The list author says: "If your toddler has opposite-sex siblings, it’s never too early to learn to share!
I'm a big believer in educational toys. There's so many great ones to choose from today, there's no reason to not pick a toy that will simultaneously develop your baby's skills while having fun.
Below are my Baby Lists-approved picks for this year’s best toys that are perfect for both boys and girls."
"The LeapFrog Fridge Farm Magnetic Animal Set received the prestigious Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Gold Seal Award in 2004. This is a great solution if you’re busy in the kitchen and want to keep your toddler busy and in sight. It teaches all about animals as it plays learning songs, fun facts, and sounds."
"Slide the address roller to learn all about numbers and lift the mail flag to learn about opposites to learn about music and phrases. The mail box is surrounded by and activities including a jiggly bat-at bird who interacts with baby, and a silly slider snail and butterfly to develop baby’s motor skills."
"This won the Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Gold Seal Award in 2005. Your little girl or guy will love playing with this birdhouse. Four colorful rattling birds all have different textures, and the easy-open roof and door are perfect for tiny hands. Classic “fill-and-pour” play encourage development of motor skills and cause-effect understanding."
"I love this toy because there are so many things to do. Once your toddler visits the town center he will want to spend the day. Mechanical features include a drop-through mail delivery system, a rolling food preparation site, a clicking hairdressing chair and a slide out x-ray machine. Also includes a gas pump, a traffic light, an umbrella table and a mail delivery truck."
"This is a great toy for parents and child to play with together. It develops sensory skills and hand-eye coordination. It helps young children learn first words, develop matching skills and early problem solving. The 20 two-piece puzzles are sturdy and fun for young children to hold and handle."
"I know toddlers love to stack things way up high and then knock them down. These brightly colored Nest and Stack Buckets is the perfect toy for doing just that.
A bright storage bucket with a handle includes ten stacking and nesting cups, plus four fun shapes for sorting. Stack them up to make a tower over 3 feet tall."
"A toy collection is just not complete without Lego building blocks. This set won the 2008 Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Blue Chip Award.
Legos are ideal for construction play. This set comes with a building plate, wagon base and figure to help inspire role-play fun. New container allows for easy clean-up and efficient storage."
"This entertainment table is not only a great source of amusement but is also a learning resource. There are songs, melodies, twinkling lights, and real instrument sounds, plus lot of things to spin, roll, slide, open and close.
When the center page is turned, the activity table switches modes and transforms musical discoveries into learning activities where each instrument plays a learning song."
"This 2008 Child Magazine Best Toy Award winner will encourage your child to develop a liking for music. It teaches numbers and colors in addition to presenting musical concepts such as tempo, pitch and styles.
Choose from Learning, Musical Fun and the new Imagination mode for full piano play. Your toddler will play and learn with the 8 light-up keys and 4 activities with musical songs."
"What fun discovering what a busy place a farm can be: “neigh” says the horse, “baaa says the sheep, “cluck” chirps the chicken, “moo” says the cow, “oink” squeals the pig. Your little one will even discover what some of the animals feel like when they pet the “cottony” cow, “hairy” horse, “wooly” sheep, and the “squiggly” piggly tail."
