Why do children latch into certain toys, waking up and asking about that one or two toys immediately? Lil’ Duck asks about his Pat Pat Rocket every morning and it is never far from him throughout his day.

As an adult it doesn’t look all that appealing to me, but putting the characters in their correct seats (of course they had to enter the rocket by stepping three times on the steps), closing the cover and having it make sounds is exciting each time for this 3 year old. I will admit the sounds are annoying to me while other adults don’t find them that way – hey, what child’s toy doesn’t make sound?

This would appeal to the child in the 2 – 4 year old range when repetition and putting little plastic “people” in their correct places is at it’s strongest.

Yes, the child whacks the cute moles with a plastic mallet and those moles pop back up with a giggle! The moles are dressed with hard-hats if that makes you feel better :).

Lil’ Duck was delighted on Christmas morning to find a toy where he could take it out and have some good ol’ fun and have the Whac-A-Mole Game light up and giggle back at him. I was pleased to discover that there are various levels of play with a flip of a switch and it does teach the child to listen for their tune rather than just randomly whacking away. Another bonus is the child can play solo or with up to 4 players so this would make a good multi-age game for families.

What goes up the ladder? What goes down the trap door? All types of play cars of course! With a pre-schooler’s imagination, any toy can play in the Tree House…and you thought only little play people would want to play in on the different levels and climb the rope, how boring! The cars are the creatures of choice at the moment, they even lounge in the hammock…

Thankfully this Wooden Tree House is very durable (should be after all the pieces and connections Mommy and Daddy had to put together and already has many hours of play in the land of imagination for older toddlers and pre-schoolers. Well worth the investment and will be used far longer than many other toys.

Toy recalls have been an issue that we have followed here at Lil’ Duck Duck and we want to share this new resource with you. Rachelle Lacroix at the website, www.toyinfo.org sent the following information to assist you in having the latest and most reliable information on such a critical subject as safe toys for your children. From Rachelle’s email: (more…)

Yes, they drive parents crazy, but anyone with a toddler knows how much they love their musical toys! Here are 13 of our favorite musical toys (generally for 1-3 year olds):

1. LeapFrog Learn & Groove Alphabet Drum
2. SmartVille Alphabet Train Station
3. Fisher Price Interactive Baby Grand Piano
4. 1-2-3 Treehouse - V.Smile SmartVille Imaginative Play
5. Playskool Weebles Weebalot Castle
6. Playskool Weebles Treehouse
7. LeapFrog Interactive Learn & Groove Musical Table
8. Shout Elmo
9. Fridge DJ Radio - LeapFrog Interactive
10. Little Tikes Police Cycle Sounds Rocker
11. Little Tikes Baby Tap A Tune Piano
12. LeapFrog Phonics Radio
13. Sesame Street Super Boom Box

Take the baby wipe dispensers that come with the bulk baby wipes and show your little one how to put small baby links, cars & other smaller toys through the slot. They can then shake it around, open it up and discover all their toys again (great for endless entertainment). They are also good for storing little matchbox cars.

Use empty, clean water bottles stuffed with various items (coffee beans, paper, popcorn, coins, etc), glue the lid on (make sure it is secure before giving it to your little one) and voila - an instant shaker!

You might also want to look at our list of 16 household items that are better than toys & 13 toddler activity ideas.

1. The wooden train from the dollar section of Target….
2. Also the wooden fire engine from the same section….
3. And the wooden ambulance there as well - all three were 1/2 off, the best $1.50 I’ve ever spent. They have to go everywhere with us and must sit in his carseat in the car.

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Related Link: Bounce Houses These are the Best Bouncers anywhere!

Lil’ Duck loves Weebles!! We have the treehouse and now for his birthday, he got the Weebles Weebalot Castle. Not only does it have lots of pieces to take in and out, it also has a long winding slide that lands the Weebles squarely in the moat, much to Lil’ Duck’s delight. He quickly discovered the button that makes the moat spin around, sending the Weebles for the ride of their lives. Of course, he tries to put all sorts of other things on there and jams the whole thing up, but that is easily fixed.

I’m just glad that a) it entertains him for long periods of time without me and b) the music doesn’t drive me crazy - it is varied and sounds like fat little dancing Weebles ;), tho it is still rather loud for my taste.