I had grand ambitions of baking a fancy madeira wine cake for each of my neighbors this year… guess how far I’ve gotten.

I think, instead, I’m going to make a batch or two of these over-sized chocolate marshmallows with the kids and gift a few to each neighbor.  I love Janssen’s idea of putting them on a stick and adding them to a decorative bag filled with hot cocoa mix in the bottom!

Psst one quick thing…

Christmas is coming SOON, be sure to check out our SUPER POPULAR toy gift guide (viewed over 7,000,000 times by parents in the know):

You Won’t Find a Toy List Like This Anywhere Else!

Hint: Great picks for kids of all ages and interests on this list!

If you’re looking for a quick, easy, and impressive holiday treat, might I suggest these marshmallows?

They’re a surprisingly gratifying project, and useful in all manner of ways. You can drop them in a cup of hot cocoa to make it instantly special, you can add them to a holiday treat plate for some fun variety, or package them up individually. Also, they are simple for kids to help with and I’ve never met a child who doesn’t like marshmallows (at least none that live in my house).

By the way, I got these extra-large marshmallows at Wal-mart (they are 2+ inches tall), but if you can only find regular large marshmallows, those will work just fine too.

To make, you will need:

• A bag of giant marshmallows
• Dipping chocolate or almond bark
• Crushed candy canes, graham cracker crumbs, sprinkles, and other toppings
• Candy sticks (optional)

Melt your dipping chocolates and stir until smooth. Dip your marshmallows in about 1/4 of the way, then shake off the excess chocolate.

Shake your toppings over the top of the dipped marshmallows, then set on a rack to dry (or stick them in the fridge to harden faster). I find that shaking the toppings over the chocolate (rather than dipping the marshmallow into the toppings) gives you more even coverage and keeps the excess toppings from getting all chocolate-y.

If you’re using them to go along with our hot chocolate bar and spiced eggnog whipped cream, set them all out side-by-side for a pretty and festive display.

Or, add two or three to a treat plate for a teacher or neighbor gift.

Or, my favorite, insert a candy stick in the non-dipped end, put it in a small cellophane bag and tie it off with a ribbon. It’s the cutest party favor and you can add a packet of hot chocolate (or pour some cocoa mix in the bottom of the bag) for an instant gift!

P.S. Remember those famous gift guides  I mentioned earlier?

Here’s a sneak peek of our top 10 picks from that list for 2-year-olds as well as our top 10 for babies and young toddlers (See the full list here for picks for preschoolers, kindergartners, and elementary school kids)…

THE BIGGEST “WOW!” TOYS FOR 2-YEAR-OLDS

Educational Insights Magic Moves Talking Electronic Wand

(18 months – 8 years)

Amazon – $19.26

Normally I’m not big on electronic toys with lots of sounds and lights, but when said toy can help my kids get rid of all their pent-up energy inside on a stormy day, it becomes my new best friend.

This inexpensive magical wand uses 90 silly commands (sway, creep, stomp like a dinosaur, leap) and 26 songs, along with a light show to get kids moving.

This is one of those rare toys that’s great for siblings of different ages to play with together (my kids have loved it at various ages ranging from 18-months-old to 7-years old).

It will keep the bigger kids interested (who doesn’t like having the mic and being the star of the show?) while developing listening skills in the younger set along with enriching their vocabulary and ability to follow directions.

Note: If animals aren’t your kids’ thing, there’s now also this gym version.

Tot Tube Playset – Toy Car and Ball Tunnel, Ramp, Race Track

(1 – 10 years)

Amazon – $19.95

This deceptively simple toy is so much more than it appears. Parents and teachers rave about the hours and hours their kids spend shooting things through this heavy duty tunnel.

This is a great toy to get kids hypothesizing about, “what will happen when I… (put something heavier in, tilt it higher, put more than one thing in it, etc…)

When my friend first introduced me to the Tot Tube, I really liked the idea but wondered if it was worth the money- couldn’t we essentially do the same thing with a cardboard wrapping paper tube?).

What I like about this, though, is that it’s a lot more durable than a cardboard tube, it’s wider shape accommodates bigger sized cars and balls, it can break apart for easy storage or you can attach more than one for a super long tunnel, and the kids can see through it- making it so much more engaging. Read the reviews on this one and I think you’ll be sold.

Read the reviews on this one and I think you’ll be sold.

Air Fort The Original Build A Fort in 30 Seconds, Inflatable for Kids

(ages 2-12)

Amazon – $59.95

This is AMAZING for rainy day play.

Such an easy way for kids to set up a fort- set up (and clean up!) is so simple… like 30 seconds easy. Check out this video to see it in action.

My friend got one of these for her kids last year and she reports that they spend hours inside playing together and on their own. This one is going under our tree this year for sure!

Thinkfun Roll and Play Board Game

 (18 months – 3 years)

Amazon – $19.99

This is the first board game ever made specifically with young toddlers in mind. Toss the big plush cube and identify which colored side faces up. Choose a matching color card and perform the simple activity shown, such as “Make a happy face”, “Moo like a cow” or “Find something blue”.

Designed for parent and child to play together, Roll & Play strengthens bonds and builds confidence while encouraging creativity, active play and gross motor skills.

This seems like a good solution if you’re looking for a family game night selection that can incorporate even your youngest kiddos.

Wonder Crew Dolls for Boys

(1 – 10 years)

Amazon – was $39.95, now $16.16 plus 5% off coupon

I’ve been talking about the social and emotional learning benefits of dolls for boys for years in our Best Gifts for Dramatic Play Gift Guide, so I was super pumped about the release of this line of dolls designed specifically to meet those needs while staying in-tuned with boy culture!

Created by a therapist and mom, after her son came home from preschool one day and announced that ‘boys aren’t supposed to cry’. Frustrated by many of the messages boys were (and weren’t) receiving and inspired by the way play influences child development, Wider created Wonder Crew to promote social and emotional learning, build confidence and imagination, and empower boys to see themselves as caring, creative and strong people. 

I’m totally on board and will definitely be getting both the superhero doll and the extra construction outfit for my son! I also love how each set comes with props for the child to wear too, so fun!

Learning Resources Mini Muffin Match Up

(non-mouthing kids – 5 years)

Amazon – Was $24.99, now $15.99

The first thing to say about this toy is, of course, not to leave a child alone with it if they still put things in their mouth. Once you’re out of that stage, though, this is a truly AWESOME way to keep young kids occupied for a really long time. (One of the few so well suited to the preschool set.)

Moms figured out long ago that letting kids sort things in a muffin tin is a great quiet time activity. This play set expands on that idea by adding in multicolored mini muffins, dice, and cards that can be placed inside the muffin tin for sorting and math purposes.

There are also some interestingly shaped tweezers for fine motor work. All in all this one has A LOT of play-ability.

Educational Insights Design & Drill Activity Center 

(3 – 8 years)

Amazon – $31.46

I particularly like how this particular toy combines fine motor skills with pattern recognition AND adds a great dramatic play element. We got it for our son when he was 4 and he played with it quite a bit until his little old sister took it over.

Our 1 1/2-year-old is started to getting in on the fun sorting and manipulating the pieces with his hands and was off and drilling around the time he turned 2. Now this is one of the first toys he goes to, again and again, when given a choice.

The popularity of this toy has also led to some cool variations, including the Design & Drill Flower Power Station, the Design & Drill Power Play Race Car and, my favorite, the Design & Drill BrightWorks– which is like if the Design & Drill had a baby with the classic Lite Brite from my childhood (in other words, the pieces light up and it’s totally awesome).

Magna-Tiles

(2 – 10 years)

Amazon – $119.99

I discovered Magna-tiles when my oldest son was 3-years-old via his preschool and they were the big present under the tree for the kids that Christmas. They’re definitely more of an investment but have been COMPLETELY WORTH IT.

Teachers absolutely rave about these blocks and the play possibilities are endless. Because they join together using magnets, kids can create elaborate structures (often taller than they are) without becoming frustrated by crashes.

They’re also great for use with other toys. They can be used along with blocks and LEGOs to make elaborate structures, with marbles and cars to make tunnels, bridges, and marble runs, or even with dolls to create dollhouses.

All of my kids, ages 2 to 8, still play with them multiple days a week. Currently, my 6-year-old loves making elaborate pet stores with ramps and rooms for each of her Disney Princess Palace Pets while my 2-year-old always asks for these first to take to build in his room during “Quiet Time”

We splurged for the 100 piece set and got hours of rainy day fun with these- the higher price was completely worth it.

Note: For an extra $10, these magnetic train bases take the play possibilities to a whole new level and make a great stocking stuffer.

Melissa & Doug Dust! Sweep! Mop! Set

(walking – 6 years)

Amazon – $25.874

One of the most surprising things about having toddlers and preschoolers is seeing how much they absolutely LOVE to clean! We’ve had

We’ve had a broom and dust pan set for years and it’s always been super popular. The kids really enjoy breaking it out to help with clean up when the opportunity arises or just using it to play pretend. Every toddler we know has this set and totally adores it and around 18-months-old our son started completely freaking out if he can’t find it.

This year, though, I’m thinking of upgrading and totally eyeing this Melissa & Doug Cleaning Bundle- it comes with so much amazing stuff!!

You can also buy The Spray, Squirt, and Squeegee Set at a very reasonable price.

Not only will my toddler be able to sweep, mop, and dust to his heart’s content- he will also get to spray, wipe, scrub, and even squeegee. Do you KNOW how much toddlers love, love, love to spray and wipe down windows, cabinets and anything else they can get their hands on?

LeapFrog Scoop & Learn Ice Cream Cart

(ages 2 – 6)

Walmart – $39.95

See the rest of the 2-year-old gift guide here

THE BIGGEST “WOW!” TOYS FOR BABIES & YOUNG TODDLERS

First 100 Words

(9 months – 3 years)

Amazon – $3.74

This quintessential first book for babies is uber popular, and with good reason. It’s a sturdy board book with a lightly padded cover that’s easy for baby to hold (and, let’s be honest, mouth) and it’s full of bold, beautiful pictures.

Words are grouped together into categories making this a great tool for vocabulary building and shared reading time between mom/dad and baby (who pediatricians now recommend reading to at least 15 minutes a day from birth!)

A really nice present for a friend that just had a baby is this book bundled with the books Numbers Colors Shapes and the book First 100 Animals.

Infantino Textured Multi Ball Set

(6 months – 4 years)

Amazon – was $9.99, now $5.99

Balls are excellent for open-ended play and motor development for babies and younger toddlers – truly, every child should have a set.

The varying textures, colors, and sizes of the balls in this pack make them extra great for sensory engagement and they’re BPA-free so you don’t have to worry when your baby inevitably starts mouthing on them. Plus, the price can’t be beat.

Fisher-Price Laugh and Learn Learning Piggy Bank

(1 – 3 years)

Amazon – $14.99

This is one of the few plastic, noisy toys that all three of my kids truly loved when they were tots.

It seems all young kids love dropping things into slots and taking them out again, so that part was a guaranteed hit, but my littles also took to the songs and prompts encouraging counting along, comparing big and small and (new to this model) discovering mommy and baby animals.

This is another one with a huge amount of positive reviews on Amazon. In fact, it has over 400 reviews and an average 5-star rating!

Hape – Pound & Tap Bench with Slide-Out Xylophone

(9 months – 2 years)

Amazon Anniversary Edition – $35.99

This was one of the very first toys my youngest son started to really engage with. At around 10 months it started by simply placing the balls in the holes and pushing on them (over and over again), at 12 months he was delighting in using the hammer to whack at both the balls and the removable xylophone and it was still one of his favorite toys at 18 months.

This is a really nice, dual-function wooden toy (both a pounding toy and a xylophone) at a reasonable price. I would highly recommend it if you’re looking for a baby gift!

Mega Bloks First Builders Big Building Bag, 80-Piece (Classic)

(15 mos – 2 1/2 years)

Amazon – Was $24.99, now $14.92

I still remember my son receiving his first set of award-winning Megabloks for his 1st birthday. It took him a little while to figure out (kids typically grasp block building somewhere between 12 and 18 months), but once he did he started building like a mad man and never looked back!

All my mom friends and I love Mega Bloks for our youngest kiddos, even more than the classic LEGO duplos.

The locking mechanism is just a little bit easier for beginners to put together and pull apart. Plus the colors are beautiful and the zippered bag is very handy.

Lamaze Take Along Toys

(6 months – 2 years)

Amazon – was $16.99, Now only $11.99

These Lamaze toys were all the rage in the mommy and baby class I attended with my first son- and it didn’t take us long to figure out why. They’re oversized, plush, and have lots of fun stuff for baby to pull and chew on.

Plus they’re durable – all of ours lasted through all three kids.

Along with Freddy the Firefly, our favorites were the moose and inchworm (which also plays music).

Tot Tube Playset – Toy Car and Ball Tunnel, Ramp, Race Track

 (1 – 10 years)

Amazon – was $24.95, now 19.95

This deceptively simple toy is so much more than it appears. Parents and teachers rave about the hours and hours their kids spend shooting things through this heavy duty tunnel.

This is a great toy to get kids hypothesizing about, “what will happen when I… (put something heavier in, tilt it higher, put more than one thing in it, etc…)

When my friend first introduced me to the Tot Tube, I really liked the idea but wondered if it was worth the money- couldn’t we essentially do the same thing with a cardboard wrapping paper tube?).

What I like about this, though, is that it’s a lot more durable than a cardboard tube, it’s wider shape accommodates bigger sized cars and balls, it can break apart for easy storage or you can attach more than one for a super long tunnel, and the kids can see through it- making it so much more engaging. Read the reviews on this one and I think you’ll be sold.

Read the reviews on this one and I think you’ll be sold.

Educational Insights Magic Moves Talking Electronic Wand

(18 months – 8 years)

Amazon $19.99

Normally I’m not big on electronic toys with lots of sounds and lights, but when said toy can help my kids get rid of all their pent-up energy inside on a stormy day, it becomes my new best friend.

This inexpensive magical wand uses 90 silly commands (sway, creep, stomp like a dinosaur, leap) and 26 songs, along with a light show to get kids moving.

This is one of those rare toys that’s great for siblings of different ages to play with together (my kids have loved it at various ages ranging from 18-months-old to 7-years old).

It will keep the bigger kids interested (who doesn’t like having the mic and being the star of the show?) while developing listening skills in the younger set along with enriching their vocabulary and ability to follow directions.

Note: If animals aren’t your kids’ thing, there’s now also this gym version.

Strider Balance Bike

(18 months – 5 years)

Amazon – $109.99 

A Strider Balance Bike has been featured in our gift guides since I started writing them 6 years ago, and it will continue to be for as long as I’m writing them. And this year we’re teaming up with them as a sponsor to share my family’s experience.

All of my kids have been zooming around on Strider Balance Bikes since they were 2-years-old. When I first discovered them, I told every parent I knew about them.

The design makes the whole process of learning to ride a bike so much more natural. Thanks to the genius idea of taking away the pedals and letting the kids pick up their feet and balance when they’re ready.

This is my youngest first trying it out at 18 months with the help of his big brother…

So the idea here is that kids can push around using their feet on the ground and, pretty soon (really soon if they have older siblings they’re trying to keep up with), they pick up there feet and start zooming along. They learn how to balance on a bike completely naturally and at their own pace.

I also really love how lightweight they are. My kids could easily pick their bike up and carry it around as soon as they started using it.

It’s great that the design of the bike allows them to get started so young, but the biggest benefit, of course, comes when kids transition to a normal bike.

Balance is by far the hardest part of that process but, with the balance bike, kids already have that down. As a result, it took my kids just a few minutes to figure out how to ride a bike with pedals the first time they tried.

If you’re looking for a first bike, I couldn’t recommend this one more!

Kidkraft Red Vintage Kitchen

(12 mos – 6 years)

Amazon – On sale $111.48 

I know what you’re thinking – a one-year-old is too little to enjoy a big dramatic play toy like this. Once upon a time, I would have agreed with you – but then my baby boy starting pulling up and I got to see first hand how much he LOVES opening and shutting the doors, turning the knobs, taking the sink in and out and putting food in and out of all the compartments.

Plus, I know he has years of enjoying it still ahead of him. The ideal time to buy this toy is around 18 months so your child gets the maximum amount of years out of it.

In case you’re wondering, we bought this for our oldest kids when they were 1 and 3 and couldn’t be happier with it seven years later with my third child, who is 4, still getting plenty of use out of it.

I really like the look of the thing and love thatthe vibrant red is nicely gender neutral. Despite a small footprint, this kitchen still has all the amenities a kid could want and both my kids enjoy regularly playing at it simultaneously.

(Side note: people sometimes ask if kids will get too big for this smaller kitchen – mine are 95% percentile in height and haven’t had an issue). If you’re looking for a big wow gift from Santa, this could very well be it!

Based on how much my youngest (and all my other kids) love the play kitchen, I was so excited when I found the line of Hape Playfully Delicious kitchen tools!

Toddlers absolutely love mimicking what they see adults doing in the kitchen and these toys do such a great job of allowing them to do that. The toaster is my favorite but the bottom two are close runners up:

• Hape – Playfully Delicious – Pop Up Toaster Wooden Play Kitchen Set
• Single Serve Coffe Maker (think a play Keurig)
• Might Mixer (think a Kitchen Aid mixer)

Fisher-Price Laugh and Learn Love to Play Puppy

(9 months – 4 years)

Amazon – $27.49 

We acquired this dog as a hand-me-down from friends whose kids had outgrown him. The puppy’s a cuddly and engaging first friend and our 1 1/2-year-old was quite taken with him. He has two modes – learning and musical- and identifies body parts, colors and sings lots of fun songs when various body parts are pushed.

All three of our kids have loved him and we whole-heartedly agree with one reviewer who wrote, “he is very interactive and elaborate…. he counts, names body parts and colors, has funny sayings, and sings many songs (ENTIRE songs). He’s funnier, more educational (and cuter) than “Tickle-Me-Elmo”–minus the annoying voice.”

Also, the one for sale is a newer version. New features include Smart Stages technology-learning that changes as baby gets older with 3 levels of age-appropriate play. Also available in the “Sis” version too.

Mommy & Me My First Doll Stroller

$19.99 (12 months – 5 years)

Lots to Cuddle Baby Twins

$24.99 (1 – 9 years)

Around the time they start walking all kids, girls and boys, ABSOLUTELY LOVE pushing around toy strollers. When my daughter was a toddler, she liked her dolls, but wasn’t obsessed like some other little girls we knew.

Yet, she has always adored piling them into her stroller and taking them for a stroll around the house over, and over, and over again. Then her stroller was straight-up commandeered by her 18-month-old brother who also couldn’t get enough of pushing it around all day.

I promise you, if you a buy a toy stroller for your child, it will be one of the most-used toys you’ve ever purchased. Oh, and if you have a kid that does happen to be doll-obsessed, this 3-in-1 pram is a really fun and versatile option too!

Logic follows that if one baby to take care of is good, then twins is even better. And the facial expressions on these two are my favorite, so realistic!

Very similar to the Melissa & Doug Brianna Doll, these twins have soft bodies that allow for laying or sitting and hard arms and legs that easily wipe clean. Plus, there’s two of them! (Basically for the price of one.)

They are also some of the most life-like dolls I’ve seen. These two are now on the top of my birthday gift list for the 1-year-old to 3-year-olds in my life.

That’s it for our glimpse, but this is only the tip of the iceburg! For the complete list, be sure to check out…

MPMK Gift Guide: Best Toys for Babies & Young Toddlers

*Post contains affiliate links

P.S. Got kids that are a little older? Don’t miss:

• The Very Best Toys for Two-Year-Olds

• Go-To Gifts for Preschoolers

• The Most Exciting Gifts You Can Give a Kindergartner

• Go-To Gifts for Elementary Aged Kids

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Janssen

Blogs at at Everyday Reading

Janssen is a former librarian and avid reader who is always maxing out her library card. She now stays at home with her three young daughters (with another girl on the way) and blogs about books for readers of all ages, her favorite recipes, and parenting adventures at Everyday Reading.

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