Johaan's Favorites

I don't think I have ever spent as much time picking anything as I have when buying toys. I think it is a combination of a huge choice of toys available and me trying to figure out the most appropriate, safest and somewhat educational toy that Johaan will actually enjoy playing with. To be honest, the things he likes to play with the most are: lases on my sweatshirt, buttons on the sofa, Kleenex boxes, carpet etc. But there are few real toys that he likes as well. Here are his favorites:

Wee Gallery Black and White Collection Art Flashcards ($12.00)

Johaan liked these cards from his first days. He was mesmerised by looking at all those interesting patters. Sometimes I would put the card inside of the crib and he would look at it before falling asleep. Now when he is little older I make up stories about the animals and use the cards as a book. We have the Original Animal Art cards and the Farm Collection.  

 

 

A Stimulating Set of Blocks by Educational Baby ($24.95)

These blocks are recommended from 1 year up but Johaan has been playing with them since he was six months old. I would say it is his favorite toy. He runs across the room when he sees a tower built from the blocks, he likes to pick the blocks and shake with them (some of them are like a rattle with bells inside, we use them as musical instruments when singing). And of course he likes to smash them when stacked on top of each other. But lately he is trying to put one block on top of the other (not very successful yet). 

 

Fisher-Price Roll-a-Rounds: Touch 'N Tickle Rounds by Fisher-Price ($9.99)

Johaan loves chasing these balls. And he also likes to touch and explore all the different materials on them. They come in set of six.  

 

Kidco Car

Johaan got this car from my mom when he was few months old, it says from 1 year up but he has been playing with it for quite some time. He started crawling just to get to the car. It is made out of hard plastic so I always watch him while he plays with it.

Wimmer-Ferguson Mind-Shapes ball trio by Manhattan Toy

This set (cube, ball and triangle) is a great toy that your child can grow with. When Johaan was really little he would just stare at it, I hanged one in his stroller too so he could look at it while outside. Later he started playing with it, rolling the ball, throwing the cube. They also work like rattles. He still likes playing with them now. They are made of soft material so very safe for even small babies.

Forest Activity Mirror by SKIP HOP ($17.00)

Babies like looking at babies. I used to attach this mirror on the crib when Johaan was small and he could look at himself for hours (well, maybe not for hours, but for a very long time). Now he doesn't play with it that often anymore but when he does he tries to kiss "the other baby" in the mirror.  

Treetop Friends Activity Gym by SKIP HOP ($75.00)

This was a great buy. I wasn't sure at what stage to buy this but then I bought it when Johaan was month and a half. He really likes it, still. The colors are nice (not too crazy), birds are cute and make nice sounds (one bird sounds so real, like a real bird!). Materials are very soft. He rolled on this mat, pulled himself up and talked to his birdie friends.

Winkel

Just a great toy, easy to grab even for tiny hands.

Rainforest Jumperoo by Fisher-Price ($89.99)

I would probably not buy a jumper so I have to thank my friend Katherine (and Johaan's friend Frankie) for lending it to us and testing it. Johaan loves it and as I later found out, jumping is really good for kids. We will definitely get our own once we have to return this one.