There are
lots of holiday toy guides this time of year but mine is unique. This is a guide from a grandmother’s
perspective.
I saw all of
the items on this list at Toy Fair NY.
None of these reviews are based on receiving a free sample or
compensation. I recommend only all high quality items that I think your grandchildren will enjoy. Yes, some have educational and developmental value but will children enjoy them is the main criteria for making my list.
And… there are some that you will enjoy playing with the
grandkids. This is how items make it on
my lists. Oh and the bonus - none of the items on this list are budget busters - almost all of them are under $20.
All of these
pictures were taken by me at Toy Fair – none are stock photos. That is why they are less than perfect with
other stuff in the background, but they show the real deal.
My first
list is for infants and toddlers. The bonus is that one of these items is a giveaway. See the details to enter the giveaway. The giveaway is easy to enter and not complicated - I promise. Check back soon for two
more posts for older kids.
All of these items are available on Amazon for easy shopping. See the links at the end of the post.
First
Words Tot Tower by eeboo - The Giveaway Feature
The First Words Tot Tower is the giveaway compliments of eeboo. See the details to enter at the end of the post.
Some toys
are timeless and are enjoyed generation after generation. These sturdy tower nesting blocks are a
classic toddler toy. I remember them
being a favorite for my kids. The graphics
are bold and colorful. This low tech
simple toy is full of learning opportunities for a toddler and most importantly will be enjoyed –
really important to grandparents. And if
you still able and willing to get down on the floor Grandma, it is fun to play
with your grandchild. Kids enjoy playing with it as they grow and can reach higher and higher to complete the tower.
Books for children at every age are favorite gifts for me. Check out the board books by eeboo also shown here in this picture taken at Toy Fair NY. They feature bright colors and simple themes.
The eeboo booth is always one of my favorites to visit at Toy Fair.
Plush
Princess Noa Snuggler by Douglas
All babies
like to grab onto little snugglers and if you are shopping for a newborn you
can’t go wrong with choosing one. I
particularly like this one because babies like to grab onto the satin finish
which this one has and the character doubles as a doll rather than an
animal. Babies seem to get more than their share of stuffed
animals. And so, this one is a little different – and oh so
cute and cuddly.
Best
Friends Bert and Ernie by Gund
This pair
are only 4 inches tall each so they are the right size for very young children.
They can easily be held by a baby or toddler. Also, they don’t have removable
eyes and so they are safe for babies and toddlers to play with. Bought together
they are a bargain for name brand characters and Gund always has quality made
products.
Animal
High Rise by HABA
This 15
piece building toy has a little twist.
Each block has unique edges so it will take a toddler a while to figure
it out. When completed it forms an “animal
high rise with colorful animals peering out the windows. HABA is well known for these creative
building sets for toddlers. This may not
be the last one you buy.
Snug Up
Dolls by HABA
The snug up
dolls come in different sizes – 8 inch to 12.5 inches so make sure you are
aware of this before ordering online.
These soft dolls are washable and feature embroidered facial features. The outfits are removeable but the shoes are on
the fabric. There are quite a few of
these dolls available at Amazon so check them all out. They have different expressions and hair
color and there are a some boy models too.
As always, HABA makes a quality product.
Woodland Friends
Puzzles by Orange Tree Toys
These sweet
wooden puzzles featuring a rabbit, an owl and a fox are each only three pieces
so they make a perfect first puzzle. The
toddler can begin with just three pieces for one puzzle and then you can set
out the nine pieces to make three puzzles.
My guess is that many of the toddlers you know have rabbit, owl and fox stuffed
animals and so don’t be surprised if they are present when these puzzles are
put together.
Toy Story
Train by DUPLO
This 21
piece Toy Story train featuring Buzz Lightyear and Woody will be a hit with toddlers
whether or not they are Toy Story fans. But with Toy Story 4 now available it is sure to be a winner. If there are older children in the house then this may be a magnet to
play with a younger sibling. This
colorful set is easy to put together and what toddler doesn’t love trains. Oh, and for those of us who are a certain age,
Christmas and trains go together.
Giveaway
Information
One winner will receive a First Words Tot Tower by eeboo.
The hallmark of The Grandma Chronicles giveaways is
that it is easy to enter and there are two ways. Both ways count as an entry so
you get two entries if you do both. I
need to be able to contact you if you win. If you enter - email your email address to
marion@grandmachronicles.com. I will not
use your email address for anything except to notify you if you win. Grandmother’s Honor.
Leave a comment here on the blog
Like The Grandma Chronicles facebook page - click here.
You can have two entries by doing both. Deadline to enter: Thursday, November 14, 2019 at
midnight. This item can be sent to US addresses only.
Full Disclosure:
The reviews in this article are my own objective opinion. I did not get paid to write these reviews, I did not receive free samples nor do I have a sponsorship/ambassador relationship with any of these companies.
All of the items in this holiday guide can conveniently be ordered from Amazon. Just click on the icon below to go to Amazon.