TonieBox? That cute little Target cart? Or the Target cash register? Magna tiles?
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All 3 of my GDs love the Tonie box and the lovely thing about it is that you can keep adding to the collection. Nashville GD got one this year that SIL could record his voice reading stories for when he is away on business travel. Would be a nice thing for grandparents to do as well.
Kinetic sand (much cleaner than regular sand) in a large bin with digger toys … and a vinyl tablecloth. GD loves to play at the kitchen table while her parents get dinner ready.
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Delete.
Whatever you do, never buy them slime. Ick. I hate that stuff and have no idea why it exists. 
Our s recommended this for our gs, who turns 2 this weekend. …
Oops can’t post a photo from the plane. Look up micro kick board mini deluxe foldable scooter
Thanks for some great ideas. I think he would love the micro kick scooter or a playhouse. I don’t think he has magnetic tiles. They got a balance bike for free from a neighbor who had put it out with a free sign. Their house is tiny but they have a decent sized backyard. We all love books. His school is having a fundraiser at the local independent bookstore and I will get him something there.
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My niece also hates the slime (her DDs are now 7 and 10). They have almost everything imaginable.
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Balance bike, Melissa and Doug Easel, Magnatiles, Scooter
Wooden puzzles too.
My kids always liked their costume box. You could buy a variety of sizes for child and playmates. We had a lot of princess dresses, but also some capes and monsters and animals for guests who didn’t want to be princesses.
How 'bout some outdoor toys like sidewalk chalk, bubbles, ride on toys?
I would not do rice as I’d be afraid someone would eat it and then have it expand.
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I also wouldn’t do rice or beans—they could expand, attract bugs, cause a mess, etc.
Wooden blocks with a container for them to be stored in were a huge hit for many years in our household.
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My just turned two year old GD loved the playdough extruder set I bought from a non playdough company. Not sure the brand, but it has been a big hit. EDIr: Made by “Green Toys arts and crafts”
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My guys loved kitchen gear at that age. Made a stove and fridge out of old cardboard boxes and got a grocery cart and a bunch of plastic food/utensils from a kids’ thrift shop. We put it in the eat-in kitchen and they played with it ALL the time. They mostly used it for play cooking, but also for grocery shopping (and hiding in the boxes).
By the time S2 was three, he wanted to start making real food. Their preschool had 8-oz pitchers with lids that could close, so I bought some and they learned to pour into their own cups and a mixing bowl. We started with mac and cheese and brownies, where they could pour, stir, and add an ingredient. They also learned to set and clear the table. If it didn’t involve a stove or sharp knives, we let them participate.
Also will give a +1 for an indoor-type tent. Big quilts, blankets and sofa cushions also work well. Fortresses and caves are fun for toddlers and preschoolers.
And OMG, we had so many books. H read to them every night. Good times.
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For those of you who love books, in certain areas Dolly Parton’s foundation will mail a child a book free each month from birth to age 5. I had not heard of this until a coworker’s new GD was signed up. It is not available in all areas though, but worth a check.
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What a nice program—sadly not in my area. It sounds like a fabulous opportunity.
Not available in Gkids’ area, but glad to have the link to check!
Dolly Parton has certainly built up a career and lifetime footprint in the world - such a giving, caring person.
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DD1 had gotten quite a nice play kitchen for her children, and her sons like playing with it just like her daughter. I had play food and accessories which now is also seeing another generation.
She also has the older two children participate with clearing their items from the dinner table (putting them in the kitchen sink or on the kitchen counter) and other small chores. Fetching items is always a good help, especially when one has to go a flight of stairs to get the items.
GD1 and GS1 like to participate a lot with some of the kitchen cooking/baking - but also have learned when mom says ‘need to stay back’ with her work between oven/stove and sink to ‘stay back’ (GD1 got a little splash of hot pasta water - not burned, but for all the kids we just have to say ‘hot’). DD1 is a ‘magnet’ for GS2 when she sits in the recliner - he is a momma’s boy and needs that extra cuddle time. GD2 is now 8 months old, and the older two kids do play with her and keep her occupied often.
Read the latest Dolly book, Goldilocks & The Three Bears, to Nashville GD on Tuesday night. Dolly sends good books and in nice/sturdy format. I know her foundation has expanded to a few more states in the last few months, so hopefully spreading to a larger footprint soon. She is a treasure in so many ways!
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Re: Imagination Library…be aware that “Dolly” does not fund the cost of the books, shipping and all…IL covers many overhead costs and administration needs,but the local programs secure the funding for the cost of books and postage. You can sign up anytime between birth and five and each child in the family under five can register and different ages receive different books.
It’s a valuable program but can be very expensive for some communities depending how far and wide it’s rolled out,
Or you can see who funds it in your community and donate $ towards it!
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