.

I wish you could see the expressions on people's faces when I show them this toy. They are so relieved to have a simple way to be engaged with their children during busy times. Love, love, love this thing.

(Ages 3+, 2 players, $35)

http://www.rnrgames.com/Product.aspx?id=e70b2304-9ef8-4da9-8f43-f06fc549e5d0

TOSS UP Dice Game (by Patch Products)

There are three colors on the dice: red, yellow and green.

When you roll, you set the greens aside (they count as one point and the goal is 100 pts.). If you roll yellows AND reds, you can keep going without collecting points.

If you roll nothing BUT red, you lose your points. However, you can stop anytime before that to preserve the points you've collected.

Geez, Louise, this is easy! I can actually play this game with my five year-olds!

This is why I could kick myself for not knowing about it sooner:

1) A four year-old could conceivably play this game (with help in scoring, of course).
2) It's quick -- under 10 minutes.
3) What an awesome travel game! (The box the size of a deck of cards)
4) Add a paperback to this for older kids and there's your birthday gift.

(Ages 8+ -- that one's up to you, 2-6 players, $7)

http://www.patchproducts.com/store/viewItem.asp?idProduct=500

WHAT TIME IS IT? (by Eeboo)

Easy, fun and gorgeous! I love Eeboo's artwork and the games are sturdy.

'What Time Is It?' teaches both analog and digital time, so they cover all the bases. You will go from "dinner will be in three Spongebobs," to "dinner will be at 6:30," in one week.

This is why I think this is the perfect gift for pre-schoolers:

1) It's a fun way to teach a necessary skill.
2) It's the perfect birthday present for a child you don't know well -- it's relevant for all children.
3) It's the perfect present when you have THREE birthdays to attend in one weekend -- only $15!

Keep a couple of 'em on hand pre-wrapped. You'll go through them quickly.

(Ages 4+, 2-4 players, $15)

http://eeboo.com/product.php?cat=250&prod=230

THE GAME OF LIFE Twists & Turns Electronic Game (by Hasbro)

We've been playing this game for three days straight, now.

Almost all of us have played this game as kids, and I was truly hesitant to try the new version: "Where was the cool spinner? Why don't I get little plastic pin-head babies?"

Folks, I am now ADDICTED to the new version. I don't even care if I win or even FINISH the game.

You'll love how they updated this thing. Each player gets a credit card (with a Visa logo -- nice product placement) and the round electronic score keeper keeps track of absolutely everything (paydays, houses, children, etc.). This is why I will probably play this game again, tonight:

1) The career choices are relevent and numerous -- I've been everything from a fashion designer to a coach.
2) They have a lottery where everyone can participate, and investment opportunities where you wager a base amount and hit a "chance" button to see how well you did.
3) The cards you draw are amusing. Good conversation game.

Give it a shot. It'll make the old "Life" look like Old Maid.

(Ages 9+, $35)

PROJECT RUNWAY Fashion Design Projector Kit (by Fashion Angels)

Ladies, remember FASHION PLATES from the 80's? Morph that with the overhead projectors from school and you have the Project Runway Projector Kit.

The discs are like View Master reels, projecting outfits to trace onto paper. This was an item that FLEW off of the shelves over the holiday season. This makes me wish I had produced a girl because:

1) You can customize your drawing as you trace.
2) There are tons of outfits to choose from.
3) Folds up like a laptop so its great for trips.
4) Project Runway is a pretty awesome show.

(AGES 8+, $35)

Here's a Fashion Plates nostalgia pic for ya:
http://dollybellespeepshow.typepad.com/photos/uncategorized/2007/11/27/fashion_plates.jpg

YOOKIDOO DISCOVERY PLAYHOUSE (by International Playthings)

Can't tell you how smart this thing is... When our boys were too big for the Exersaucer, we noticed they would climb underneath the seat and pretend it was a tent.

SO, we got a pop-up tent. It trapped heat like an oven and fell apart within three months.

I love this product because:

1) It folds flat and can be easily stored under a bed.
2) There are toys attached to all sides so it will keep the little ones occupied with VERY little cleanup.
3) You can take it to the beach or the park and it provides a good amount of shade.
4) Parents Magazine 2008 Top Toy

Check out their website. There's a great demo video of Yookidoo products.

http://www.intplay.com/productnav1.aspx?gid=44&cid=19170

(Ages 12 mo. +, $100)

WHAT-ZIT Manipulative Toy (by Galt)

Wowee...

I'll try to make this short. We had to take a long-distance car trip so I picked up a couple of these. What the hey -- they were cheap ($4).

The What-Zit is composed of wooden blocks held together with fabric-covered elastic bands. This thing is a cross between a Jacob's Ladder and a Rubik's Cube. However, there's no point to it. Interpretive play.

When I picked my kids up from school, they were extremely hyper. I handed them the toy and a miraculous thing happened: they sat nicely in their carseats, the volume went from an "11" to a "4", and they were engaged for 30 minutes straight!

Apparently, these are used in special needs classes, particularly for AUTISM & ADD to help little ones sit in "circle time". You know what, that's exactly the effect it had on my part-time heathens! This is why I keep one of these on me at all times:

1) It's cheap (did I mention it was only $4?).
2) These are FANTASTIC for stressful times (i.e., grocery store, restaurants, church).
3) I backed over it with my car last month and it STILL looks like the day I bought it.

There's no packaging, so that's a shocking relief. You can find these at a lot of educational toy stores. Get one. Your sanity will be restored.

(Wish I had a link to this one. When I have links or actual boxes to show you, I'll include 'em.)

(AGES 3+, $4)

Welcome to Texas Toy Lady!

Life with a Double Stroller is rough. Shopping in public can be a pain, so I relied on the help of salespeople to help me get in and out of stores. Unfortunately, customer service has become virtually non-existent.

I ended up doing a lot of research on our toys. That combined with the customer feedback from my toy store "mommy-job" helped me weed out the trash from treasure. This blog is about my favorites and why these items are good investments.

When moms find something that really works, they feel compelled to share it with others. So, bring me your own discoveries and tell us why it works for you!