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Parents quickly learn that an attractive, award-winning toy may or may not make the grade for a toddler. Usually, the more expensive the purchase, the less of an impression it makes on Junior. After buying several toys designed by "experts" to "stimulate" this or that part of the noggin, we are sadly disappointed with a banished toy and empty wallet.
The ugly truth is that most of us seek out gizmos that will occupy our kids while we "get stuff done" around the house. Many of the great classic and even good modern toys aren't that expensive, but require more direction from parents.
And if you are genuinely seeking toys that help develop your child's creativity, you'll need to "help" them learn how to play. It is far easier to buy a $70 deluxe music table and let them do their thing for hours; it's another to reveal the possibilities of a set of $10 blocks.
Here's a peek at some of the best toys you can buy for less than $15.
Toys with sound
Regardless of where you stand with yammering toys, gird your loins for a repeat marathon of the same songs.
Most of the table toys that have a music and learning option cost more than $40, so to keep things frugal opt for instruments.
Little ones will love the Baby Einstein Count and Compose Piano for just $14.99 or The Farmer Says by Fisher Price at only $12.99.
Xylophones, maracas, whistles or the do-it-yourself percussion studio made of old water bottles and beans. Leap Frog makes a fun set of complicated maracas, but Princess will have just as much fun with the real thing.
What to avoid: One-trick-pony toys like the Tickle Me You-Know-Who that do one thing and stop. Ask yourself what your child can learn from it.
Classics
The classic shape sorter will always be a hit.
Kids love trying to find the hole that coordinates with its matching shape. At just $10.98 the Fisher Price Baby's First Blocks set is great for kids 12 months and older.
Melissa and Doug make fabulous durable, wooden toys that children can bang up without destroying. Try the jumbo wooden knob puzzles starting at just $9.99 and the 50-piece wooden block set for $14.99.
Links in different colors help kids learn how to make patterns. You can make your own or purchase a set of 50 from the mega-grocery.
Dust off that Mr. Potato Head in your mom's attic -- he continues to be a hit with every generation. At just more than $8 you can use the chubby spud to teach body parts.
Unconventional
Better than inexpensive, these toys are free.
Leave one cabinet in your kitchen for Princess to play in and keep your measuring cups, leftover containers and plastic mixing bowls for her to explore. After all, your set of cups was the inspiration for the plastic nesting bowls, only yours are purchased and way cheaper.
For the pre-crawler, save a couple of medium-size boxes to practice pulling up, and shoe boxes make awesome bricks for a fort. Many kids won't play with anything that smacks of a store-bought gadget.
When your child is old enough to begin helping you cook or build something, allow them to use the real tools (with heavy supervision).
Don't buy the pink baking set -- use the pans and bowls in your kitchen for good learning experiences and entertainment.
The ugly truth is that most of us seek out gizmos that will occupy our kids while we "get stuff done" around the house. Many of the great classic and even good modern toys aren't that expensive, but require more direction from parents.
And if you are genuinely seeking toys that help develop your child's creativity, you'll need to "help" them learn how to play. It is far easier to buy a $70 deluxe music table and let them do their thing for hours; it's another to reveal the possibilities of a set of $10 blocks.
Here's a peek at some of the best toys you can buy for less than $15.
Toys with sound
Regardless of where you stand with yammering toys, gird your loins for a repeat marathon of the same songs.
Most of the table toys that have a music and learning option cost more than $40, so to keep things frugal opt for instruments.
Little ones will love the Baby Einstein Count and Compose Piano for just $14.99 or The Farmer Says by Fisher Price at only $12.99.
Xylophones, maracas, whistles or the do-it-yourself percussion studio made of old water bottles and beans. Leap Frog makes a fun set of complicated maracas, but Princess will have just as much fun with the real thing.
What to avoid: One-trick-pony toys like the Tickle Me You-Know-Who that do one thing and stop. Ask yourself what your child can learn from it.
Classics
The classic shape sorter will always be a hit.
Kids love trying to find the hole that coordinates with its matching shape. At just $10.98 the Fisher Price Baby's First Blocks set is great for kids 12 months and older.
Melissa and Doug make fabulous durable, wooden toys that children can bang up without destroying. Try the jumbo wooden knob puzzles starting at just $9.99 and the 50-piece wooden block set for $14.99.
Links in different colors help kids learn how to make patterns. You can make your own or purchase a set of 50 from the mega-grocery.
Dust off that Mr. Potato Head in your mom's attic -- he continues to be a hit with every generation. At just more than $8 you can use the chubby spud to teach body parts.
Unconventional
Better than inexpensive, these toys are free.
Leave one cabinet in your kitchen for Princess to play in and keep your measuring cups, leftover containers and plastic mixing bowls for her to explore. After all, your set of cups was the inspiration for the plastic nesting bowls, only yours are purchased and way cheaper.
For the pre-crawler, save a couple of medium-size boxes to practice pulling up, and shoe boxes make awesome bricks for a fort. Many kids won't play with anything that smacks of a store-bought gadget.
When your child is old enough to begin helping you cook or build something, allow them to use the real tools (with heavy supervision).
Don't buy the pink baking set -- use the pans and bowls in your kitchen for good learning experiences and entertainment.
