Toys for 2 Young Children

A lot of moms have 2 young children or twins. They search high and low to find toys that allow 2 children of different ages to play cooperatively, but not impossible. Here are a few toys that are wonderful for 2 preschoolers/toddler or a combination to play with and allow a few moments of peace for mom!

1. A Teeter Totter. This is a wonderful toy for 2 children to play with at the same time, as simple as it seems.

Step 2

PROS

It will accommodate up to 3 children ( one in the middle) or 2 of varying weights. It has no small pieces, fits indoors or outdoors, has a fairly long 'play' lifetime , and wonderful 'pass-down' value. It does not require batteries and make no noise (though laughter or giggles from the children may occur)! The age span is huge and girls or boys can play from ages 1- 5. It is a huge incentive for kids to play together since it works best with 2 or 3.

CONS

It really needs 2 children to work well and will leave one child frustrated if no one will play with them. When children get bigger, they may be tempted to 'climb' on top of it. It may be hard to store when not in use- so apartment dwellers keep that in mind unless you want to use it as an odd coffee table!

2. Mr.Potato Head This is a great cooperative toy and encourages creativity!

Hasbro

PROS

Mr. and Mrs. Potato Head are classic toys. They are simple, require no batteries, easily to explain, and are fairly easy to store. There is no 'wrong' way to play with them and no one wins/loses since it is a toy that encourages creativity and originality. Children will enjoy seeing the odd creations that their peers (or parents) create! The use of Mr. and Mrs. Potato head allows for play by both genders with various pieces that include purses, glasses, hats, shoes ( from high heels and work boots), mustaches, hair, arms, and a large variety occupational pieces ( fireman's hose, construction workers , sports jersey, tennis hat). The ability to mix and match the pieces allow children to make Mr. or Mrs. Potato head to dress however they can dream up and avoids the typical gender stereotyping that occurs in other toys. The creative factor lets it appeal to ages 2 on up and the many different ways to 'create' a silly Potato head can allow for a long playtime.

CONS

The biggest con is trying to keep track of all the little pieces!!! They do store inside of the potato head body, but once you get so many- they no longer all fit. Some sets come with 'repeat' pieces, which is no as much fun as a lot of different pieces. Another downside is that the smaller pieces are not appropriate for children under 2.

3. Play kitchen This is a great large toy that provides hours of role playing and creative play. There are a wide variety of options available from $30 up to over $200. The Little Tikes Indoor/Outdoor kitchen,KidKraft Grill N Bake kitchen, and the Step 2 Lifestyle Grand Walk-In Kitchen are made to accommodate 2 or more children. A few types available are below. An alternative to a play kitchen is a play house.

Step 2

Little Tikes

Amazon

PROS

If you get a larger kitchen, up to 3 children can play at one time. Children of a wide age range (1 1/2 to 7+) can enjoy this toy and most play kitchens are very durable and have a good resale value. When using a play kitchen, kids can role play, model adult behavior, practice social skills, and learn cooperative skills. It is easy to add food and kitchen utensils from all sorts of brands or even home ade things, it all mixes and matches, A play kitchen also will have a very long shelf life and provide years of play. It is a great toy for both genders or children of mixed gender and encourages active role-playing!

CONS

They take up a lot of SPACE! Although, if it is well used- it is well worth the area it takes up. They can be pricey for a nice long lasting one, especially if you are not sure if you children will like it OR you get a larger model that is built for 2 or more children. The pretend food, dishes, and various pieces will be all over the place! They can be tricky to assemble and expensive to ship.

4. Mega Blocks Block BuddiesThese are great classic toys that appeal to all kids ages 1+.

MegaBlocks

Blocks have been a staple in most household since they have existed and continue to be a very popular toy. The Mega Blocks Block Buddies hold appeal to the entire toddler to preschool set with a wide variety of options.

PROS

They are wonderful for cooperative play, encourage creative thinking, role playing, and provide a good first experience to building type toys. The colors are bright and appealing to all children. The sets come in a great variety - farm, police, castle, neighborhood, ark, etc and are a good mix of smaller pieces (people, animals, blocks) and larger pieces to manipulate ( barns, cars, buildings). All the pieces are realistic , natural looking , and durable enough to hold up to rough play. Mega Blocks can be used by a wide variety of ages and also be a great 'family' toy to promote sharing. They are not very expensive, quiet, and if you lose a piece or two it will not effect the play of other pieces! All the sets are interchangeable. They are easy to find in local stores like Target, Wal Mart, and ToysRus.

CONS

These toys are not very multicultural! Most of the people pieces are fair skinned and young or younger looking. There is a variety of sets available, but some can be hard to find. The amount of pieces you could amass is staggering! They do not mix with other building block sets very well. Make sure you have a tote or bin for them all- they are not very travel friendly since you would have to tote a lot of them around to make for useful play.

5. Play Dough This is another great classic that allows to young children to play together without having to 'fight' over the toy.

Playdough

PROS

Play Dough is very easy to use and encourages creativity. The 'free play' allows the youngest kids to just enjoy pulling it apart or rolling it between their fingers, while older children can use tools (rolling pin, molds, cookie cutters, etc) to manipulate the Play Dough. Children can learn from watching each other as well as explore simple things like mashing, pulling, stretching, colors, and texture. There is no 'wrong way' to play with Play Dough (except feeding it to a dog or mushing it in your hair). There are endless ways to play with it and many household items can be used to manipulate it ( rolling pin, cookie cutter, spoons, fork tines, etc). You can even make your own Play dough if you are adventurous enough (though at 52 cents a container at Walmart- why would you?)!

CONS

It can get messy- very messy. Play Dough bits and snippets can be found on the floor or furniture days after playing has commenced! It dries out if not stored correctly, and if you mix too many colors together you get a muddy grayish muck of Play dough that is not at all appealing!