My boys are now 11 and 15, and over the years, they’ve played with certain toys dozens, hundreds, even thousands of times. Here are five of them…
Anton got a yo-yo during a trip to Ireland, and since then has picked it up every few months to learn new tricks. I can picture him doing this as a teenager, college student, adult, dad, grandpa, forever.
As I’ve said before, Toby’s favorite toy — from age one to 10 (!) — was this wooden bus. As a toddler, he pushed and pulled it around the living room; as he got older, he played pretend games with the wooden people. It’s one of those toys that can be a million different things.
We’ve loved many games — Uno, Outfoxed, Dog Bingo — but the most beloved one is Guess Who. (What about you?)
Glow-in-the-dark stars for bedroom ceilings. For years at bedtime, we have cuddled under the twinkling “sky” and felt so dreamy and cozy. When we host overnight guests, even those in their 70s and 80s, they’re always delighted, too!
And I know this isn’t a toy, but this little step stool has come in handy soooooo many times. My friend Kendra — who has three kids — gave it to us when Toby was a baby, and the boys grew up standing on it to brush their teeth, wash their hands, reach higher bookshelves, help me chop vegetables, you name it. Sometimes when handymen come over, they use it, too, which I always find endearing.
What would you add to the list? Oh, also this ice-cream set and a Nerf hoop!
P.S. The #1 trick to enjoying family travel, and three words that changed how I parent.
