Peeks the Clown by Discovery Toys

This is from the archives of Discovery Toys but it's a little Jack-In-The-Box that many of my younger clients have really enjoyed. Peeks is made of soft fabric with some kind of loose spring inside of his body so you can push him down into the box, close the lid, and he'll still gently pop out when the large yellow button is pushed. When you push Peeks down, he emits a little squeak that many children demonstrate a real curiosity about. Additionally you can completely remove Peeks from the box and play with him like a stuffed toy or doll. Strengths: He is a "kinder and gentler" Jack-In-The-Box than many of the more traditional models. Also he is easy to activate. There is no handle to turn just a nice big button to push. This is a nice type of "first" Jack -in-the-Box for young children who don't enjoy the big popping action of a more traditional pop-up box. Weaknesses: I'm not sure if Peeks is available any longer through Discovery Toys. I've had mine for years so it wouldn't surprise me if they no longer carried the toy. Some times Peeks get stuck in the box so the pop-up action can be a bit delayed, which some children find extremely frustrating.

Jingle the Activity Giraffe by Tolo

This is cuddly, multi-coloured toy that is a big hit with young infants, older infants, and even some young toddlers. Jingle has it all - a little mirror on his side, a pull and vibrate tail, a built in rattle, and soft, silky tags that run don the length of his neck. The outer shell of the toy consists of different textures of material, so Jingle really allows children to explore in multi-modality manner. The children I work with like to hug Jingle, feed him beans, and pretend to put him to bed. He's a good size and weight got young children to manipulate, and his body is so soft there no chance to get an accidental bump or bruise. Strengths: He's portable and won't take up a lot of room in a diaper bag or suitcase. His tail is easy to pull, so it's not all that hard to activate the motion feature of the toy. Weaknesses: Because Jingle is a plush toy you can only gently spot clean his outer shell.

Shake and Stack Vehicles - Stacking Farm Animals by Fisher Price

If you are looking for a fun and simple "first toy" for a young child this is definitely one that's worth a look. Even though the toy is designed to be stacked, which is beyond the motor capabilities of very young children, each piece is fun to use all on its' own. The cow has a jingle bell, the pig squeaks when you push it's nose, the chicken rattles, and the tractor is just fun for older infants and toddlers to push back-and-forth. What's nice about the Stacking Farm Animals Toy is that the ways it can be played with actually change as children get a bit older and develop better fine motor skills. Initially the toy really is a simple cause-effect toy, where babies can poke, shake, and squeak their favourite animals. Once they get a bit older they can stack the animals on top of the tractor and take them all for a ride. Because each animal has two sturdy bristle-block like surfaces, the animals can be put together in many different ways as children learn to explore size concepts. Overall, a fun little toy!

Toddler Barn by Fisher Price

I'm not sure if the actual name of this toy was "The Toddler Barn" but since it's no longer commercially available, that's what I call it. This is another one of those toys that I've had for over 20 years and am truly disappointed that Fisher Price no longer makes such a simple and fun barn for very young children. The barn, which is the size of large lunch box, is very portable and of course durable. There is a door on each end of the barn that open up to store the farm animals and the silo is actually a chute that the animals can slide down. It doesn't sing, light up, or make animal noises - it's just a fun toy to play with. I don't remember what animals originally came with it, but I have found that most of the current Fisher Price animals fit into it quite nicely. It's an old but wonderful toy, definitely something to check for on eBay or at yard sales.

Toddler House by Fisher Price

I have used this house in therapy for about 25 years and it is still as interesting and exciting to young children as it was all of those years ago! The house is very simple, but includes some excellent opportunities for exploration for young learners. The door bell rings, the front door opens and closes, the garage door opens and closes, The roof opens up into a little bedroom, and the chimney is actually a great sliding chute. What's nice about the house, is that little people from more current play sets sit fit in nicely, so you don't have to worry about tracking down all of the old people pieces to use with it. There are not a lot of bells and whistles on this toy, but if you're able to find one on eBay or at a yard sale, grab it because it will be an investment that will give your child hours and hours and hours of uninterrupted play fun!

Little People Zoo Train by Fisher Price

This is a great first train for young explorers (9 months+)! The train consists of three cars that can be easily attached/detached from one another and the animals are a great size for little hands to hold. When you push down on the animals, a song plays. What makes this piece one of their best is the movement of the pieces when the train is pushed around. The giraffe spins in a circle, two other animals are able to tetter- totter and the parrot (I've lost my parrot and replaced it with a peacock, but it still works just wonderfully) swings back and forth on his perch. Children seem to enjoy putting the train together in different combinations and like to include animals from other Fisher Price sets in their play. The pieces are bright and don't seem to fade. This is also a toy that is very easy to wash.

Cow Peek-a-Boo Rattle by Infantino

This is a small, plush rattle that has lots of great sights, sounds, and textures for infants to explore. Some of the loops surrounding the cow's head are a hard textured plastic that is great for chewing on while the other cloth pieces make different crinkling and rattling sounds when moved even slightly. The best surprise about the rattle is that when you flip the cow's head back, there is a little unbreakable mirror inside, so babies can spend time looking at their faces. There is also a boomering on the top of the cow so it can be clipped to a stroller or diaper bag quite easily. The rattle is small enough (and textured enough) that it is easy for little hands to manage. It's a great early rattle because of the size and materials used to construct the toy.

Handy Manny's Talking Tool Box by Fisher Price

This busy little tool box is popular with a wide range of children at different ages. It comes with Pat, Turner, Dusty, Stretch, Felipe, Squeeze, and Rusty and when the Manny button on the front of the box it pushed, the tools come to life! They sing, "Hop Up, Jump In", "dance", and say handy tool phrases like "Let's get to work!" The tools are a great size for little hands and I've found that the children I work with like to incorporate the toys into all kinds of other play activities (e.g., fixing the tires on a car and building a play doh house to name only a few). The only draw back is that the music on the toy is a little bit on the loud side and since there is no volume control button - you get Manny full blast at all times! I've taken the batteries out a few times when I just couldn't take the singing any more and for the most part the children I work with still loved the toy and didn't seem to miss the sound.

Click Clack Ball Track by Haba

If you're looking for a wonderfully sturdy ball track for your older infant or toddlers this is one that is definitely worth checking out! The wooden track which measures about 19" x 6" x 16" is natural wood painted with water-based, solvent free lacquers. There are three golf ball sized "marbles" that come with the toy and are easy to make roll down the curvy track and drop through the big holes at each end of the slanted levels. The track is the perfect size for 12-18 month old children because they can sit in front of it and still drop the balls through the holes. What I like about it is that there are relatively few special effects like music, buzzers, or lights that go off as the balls make their way down the track. It's a bit on the expensive side (about $119-$125) but worth it! Sometimes the green ball falls off the track, but for the most part it's a fun and quality ball track that children can enjoy for a long time!

Wheel Pals Jungle Journey by Playskool

This is a simple cause-effect rolling toy that has cute little jungle animals zooming down a curvy ramp. Although the toy is simple there are couple of interesting elements to it. The lift-and-go launchers helps the animals on their journey down the ramp and the bridge is actually collapsible, so the animals can fall through the opening if you want them to. Each set comes with two wheeled animals vehicles, but you can add more characters is you want to. Strengths: The animals are a great size for little hands and they roll easily down the ramp. It's simple to operate and gives children lots of options for where to hide and place the animals. Weaknesses: When I first found this toy I thought that it was really cute and would be lots of fun. So far I've had more fun with it that any of the children I've used it with. They are initially interested in how the trap on the bridge opens and closes, but that's where their interest seems to end. I don't know if it's just that the ramp is to short and it doesn't provide enough action for these kids, but overall I haven't seemed to get my money's worth from this toy. Most of the children I work with like carrying the animals around and driving them on other surfaces, but the ramp just isn't all that exciting for them. Price: $11-$16. Where to Buy: I have seen these play sets in stores like Target, Toys R Us, and WalMart.

Taggies Grabby Elephant by International Playthings

This cuddly blue elephant is actually a winner of the Gold Oppenheim Toy Award! It is soft and snugly, just like all of the other Taggies toys. There are lots of different ribbons and tags attached to the elephant that make him easy to grab and fun to snuggle. It's basically a teething toy, but is light enough for infants to carry around for lots of sensory fun. Strengths: It is much more than just a rattle or teething toy because there are great opportunities for all kinds of exploration with this wonderful elephant. Babies can grasp his ears, his nose, and pull on the jiggly mouse inside of the elephant's tummy. I really love this toy and so do the children I share it with. It's a great size to carry around and it's light enough not to pinch or hurt little fingers. Weaknesses: Because it is made out of a soft, plush material it's not the easiest thing to throw in the washing machine for a quick cleaning. I spot clean mine when it needs it! It's a little extra work, but the toy is just so irresistible that it's worth a little extra work. Price: $15-2o. Where to Buy: There are lots of different places that you can find taggies toys. Some of the best sites to shop include: Baby Bungalow (www.babybungalo.com), the Taggies site (www.taggies.com), Sensational Beginnings (www.sensationalbeginnings.com), and Genius Babies (www.geniusbabies.com). It's a really lovely toy and the perfect gift (I got mine from a really great family that I work with!)

Baby Bach Piano by Baby Einstein

This is a simple and fun cause-effect toy for very young children. The four big buttons on the top of the "piano" each light up and produce a different musical tone when tapped and if your child wants a longer musical experience, pushing the green button on the front of the toy will make a longer song play. Strengths: The buttons are very easy to push, so even if a child has low upper body strength, they should be able to get this toy to light up and make sounds. Weaknesses: There is no dedicated on/off switch, so the music plays at the slightest touch or jiggle. Price: ???? I bought mine about 10 years ago and I think it was about $20. Where to Buy: Good luck finding one! I've seen a couple on eBay, but other than that I'm not sure if the toy is available any more.

Butterfly Spinner by Chicco

It's hard to beat this cheery little spinner that's filled with brightly coloured, bouncing butterflies and lady bugs. It's made out of a durable plastic that can withstand lots of abuse by little hands and feet. Mine has been dropped, and occasionally kicked, a number of times and it's still in great shape! Strengths: It's a simple cause-effect toy with a large plunger that's easy for little hands to grasp. I've also found that it keeps young infants interested during tummy time. Weaknesses: The recommended age for this toy is 6 - 18 months, but for children at the younger end of the age range it can be a bit frustrating when they try to use the toy independently. The plunger takes a bit of strength to push down, so it's best if an adult helps the child play with the toy. Price: $17 - $20. Where to Buy: Target usually carries Chicco toys and you can also find it on line by googling the name of the toy.

Tadoodles Pop & See by Crayola Beginnings Baby

According to the manufacturer these 5 Snap together pop beads feature a variety of different sounds and actions to engage toddlers in an activity that promotes spatial awareness and problem solving. The Tadoodle come in bright colours and patterns and supposedly will light up and play different music when they are snapped together. Strengths: They are cute and the colours are very attractive to young children. They are also a good size for toddlers to physically manipulate and if a child decides to mouth the toy it is large enough not to pose a choking hazzard.. Weaknesses: This is one of the most frustrating toys I have ever purchased for my work with children. The Tadoodles are marketed for children between the ages of 6 months and 2 years, but most of my children in that age group are more interested in mouthing them than actually playing with them. The pieces are difficult to snap together and it requires quite a bit of pressure to pull them apart. Also, each Tadoodle is supposed to have a certain cause-effect reaction when connected to the other beads. The effect is so brief that most children don't even notice that something has happened. I'm really disappointed in this toy because it sounds like such a great concept but it really failed in execution. Price: $7 - $12. Where to Buy: You can find these in stores like WalMart, Target, and Toys R Us, as well as online retailers like Amazon.

Brightlings Builders by Leap Frog

This is another instalment in the Brightlings toy series. The builders come with 9 pieces overall (3 bases, 3 heads and 3 other pieces) that can be stacked and rattled - one of them lights up when pressed and one has a tiny mirror. They can be used with the Brightlings Station, but are more of a "stand alone" toy than some of the other Brightlings pieces. Strengths: They are cute and a nice size for toddler hands. The fact that the pieces can be used interchangeably is a nice touch. I've found that the piece that rolls is the most popular with the children I work with. Weaknesses: Although these are a cut building/stacking toy, they don't really seem to keep children interested for a long time. When the pieces are stacked together, they tend to be a bit wobbly and will often just fall down when the child tried to move them. Price: $9 - $19. Where to Buy: I found them on a website called Diapers.com (www.diaper.com) for $9.99 but you can still get them through different Amazon sellers.

Brightlings Matchers by Leap Frog

According to the manufacturer of these toys, they are supposed to help young children learn about shapes and colour matching. When the child finds two parts of a matching set, the toy is supposed to glow, twirl, or chime as a way of reinforcing the child's actions. Unfortunately mine never really worked this way. I would get some light, sound, and movement, but certainly not the kinds of effects I thought would happen based on the packaging of the toy. Strengths: They are cute little figure that fit nicely into a toddler's hand and they can easily be used with the Brightlings Exploration Station (i.e., dropping them down the chute). Weaknesses: If your child really likes a "big effect" when playing with this type of toy, they won't get that reinforcement with this one. The play value is limited because the toys don't really operate in the way they are supposed to (or at least in the way I was expecting them to). Price: $12-$17. Where to Buy: I have only been able to find these online in sites like Amazon, eBay, and www.Overstock.com.

The Original Roller Coaster by Anatex

You can find bead roller coasters in most doctor's offices, waiting rooms, and other places children gather. This is because these colossal mazes of wood, beads, and wire keep little hands and minds busy for hours. This toy is beautifully crafted with a 12-by-15-inch solid wood base, thick sturdy wire, and wood beads that move easily through the loops and turns of the wire. Strengths: Anatex makes extremely sturdy and long lasting wooden toys. I have had mine for about 12 years and it has been bumped over, sat upon, and dragged across the floor by the wires, and is still going strong. It really can entertain children for a long period of time and it's easy to turn it into a more social toy, where the child must interact with you in order to get it to work. Weaknesses: Sometimes the wires can get pushed out of shape, but the are easy to reshape, so it's not a big deal. The biggest drawback of the toy is that if you choose to use it with younger children who are not yet sturdy on their feet it can tip over easily if they lean on it. Price: $50-$56 (but it's well worth the price in terms of the overall durability and longevity of the toy. Where to Buy: Anatex bead roller coasters can be found in a wide range of toy retailers. Places like Toys R Us, specialty toy shops, and online to sellers all seem to carry one version or another of this type of toy.

Brightlings Stackers by Leap Frog

This is a cute, but not very exciting, addition to the Brightling family of toys. The set of three little cups sit on top of a base that lights up when you push down on it. Strengths: The cups are a good size for little hands (9 months+) to grasp. The cups work well as nesting toys (putting one inside the other). Weaknesses: Based on my experience with the toy the weaknesses far out weigh the strengths. The cups are difficult to stack securely because the base of each cup is wavy, so there is a lot of frustration for little ones when attempting to stack the toy. Also, as I mentioned earlier, the base of the toy lights up, but you can make it light just by touching it, the cups don't even need to be involved in the play. If you're looking for a good stacking toy, there are betters ones than this out there. Price: $20 - $25. Where to Buy: The Stackers are a little bit hard to find because they aren't available in lots of toy stores, but you can of course find them online or through eBay.

Brightlings Exploration Station by Leap Frog

Home to Bobblers, Tumble Tunnel, Babbling Bandshell, Rainbow Balcony, and Alphabet Alley, the Brightlings Exploration Station offers a world of exciting activities for young children. This toy has two different modes, toddler and baby, which you activate by turning the green part on the top to hide the number or reveal them. In baby mode children can drop the brightling playpals in through the top and they come to the bottom which triggers music. In fact, just about every action on the toy triggers a song, except for the open/close gate and the yellow/blue/red tags you pull. When the toy is in toddler mode it will tell you how to say hello and goodbye in German, French, Japanese, Spanish, and English when you open/close the gate. You can move the tab around the ABC's so it sings the ABC song. It will also sing a number song when you drop the pals into the chute. Strengths: It's a fun toy to explore and you can easily use it with the other Brightlings play sets. Weaknesses: There is actually a HUGE weakness with this toy. It clearly states on the box that children under three years should not use it because of choking hazards on small parts, but the toy is obviously marketed for a much younger audience. It has a baby and a toddler mode, not a preschooler mode. This is a fun toy to play with, but you need to keep a very close eye on your little one when he or she uses it. Price: $20 - $30. Where to Buy: The toy was widely available about three years ago, but now you can only find them on sites like eBay or through online toy retailers.

Roll-a-Rounds Pull & Spin Caterpillar by Fisher Price

This is a great addition to the roll-a-rounds line of toys by Fisher Price. The caterpillar comes with three clear plastic balls that have movable pieces inside of them. When you pull the caterpillar, the balls move around and the little objects spin and wobble. Strengths: The toy is easy to pull across different floor surfaces and the balls are large enough for little hands to easily manipulate. Weaknesses: Since the balls are not contained under a plastic dome, they fall off of the toy easily which can become frustrating for children and adults alike. There is a plastic cover that comes as part of the packaging and I kept that on mine for quite a long time, until someone sat on it and crushed it (yes it was me!) Price: $25-$30. Where to Buy: This is a toy that actually came out several years ago but it's still available through eBay and Amazon.