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I work with 2-year-olds almost every day; as such, I also get to play with their toys and see what they do and don't like. There are a few toys that almost all kids enjoy, regardless of sex. There are also some toys I find enjoyable too.
Little People playsets. I love them. They're ageless. My in-laws have a barn Little People playset from the early 1980s that my husband's little cousins still play with. At the church I work at, the Little People are the most popular. At the child care center I work at, the Little People animals, people, and farm sets are always a favorite toy to take out. I especially like them because they are designed with toddlers in mind, so no small pieces, but have the imaginative play element that a 4-year-old will like as well. When we take the Little People out for church childcare, children up into elementary school will be found playing with them alongside our itty bitties.
The Brio trainsets are also a really popular toy with our child care kiddos. I don't have a trainset for the church kids. I'd like to get one. Maybe with next year's toy budget. Our girls like building train layouts as much as the boys do, it seems. I know when I was their age, my Brio set was one of my favorite toys (next to my Little People parking garage).
In general, I really like Melissa and Doug toys (they make a set of the cardboard bricks noodle described). They LAST. We have some in both of my workplaces and they definitely take the beating of multiple kids handling them--puzzles, wooden toys, the cardboard bricks.
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If I am not better, at least I am different. --Jean-Jacques Rousseau
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