Still in need of a big ticket toddler item for Christmas? Look no further. Here are two tried-and-true classics that pack a lot of playtime punch at a reasonable price. First up is the quintessential train table. We bought this one for C’s 2nd birthday and he has played with it for at least an hour every single day in the last two months. The first day I actually canceled a play date because I knew we weren’t making it out of the house. I got more cleaning done that day than I had the entire previous month!
This really is a great investment – it’s well made, durable, and super interesting with 100 included pieces. And here’s the big secret, buy it at Toys-R-Us and it’s up to $100 cheaper than at other big retailers. Seriously, put on your shoes and go get one today. Or, if you don’t have a train enthusiast in your home…
Second, is the well-known and much-loved Learning Tower. If you have the room in your kitchen, this little beast can work miracles involving your kids with dinner prep while keeping them safe and out of trouble. I was so excited to see that Costco was carrying The Learning Tower plus the playhouse kit (and at a decidedly Costco price), I managed to momentarily forget that I do not have the needed space in my very petite kitchen. Hopefully you do!
And speaking of under the tree…that’s exactly where my patio furniture is right now. I thought moving from Nashville to Seattle was supposed to get me away from windstorms that nearly knock over HUGE trees onto my house. My poor neighbors awoke to a tree coming through the closet and ceiling of their master bedroom at 1am.