What toy can't your child go without?

Every child has at least one.  That toy that you can't go anywhere without.  That toy whose disappearance strikes fear into the heart of every parent.  That toy that is chewed, loved, thrown, bounced, drooled on, and thoroughly cherished by your child.

Both my girls were, and still are stuffed animal children.  We have stuffed animals that have been loved so much that they barely resemble their original, pristine state.  The tale of the Velveteen Rabbit is near and dear to my heart.  Jessica's bedraggled teddy is loved so much that she certainly seems real to her.  And Rachel's many animals are named, played with and dressed up just like they had a personality of their own.


However, there are quite a few non-stuffed animal toys that stand out, especially from when they were just learning imaginative play.  Play food was very popular, and I had many a delicious meal 'cooked' and served to me.  One of my kids' other can't-live-without-it-please-dear-Lord-I-hope-I-didn't-leave-it-at-home toys was the Discovery Toys Super Yummy teether.  Not only could it clip onto my diaper bag with some awesome linking rings, it smelled lightly of vanilla to stimulate smell (and for me, counteract that lovely drool scent).  It went everywhere with us!

One of my kids' other favourite toys, which lasted from about 6 months right up until now (my 7-year-old still plays with it in the bathtub), was the Measure Up Cups from Discovery Toys.  We must have spent hours stacking them up and knocking them down when the kids were little.  I don't think there is anything quite as delightful as a baby's laugh as she manages to knock a carefully placed tower of cups to the ground.  And they certainly didn't tire of that for many years.  Over the lifespan of these cups, they have played the role of pretend drinking cups, houses for Littlest Pet Shop animals, caves for little ponies, holders for Barbie shoes, beds for Polly Pockets, and now in the bath, they serve as fun cups to measure water and tote around a mermaid or two.  If there is one toy your child should have, it is a set of stacking cups!

 

If you want to check out some more of the cool stuff available from Discovery Toys, contact Julie O'Toole here.   She gave us an awesome presentation at the west-end Baby Basics program on early educational toys for your little ones. 

So what toy can't your child go without?