Learning Fun Tool Box by V Tech

This is a fun, interactive toy for children between the ages of 12 -30 months. The toolbox comes with four detachable tools, and produces realistic sounds when you use these tools to pound, cut, and turn. There are nails to hammer, screws to turn, and a special slot that lets you cut with the saw. The toy focuses on teaching colour, number, and shape concepts. Strengths: Even thought the toy is designed to teach early academic skills, it's a great toy for interactive social play as well. Weaknesses: The tool box closes and has a nice handle for carrying it, but unfortunately three of the four tools won't fit inside when you close the lid, so it's easy to lose the pieces. Price: $19 -$22. Where to Buy: I've seen this toy in a variety of different stores including Target, Toys R Us, specialty toy shops, and naturally all over the web. Just google it to ensure that you get it at a good price.

Mozart Magic Cube by Munchkin

This is a simple but auditorily interesting cause-effect toy that is easy for older infants and toddlers to operate. The idea behind the toy is that you push one of the large buttons to hear a single musical instrument play a song (one of the buttons actually lets you hear the entire orchestra play the song). Mine is an older version of the cube that plays a range of different children's songs, but the newer one actually plays classical music by Mozart. Strengths: The buttons are easy to activate so a young child could potentially play more independently with the toy. Weaknesses: The cube itself is a bit bulky and hard to physically manipulate, so a child could wind up listening to a single instrument over and over again. Price: $16 - $21. Where to Buy: Specialty toy shops usually carry this line of toys, but you can also find it through on-line retailers.

Spin & Spill Cement Truck by Fisher Price

This cement truck comes with three large, hard plastic balls that spin in the "cement mixer" when the lever is pulled down. The wheels click and the spinner on top of the cab of the truck makes a beeping sound when spun. Strengths: The truck is a good size for older infants and toddlers and is easy to push across a hard surfaced floor. The balls are great for shaking and throwing. Weaknesses: The "cement mixer" on the back of the truck tips over very easily if even a small amount of weight is placed on it. Also, the lever that you pull to make the mixer spin snaps back quickly and can easily pinch little fingers. Price: $25- $30. Where to Buy: This toy isn't widely available, but is still available through Amazon (http://www.amazon.com/). I've also sen it at discount retailers such as Big Lots.

Go Baby Go Crawl Along Musical Ball by Fisher Price

This battery operated little ball is designed to encourage crawling and walking in infants and young toddlers. When hit or batted at the ball rolls and the monkey rocks back and forth and giggles. Strengths: It's a cute toy that is visually appealing to young children. Those who are not yet walking find it the most interesting. Weaknesses: It does not work well on carpet or tile with deep grout lines. The toy would have more appeal if it actually played a song or had music that accompanied the movement rather than just the giggle, which can become a little annoying. Price: $13-$15. Where to Buy: Toys R Us, discount stores like Big Lots, or Amazon.

Stacking Rings by Bruin

This is a musical stacking toy that holds a great deal of appeal from older infants and toddlers alike. The three rings sit on a musical base, and when then head is pushed down on the stacking ring the toy plays several songs and spins back and forth. Strengths: The rings are made out of a hard plastic and are easy for little hands to manipulate. They fit easily onto the stacking rod and the toy itself is very simple to activate. Weaknesses: Although there is an on/off switch on the toy there is not a volume control and the music is LOUD. Additionally, the Bear's head isn't really secure and falls off easily. Price: $15-$20. Where to Buy: Bruin toys are carried exclusively by Toys R Us. Because the toy line is from Europe, not all items are available on a regular basis.

Amazing Animals Press & Go Farm Truck by Fisher Price

This is a cute toy with a great cause-effect concept - push the cow and watch the truck zoom across the floor. Like many of the other Amazing Animals toys by Fisher Price, this one has a pig whose head and legs click when moved and a sheep that makes sounds when you shake it. When the cow is pushed down one of three auditory effects happens: a short song plays, the cow moos, or the sound of a truck starting plays. Strengths: The cow is very easy to push down so children with all different levels of motor skills can make this toy work fairly easily. Weaknesses: The truck does not work well on anything but a hard floor surface. Even on very short, tightly woven carpet the truck doesn't travel forward. On hard floor surfaces it works a bit better, but still doesn't move as far as other toys that follow the same cause-effect principle. Price: $27-$30. Where to Buy: This can be purchased at the on-line Toys-R-Us store (http://www.toysrus.com/) or at http://www.amazon.com/.

Amazing Animals Sing & Go Choo Choo by Fisher Price

This wonderful, colourful train is always a hit with the infants and toddlers I use it with. The toy moves easily on carpeted surfaces and has both a "sit and play" and moving mode, which gives the toy some longevity in terms of how long a baby/toddler will play with it. I have found it to be most popular with children over the age of about 9 months. I'm not sure if this toy is available directly through Fisher Price any longer, but it is available at Amazon and eBay. Strengths: The durable and positionable animals can be removed from the train and played with independently. There are also several other animal sets you can purchase to make the train longer. Weaknesses: The music that plays when the train is on can become a bit annoying after a while.

Swirlin' Surprise Gumballs by Fisher Price

This is a great cause-effect toy for babies and toddlers who like a little bit more action in their play. You drop the balls into the top of of the toy, press the blue lever, and a ball comes zipping down the ramp and out of the front of the gumball machine. There is also a yellow knob on the front of the toy that makes fun clicking sounds when turned. As an added bonus you can turn this battery operated toy on and lights flash and music plays when the gumballs come down the chute. Strengths: This is a fun toy for younger infants who enjoy the light and sounds and is also fun for older toddler who can operate the toy independently. Therefore, you are getting a good play value for the money you spend. Weaknesses: The toy is a little top heavy, so it tends to fall down with even just a slight bump. Also, there isn't much storage space for the balls, so if you use more than the four balls that come with the toy you might have difficulty finding a place to keep them.

Musical Jack-in-the Box by Tolo

This brightly coloured little music box is an interesting toy for infants starting at about 9-12 months of age. When you turn the crank on the side of the box, the lid pops open, and a brightly coloured clown pops out. It's a great toy to help your child learn how to anticipate events and actions. Strengths: A brightly coloured toy that encourages social interaction between you and your baby because you need to operate the toy for him or her. Weaknesses: If your child is easily startled, the clown may be a bit frightening when it pops out of the box. Try and look for a toy where the figure pops out a little more gently than does this clown.

Press 'n Spin Safari Friends by Lamaze

Pushing buttons that make a toy do something funny or produce a sound is a highly popular activity for infants and toddlers starting at about 6 months of age. The Press 'n Spin Safari Friends is designed so the animals spin around and a fun and lively song plays when the top of the palm tree is pressed down. Strengths: The palm tree button is large and easy to depress, so younger children can theoretically operate the toy with some degree of independence. Weaknesses: Although the palm tree button is easy to depress, many children in the recommended age group have difficulty operating the toy. Most children are more interested in holding on to the monkey or lion than actually operating the toy for its intended purpose. If an adult then presses the button to make the toy go, children continue to hold on to the animal figures, which doesn't allow them to spin freely. Because of this the motor on the toy wears out quickly. Because of these limitations the toy is not a good play value for the money.

Silly Sounds Piano by Tomy

This brightly coloured "piano" is great fun for both older infants and toddlers of all ages. When one of the globe-like face buttons is pushed it lights up and produces, depending upon what mode the toy is in, either a silly sound (sneezing, boinging, giggling, etc) or a musical note. The combination of sounds and lights keeps children focused for a long period of time. Strengths: The buttons on the toy are easy to push so children can operate the toy without much frustration. Weaknesses: The toy can be operated in four different modes: funny, piano, game, and guide. The game and guide modes are not that interesting to young children.

Amazing Animals Press & Go Animal Parade by Fisher Price

This musical train seems to be a hit with both infants and toddlers alike. The four animals are cute and the zebra, rhino, and giraffe have pose-able heads that make fun clicking sounds when turned. Because the toy is motorized it travels for about 10 seconds when the bird sitting on the elephant's back is pushed down. As the "parade" moves across the floor the toy plays music and makes realistic animal sounds. Strengths: Infants seem to enjoy watching the train as it scoots across the floor while the more mobile toddler will chase the toy until it stops. Weaknesses: The animals are difficult to link together and snap apart. Sometimes you have to push/pull them so hard it feels like the toy is about to break.

Musical Spin & Stack Rings by Lamaze

A good stacking toy should be a staple of any child's toy collection and this charming one is popular with toddlers. Some of the more interesting elements of the toy include a straight stacking cone that has some flexibility to move from side to side to help make stacking easier and a musical spinner that can be turned on so the rings move around in a circle. Additionally, each ring has a different textured material on it so it's easily identifiable by touch. Strengths: Because of the many sensory elements of the toy (music, movement, and touch) it is one that can be enjoyed by children with visual impairments as well as those who do not have issues in this area. Weaknesses: The rings are made of a hard plastic and can be difficult for little hands to manipulate.

Chime Garden by Lamaze

Older infants love little surprises when they play with toys. That's what makes the Chime Garden such a wonderful toy to explore. When you touch the flowers they light up and play several different songs or just a musical tone. Younger infants enjoy watching this toy, but babies between the ages of 6-9 months really seem to enjoy batting at the flowers as well as exploring the textured petals with their fingers and mouths. In general this has been a very popular toy with almost all of the infants and young toddlers I have used it with. Strengths: The lights, music, and different textures of the petals offer great sensory play opportunities for babies. Weaknesses: Sometimes infants have difficulty activating the toy and this can result in tears and frustration.

Swap n' Go Musical Snail by Yookidoo

This is one of my favourite and most popular toys for children between the ages of 6-15 months. There is a three pronged "button" on the snail's tail that when pushed starts a song and lets the snail roll forward. When the snail moves the rattle on it's back rolls along with it. The toy comes with two interchangeable rattles. Both are interesting, but the one pictured next to the snail has a squeaky push button and can be taken apart and turned into a stacking toy. Strengths: The toy is easy to operate, so little fingers can easily push the button and make it go. Since it moves at a fairly slow pace it's a great toy to help young children develop visual tracking skills and can be a great distraction for babies who don't enjoy tummy time. Weaknesses: The only drawback of this toy is that there isn't an on/off switch - anytime you bump the tail the song starts to play, so it can become a little annoying for adults.