5 Best Christmas presents for toddlers

(Goblin is 25 months old)

I recently read an excellent post on GeekDad (Found at Wired Magazine). It was entitled "The 5 best toys of all time". Very appropriate in the run up to Christmas. And what were they? 

1. A Stick

2. A Box

3. String

4. A Cardboard tube

5. Dirt

This is so true. While most of us probably enjoy shopping for exciting, interesting and possibly educational toys for our kids its good to remember that children's imagination can be encouraged and developed very effectively with really simple objects. I often find if I fall into the trap of buying an expensive toy for Goblin he will bring me back to reality by having more fun running around the garden with a stick. 

GeekDad points out that string is probably not a great idea for really tiny kids. I have to agree. While I am happy to leave Goblin alone with small objects that will fit in his mouth - he tends to put them in his mouth but not to swallow them - I wouldn't leave him alone with enough string to wrap round his neck - I think he'd do this way to quickly and effectively. I guess we all know our own kids abilities and gauge what risks we are willing to take with them. So for me, I would replace number 3 in the list with Water. Water from the tap or better still naturally formed puddles. 

This one is quite hard to fit in a stocking, but the others could definitely be wrapped up for Christmas. Now I'm off to find a good stick.